An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, Vol. 1The compiler of this dictionary of word and phrase origins and history was not only a linguist and a philologist but also a man of culture and wit. When he turned his attention, therefore, to the creation of an etymological dictionary for both specialists and non-specialists, the result was easily the finest such work ever prepared. Weekley's Dictionary is a work of thorough scholarship. It contains one of the largest lists of words and phrases to be found in any singly etymological dictionary — and considerably more material than in the standard concise edition, with fuller quotes and historical discussions. Included are most of the more common words used in English as well as slang, archaic words, such formulas as "I. O. U.," made-up words (such as Carroll's "Jabberwock"), words coined from proper nouns, and so on. In each case, roots in Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Greek or Latin, Old and modern French, Anglo-Indian, etc., are identified; in hundreds of cases, especially odd or amusing listings, earliest known usage is mentioned and sense is indicated in quotations from Dickens, Shakespeare, Chaucer, "Piers Plowman," Defoe, O. Henry, Spenser, Byron, Kipling, and so on, and from contemporary newspapers, translations of the Bible, and dozens of foreign-language authors. |
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Page 3
... (Late L. abbatissa), abbey (Late L. abbatia), or are oi later and learned iormation, e.g. abbatial, abbatical. Vngue use oi F. abbd ior ecclesiastic, esp. one not holding Church office, dates irom iGcent. abbeeeiate. From L. abbeeeiare ...
... (Late L. abbatissa), abbey (Late L. abbatia), or are oi later and learned iormation, e.g. abbatial, abbatical. Vngue use oi F. abbd ior ecclesiastic, esp. one not holding Church office, dates irom iGcent. abbeeeiate. From L. abbeeeiare ...
Page 11
... Late L. accog- nitus. See quaint. acquiesce. L. acquiescere , incept, formation from quits, quiet. acquire. L. acquirere, from quaerere, to seoh. Acquisition is L. acquisitio-n-, from ac- quisit-. acquit. F. acquitter, VL. *adquitare ...
... Late L. accog- nitus. See quaint. acquiesce. L. acquiescere , incept, formation from quits, quiet. acquire. L. acquirere, from quaerere, to seoh. Acquisition is L. acquisitio-n-, from ac- quisit-. acquit. F. acquitter, VL. *adquitare ...
Page 41
... Late L. amicahilis, from amicus, friend, from amare, to love. amice [archaic]. Two different words have hecome confused here, hoth in form and meaning. In the sense of a square of white linen worn hy the celehrant priest, amice, earlier ...
... Late L. amicahilis, from amicus, friend, from amare, to love. amice [archaic]. Two different words have hecome confused here, hoth in form and meaning. In the sense of a square of white linen worn hy the celehrant priest, amice, earlier ...
Page 51
... Late L. animositas, from animus, spirit. Not orig. hostile feeling. Cf. animus (19 cent.) for similar sense-development. anise. F. anis, L., G. acuros. There is also an ohs. anrt, L., G. acrj6os, dial, form of ahove. Aniseed is for ...
... Late L. animositas, from animus, spirit. Not orig. hostile feeling. Cf. animus (19 cent.) for similar sense-development. anise. F. anis, L., G. acuros. There is also an ohs. anrt, L., G. acrj6os, dial, form of ahove. Aniseed is for ...
Page 63
... Late L. apprrtiare, from prrtium, price. Replaced ME. praise, OF. preisier, Late L. prrtiare, which developed the same douhle sense as esteem, value. L. prrtiare gave OF. preisier, while prrtiat gave OF. prise, whence a new F. infin ...
... Late L. apprrtiare, from prrtium, price. Replaced ME. praise, OF. preisier, Late L. prrtiare, which developed the same douhle sense as esteem, value. L. prrtiare gave OF. preisier, while prrtiat gave OF. prise, whence a new F. infin ...
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Common terms and phrases
16 cent adopted altered appears applied Arab archaic association bird called Chauc Church cogn coined colour common confused connected corrupt Cotg Daily dates dial Dictionary doubtful earlier Earliest early element English Europ fish Flor formation formerly give Goth hand head Hence hist horse ident imit influenced John kind king land langs Late later London Lord meaning MedL native naut Norw noun occurs one's orig origin Origin unknown perh Pers person phrase Plant play Port pres prob quot recorded replaced represents Sanskrit sense sense cf Shaks ship short slang spec spelling suggests synon term Teut tion tree turn usual various verb Vulg whence word