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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Results 1-5 of 48
Page 3
... ModF. hahilcM, irom ME. & OF. ablete. See able. Oiten hahility in 1fi-17 cents. abiogenesis [hiol.]. Generation oi liring organisms irom dead matter. Coined (187o) by Huxley irom G. a-, neg., fJi'os, liie. So also hiogenesis, its ...
... ModF. hahilcM, irom ME. & OF. ablete. See able. Oiten hahility in 1fi-17 cents. abiogenesis [hiol.]. Generation oi liring organisms irom dead matter. Coined (187o) by Huxley irom G. a-, neg., fJi'os, liie. So also hiogenesis, its ...
Page 9
... ModF., cf. fig. use of trump1. Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that erer turn'd up ace (Cymh. ii. 3). Aceldama. G. 'A^ASa/ia, representing Aram. h'qal d'md, field of hlood (Acts, i. 19). acephalous. From ...
... ModF., cf. fig. use of trump1. Your lordship is the most patient man in loss, the most coldest that erer turn'd up ace (Cymh. ii. 3). Aceldama. G. 'A^ASa/ia, representing Aram. h'qal d'md, field of hlood (Acts, i. 19). acephalous. From ...
Page 19
... ModF. it means also confront, as affront does in Shahs. That he, as 'twere hy accident, May there affront Ophelia (Haml. iii. i). afloat. AS. on floie. Bee float. So also afield, afire, afoot, atc. See a-. afoot. For on foot. See a ...
... ModF. it means also confront, as affront does in Shahs. That he, as 'twere hy accident, May there affront Ophelia (Haml. iii. i). afloat. AS. on floie. Bee float. So also afield, afire, afoot, atc. See a-. afoot. For on foot. See a ...
Page 25
... ModF. aile, but also to confusion with E. isle, ME. ile, island. This seems incredible, but is certified by the fact that insula was its usual rendering in MedL., while island, or rather its older and more correct form, actually occurs ...
... ModF. aile, but also to confusion with E. isle, ME. ile, island. This seems incredible, but is certified by the fact that insula was its usual rendering in MedL., while island, or rather its older and more correct form, actually occurs ...
Page 29
... ModF. al- gorithme, refashioned on logarithms, also occurs in E. There was a ME. augrime, corresponding to OF. var. augorime. His astrelahic, longynge for his art, His augrym stones, layen faire apart (Chauc. A. 3zo9) alguaxil. Sp ...
... ModF. al- gorithme, refashioned on logarithms, also occurs in E. There was a ME. augrime, corresponding to OF. var. augorime. His astrelahic, longynge for his art, His augrym stones, layen faire apart (Chauc. A. 3zo9) alguaxil. Sp ...
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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