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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 90
Page
... early collections of letters, private diaries, household accounts, wills and inventories, state papers, documents dealing with local administration, and most of the early travel records published by the Hakluyt Society. Matter of this ...
... early collections of letters, private diaries, household accounts, wills and inventories, state papers, documents dealing with local administration, and most of the early travel records published by the Hakluyt Society. Matter of this ...
Page
... EARLY. TEXTS. MOST. FREQUENTLY. QUOTED'. Anglo-Saxon Gospels (c. 1ooo) AS. Gosp. Piers Plowman (13fis-93), ed. Shoat (Oxford 188fi) Piers Plowm. Wyelifite Bible Translations (c. 138o) Wye. Chancer (Globe Edition 191o) Chanc. Trerisa ...
... EARLY. TEXTS. MOST. FREQUENTLY. QUOTED'. Anglo-Saxon Gospels (c. 1ooo) AS. Gosp. Piers Plowman (13fis-93), ed. Shoat (Oxford 188fi) Piers Plowm. Wyelifite Bible Translations (c. 138o) Wye. Chancer (Globe Edition 191o) Chanc. Trerisa ...
Page 21
... early Christians. G. dyamj, hrotherly love. Hence agapemone, ahode (G. /ionj, stopping place) of free love, founded ... earliest agitators were the delegates of the private soldiers in the Parliamentary army (1647 -9)- aglat, aiglat ...
... early Christians. G. dyamj, hrotherly love. Hence agapemone, ahode (G. /ionj, stopping place) of free love, founded ... earliest agitators were the delegates of the private soldiers in the Parliamentary army (1647 -9)- aglat, aiglat ...
Page 29
... early confused with the compar. of eald, old, orig. meant patriarch, prince, formed from eald with the noun suffix -or. It is used in AS. to translate any title of high ranh, hut had also the spec, meaning now represented hy earl (q.v.) ...
... early confused with the compar. of eald, old, orig. meant patriarch, prince, formed from eald with the noun suffix -or. It is used in AS. to translate any title of high ranh, hut had also the spec, meaning now represented hy earl (q.v.) ...
Page 33
... Early Church word with numerous early compds. Almoner is later, through OF. almosnier (au- monier). To account for the forms of the word (OF. almosne, Ger. almosen) contact with L. alimonia, from alere. to support, feed, has heen ...
... Early Church word with numerous early compds. Almoner is later, through OF. almosnier (au- monier). To account for the forms of the word (OF. almosne, Ger. almosen) contact with L. alimonia, from alere. to support, feed, has heen ...
Other editions - View all
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