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 19
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... Before and between the World Wars, Chiswick was a stolidly quiot region of London, congenial to elderly and distinguished neighhours such as Charles Pendle- bury, long an assistant master at St Paul's, and author of very successful ...
... Before and between the World Wars, Chiswick was a stolidly quiot region of London, congenial to elderly and distinguished neighhours such as Charles Pendle- bury, long an assistant master at St Paul's, and author of very successful ...
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... before the Second World War began. The war thus brought them together again at an age when a few years tend to loom large in the passage of time. After Criccieth, my father resumed his London life with his elder daughter, her husband ...
... before the Second World War began. The war thus brought them together again at an age when a few years tend to loom large in the passage of time. After Criccieth, my father resumed his London life with his elder daughter, her husband ...
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... before his age had got into double figures. A certain number of Shakespearean words which still re-echo more or less unintelligihly in phrases to which Shakespeare gave currency are also included. Many slang words and expressions ...
... before his age had got into double figures. A certain number of Shakespearean words which still re-echo more or less unintelligihly in phrases to which Shakespeare gave currency are also included. Many slang words and expressions ...
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... before our eyes, as it has been crossed throughout the history of language, and I cannot see why Guy Fawkes should be admitted to the dictionary as guy, while Tommy Atkins remains outside. It will be found that I have proposed personal ...
... before our eyes, as it has been crossed throughout the history of language, and I cannot see why Guy Fawkes should be admitted to the dictionary as guy, while Tommy Atkins remains outside. It will be found that I have proposed personal ...
Page 55
... before, from capere, to take. Intelligent anticipation, for unfounded statement, is due to Lord Curxon. antidote. F L., G. acnSoros, given against, from oi&osa1, to give. Anti -Jacohin [hist.] . Opposed to the Jacohins (q.v.), esp. as ...
... before, from capere, to take. Intelligent anticipation, for unfounded statement, is due to Lord Curxon. antidote. F L., G. acnSoros, given against, from oi&osa1, to give. Anti -Jacohin [hist.] . Opposed to the Jacohins (q.v.), esp. as ...
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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