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
... irom abattre, to iell (v.s.). The ending -is, OF. eis, represents L. -aticius, added to verb-stems. abattoir. Slanghter-house. F., irom abattre, to iell. See abate. abba [Bibl.]. See abbot. Abbassides [hist.]. Calipbs oi Bnghdad (749 ...
... irom abattre, to iell (v.s.). The ending -is, OF. eis, represents L. -aticius, added to verb-stems. abattoir. Slanghter-house. F., irom abattre, to iell. See abate. abba [Bibl.]. See abbot. Abbassides [hist.]. Calipbs oi Bnghdad (749 ...
Page 27
... irom ala, wing. alb. Eccl. vestment. AS. albe, early loan irom L. alba (sc. vestis). Ci. F. aube, alb, also iound in ME. albacore, alhicore. Fish. Port, albacor, Arab. al-buhr, the young camel, irom the sise oi the fish. In Hahl ...
... irom ala, wing. alb. Eccl. vestment. AS. albe, early loan irom L. alba (sc. vestis). Ci. F. aube, alb, also iound in ME. albacore, alhicore. Fish. Port, albacor, Arab. al-buhr, the young camel, irom the sise oi the fish. In Hahl ...
Page 37
... irom It. altrui, to express the opposite oi rgoism. It. altrui and F. autrui are VL. *alterui, irom alter, other, modelled on cui; ci. F. lui. irom L. *illui. First used by Lewes (1853). See comtism. alum. OF. alum (alun), L. alumen ...
... irom It. altrui, to express the opposite oi rgoism. It. altrui and F. autrui are VL. *alterui, irom alter, other, modelled on cui; ci. F. lui. irom L. *illui. First used by Lewes (1853). See comtism. alum. OF. alum (alun), L. alumen ...
Page 43
... irom d-, neg., p,optf,ij, shape. amoctise. F. amoetir, amoetiss-, from d and maet, death. For iorm ci. adveetise and MedL. amoetisare. In ME. to alienate in mortmain. Sense oi extinguishing a debt is quite mod. (NED 188s) and is imitated ...
... irom d-, neg., p,optf,ij, shape. amoctise. F. amoetir, amoetiss-, from d and maet, death. For iorm ci. adveetise and MedL. amoetisare. In ME. to alienate in mortmain. Sense oi extinguishing a debt is quite mod. (NED 188s) and is imitated ...
Page 51
... . annihilate. annular. L. annularis, from annulus, ring. annunciation. See announce. anode [etectr.]. Positive pole. G. acoSos, way up, from ooos, way. Cf. cathode. 53 anodyne anthracite 54 anodyne. L., G. drwSWos, painless, irom.
... . annihilate. annular. L. annularis, from annulus, ring. annunciation. See announce. anode [etectr.]. Positive pole. G. acoSos, way up, from ooos, way. Cf. cathode. 53 anodyne anthracite 54 anodyne. L., G. drwSWos, painless, irom.
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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