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 78
Page 11
... sense cf. myrmidon, satellite. aconite. Monhshood. L. aconitum, G. OJgOVITOV. Origin unhnown (see Pliny, Hist. Nat. z7. 1o). acorn. Mod. spelling is due to the word heing regarded as oah (AS. ac) corn, hut app. it is related to neither ...
... sense cf. myrmidon, satellite. aconite. Monhshood. L. aconitum, G. OJgOVITOV. Origin unhnown (see Pliny, Hist. Nat. z7. 1o). acorn. Mod. spelling is due to the word heing regarded as oah (AS. ac) corn, hut app. it is related to neither ...
Page 73
... (cf. arch1). Right so hitwixe a titleless tiraont And an outlawe, or a theef crraunt, The same I seye, thcr is no difference (Chauc. H. zz3). arras. From Arras (Pas-de-Calais), place of manufacture. App. not hnown in F. in this sense. Cf ...
... (cf. arch1). Right so hitwixe a titleless tiraont And an outlawe, or a theef crraunt, The same I seye, thcr is no difference (Chauc. H. zz3). arras. From Arras (Pas-de-Calais), place of manufacture. App. not hnown in F. in this sense. Cf ...
Page 81
... cf. Du. exel, Ger. esel, ON. asm, Goth, asilus. Cogn. forms in Celt, and Slav. langs All from L. asinus, proh. of Semit. origin. The Asses' Bridge or Pans Asinorum (Euclid i. 5) is mentioned in 18 cent., hut hridge of asses in gen. sense ...
... cf. Du. exel, Ger. esel, ON. asm, Goth, asilus. Cogn. forms in Celt, and Slav. langs All from L. asinus, proh. of Semit. origin. The Asses' Bridge or Pans Asinorum (Euclid i. 5) is mentioned in 18 cent., hut hridge of asses in gen. sense ...
Page 87
... sense of start. Cf. apeah. atrocious. From L. atrox, atroc-, cogn. with ater, darh, treacherous. atrophy. F. atrophie, L., G. arpo^ia, from a-, neg., Tpetfretr, to nourish. atropine. Poison. From atropa, hotanical name of the night ...
... sense of start. Cf. apeah. atrocious. From L. atrox, atroc-, cogn. with ater, darh, treacherous. atrophy. F. atrophie, L., G. arpo^ia, from a-, neg., Tpetfretr, to nourish. atropine. Poison. From atropa, hotanical name of the night ...
Page 103
... sense of valueless ohject. Cf. trifle (q.v.) and ohs. nifle, proh. F. nefle, medlar. Cf. also the proh. cogn. F. haguenaude (v.i.). hagatelle: & toy, nifle, trifle, thing of small velue (Cotg.). haguenaudes: hladder nuts, S. Anthonies ...
... sense of valueless ohject. Cf. trifle (q.v.) and ohs. nifle, proh. F. nefle, medlar. Cf. also the proh. cogn. F. haguenaude (v.i.). hagatelle: & toy, nifle, trifle, thing of small velue (Cotg.). haguenaudes: hladder nuts, S. Anthonies ...
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