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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... spelling is usual, but this depends usually on the edition consulted. Occasionally (c.g. coxen) the original Shahespearean spelling is given for otymological reasons. There are at present two schools of otymologists, the phonetic and ...
... spelling is usual, but this depends usually on the edition consulted. Occasionally (c.g. coxen) the original Shahespearean spelling is given for otymological reasons. There are at present two schools of otymologists, the phonetic and ...
Page 5
... spelling ab- homin-. So Holofernes: This is abhominable, which he would call ahominable (Look Lab. Lost, v. i). abarigines. L., from art origine. First applied to original inhabitants of Greece and Italy. abortion. From L. ahoriri ...
... spelling ab- homin-. So Holofernes: This is abhominable, which he would call ahominable (Look Lab. Lost, v. i). abarigines. L., from art origine. First applied to original inhabitants of Greece and Italy. abortion. From L. ahoriri ...
Page 7
... spelling, the -s- hecoming mute in early OF. Feele such a case, as one whom some ahisme, In the deep ocean hept had all his time (Drummond of Hawthomden, 1616). ahyss. See ahysm. ac-. For ad- hefore c-. acacia. L., G. ajeaxta., proh ...
... spelling, the -s- hecoming mute in early OF. Feele such a case, as one whom some ahisme, In the deep ocean hept had all his time (Drummond of Hawthomden, 1616). ahyss. See ahysm. ac-. For ad- hefore c-. acacia. L., G. ajeaxta., proh ...
Page 9
... spelling of account (q.v.). accord. F. accorder, VL. *accordare, from corda, harp-string, hut affected in sense hy association with cor, cord-, heart. Cf. concord, discord. Hence accordion, invented at Vienna (18z9), with ending ...
... spelling of account (q.v.). accord. F. accorder, VL. *accordare, from corda, harp-string, hut affected in sense hy association with cor, cord-, heart. Cf. concord, discord. Hence accordion, invented at Vienna (18z9), with ending ...
Page 11
... spelling for a-hnow- ledge. This is app. due to confusion hetween the ME. verhs hnowlechen and ahnowen, AS. oncnawan, to perceive. See hnow, hnowledge. acme. G. O.x/tI^, point. Usu. printed in G. latters up to 18 cent. acne [med ...
... spelling for a-hnow- ledge. This is app. due to confusion hetween the ME. verhs hnowlechen and ahnowen, AS. oncnawan, to perceive. See hnow, hnowledge. acme. G. O.x/tI^, point. Usu. printed in G. latters up to 18 cent. acne [med ...
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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