ETYMOLOGY
from Greek βόρβορος (filth) + -λογία (discoursing)
EXAMPLE
“… Evil words are not winde, as most imagine, but the devils drivell, that leaves a foul stain upon the speaker, and oft sets the like upon the hearer. Shun obscene borborology (saith one) and unsavoury speeches: thou losest so much of thine honesty and piety, as thou admittest evil into thy tongue. …”
From: A Commentary or Exposition upon all the Epistles, and the Revelation of John the Divine
By John Trapp, 1647
ETYMOLOGY
from tautology (unnecessary repetition of the same word, phrase, idea, argument, etc.; the saying of the same thing twice in different words), (from late Latin tautologia, from Greek ταὐτολογία, from ταὐτολόγος) + -ize
EXAMPLE
“… Although I am not ignorant that there be some which make two kindes of these Serpents, because of the two names rehearsed in the title, yet when they haue laboured to describe them seuerally, they can bring nothing or very little wherein their story doth not agree, so as to make twaine of them, or to handle them asunder, were but to take occasion to tautologize , or to speake one thing twice. …”
From: The Historie of Serpents. Or, The Second Booke of Liuing Creatures
By Edward Topsell, 1608
ETYMOLOGY
possibly from rhyming sl. “little Mary Kelly” = belly
EXAMPLE
“… But when two Acts and a -half have gained our hearts, and all the characters have won our admiration and compelled our sympathies, should we be harshly severe on one lapsus linguae? Is this to be for us a casus belli against Mr. Barrie? Decidedly not. Goodnatured British audiences have strong Little Maries. It is enough that the absurd persons on the stage should turn up their noses and resent the utterance of the objectionable word so simply and prettily pronounced by innocent dainty Moira, without the audience imitating their stupid example. …”
From: Punch, or The London Charivari
October 14, 1903
Dr. Barrie’s “Little Minister” of the Interior
ETYMOLOGY
from cacophonie, from Greek kakophonia from kakophonos from kakos (bad) + phone (sound)
EXAMPLE
“… ”Every thing,” said she, ”depends on the sound of the name. He would be ruined forever, should I call him by any low, vulgar, or common-sounding name. It must be something lofty and cacophonious. Jupiter? Let me see-— Jupiter was the Gineral of the heathen gods— so that won’t do. …”
From: The Life and Adventures of Dr. Dodimus Duckworth
By Asa Greene, 1833
ETYMOLOGY
from womb (the abdomen or abdominal cavity of a person or animal; the belly, obs.) + joy
EXAMPLE
“… for bischopis, munkis & chanons sillen þe perfeccion of cristis pouert & his apostlis, & also trewe prechynge for a litil stynkyng muk or drit, & worldli lordschipe, & wombe ioie and idelnesse …”
From: The English Works of Wyclif hitherto unprinted
By John Wyclif, c1430
Edited by Frederic David Matthew, 1880
ETYMOLOGY
of uncertain origin;
possibly from Nanny, pet-form of the female forenames Anne and Agnes with suffix ‑cock
EXAMPLE
“… Hee that doth wonder at a Weathercocke,
And plaies with euery feather in the winde,
And is in loue with euery Nannicocke;
Yet scarcely knowes an Orange by the Rinde:
When euery Foole is found out in his Kinde,
How is it possible but he should passe,
For a poore silly simple witted Asse?…”
From: Pasquils Fooles-Cap sent to such (to keepe their weake braines warme) as are not able to conceiue aright of his mad-cap,
By Nicholas Breton, 1600
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin perendinat-, past participial stem of perendinare (to defer until the day after tomorrow, to postone for a day) from perendinus ((the day) after to-morrow), from perendie (on the day after to-morrow) + -inus, or from peren- + din- (day)
EXAMPLE (for vb. 1.)
The chairman of the board perendinated the meeting so that all members would be able to attend.
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin amicitia (friendship), (from amicus (friend)) + -al
EXAMPLE
“… What M. Ellis denyeth to be the question.
1. He saith it is not meant of the essential onenesse.
Answ. But this is meant, and is the foundation of the other.
2. It is not (saith he) meant of engagement to mutual care one of another.
Answ. Not amicitial or fraternal only, but authoritative, the greater part to regulate the lesse. …”
From: A Vindication of the Essence and Unity of the Church Catholike Visible, and the priority thereof in regard of particular churches in answer to the objections made against it
By Samuel Hudson, 1650
PRONUNCIATION
am-uh-SISH-uhl
ETYMOLOGY
from the name of the chief character (Ralph Royster Doyster) in Nicholas Udall’s comic play, based upon roister (a boisterous or noisy reveller), written about 1533
EXAMPLE
“… The terriblest tearmes may be repayed-home with aduauntage: I haue knowen the raylingest Sophister in an Vniuersity, sett non plus: and haue seene the mad-braynest Roister-doister in a countrey, dashte out of countenaunce. …”
From: Foure Letters, and Certaine Sonnets especially touching Robert Greene, and other parties, by him abused
By Gabriel Harvey, 1592
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin vectitare freq. of vectare (to carry, convey)
EXAMPLE
“… Heaven forbid that, in this country, which enjoys the blessing of a regular Government, the bodies of Turks should be applied to vectitory purposes, but I can assure you that, with a party of my friends, I lately sailed to Richmond on a kepper-salmon and a flitch of Wiltshire bacon, which formed an admirable raft. …”
From: The Examiner
A Sunday Paper, on Politics, Domestic Economy, and Theatricals, for the Year 1822
To the Editor of The Traveller, Whitchall, Jan 1, 1822
Lexicophilia 