Author: Lexico

Word of the Day: CLODPATE

ETYMOLOGY
from clod (lump) + pate (head)

EXAMPLE
“… VVHat Clod-pates, Thenot, are our Brittish swains,
How lubber-like they loll upon the plains?
No life, no spirit in ’em; every Clown
Soone as he layes his Hook and Tarbox down,
That ought to take his Reed, and chant his layes,
Or nimbly run the winding of the Maze,
Now gets a bush to roam himselfe, and sleepe;
Tis hard to know the shepheard from the sheepe. …”

From: By Thomas Randall/Randolph
in: Annalia Dubrensia, vpon the yeerely celebration of Mr. Robert Dovers Olimpick Games vpon Cotswold-Hills, 1636
Edited by Alexander Grosart, 1877

Word of the Day: PROTREPTICAL

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin protrepticus or its etymon ancient Greek προτρεπτικός (hortatory, instructive) < προ- (pro-) + Greek τρεπτικός (causing change in),
from Greek τρεπτός (liable to be turned or changed)
(from τρέπειν (to turn, direct the course of) + ‑τός)) + ‑ικός (‑ic) + -al

EXAMPLE
“… For the matter, we find, that these words are joyned with the antecedent Doctrine concerning the Excellency of Christ both as Prophet and Priest; and so it’s the second part of the whole, which is, 1. Doctrinal. 2. Practical. For, the former part is didascalical, this latter protreptical and more practical. But if we consider the immediate Connexion, then it will appear, that it’s in a more special manner joyned with the Doctrine of Christ’s Priest-hood, …”

From: An exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrewes 
By George Lawson, 1662

Word of the Day: OBJICIENT

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin objicientem, present participle of objicere (to object)

EXAMPLE
“… Yet, it may be observed, in passing, such is precisely the discrepancy of which St. Thomas speaks, in the two passages which have been quoted in support of the objection. But the objicient may still press his difficulty. …”

From: The Metaphysics of the School
By Thomas Harper, 1879
Book III. Attributes of Being
Chapter III. Truth 
Proposition LXXXIII. Every Being, as such, is true.

Word of the Day: COCKLEBELL

ETYMOLOGY
apparently originally from cock (an edible bivalve mollusc found on the coasts of Britain, probably a cockle, obs.) + bell

EXAMPLE (for n. 2)
“… My beard had sometimes yce on it as big as my little finger, my breath turning into many cock-bells as I walked…”

From: The Bargrave MS. Diary, 1645
in A Dictionary of the Kentish Dialect and Provincialisms in use in the County of Kent
By William Douglas Parish, & William Francis Shaw, 1887

Word of the Day: BELAMOUR

ETYMOLOGY
from French bel (fair) + amour (love)

EXAMPLE (for n. 1)
“… Loe loe how braue she decks her bounteous boure,
  With silken curtens and gold couerlets,
  Therein to shrowd her sumptuous Belamoure,
  Yet neither spinnes nor cardes, ne cares nor frets,
But to her mother Nature all her care she lets. …”

From: The Faerie Queene
By Edmund Spenser, 1590

Word of the Day: MALIFEROUS

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin malus (bad) + -ferous (bearing, producing)

EXAMPLE
“… I had really forgotten to mention that gallant, fine-hearted soldier, who – as I heard to my infinite regret, shared by every one who knew his kindly, honest, genial nature – fell a victim to the maliferous climate of China! …”

From: From: My Diary in India,  In the Year 1858-9,
By William Howard Russell, Volume I, 1860
Cowasjee’s Shop

Word of the Day: HARE-HEARTED

ETYMOLOGY
from hare + hearted

EXAMPLE
“… Two right Hare-harted coward Fooles,
Would end their wrath with Cutlers tooles,
And two moft fhifting Knaues intends,
To make thofe Cowards louing friends:
One goes to th’one, and tell’s him tother,
Vowes he doth loue him as his Brother;
And would a Supper on him fpend :
That Cuppes of Sacke their ftrife might end, …”

From: A Fooles Bolt is Soone Shot
By Samuel Rowlands, 1614