ETYMOLOGY
from Latin imbrifer (from imber (a shower))
EXAMPLE
“…at a time when large mountainous cumulostrati and cumuli appear more stationary, somewhat higher up, and when flimsy features of cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, and cirrus are visible in a region still more elevated. When this Scud is abundant we may be sure the imbriferous quality of the atmosphere remains, and we may expect a return of the showers…”
From: Researches about Atmospheric Phaenomena
By Thomas Forster, 1815
ETYMOLOGY
from gesture + -ous
EXAMPLE
“…vvhich hath learned to spoyle & deuour folk to make vvidovves, destroy their houses, & make their Cities desert. Some be as foyinge, gesturous, and counterfeicting of any thing by ymitacion as Apes. Some Forlyke, are suttle, wylie, deceiptfull, and crafty to entrappe and catche the innocent at aduauntage…”
From: The Touchstone of Complexions
By Levinus Lemnius
Translated by Thomas Newton, 1576
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin uxorius (from uxor (wife))
EXAMPLE
“…And gripe their wast within a narrow span:
Fond Caenis that would’dst wish to be a man;
Whose mannish Hus-wiues like their refuse state,
And make a drudge of their vxorius mate,
Who like a Cot-queene freezeth at the rocke,
Whiles his breach’t dame doth man the forren stock…”
From: Virgidemiarum. The three last bookes
By Joseph Hall, 1598
PRONUNCIATION
uk-SOR-ee-uhss
ETYMOLOGY
from leasing (lying, falsehood) + monger (a dealer, trader, or trafficker in a commodity
EXAMPLE
“…here abitis ben ful of lesyngis & þei ben but feyned & peyntid men of religion, & not only lesyngmongeris but pure lesyngis…”
From: The English works of Wyclif
c1380
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin vect-, ppl. stem of vehere (to carry)
EXAMPLE
There are many vectible devices available today.
ETYMOLOGY
probably from blow (vb.) + -viate
EXAMPLE
“…Peter P. Low, Esq., will with open throat…bloviate about the farmers being taxed upon the full value of their farms, while bankers are released from taxation…”
From: Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio)
October 14, 1845
PRONUNCIATION
BLOH-vee-ayt
ETYMOLOGY
irregular from Latin reficere (to rebuild, repair, restore) + -ate
EXAMPLE
“…Bay-berryes calefye much, siccate, attenuate, and discusse flatuosity: they are mixed with medicaments that reficiate the lassitude of the nerves; and with unguents, which calefye and resolve; their oyle expressed or elicited by decoction, deleats and cures scabs, blew places, wheales, and many faedityes of the skin, and discusses effused humours…”
From: A Medical Dispensatory; Containing the Whole Body of Physick
By Jean de Renou, 1657
ETYMOLOGY
dialect corruption of non compos mentis (not of sound mind)
EXAMPLE
“…Sa like a graät num-cumpus I blubber’d awaäy o ‘ the bed-
” Weänt niver do it naw moor; an ‘ Sally loookt up an ‘ she said ,
” I’ll upowd it tha weänt ; thou’rt laike the rest o ‘ the men,
Thou’ll goä sniffin ‘ about the tap till tha does it agëan.
Theer’s thy hennemy, man, an’ I knaws, as knaws tha sa well,
That, if tha seeäs ’im an’ smells ’im tha’ll foller ’im slick into Hell…”
From: The Complete Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson, 1882
Ballads and Other Poems
‘The Northern Cobbler’
ETYMOLOGY
from slap (to lap → Eng. dial.) + sauce
EXAMPLE
“…At dinner and supper the table doth craue
good fellowly neighbour good manner to haue.
Aduise thee well therefore, ere tongue be too free,
or slapsauce be noted too saucie to bee…”
From: Points of Huswifrie
In Fiue Hundreth Points of Good Husbandry
By Thomas Tusser, 1573
ETYMOLOGY
from un- + fortunable (favoured by fortune, fortunate → obs.)
EXAMPLE
“…Is not the Realme of Scotland rich ynough to nourish and to bring hir vp? by God, this manner of doing of king Lisuard is so vnfortunable and so farre out of reason, that I had rather die a hudreth fold (if it were possible) than not to be reuenged: and already I haue sent to my father to prouide therefore…”
From: Amadis de Gaula
Translated out of French into English by Thomas Paynell, 1567
Lexicophilia 