ETYMOLOGY
from ill + tongue + ‑ed
EXAMPLE
“… Man iltunged, ai spekand,
Noght righted sal be in land;
Vnrightwise man, at his endinge
Take sal him iuels in steruinge. …”
From: The Surtees Psalter
Rhymed Middle English psalter dating from 1250 to 1300
ETYMOLOGY
either from niffle (to act in a trifling manner) + ‑ing,
or from nifle (a trifle) + ‑ing
EXAMPLE
“…There are some that are so forestalled with a strong self-conceit of their own light and love of self-will, that whatsoever bears not the stamp and superscription of their approved patrons, schools and institutions, is but as darkness and nifling shadows unto them, and ungrounded prejudice, cavilling superstition, and vain suspicion do so much possess them, that they reject it as not worth the reading over; …”
From: The Epistles of Jacob Boehme
Translated by J. Ellistone, 1649
Preface to the reader
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin correctus + -fy
EXAMPLE
“… It is not to be a Justice of Peace as you are, and palter out your time i’th’ penal Statutes. To hear the curious Tenets controverted between a Protestant Constable, and Jesuite Cobler; to pick Natural Philosophy out of Bawdry, when your Worship’s pleas’d to correctifie a Lady; nor ’tis not the main Moral of blind Justice, (which is deep Learning) when your Worships Tenants bring a light cause, and heavy Hens before ye, both fat and feeble, a Goose or Pig; and then you’ll sit like equity with both hands weighing indifferently the state o’th’ question. These are your Quodlibets, but no Learning, Brother. …”
From: The Elder Brother a comedie
By John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, 1637
ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin;
possibly from maffle (to talk or act in a silly manner)
EXAMPLE
“… If I had a souple-jack in my hand, wouldn’t I ken whaar to lay it. Don’t ye stand there ogglin’ like a gowk, ye strackle-brain’d scollops! Not a word out o yer head. I’ll hae nane o’ yer miff-maff here. Sarts! it’s bonny doins; fires out, and narra pittayta, and the best pou’t o’ the lot stole, and you sittin’ here croodlin’ in a scog! …”
From: The Shorter Works of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
The Bird of Passage, 1838
ETYMOLOGY
from caper (a frolicsome leap) + witted (relating to wit or intelligence)
EXAMPLE
“… I have stood by his Table often, when I was about the Age of Two and twenty Years, and from thence forward, and have heard learned Pieces read before him at his Dinners, which I thought strange; but a Chaplain of James Mantague, Bishop of Winton, told me, that the Bishop had read over unto him the four Tomes of Cardinal Bellarmine’s Controversies at those Respites, when his Majesty took fresh Air, and weighed the Objections and Answers of that sub∣tle Author, and sent often to the Libraries in Cambridge for Books, to examine his Quotations. Surely then, whatsoever any Caperwitted Man may observe, neither was the King’s Chastity stained, nor his Wisdom lull’d asleep, nor his Care of Government slackned, by Lodging in those Courts remote from London, where he was freer from Disturbances …”
From: Scrinia Reserata a memorial offer’d to the great deservings of John Williams, D. D.
By John Hacket, 1693
ETYMOLOGY
adj.: from Latin navigant-, navigans, present participle of navigare (to navigate)
n.: partly from French navigant, (navigator, seafarer) use as noun of present participle of naviguer (to navigate), and partly from Latin navigant-, navigans (seafarer) use as noun of present participle of navigare (to navigate)
EXAMPLE (for n.)
“… And now to declare something of the commodity and vtilitie of this Nauigation and discouerie: it is very cleere and certaine, that the Seas that commonly men say, without great danger, difficulty and perill, yea rather it is impossible to passe, that those same Seas be nauigable and without anie such danger, but that shippes may passe and haue in them perpetuall clerenesse of the day without any darkenesse of the night: which thing is a great commoditie for the nauigants, to see at all times round about them, as well the safegards as dangers, and how great difference it is betweene the commoditie and perils of other which leese the most part of euery foure and twentie houres the said light, and goe in darkenesse groping their way, I thinke there is none so ignorant but perceiueth this more plainely, then it can be expressed. …”
From: The Principal Nauigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoueries of the English Nation, made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres
By Richard Hakluyt
A declaration of the Indies and lands discouered, and subdued vnto the Emperour, and the king of Portingal: And also of other partes of the Indies and rich countries to be discouered, which the worshipfull M. Robert Thorne merchant of London (who dwelt long in the citie of Siuil in Spaine exhorted king Henrie the eight to take in hand. a1527
ETYMOLOGY
from ob- + Latin dulcorat-, past participial stem of dulcorare (to sweeten),
from dulcor-em (sweetness), from dulcis (sweet)
EXAMPLE
“… Now election of Medicaments may be made from Odour, for this cause, because a sweet oppleasant smell refreshes the spirits, restores strength and vigour to them, exhilarates the principal members and parts, and corroborates their faculties. An ill and stinking smell on the contrary burthens and aggravates the head, vexes the heart, subverts the ventricle, infects the spirits, moves a loathing, causes grievous and laborious purgings, and oftentimes vomitings. And therefore such purging Medicaments are obdulcorated with cordial Electuaries, whereby their ingratefull odour is amended, and the principal parts fortressed against the malign quality of these Medicaments; for all odoriferous Spices are the fountain and principle of life. …”
From: A Medicinal Dispensatory, containing the whole body of physick discovering the natures, properties, and vertues of vegetables, minerals, & animals
By Jean de Renou
Translated by Richard Tomlinson, 1657
ETYMOLOGY
from grizzle (to grin or laugh [Eng. dial.]) + ???
EXAMPLE
“… Bed-blonket akether! Ha! zey zitch a word more, chell cotton thy wastecoat. Chell thong tha, chell gi’ tha zitch a strat in tha chups, ya grizzledemundy. …”
From: The Gentleman’s Magazine
Volume 16, 1746
An Exmoor Scolding; In the Propriety and Decency of Exmoor Language, between two Sisters
ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin
EXAMPLE (for n. 1.)
“… Eh man, but ye maun be an unco docus to mistak the yowlin’ o’ a wheen dougs for the squeelin’ o’ ghaists an’ deevils ! I wonner what ye made o’ the twa grumphies it ye had row’t up amang your falalls; gin ye thought it they war young de’ils or what, snoukin’ for a sappy emmeldyug about the harigals o’ ye. …”
From: Saint Patrick: A National Tale of the Fifth Century
By J. Rennie, 1819
ETYMOLOGY
from Greek kimbix (tightfisted person)
EXAMPLE
“… for hee that saith unto a rich and great monied man, that he will be his broker, and helpe him to some usurers of whom he may take up mony at interest; or unto a sober person, who drinketh nothing but water, that he is a drunkard, or hath taken his wine too liberally; or he that calleth a liberall man, well knowen to spend magnificently, and ready to pleasure all men, a base mechanicall kumbix, and a pinching peni-father; or he who threatneth a famous advocate or counsellor at the barre, who hath a great name for lawe and eloquence in all courts of plea, and besides for policie and government is in high authoritie, that he will bring him to a non-sute, or overthrow him judicially, he (I say) ministreth matter of good spirit and laughter unto the partie whom he seemeth so to chalenge or menace. …”
From: The Philosophie, Commonlie called, The Morals
By Plutarch
Translated by Philemon Holland, 1603
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