Category: Word of the Day – A

ETYMOLOGY
from allo- (comb. form) + ‑nymous, perhaps after French allonyme (see allonym n.).

EXAMPLE
“… With regard to their authors, books are
(1.) Allonymous; those published under the real name of some author of reputation, to whom consequently works are attributed which he never composed. – Such was the Book on Antiquities published by Annius of Viterbo, at Rome, in 1498, in folio; and again in 1542, in octavo. In this compilation, Annius has been charged with fabricating works falsely attributed to Xenophon, Philo, and other antient authors. …”

From: An Introduction to the Study of Bibliography: to which is Prefixed a Memoir on the Public Libraries of the Antients
By Thomas Hartwell Horne, 1814

PRONUNCIATION
al-ON-uh-muhss

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin assentaneus (from assentiri (to assent)) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“… The bowels of Sir Thomas waxed tenderer and tenderer; and he opened his lips in this fashion :
“Stripling! I would now communicate unto thee, on finding thee docile and assentaneous, the instruction thou needest on the signification of the words natural cause, if thy duty toward thy neighbour had been first instilled into thee. …”

From: Works Of Walter Savage Landor
By Walter Savage Landor, 1846
“Citation and Examination of William Shakespeare“, 1834

ETYMOLOGY
from a- (prefix) + goggled (of the eyes: protuberant, prominent)

EXAMPLE
“… But it ‘s true, nevertheless. What would you say if a white mouse, or two of them, should save the life of your wife? “
“I would say it was wonderful,” replied the farmer, with eyes a-goggled by amazement. …”

From: Curious Storied Traditions of Scottish Life
By Alexander Leighton, 1860
“The Woman with the White Mice”

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin acclamat-, past participial stem of acclamare (to praise publicly and enthusiastically, to applaud)

EXAMPLE
“… that but for shame hee had drawne the Roman legions out of Britain, and so timorous of weapons, that Tiridates riueted his sword to the sheath thereof, for his assurance (because hee would not vnknightly yeeld to goe vngirt, though it were vpon condition, to receiue the diadem of Armenia) was now notwithstanding, with as shrill, and ioyous showts acclamated Imperator, as if in person hee had conquered Armenia by the sword….”

From: Nero Caesar, or, Monarchie Depraved
By Edmund Bolton, 1624

ETYMOLOGY
from. Greek ἀγαθός (agathos – good) + κακός (kakos – bad) + -logical

EXAMPLE
“… There may be an opposite fault; for indeed upon the agathokakological globe there are opposite qualities always to be found in parallel degrees, north and south of the equator. …”

From: The Doctor &c.
By Robert Southey

PRONUNCIATION
ag-uh-thoh-kack-uh-LOJ-uh-kuhl

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 Latin at-, ad- (to) + toxicare (to poison) + -ed

EXAMPLE
“… Who seeth and feeleth not, that oftentimes while Reason attendeth to Contemplation, a villanous passion of Loue withdraweth the attention, and with an attoxicated delight imprisoneth the Affection? Who perceiueth not, that diuers times Reason would pardon all iniuries, and Ire opposeth it selfe, importuning reuenge? …”

From: The Passions of the Minde
By Thomas Wright, 1604

ETYMOLOGY
from Middle French abrevier, from Latin abbreviare (to abbreviate, to shorten)

EXAMPLE
“… Fyrst, diuide the denominator by hys numerator, and if anye number doe remaine, let your diuisor be diuided by the same number, and so you must continue vntyll you haue so diuided yt there may nothing remaine, then is it to be vnderstande, that your last diuisor (wherat you did ende, and that 0. did remaine after your last diuision) is the greatest number, by the which you must abreuiat, as you did in the laste example, but in case that your last diuisor be 1. it is a token that the same number can not be abreuied. Example, of 54/11 diuide 81. (which is the denominator) by 54. which is his numerator, and there resteth 27. then diuide 54. by 27. and there remaineth nothing, wherefore your last diuisor 27. is the number, by the which you must abreuiat 54/81 as in the last example is specifyed. …”

From: The Welspring of Sciences, which teacheth the perfecte worke and practise of arithmeticke both in vvhole numbers & fractions
By Humfrey Baker, 1564
The thirde Chapter treateth of abbreuiation of one great broken number into a lesser broken

ETYMOLOGY
apparently from air (n.) + -ling 

EXAMPLE (for n. 1.)
“… Some more there be, slight ayrelings, will be wonne,
With dogs, and horses ; or, perhaps, a whore ;
Which must be had : and, if they venter Hues,
For vs, AVRELIA, we must hazard honors
A little. Get thee store, and change of women,
As I haue boyes; and giue ‘hem time, and place, And all conniuence : be thy selfe, too, courtly ;
And entertayne, and feast, sit vp, and reuell ;
Call all the great, the faire, and spirited Dames
Of Rome about thee ; and beginne a fashion
Of freedome, and community. …”

From: Catiline His Conspiracy
By Benjamin Jonson, 1611

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin adlevare, allevare (to lift up, raise, relieve, lighten),
from ad– + levare (to raise )

EXAMPLE
“… there was a plat devised by me and penned by Mr. Southwell, for the winter garrison in such season as th’ enemy could not keep the field, to th’ intent his Majesty’s charges might be aleived, and the victual spared until the year should open: at which time it was thought his Majesty would resolve with what numbers his pieces might be defended. …”

From: The Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
And of Sir Thomas Wyatt, The Elder
Edited by George Frederick Nott, 1815
Letter XXVI. The Earl of Surrey to Mr. Secretary Paget, 15 March, 1544