Category: Word of the Day – M

ETYMOLOGY
probably from Angloromani (English Romani) mónoshi (woman, wife),
from Romani månuš (man) + -ī (feminine suffix)

EXAMPLE
“…I was standing near the prosecutor’s shew-glass, talking to a young man; the prisoner and another came to the glass, where I saw the medal lying: I saw them point at it; the other said, it would just do for him, and bid the prisoner look who was in the shop; he answered there was a Monisher in the shop; I suppose a cant word for a woman: Mrs. Storey was there: they went in; then I went into the house where I live; they came out in about three or four minutes: I went after them to the corner, and saw them running along Leicester-fields as fast as they could: I came back, and asked Mrs. Storey whether that medal was gold? she said it was she looked, and it was gone…”

From: The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London’s Central Criminal Court
18th September, 1765

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin maximus (greatest) + -ious

EXAMPLE
“…The pointment kept, and Skelton, seying the sumptuous coste, more pertaynyng for an emperoure or a maxymyous kynge, then for suche a man as he was (although cardynals wyll compare wyth kyngs)…”

From: Merie Tales of Skelton, 1567

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin mactat-, past participial stem of mactare (to slay, to honour with sacrifice)

EXAMPLE
“…As has been shown, it is historically true that a vulgar opinion to the effect that CHRIST was separately mactated in the sacrifices of masses prevailed at the time of the Reformation, which opinion being perfectly analogous to that which the Apostle combats, nothing could be more appropriate than to quote his teaching in condemnation of it…”

From: Answers for the Right Rev. Dr. Alexander Penrose Forbes,
Bishop of Brechin
To the Presentment Against Him
William Henderson, 1860

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin meditabundus, 
from meditari (to meditate) + -bundus (suffix forming verbal adjectives)

EXAMPLE
“…While this he spoke, his Horse he lights off,
And with his Handkerchief he dights off
Tears from his eyes, then on the ground
He grovelling lyes meditabound,
His Horses grievous succussation
Had so excoriat his Foundation,
That till the Hide his Hips did come on,
The earth he could not set his Burn on…”

From: Mock Poem,
Or, Whiggs Supplication
– Samuel Colvil, 1681

ETYMOLOGY
from main (physical strength, force or power + -ful

EXAMPLE
“…To eke (increase) this that he so mighty and mainful, he is loveliest life for to look upon, and sweetest to smell, nor his sweet savour nor his almighty might…”

From: Seinte Marharete Modernized
Saint Margaret the Maiden and Martyr

ETYMOLOGY
from mis- (expressing negation of something good or desirable) 
+ queem, queme (to please)

EXAMPLE
“…The kings law wol no man deme
Angerliche without answere:
But if any man these misqueme,
He shall be baighteth as a bere:
And yet wel worse they wol him tere,
And in prison woll him pende,
In giues, and in other gere.
When God woll, it may amend…”

From: The Ploughman’s Tale, c1535

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin minorātus, past participle of minorāre (to make less)

EXAMPLE
“…When forsoþ þe sanie þat first was indigeste goþ out digeste & minorate, i. lessed
[?c1425 Paris lesse; L. minorata], it is signe þat þe fistule is mortified…”

From: Guy de Chauliac’s Grande Chirurgie. a1425

ETYMOLOGY
from marine (adj.) + –orama, after panorama

EXAMPLE
“…the sea fell bravely upon the the reef with a low and soothing moan; a passion-vine that half veiled the tranquil marinorama bathed its splendid blossoms in the afterglow…”

From: South-sea Idyls
– Charles Warren Stoddard, 1873