ETYMOLOGY
from sable (black) + -ize
EXAMPLE
“…Some chroniclers that write of kingdom’s states,
Do so absurdly sableize my white
With maskes, and interludes, by day and night,
Bald may games, beare baytings, and poore orations,
Made to some prince, by some poore corporations. …”
From: The Scourge of Folly
By John Davies of Hereford, 1611
ETYMOLOGY
fancifully from solemn (adj.), after melancholy
EXAMPLE
[Dr. John Beatty to Philip Fithian]
Philadelphia, December 18th, 1772
“… I rode that evening you left me as far as Cormans; being very Solemncholly and somewhat tired, I concluded to stay there all night; and very early next morning breakfasted at Gloucester and got into Philadelphia before Eleven of the clock …”
From: Journal and Letters
By Philip Vickers Fithian, 1900
ETYMOLOGY
from Old French solacieus (soulaceus, etc.),
from solas (solace, comfort, consolation)
EXAMPLE
“… þou allone most swete & most solacious, þou allone most faire & most louely, þou allone most noble and most gloriose, …”
From: Translation of Thomas à Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, c1450
ETYMOLOGY
from sinister: from Old French senestre, sinistre or Latin sinister (left, left-hand)
EXAMPLE
“… That which still makes her mirth to flow,
Is our sinister-handed woe,
Which downwards on its head doth go,
And, ere that it is sown, doth grow.
This makes her spleen contract,
And her just pleasure feast:
For the unjustest act
Is still the pleasant’st jest. …”
From: Lucasta: Posthume Poems
Lucasta Laughing
By Richard Lovelace, a1657
ETYMOLOGY
from segge (to say) + -er
EXAMPLE (for n.1.)
“… As yoe are a lorde most lofsom of lyre
Vndir sir Pilate that lyfis in this empire,
Ȝone segger that callis hymselffe a sire
With tresoure and tene sall we taste hym.
Of yoone losell his bale schall he brewe,
Do trottes on for that traytoure apas
In hast. …”
From: York Mysteries, c1440
The Agony and Betrayal
ETYMOLOGY
from sniffle (vb.) + -er
EXAMPLE (for n. 1.)
“… Gin this be courting, well I wat ’tis clear,
I gat na sik a teazle this seven year :
Sae ye maun gee your answer now perqueer,
I maunna ilka day be coming here,
To get sic sniflers ; courting’s nae a jest.
Another day like this’ll be my priest.’ …”
From: Helenore: Or the Fortunate Shepherdess, a Pastoral Tale
By Alexander Ross, 1768
ETYMOLOGY
of obscure origin
EXAMPLE
“… I squarkyn, I burne the utter part of a thyng agaynst the fyer, or roste mete unkyndly, je ars …”
From: Lesclarcissement de la langue Francoyse
By John Palsgrave, 1530
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin sudat-, past participial stem of sudare (to sweat)
EXAMPLE
“… Take five Wallenuttes with their shelles, glowe them in the fyere then proiecte them in a gobblet with oulde wine, cover the same least the vigor therof exhalate. Drincke then the Wine as warm as you may, & then rest theron, and cause yourselfe to be well deckede, because you might sudate, and it will helpe. …”
From: The Boock of Physicke
By Oswald Gaebelkhover
Translated by A.M., 1599
ETYMOLOGY
possibly from Old French estoutoier, estoteier (to fall into disorder)
EXAMPLE
“… Þo cried þat freoly foode:
“Whi spille ȝe innocens bloode?”
And alle þei stoteyd and stoode,
Þis ferlys to frayne. …”
From: The Pistill of Susan – a Middle English adaptation of the Old Testament Apocryphal book The History of Susanna, a1400
ETYMOLOGY
from Old English smicer (possessing charm and attractive; beautiful)
EXAMPLE 1 (for adj. 1)
“… Þatt wollde ben effninng wiþþ Godd
Abufenn alle shaffte,
Þurrh whatt he fell off heffne dun
Inntill niþ hellepine,
& warrþ till atell defell þær
Off shene & smikerr enngell. …”
From: The Ormulum (Burchfield transcript), c1175
EXAMPLE 2 (for vb. 1)
“…Humph. This will not pass; for, though I’m stuft in the head, yet I can blow my Nose as well as another to smell things out. No, no, I see I may make love long enough before you smicker at me. You may e’en keep your Portion, I shall find my Land in the old Place. …”
From: The Man’s the Master, a comedy
By Sir William D’Avenant, 1668
Lexicophilia 