ETYMOLOGY
from shittle (obsolete, fickle, flighty, inconstant) + witted
EXAMPLE
“… I am aferd þat Jon of Sparham js so schyttyl-wyttyd þat he wyl sett hys gode to morgage to Heydon, or to sum oþer of vwre gode frendys, but jf I can hold hym jnne þe better ere ȝe kom hom…”
From: Paston Letters and Papers of the Fifteenth Century
Margaret Paston to Jon Paston, 1448
ETYMOLOGY
from Italian suasivo (suasive, having the power of persuading or urging) + -ious
EXAMPLE
“…Who is most merciful, bountiful, and liberal, and willing to helpe and further you, in your intended loues, burning desires, and high conceites. Plucke vp a good heart, man, come let vs goe on.
With pleasurable actions, maydenly iestures, swasiuious behauiours, girlish sportes, wanton regardes, and with sweet vvords they ledde mee on thither, beeing vvel content vvith euerie present action, but that my Polia vvas not there to the suppliment of my felicitie, and to haue been the sixt person in the making vp of a perfect number. …”
From: Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame
By Francesco Colonna
Translated by Robert Dallington, 1592
ETYMOLOGY
from snoozle (to nestle and sleep or doze) + -dom
EXAMPLE
“…There are times with us all, when in a concave mirror we see a minute distorted into long hours; and, again, in the convex glass the long hours dwindle to a point. When summoned by peremptory duty from a warm bed upon a keen, frosty morning, how precious are the last five minutes of snoozledom! You live introspectively all through them; you chew the cud of your own cosiness. …”
From: The Casquet of Literature, a Selection in Poetry and Prose
Edited by C. Gibbon, 1873
‘The Philosophy of Sorrow’
By D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin splendidus (bright, glittering, splendid) + -ious
EXAMPLE
“…Of whom Gregorius Naz[i]anzen spekethe, seyenge, “Suche men reprove liȝhtely straunge thinges, but vnnethe with grete difficulte thei folowe goode thynges.” Wherefore y seenge the poverte and insufficience of my connynge after so splendidious laboures dredde to proferre a raw thynge with bareyne eloquence and to purpose as a thynge bytter to so mellifluous delices….”
From: Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis
By Ranulf Higden
Translated by John Trevisa, a1475
ETYMOLOGY
from same (adj.) + -ly
EXAMPLE
“…and by making judicious openings, so as to break straight lines, and separate parts that were in some places too heavy and samely: so that the same extent of land has now not only a much larger appearance, but exhibits a much greater variety of ground …”
From: Transactions of the Society of instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce;
with Premiums offered in the Year 1799. Vol. XVII.
ETYMOLOGY
from slim (adj.) + slack (adj.)
EXAMPLE
“…Thou planter of Amfrisus, inhabiter of Parnassus, louer of Helicone; lord of fount Caballyne, patrone of the Laurell, inuentor of the Harpe, master of Astrologie, and prince of Phisicke, helpe these poore slimslacks, who haue need of internal remedies, for the restitution of their disturbed braine, destitute witte, obfuscate vnderstanding, lost memorie: …”
From: translation of The Hospitall of Incurable Fooles
By Tomaso Garzoni, 1600
ETYMOLOGY
from sister + fold (a clasp or embrace, obs.)
EXAMPLE
“…Are these of such fantastic mould,
Seen distant down the fair arcade,
These Maids enlink’d in sister-fold,
Who late at bashful distance staid,
Now tripping from the greenwood shade,
Nearer the musing champion draw,
And, in a pause of seeming awe,
Again stand doubtful now? …”
From: The Bridal of Triermain
By Walter Scott, 1813
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin stratioticus (characteristic of a soldier), and its etymon ancient Greek στρατιωτικoς (military, warlike), from στρατιώτης stratiote (a Greek soldier) + ‑ικός (‑ic)
EXAMPLE
“…The Theoric board dominated the financial administration, as later on Demosthenes’ own Stratiotic board did.…”
From: The Olynthiac Speeches of Demosthenes
By Terrot Reaveley Glover, 1897
ETYMOLOGY
from sack + pants
EXAMPLE
“…I left the brig at 10 ½ A.M. with but five dogs and a load so light as to be hardly felt.
It required some suggestive incident to show us how we have gradually become assimilated in our habits to the necessities of our peculiar life. Such an incident I find in my equipment. Compare it with similar sledge outfits of last winter and you will see that we are more than half Esquimaux. It consists of —
1. One small sledge, five feet six by two.
2. An extra jumper and sack pants for sleeping.
3. A ball of raw walrus meat. This is all …”
From: Arctic Explorations:
The Second Grinnell Expedition
In Search of Sir John Franklin, 1853, ’54, ’55
Journey in Search of Hans. Tuesday Apr. 10.
By Elisha Kent Kane, 1856
ETYMOLOGY
from switch + tail
EXAMPLE 1 (for n.1)
“…she was observed to ride forth in a Cavalcade somewhat extraordinary pleasant , viz. a good rich Velvet Saddle, and fashionable upon a sorry Horse with a Switch-Tail that us’d to carry Lime, and not Ladies; A gentile Surtout or riding-Suit; with her Shoulders warmly wrapt up in a good White Serge whittle: A pretty handsome Commode of the newest fashion, upon which was gracefully plac’d a good homely Straw Hat, with a long Pole like a Sugar Loaf, so that Cit and Bumpkin seem’d never better met or set off since the Creation …”
From: The Adventures of the Helvetian Hero, with the Young Countess of Albania;
Or, The Amours of Armadorus and Vicentina: a Novel
Unknown author, 1694
EXAMPLE 2 (for n. 2.)
“…I can look a gangster in the eye and make him change his mind, but I can’t do a thing with a woman no more. At one time I had nine big switch-tail women on my personal payroll, and they all stole from me, picked me clean. Buzzards!
From: McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon
By Joseph Mitchell, 1943
Lexicophilia 