Category: Word of the Day – T

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin temporaneus (timely, opportune), from tempus, tempor- (time) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“…For the further clearing of which there are these two things required 
1. To shew how the necessary Functions of life may be conserved and kept up while the Soul is 
separate from the Body 
2. To consider what those things are which may cause a Temporaneous disunion and disjunction of 
the Soul from the Body First then it will not seem at all strange that the principal Functions of life 
should be performed for some time without the presence of the Soul to them who will admit of the 
principles of the Cartesian Philosophy …”

From: Melampronoea,
or, A discourse of the polity and kingdom of darkness together with a solution of the chiefest objections brought against the being of witches
By Henry Hallywell, 1681

ETYMOLOGY
irregularly from Latin terra (earth) + culture

EXAMPLE
“…We venture at the outset to introduce a new term, and that for the only justifiable reason, viz: because there is no single word heretofore in use in our language expressive of the idea we wish to express. Agriculture is the culture of the field, and includes the operations of farming or the tillage of large portions of land. Horticulture is the culture of the garden, and has reference to the production of kitchen vegetables, fruits and flowers. We have often felt at a loss for a word to include all these, and as Terraculture, or the culture of the earth, exactly expresses the idea, and as it is derived from the Latin in a manner exactly similar to the other terms, we think there must result a decided advantage from its introduction. It comprehends all things which are produced from the earth, by the labor of man and beast, through the agency of vegetable life. Every thing that germinates and grows by receiving its nourishment from the soil, belongs to this department…”

From: The Franklin Farmer,
Devoted to Improvements in the Science of Agriculture, the Practice of Husbandry, and the Mind, Morals, and Interests, of the Cultivators of the Soil.
Vol. I., Edited by Tho. B. Stevenson, 1837-8

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin tentigo, -inis, (a tension, lecherousness) + –ous

EXAMPLE
“…O wife, the rarest man! yet there’s another
To put you in mind o’ the last.
Such a brave man, wife!
Within, he has his projects, and do’s vent ‘hem,
The gallantest! where you tentiginous? ha?
Would you be acting of the Incubus?
Did her silkes rustling move you?…”

From: The Divell is an Asse A Comedie
By Ben Jonson
First performed 1616
First published In Workes of Benjamin Jonson, 1631

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin tacentem, present participle of tacere (to be silent)

EXAMPLE
“…And although he was much angred thereat, yet he seemed to be glad: and because he would obliege him further, he went vvith all his Court. Great was the resort thither of Ladies & Knights, and at the Kings entrance there was a fair Tragedy, whose subject I will be tacent of.…”

From: The Loves and Adventures of Clerio & Lozia.: A Romance
By Antoine Du Périer
Translation by F. Kirkman, 1652

ETYMOLOGY
variant of taradiddle (a trifling falsehood, a petty lie)

EXAMPLE
“…Oh, don’t call them lies, sister; it’s such a strong, ugly word. Please call them tallydiddles, for I don’t believe she meant any harm. Besides – besides – if they should turn out to be truth? Really, sister, that’s the weight on my mind; so many things sounded as if they might be true…”

From: Wives & Daughters
By Elizabeth Gaskell, 1866

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin taciturnus (taciturn) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“…The Legate was more taciturnous, and seldom entered into conversation with the Embassador, who, very prudently, forbore to ask questions about China in his presence…”

From: An Historical Account of the Embassy to the Emperor of China
By Earl George Macartney Macartney, 1797

ETYMOLOGY
from toil (strife, turmoil, dispute) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“….R
to riotus, to reueling, ne rage not to rudeli.
S
to straunge, ne to stirynge, ne straungeli to stare.
T
to toilose, ne to talewijs, for temperaunce is beest.
V
to venemose, ne to veniable, & voide al vilonye.
W
to wielde, ne to wraþful, neiþer waaste, ne waade not to depe..”

From: Aristotle’s A B C
in The Babees Book,
Lambeth Manuscript. a1430

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin tussicus (afflicted with tussis a cough)

EXAMPLE
“…Phisition Mirus talkes of saliuation,
Of Tophes and Pustules, and Febricitation;
Who doth ingurgitate, who tussicate,
And who an vlcer hath inueterate.
Thus while his Inkehorne termes he doth apply,
Euacuated is his ingenie...”

From: Chrestoleros. Seuen Bookes of Epigrames
By Thomas Bastard, 1598

ETYMOLOGY
from turmoil + -ous

EXAMPLE
“…but trueth hys frende more then they bothe, euen so I thinke it no iniurye nor contumelye to Saynct Augustyne, yf the same were sayde of hym also geuynge hym otherwyse hys dewe commendacions, as he was surelye an excellent man, of dyuyne wytte, and knowledge, and so trauayled in settynge foorth Christes true Relygion in those turmoylous dayes, in perpetual combatte, agaynste learned heretykes and Prynces of the worlde, that he is worthelye called a Doctour and Pyller of Christes Churche…”

From: A Treatyse of the Newe India with other New Founde Landes and Islandes
By Sebastian Münster
Translated by Richard Eden, 1553

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin tætricus, tētricus (forbidding, harsh, gloomy),
formed on tæter (foul)

EXAMPLE
“…Some so tetricous, so cross-grained, and of so corrupt a taste. …”

(from the translation of J. F. de Isla, History Friar Gerund, but replacing the original form ‘tetrical‘ with ‘tetricous‘)