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
originally from Middle French adoulcir, also written addoulcir; (mod. adoucir) (to sweeten):
—late Latin addulcire; from ad (to) + dulcis (sweet); subsequently refashioned after Latin
EXAMPLE
“…And thenne shalle not the Rigour and the reffuse of my noble lady be myned and adoulced by my habondaunt prayers and oroisons. yes verily. that shall she be or nature shall faylle. And if not the goddes shall be iniuste and agaynst me…”
From: The History of Jason
By Raoul Le Fevre
Translated by William Caxton, 1477
PRONUNCIATION
uh-DULS
ETYMOLOGY
from French crudelité, from Latin crudelitas (cruelty), from crudelis (cruel)
EXAMPLE
“…The thyrd synne is vnmyserycorde and crudelyte For he whyche playeth wold fayne take from his felowe bothe breche and sherte the whiche thynge the theuys whyche dyspoyle and robbe the pylgrymes doon not…”
From: Here begynneth the prologue or prohemye of the book callid Caton
Translated by William Caxton, 1483
ETYMOLOGY
from hole (n.) + creeper (n.)
EXAMPLE
“…He qualified himself as to the good eating which the statute requires, by ‘hole-creeping’ after his neighbours’ geese and pigs – est communis holecreppar anserum et porcellorum tenentium – and as to the good drinking, we have seen the clandestine but thrice-abundant provision which he made for that. …”
(est communis holecreppar anserum et porcellorum tenentium = is a common hole-creeper of geese and piglets)
From: The Quarterly Review
Vol. XCII. Published in December, 1852, and March 1853
No. CLXXXIV. History of the Ancient Barony Castle Combe in the County of Wilts,
By George Poulett Scrope, 1462
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 Latin limosus, from limus (mud, slime)
EXAMPLE
“…This doon, the sydes make up with structure,
And footes VIII it hold in latitude.
With barres bigge is goode to make it sure ;
Or wall it well with ragge or flyntes rude.
In square or round this werk thai may conclude.
If water ther be lymous or enfecte
Admyxtion of salt wol it correcte. …”
(Make it eight feet wide and secure it with courses of wood, the walls being of ragstone or flint. A mixture of salt will correct muddiness.)
From: Palladius on Husbondrie: from the unique MS. of about 1420 A.D. in Colchester Castle
ETYMOLOGY
from mis- (wrong, unfavourably) + proud
EXAMPLE 1
“…Ȝyf a man haue mysdo or seyde,
And men hym blame for þat mysbreyde,
Ȝyf he susteynë hys mysdede,
And hys mysawe wyl nat drede,
Þat cumþ of mysprout herte and hy
Þat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly…”
From: Robert of Brunne’s “Handlyng Synne” (Harley MS)
By Robert Mannyng, a1400
EXAMPLE 2
“…It was in 1397, ninety years since the first assertion of Swiss independence, when Leopold the Handsome, Duke of Austria, a bold but misproud and violent prince, involved himself in one of the constant quarrels with the Swiss that were always arising on account of the insulting exactions of toll and tribute in the Austrian border cities…”
From: A Book of Golden Deeds of All Times and All Lands
By Charlotte Mary Yonge, 1864
ETYMOLOGY
from Old French rebellant, pr. pple. of rebeller (to rebel),
(used as adj. and n. in 14th–16th c.)
EXAMPLE 1 (for adj.)
“…That other infortuny is exterialle, that man scholde haue his inferior rebellante to hym, in that he was inobediente to God his maker…”
From: The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland During the Middle Ages,
Edited by Churchill Babington, 1869
Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden Monachi Cestrensis (Harley MS. 2261)
By Ranulf Higden
EXAMPLE 2 (for n.)
“…With Tantalus hild starued Ghosts, whose pleasure was their paine,
Whose euer Hords had neuer vse, and gettings had no gaine.
To Besides assisted Soules of Vnthrifts, whose supplies
Did passe from them as Sea through Cieues, whose wastes no wealthes suffise.
Vnto Ixeon stood their Sprights that had their lusts for law,
Rebellants to a common good, and sinning without awe.
To Titius lastly ioyned Ghosts, whose hearts did emptie hate
As Todes their poyson, growing when it seemeth to abate.…”
From: Albions England; or, historicall map of the same island
By William Warner,
ETYMOLOGY
so called because of their resemblance to the seeds of a fern:
perhaps from fern + -ticle (as in particle, etc.)
EXAMPLE
“…It healeth al the fautes in the face layd to with hony, and it taketh away frekles or fayrntikles with vinegre …”
From: A New Herball
By William Turner, 1551
ETYMOLOGY
from Old French estrivable, from estriver (to quarrel, contend) + -able
EXAMPLE
“…that eke the lay peple of the newe lawe is bounde, undir perel of greet synne, forto receyve her feith and al the leernyng of Goddis lawe, now beyng, in ech doutable and strivable poynt therof, fro and of the preestis of the newe lawe, and forto obeie to hem therynne, in lasse thanne the case of the seid excepcioun kan be executid …”
From: Book of Faith; a fifteenth century theological tractate
From the manuscript in the library of Trinity college, Cambridge
By Reginald Pecock, c1456
Lexicophilia 