ETYMOLOGY
from carry (vb.) + tale
EXAMPLE
“… After the solemnitie of this marriage, there appeared outwardlie to the world great loue and friendship betweene the duke and the earle, but by reason of carie tales and flatterers, the loue continued not long, …”
From: The Firste (laste) Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
By Raphael Holinshed, 1577
ETYMOLOGY
n. of uncertain origin uncertain;
perhaps from the female forename Mab, shortened in Middle English from Mabel, from Amabel
vb. related to mab (a promiscuous woman), perhaps as a variant of mob (to dress oneself untidily
EXAMPLE (for n. 1.)
“… Mido. Take my life for a penny, whither shall I ren?
Esau. Come out, thou little fiend, come out, thou skittish gill.
Abra. Out, alas, alas! Esau will us all kill.
Esau. And come out, thou mother Mab; out, old rotten witch!
As white as midnight’s arsehole or virgin pitch. Where be ye? come together in a cluster. …”
From: A Newe Mery and Wittie Comedie or Enterlude, Newely Imprinted, Treating vpon the Hhistorie of Iacob and Esau, 1568
ETYMOLOGY
Latin, from Greek σκολόπενδρα (skolopendra) (centipede)
EXAMPLE (for n. 3.)
“… I have bought it gentlemen, and you in a mist
Shall see what I paid for it, thou hast not drunke yet:
Nere feare the reckning man, more wine , you varletts,
And call your Mistris, your Scolopendra
If we like her complexion, we may dine here. …”
From: The Gamester
By James Shirley, 1633
PRONUNCIATION
skol-oh-PEN-druh
ETYMOLOGY
from quick (endowed with life, animate [because it shakes or moves]) + mire
EXAMPLE
“… An euyll wyfe hathe nought ado to departe from her houſe leest that she go not in to the quycke myre but and she be commaunded a thynge she wyll do clene the contrary. Certaynly it is a vylaynous reproche unto a woman whan she wyll not obeye unto her huſbande. Wyues and maydens loke that ye lyue honestly and kepe chaſtyte / to the ende that ye wynnę and purchace good fame and good renowne. …”
From: The Shyppe of Fooles
By Sebastian Brant
Translated by Henry Watson, 1509
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin rubicundus (ruddy, flushed, reddish, red), either from rubere (to be red) + ‑cundus, or from rubibundus (recorded in post-classical Latin as a rejected form; from rubere + ‑bundus (suffix forming verbal adjectives), with dissimilation of ‑b‑
EXAMPLE (for adj. 2.)
“… Accordyng vnto which rule this fyrst Namer hym selfe, foormed out of ruddy clay, and thearby endued with the purest of complexions (as we tearm them) Rubicund or Sanguine, had hym selfe first to name in the Hebru (the fyrst of langages) Adam. As his make beyng the onely wooman at her creation, counted moother and lyfe to all posteritie, and (for her breakyng the commaundment) the causer also of calamitie and wo, Adam named Eua. …”
From: The calender of Scripture VVhearin the Hebru, Challdian, Arabian, Phenician, Syrian, Persian, Greek and Latin names, of nations, cuntreys, men, weemen, idols, cities, hils, riuers, [and] of oother places in the holly Byble mentioned, by order of letters ar set, and turned into oour English toong.
By William Patten, 1575
The Printer Vnto the Gentle Reedar
PRONUNCIATION
ROO-bick-uhnd
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin mollitudo, from mollis (soft) + -tudo (-tude)
EXAMPLE
“… Which, if you had otherwise expressed his sense rightlie, yet should you haue forborne to apply to yours for the observing of decorum, a thing that you commend so in Homer, and your selfe aime at: sith those maides and wooers, intended both by Homer and you, to be wantons, must vse lascivious danses; and the man (if you will needes haue such resemblances) bee compared rather to Mollitude, or Cowardnes, the woman to Incontinencie. …”
From: Th’overthrow of Stage-Playes, by the way of controversie betwixt D. Gager and D. Rainoldes
By John Rainolds, 1599
ETYMOLOGY
from hair + bush
EXAMPLE
“… His crisp locks frizeling, his temples prittelye stroaking.
Heer with al in trembling with speede wee ruffled his hearebush,
With water attempting thee flame too mortifye sacred.
But father Anchises, mounting his sight to the skyward,
Both the hands vplifting, hertly thus his orison vttred. …”
From: Thee first foure bookes of Virgil his Aeneis
Translated intoo English heroical verse by Richard Stanyhurst, 1582
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin discrepat-, past participial stem of discrepare (to differ in sound, to be out of tune, to be out of harmony or inconsistent with, to have differences or discrepancies, to lack agreement, to differ in opinion, to disagree,
from dis- + crepare (to make a noise, to creak)
EXAMPLE (for vb. 1.)
“… So that discrepating from his first propertie, vtterly corrupteth, decayeth, becommeth absumpt in the degree of death. …”
From: The Flower of Phisicke
By William Clever, 1590
ETYMOLOGY
conjectured to be a whimsical imitation of concur (cur = dog);
but no evidence has been found of its actual origin
EXAMPLE
“… Alcum. So is it, and often doth it happen, that the iust proportion of the fire and all things concurre.
Rafe. Concurre, condogge. I will away.
Alcum. Then away. …”
From: Gallathea
By John Lyly, 1592
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin detractorius (disparaging, slanderous), from detractor (a defamer, slanderer) + -ory
EXAMPLE
“… Let him say al this, and much more, which idle and slothfull Christians are accustomed to bring for their excuse: let him alleage the same as much and as often times as he wil: it is but an excuse, and a false excuse, and an excuse moste dishonourable and detractorie to the force of Christ holie grace purchased vnto vs by his bitter passion …”
From: A Christian Directorie guiding men to their saluation
By Robert Parsons, 1585
Lexicophilia 