ETYMOLOGY
of obscure origin: perhaps originally a name of some bird
(From Murray’s N.E.D.: “the suggestion that it is from meek (adj.) is untenable”)
EXAMPLE
“…He shuld be no cowarde, no maycocke, ne fearfull persone that dare no thyng enterprise….”
From: Here Begynneth a Deuout Treatyse in Englysshe, called the Pylgrimage of Perfection,
By William Bonde, 1526
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin morigeratus, past participial stem of morigerari (to to be obedient or compliant), from morigerus
EXAMPLE
“…Certaynely in the auncient tyme, whan thou were peopled with ryght and trewe Romayns, and not as thou arte nowe with bastarde chylderne, than the armies, that wente froo Rome, were as well disciplyned and morigerate, as the schooles of the philosophies, that were in Grece…”
From: The Golden Boke of Marcus Aurelius,
By Antonio de Guevara, 1546
ETYMOLOGY
adj.: from Latin collacrimatus, pa. pple. of collacrimare;
vb. : from Latin collacrimat- ppl. stem of collacrimare, from col- (together) + lacrimāre (to shed tears, weep), from lacrima (tear)
EXAMPLE
“…A tormentor would collachrymate my case, and rather choose to have been tortured himself than torment me with ingratitude as thou dost…”
From: Christs teares ouer Ierusalem,
By Thomas Nashe, 1593
ETYMOLOGY
from plume (mark of honour or distinction) + plucked
EXAMPLE
“…Yorke. Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee
From plume-pluckt Richard, who with willing Soule
Adopts thee Heire, and his high Scepter yeelds
To the possession of thy Royall Hand…”
From: The Tragedie of King Richard the Second
By William Shakespeare, 1597
ETYMOLOGY
from under- ;
? possibly for dunderhead
EXAMPLE (for n.2.)
“…And indeed wiser discretions, that have the thread of reason to conduct them, offend without a pardon; whereas under heads may stumble without dishonour…”
From: Religio Medici
By Thomas Browne, 1643
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin Cyprius (of Cyprus) + -an;
in French cyprien
EXAMPLE
“…Shall Curio streake his lims on his dayes couch,
In Sommer bower? and with bare groping touch
Incense his lust, consuming all the yeere
In Cyprian dalliance, and in Belgick cheere?
Shall Faunus spend a hundred gallions,
Of Goates pure milke, to laue his stallions,
As much Rose iuyce? O bath! ô royall, rich
To scower Faunus, and his salt proude bitch!…”
From: The Scourge of Villanie
By John Marston, 1598
ETYMOLOGY
from Old French charitatif, -ive, caritatif, -ive, medieval Latin caritativus (charitable)
EXAMPLE
“…And for that this only controversy is the cause of this visitation, I do mean that it shall be merely charitative, and not to burden the clergy of any procurations as yet; and withal not to trouble your lordship much longer about this matter there, than you shall be occasioned otherwise to tarry for the speeding of the visitation of the church…”
From: The Remains of Edmund Grindal, 1843
ETYMOLOGY
of uncertain origin; possibly imitative
EXAMPLE
“…for there is no more sullen beast, than a he drab. Ile make him pull his powting croscloath over his beetle browes for melancholie, and then my next booke, shall be Martin in his mubble fubbles…”
From: Pappe with a Hatchet:
Being a Reply to Martin Mar-prelate
By John Lyly, 1589
ETYMOLOGY
from Old French estoner (to astonish) + -ious
EXAMPLE
“…eyther nothyng holy at al, else not so holy, which graunt as it is extonyouse and vnbeleueable so vngodly and exchuable…”
From: A Treatise Againste the Preuee Masse
By Edmund Gest, 1548
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin tremebundus (trembling), from tremere (to tremble)
EXAMPLE
“…Thay tak delyt in martiall deidis,
And are of nature tremebund,
Thay wald men nurist all thair neidis,
Syne confortles lattis thame cnfound:
So find I thair affectioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun…”
From: Chronicle of Scottish Poetry,
From the Thirteen Century to the
By James Sibbald, 1802
Of Wemen-kind, By Alexander Scott, c1560
Lexicophilia 