ETYMOLOGY
from flatter (vb.) + cap
EXAMPLE
“… He’s struggling to learn a lot of new things, but I also think he’s trying to do whatever he can to get on with the men.
I’ve seen him behaving like a flattercap, all yes sir, no sir, with a seaman named Brian Blount. …”
From: Trouble on the Voyage : The Strange and Dangerous Voyage of the Henrietta Maria
By Bob Barton, 2010
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin epulum (feast, banquet) + -ous
EXAMPLE
The epulous employees finished off all the catered food at the Christmas work party, and were working at emptying the contents of the bar when the boss called it a night.
ETYMOLOGY
from Greek θεσµός (thesmos – law); (from root θε– (to lay down)) + –ϕιλ-ος (-phil ) + -ist
EXAMPLE
“… To shut out any light that may be usefull in Gods house, is with the Jews to make it a denne: as they would do, that would shut out the Ceremonies out of the Church: for, take away Ceremonies out of the Church, and take away the light that is in it. Surely this is spoken in Ceremony, by way of complement to his Bishop, that great Thesmophilist: Have we no other candle in our candlestick but ceremony? …”
From: A Discourse of Proper Sacrifice
By Edward Dering, 1644
ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin
EXAMPLE
“… When you have cast an eye upon this Letter which goeth stuff’d with all Proverbs, old Motts, and Adages, whereof some were used in the time of high bonnets, when men used to wipe their noses on their sleeves, for want of a napkin, you will judge perhaps, that the Author hath some strange freaks, or quinombroms in his noddle, that he hath quicksands, or Mercury, or rather one quarter of the Moon in his pericranium; But you Sir, that have a head so well timbred, will, I presume, passe another judgement. …”
From: Paroimiographia Proverbs, or, Old sayed savves & adages in English (or the Saxon toung), Italian, French, and Spanish
By James Howell, 1659
ETYMOLOGY
irregularly from vent- in venture (vb.) + -orious
EXAMPLE
“… albeit truely this their ventorious boldnesse seemes not more marveillous then their ingenuitie commendable …”
From: Ladensium αυτοκατακρισις, the Canterburians self-conviction
By Robert Baillie, 1640
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin festivus (festive), from festum (a feast) + -ous
EXAMPLE
“… But goe on boldly, Frestons charmes must end,
See here, a Disinchanter is thy friend;
Who innocent black Art, hath round thee writ
A magick circle of Festivous Wit;
Which will secure thy Fame against that Prime,
And lasting monster, all devouring Time. …”
From: John Speed in Edmund Gayton’s Pleasant Notes Upon Don Quixot, 1654
ETYMOLOGY
from Old English smicer (possessing charm and attractive; beautiful)
EXAMPLE 1 (for adj. 1)
“… Þatt wollde ben effninng wiþþ Godd
Abufenn alle shaffte,
Þurrh whatt he fell off heffne dun
Inntill niþ hellepine,
& warrþ till atell defell þær
Off shene & smikerr enngell. …”
From: The Ormulum (Burchfield transcript), c1175
EXAMPLE 2 (for vb. 1)
“…Humph. This will not pass; for, though I’m stuft in the head, yet I can blow my Nose as well as another to smell things out. No, no, I see I may make love long enough before you smicker at me. You may e’en keep your Portion, I shall find my Land in the old Place. …”
From: The Man’s the Master, a comedy
By Sir William D’Avenant, 1668
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin morbus (disease) + -ulent
EXAMPLE
“… they should apply such medicines as are suitable, and in such a Proportion as is most proper to assist Nature in the Discharging of the Malignant and Morbulent Matter; but never to clog and hinder its Motions by too many and useless doses. …”
From: The History of the Works of the Learned,
Or, An Impartial Account of Books Lately Printed in all parts of Europe.
Done by Several Hands, Volume VI
The Works of the Learned, for February 1704
ETYMOLOGY
from Latin pigritia (laziness, sluggishness, sloth) + -ous
EXAMPLE
“… Now if Stercus and Ʋrina can bee pickt out of the vanities of Cornelius Agrippa, it shal be thrown upon the purple robes of the Physician, by the ignorant or impudent. For Science hath no enemy but ignorance, nor is vilified among any except pigritious and impudent persons. Then let the ignorant prattle, still the Physitian shall be the instrument of all common good in a Republique, and if no valetudinarie man of any condition bee able to effect any solid good, either to his King, Countrie, or selfe, as he is not, and the power of restoring and healing him, bee given principally to the Phisician …”
From: The Tree of Humane Life, or, The Bloud of the Grape
By Tobias Whitaker, 1638
ETYMOLOGY
from il- + licentious (overstepping customary limits)
EXAMPLE
“… The Ciuile law, which is an abridgement, derogating many illicentious customes which grew by peruersnesse and corruptnesse of nature, and is termed Peculiar, vsed by one kind of people, called the the Imperiall Law. …”
From: Consuetudo, vel lex mercatoria, or The Ancient Law-merchant
By Gerard de Malynes, 1622
Lexicophilia 