Tag: 1600 – 1699

Word of the Day: KICKIE-WICKIE

ETYMOLOGY
apparently a humorous formation of kicksey-winsey (a whim or erratic fancy)

EXAMPLE
“…Parolles. I that would be knowne: too’th warrs my boy, too’th warres: He weares his honor in a boxe vnseene, That hugges his kickie wickie heare at home, Spending his manlie marrow in her armes Which should sustaine the bound and high curuet Of Marses fierie steed: to other Regions, France is a stable, wee that dwell in’t Iades, Therefore too’th warre…”

From: All’s Well that Ends Well
By William Shakespeare, a1616

Word of the Day: EXULANT

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin ex(s)ulantem, present participle of ex(s)ulare (to be in exile

EXAMPLE
“…This Emperor made his brother Heraclius a Generall, whom he sent into the East against the Agarens with a powerfull Army. He endeavoured to put Iustinian to death who was now exulant in Cersonia: but notwithstanding all his plots to that purpose, he prevailed nothing, not could he bring his intent to any effect…”

From: The lives of all the Roman emperors being exactly collected,
from Iulius Cæsar, unto the now reigning Ferdinand the second
– Giovanni Antonio de Paoli 
Translated by Robert Basset, 1636

Word of the Day: MACTATE

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin mactat-, past participial stem of mactare (to slay, to honour with sacrifice)

EXAMPLE
“…As has been shown, it is historically true that a vulgar opinion to the effect that CHRIST was separately mactated in the sacrifices of masses prevailed at the time of the Reformation, which opinion being perfectly analogous to that which the Apostle combats, nothing could be more appropriate than to quote his teaching in condemnation of it…”

From: Answers for the Right Rev. Dr. Alexander Penrose Forbes,
Bishop of Brechin
To the Presentment Against Him
William Henderson, 1860

Word of the Day: LABEFACTATE

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin labefactat-, past participial stem of labefactāre (to make unsteady, to loosen, to undermine)
frequently of labefacere  (to weaken, to impair)

EXAMPLE
“…The judgement seates of Bishops are meerely externall to the Church which they governe: But, Presbyteries and Synods are Courts internall, for the onely members whereof they consist, are the Comissioners of the Churches which they govern; these Churches they represent, the minde and desire of these Churches they doe propose, unto these Churches they give account of all their administration, they confirme and establish the rights of Congregations, they doe not abolish nor labefactate any of them…”

From: A dissuasive from the errours of the time wherein the tenets of the principall sects, especially of the Independents, are drawn together in one map, for the most part in the words of their own authours, and their maine principles are examined by the touch-stone of the Holy Scriptures
– Robert Baillie, 1645

Word of the Day: RAG-MANNERED

ETYMOLOGY
from rag + mannered (having manners of a specified kind)

EXAMPLE
“…Let us now take a Turn or two with Sir Tunbelly’s Heiress of 1500 pounds a year. This Young Lady swears, talks smut, and is upon the matter just as rag-manner’d as Mary the Buxsome. ‘Tis plain the Relapser copyed Mr. Durfey’s Original, which is a sign he was somewhat Pinch’d…”

From: A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage:
Together with the sense of antiquity upon this argument 
– Jeremy Collier, 1698

Word of the Day: FURACIOUS

ETYMOLOGY
from Latin furaci- (nominative furax),
from furari (to steal) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“…This amazing, and indeed murderous villany of the Irishman brought them all to their wit’s ends how to defend themselves from the ruin therein threatened unto them; and whatever methods were proposed, it was feared that there could be no stop given to his furacious exorbitancies any way but one; he could not be past stealing, unless he were past eating too…”

From: Magnalia Christi Americana
Or, The Ecclesiastical History of New-England 
– Cotton Mather, 1702

Word of the Day: ADIAPHOROUS

ETYMOLOGY
from Greek ἀδιάϕορ-ος (indifferent) + -ous

EXAMPLE
“…From all which may be inferred, that dissentions among the protestantes are not merely personall, or but pointes adiaphorous, indifferent, being as it were but peccant humors, and not true or formed diseases in their church, but they do concerne most profound doubtes of their religion, since otherwaies they would neuer anathematize, or condemne one an other with such acerbity of wordes…”

From: Whyte Dyed Black
Or A discouery of many most foule blemishes, impostures, and deceiptes
– Thomas Worthington, 1615

Word of the Day: NOCKY

ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin

EXAMPLE
“…Was there ever less head in a brainless world?” said Johns. “Here, simple Nocky, I’ll do it.” He leapt off, and with much puffing climbed the post, striking a match when he reached the top, and moving the light along the arm, the lad standing and gazing at the spectacle…”

From: The English Illustrated Magazine
1883-1884
Interlopers at the Knap. I.