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rusticate RUHS-ti-kayt verb to live in the country; to send to live in the country; to live in a bucolic setting 1887Arthur Conan DoyleA Study in ScarletSo alarming did the state of my finances become, that I soon realized that I must either leave the metropolis and rusticate somewhere in the country, or that I must make a complete alteration in my style of living.1903Kate Douglas WigginRebecca of Sunnybrook FarmI always go South for the spring vacation, traveling by sea to Old Point Comfort, and rusticating in some quiet spot near by.1906Thomas WrightThe Life of Sir Richard BurtonNext morning the culprits were brought before the college dignitaries; but the dons having lectured Burton, he began lecturing them—concluding with the observation that young men ought not to be treated like children. As a consequence, while the other offenders were merely rusticated, Burton was expelled.Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, Kate Douglas Wiggin, Thomas Wright
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limner LIM-nur noun a painter; a portrait artist 1891Arthur Conan DoyleThe White Company'That is Wat the limner,' quoth the landlady, sitting down beside Alleyne, and pointing with the ladle to the sleeping man.1894William MorrisThe Wood Beyond the WorldHowsoever, he entered the house, and found his father in the chamber, and fell to speech with him about their matters; but for all that he loved his father, and worshipped him as a wise and valiant man, yet at that hour he might not hearken the words of his mouth, so much was his mind entangled in the thought of those three, and they were ever before his eyes, as if they had been painted on a table by the best of limners.1972Andre Norton The Crystal GryphonAnd it was not a pleasant countenance to my thinking, but perhaps the limner had either not been skillful or had some reason not to flatter this Elvan.Labels: Andre Norton, Arthur Conan Doyle, William Morris
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omne ignotum pro magnifico awm-nee ig-NO-tum pro mawg-NI-fi-ko phrase that which is unknown is exaggerated in importance; the unknown is thought to be grand 1831William Godwin Thoughts on Man One of the most glaring infirmities of our nature is discontent. One of the most unquestionable characteristics of the human mind is the love of novelty. Omne ignotum pro magnifico est. 1864Charles Kingsley The Roman and the Teuton The usual rejoinder to this argument is to fall back upon man's weakness and ignorance, and to take refuge in the infinite unknown. Man, it is said, may of course interfere a little with some of the less important laws of his being: but who is he, to grapple with the more vast and remote ones? Because he can prevent a pebble from falling, is he to suppose that he can alter the destiny of nations, and grapple forsooth with 'the eternities and the immensities,' and so forth? The argument is very powerful: but addrest rather to the imagination than the reason. It is, after all, another form of the old omne ignotum pro magnifico…1891Olph SchreionGasps (Punch Vol. 100, May 1891)And over everything hangs that inscrutable charm which hovers forever for the human intellect over the incomprehensible and shadowy. Omne ignotum pro mirifico, I might say, but I prefer the longer phrase.1892Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 'I begin to think, Watson,' said Holmes, 'that I make a mistake in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid….'Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Kingsley, Olph Schreion, William Godwin
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tallage TAL-ij noun, verb a ad-hoc tax imposed upon cities, especially by early English kings; to impose a tax 1891Arthur Conan DoyleThe White Company...common folk are so crushed down with gabelle, and poll-tax, and every manner of cursed tallage, that the spirit has passed right out of them. It is a fool's plan to teach a man to be a cur in peace, and think that he will be a lion in war.1910D. J. MedleyThe Church and the EmpireThe Crown did not hesitate to use the episcopal patronage and to fill up vacant canonries and benefices with its own followers, and it often took the opportunity to levy upon the inhabitants of the diocese a special tax—tallagium, tallage, or taille—which a landlord had a right of exacting from his unfree tenants.Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, D. J. Medley
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quartan fever KWAR-tan FEE-vur adjective a fever occurring in 72 hour cycles 1822John Lewis BurckhardtTravels in Syria and the Holy LandHence intermittent fevers, especially those of the quartan form, are very common in the town in that season.1900Arthur Conan DoyleThe Green Flag'Sir Charles is in weak health just now, only clear of a quartan ague, and it is likely he will keep his cabin most of the voyage.1981Mary RenaultFuneral GamesIollas had died soon after he got home from Asia, of a quartan fever picked up in the Babylonian swamps…Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, John Lewis Burckhardt, Mary Renault
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recherché ruh-shaer-SHAY adjective something carefully planned or selected; something very rare or exotic; something fantastic 1868M. E. BraddonRun to EarthShe took care to provide a recherché little dinner for her important guest, low as the finances of herself and her brother were—and were likely to be for some time to come.1893Arthur Conan DoyleThe Memoirs of Sherlock HolmesAnd here—ah, now, this really is something a little recherché.' He dived his arm down to the bottom of the chest, and brought up a small wooden box with a sliding lid, such as children's toys are kept in. From within he produced a crumpled piece of paper, and old-fashioned brass key, a peg of wood with a ball of string attached to it, and three rusty old disks of metal.1910K. M. BarrowThree Years in Tristan da CunhaWe had Betty Cotton and three of her contemporaries in to tea today and had quite a recherché meal for them, chocolate mould and some dainty little scones.1980John Kennedy TooleA Confederacy of DuncesIgnatius filmed the scene before him for a minute or two more, then he followed a post upward to the ceiling for what he imagined would be an interesting and rather recherche bit of cinematography suggesting aspiration.Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, John Kennedy Toole, K. M. Barrow, M. E. Braddon
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zounds zownds interjection an utterance of surprise: "Zounds!" 1773Oliver GoldsmithShe Stoops to ConquerMARLOW. Zounds, man! we could as soon find out the longitude!1890Arthur Conan DoyleThe Captain of the Polestar'And you,' he continued, turning suddenly upon our hero, 'are you ready to join the great cause which will make England what it was when the learned Alfred reigned in the land? Zounds, man, speak out, and pick not your phrases.'1915H. C. BaileyThe HighwaymanGeoffrey exhibited a tender agitation. 'Why, Alison, what is it? Zounds, I cannot have you go travelling alone! You must give me news when you make a journey, and I'll ride with you.'1921Carolyn WellsPtomaine StreetZounds, if you could hear those two quarrel!1971Michael A. BursteinGadget Man'Zounds!' said the captain.2000Robert Ludlum and Galye LyndsThe Hades FactorHe held up the remote control with a flourish. 'Zounds! They're screwed!'Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, Carolyn Wells, H. C. Bailey, Michael A. Burstein, Oliver Goldsmith, Robert Ludlum and Galye Lynds
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garde du corps GARD-dyoo-kor noun a bodyguard or bodyguards 1792Thomas PaineThe Rights of ManDuring this state of suspense, the Garde du Corps, which was composed as such regiments generally are, of persons much connected with the Court, gave an entertainment at Versailles (October 1) to some foreign regiments then arrived; and when the entertainment was at the height, on a signal given, the Garde du Corps tore the national cockade from their hats, trampled it under foot, and replaced it with a counter-cockade prepared for the purpose.1903Arthur Conan DoyleThe Adventures of GerardNow and then, if we were lucky, we managed to pick a quarrel with one of the Garde du Corps, and if we left him on his back in the Bois we felt that we had struck a blow for Napoleon once again.Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Paine
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outré oo-TRAY adjective something or someone outside the realm of socially or scientifically accepted norms 1893Arthur Conan DoyleThe Adventure of the Stockbroker's ClerkIt is a case, Watson, which may prove to have something in it, or may prove to have nothing, but which, at least, presents those unusual and outre features which are as dear to you as they are to me.1946Maxwell GrantHappy Death Day (The Shadow Magazine, September 1946)For the murder had been a bizarre one with outre overtones.1990Mercedes LackeyChildren of the NightThe tourists and teenyboppers came looking for weird and outre, and she was perfectly happy to separate them from their money.Labels: Arthur Conan Doyle, Maxwell Grant, Mercedes Lackey
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