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ambage AM-bij noun, adjective roundabout; ambiguous; not forthright; a circuitous route 1652Robert BurtonThe Anatomy of MelancholyHaving thus briefly anatomised the body and soul of man, as a preparative to the rest; I may now freely proceed to treat of my intended object, to most men's capacity; and after many ambages, perspicuously define what this melancholy is, show his name and differences.1943Kenneth RobesonDoc Savage: The Running Skeletons'Only a sesquipedalian ambagious inveteberate lacks convulition,' said Johnny.Labels: Kenneth Robeson, Robert Burton
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gallimaufry ga-luh-MAW-free noun a hodge-podge; a jumble of things; a mixture of multiple things 1652Robert BurtonThe Anatomy of MelancholyThe event of this is common to be seen in populous cities, or in princes' courts, for a courtier's life (as Budaeus describes it) 'is a gallimaufry of ambition, lust, fraud, imposture, dissimulation, detraction, envy, pride; the court, a common conventicle of flatterers, time-servers, politicians,' &c.; or as Anthony Perez will, 'the suburbs of hell itself.'1923Max BeerbohmYet AgainA tarnished French mirror, a strip of faded carpet, some rows of battered, tattered books, a few cups and saucers that had erst been riveted and erst been dusted—all these, in a gallimaufry of other languid odds and ends, seen through this mud-splashed window, silently echoed the silent misery of the horse.1998Barbara KingsolverThe Poisonwood Bible...I am a lame gallimaufry and she remains perfect.Labels: Barbara Kingsolver, Max Beerbohm, Robert Burton
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obnubilate awb-NYOO-bi-layt verb to cloud; to obfuscate; to make less clear 1652Robert BurtonThe Anatomy of MelancholyAnd from these crudities, windy vapours ascend up to the brain which trouble the imagination, and cause fear, sorrow, dullness, heaviness, many terrible conceits and chimeras, as Lemnius well observes, 'as black and thick cloud covers the sun, and intercepts his beams and light, so doth this melancholy vapour obnubilate the mind, enforce it to many absurd thoughts and imaginations,' and compel good, wise, honest, discreet men (arising to the brain from the lower parts, 'as smoke out of a chimney') to dote, speak, and do that which becomes them not, their persons, callings, wisdoms.1820Sir Walter ScottThe Monastery'Now, by my knighthood,' answered Sir Piercie, 'your lovely faculties either of mind or body are, O my most fair Discretion, obnubilated by some strange hallucination.'1977Patrick O'BrianThe Mauritius Command'It is the pity of the world, Dr McAdam, to see a man of your parts obnubilate his mind with the juice of the grape.'Labels: Patrick O'Brian, Robert Burton, Sir Walter Scott
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