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impignorate im-PIG-no-rayt verb to pawn something; to take out a mortgage on something 1835Captain Frederick Marryat The Pacha of Many Tales Mine is a military conscience, and I agree with Bates and Williams, who flourished in the time of Henry V., that it is 'all upon the King:' that is to say, it was all upon the king; and now our constitution has become so incomparably perfect, that 'the king can do no wrong;' and he has no difficulty in finding ministers, who voluntarily impignorating themselves for all his actions in this world, will, in all probability, not escape from the clutches of the great Pawnbroker in the next—from which facts I draw the following conclusions:—1st. That his Majesty (God bless him!) will go to heaven. 2ndly. That his Majesty's ministers will all go to the devil. 3rdly. That I shall go———on with my story. 1889Robert Louis Stevenson In the South SeasHowever, I have got the yacht paid off in triumph, I think; and though we stay here impignorate, it should not be for long, even if you bring us no extra help from home. 1889Robert Louis StevensonLetter to Charles Baxter (9 February 1889)He has no lands, only the use of such as are impignorate for fines; he cannot enrich himself in the old way by marriages; thrift is the chief pillar of his future, and he knows and uses it.1903Richard Garnett The Twilight of the Gods and Other Tales'I rejoice to state,' rejoined Porphyry, 'that it is not these volumes that have involved us in our present difficulties with the superintendent of the Imperial treasury, nor can they indeed, seeing that they are now impignorated with him.' Labels: Captain Frederick Marryat, Richard Garnett, Robert Louis Stevenson
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minauderie mee-nod-YAER noun a contrived and unnatural show or display; affectation 1823Sir Walter ScottPeveril of the PeakJulian was under the necessity of enduring all her tiresome and fantastic airs, and awaiting with patience till she had 'prinked herself and pinned herself'—flung her hoods back, and drawn them forward—snuffed at a little bottle of essences—closed her eyes like a dying fowl—turned them up like duck in a thunderstorm; when at length, having exhausted her round of minauderies, she condescended to open the conversation.1850William Makepeace ThackerayThe History of Pendennis, his Fortunes and Misfortunes, his Friends and his greatest Enemy...what a pretty natural manner she has; how much pleasanter than the minauderies of the young ladies in the ballrooms.1853Charlotte BronteVillette'There is no time to be lost,' he went on, now speaking in French; 'and let us thrust to the wall all reluctance, all excuses, all minauderies. You must take a part.'1884Charles ReadeA Perilous Secret'Connu ,' said Hope, 'voyons ca;' and in a minute repaired the article, and the girl spread it, and went off wriggling and mincing with it, so that there was a pronounced horse-laugh at her minauderies.1885Robert Louis StevensonLetter to William Archer (18 October 1885)Again, your first remark upon the affectation of the italic names; a practice only followed in my two affected little books of travel, where a typographical minauderies of the sort appeared to me in character; and what you say of it, then, is quite just.Labels: Charles Reade, Charlotte Bronte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, William Makepeace Thackeray
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lanai luh-NAI noun a screened balcony 1875Charles NordhoffNorthern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich IslandsAnd so, with a light heart and an easy conscience, you get on your horse (price $15), and about the time the lady passengers on the steamer begin to turn green in face, you are sitting down on a spacious lanai or veranda, in one of the most delightful sea-side resorts in the world, with a few friends who have determined to celebrate by a dinner this monthly recurrence of their non-intercourse with the world.1889Robert Louis StevensonLetter to Miss Adelaide Boodle (6 April 1889)The first is a small house, with a very large summer parlour, or lanai, as they call it here, roofed, but practically open. There you will find the lamps burning and the family sitting about the table, dinner just done: my mother, my wife, Lloyd, Belle, my wife's daughter, Austin her child, and to-night (by way of rarity) a guest. All about the walls our South Sea curiosities, war clubs, idols, pearl shells, stone axes, etc.; and the walls are only a small part of a lanai, the rest being glazed or latticed windows, or mere open space.1929Earl Derr BiggersCharlie Chan: The Black CamelThe French windows that faced the street were closed, but those on the ocean side, leading on to a great screened lanai, stood wide, and through them at regular intervals came the roar of the surf, which was running high.Labels: Charles Nordhoff, Earl Derr Biggers, Robert Louis Stevenson
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holus-bolus ho-luhs-BO-luhs adverb all at once 1883Robert Louis StevensonTreasure Island'I know, I know,' he cried. 'We can't help that, Jim, now. I'll take it on my shoulders, holus bolus, blame and shame, my boy; but stay here, I cannot let you. Jump! One jump, and you're out, and we'll run for it like antelopes.'1897G. A. HentyAmong Malay PiratesI have heard, sir, that in Africa the natives bait a big hook with a lump of pork, or something of that sort; then, when an alligator has swallowed it, they haul him up, holus bolus.1900Joshua SlocumSailing Alone Around The WorldBut, as ill luck would have it, a young gentleman of another party on board, in the full uniform of a very great yacht club, with brass buttons enough to sink him, stepping quickly to get out of the wet, tumbled holus-bolus, head and heels, into a barrel of water I had been coopering, and being a short man, was soon out of sight, and nearly drowned before he was rescued.1906Andrew Barton PatersonAn Outback MarriageShe fished in deep pools for the great, sleepy, hundred-pound cod-fish that sucked down bait and hook, holus-bolus, and then were hauled in with hardly any resistance, and lived for days contentedly, tethered to the bank by a line through their gills.Labels: Andrew Barton Paterson, G. A. Henty, Joshua Slocum, Robert Louis Stevenson
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trucidation troo-si-DAY-shuhn noun slaughter; the act of slaughter 1883Robert Louis StevensonLetter to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stevenson (8 May 1883)I loathe the snails, but from loathing to actual butchery, trucidation of multitudes, there is still a step that I hesitate to take.Labels: Robert Louis Stevenson
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kebbuck KE-buhk noun a large ball of cheese 1896Archibald ForbesCamps, Quarters, and Casual PlacesThen on the Sunday, when he was off duty, we used to take a walk out to the Torry Lighthouse, or down by the auld brig o' Balgownie, and then hame to an hour's read of the Bible afore I put down the kebbuck and the bannocks.1896Robert Louis StevensonWeir of Hermiston'Here! tak' it awa', and bring me a piece bread and kebbuck!' he had exclaimed, with an appalling explosion of his voice and rare gestures.Labels: Archibald Forbes, Robert Louis Stevenson
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ipsissima verba ip-SI-si-maw VUR-buh noun the exact words of a quote 1889Robert Louis StevensonIn the South SeasHere I think Kauwealoha's pantomime had confused me; I have no more of his ipsissima verba; and can but add, in my own less spirited manner, that the ship was reached, Mr. Whalon taken aboard, and Kekela returned to his charge among the cannibals.1936John BuchanThe Island of SheepClanroyden's letter, even if she didn't think it a forgery, couldn't prevail against the ipsissima verba of Haraldsen.1954Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of PerceptionA catalogue, a bibliography, a definitive edition of a third-rate versier's ipsissima verba, a stupendous index to end all indexes—any genuinely Alexandrian project is sure of approval and financial support…Labels: Aldous Huxley, John Buchan, Robert Louis Stevenson
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irredenta ir-i-DEN-tuh noun a geographic area or ethnic group related politically to one group but controlled politically by another group 1882Robert Louis StevensonNew Arabian NightsWell,' said he, 'here is a toast in the meantime: 'Italia Irredenta!''1915R.W. Seton-Watson and J. Dover Wilson and Alfred E. Zimmern and and Arthur GreenwoodThe War and DemocracyAll that still remained to be won was Venice, which Austria ceded in 1866; Rome, which the French had occupied in the name of the Pope, and were forced to evacuate in 1870; and the Italia Irredenta of to-day, viz. the Trentino, Trieste, and Istria, which may be recovered as a result of the present war.1922Walter LippmannPublic OpinionThe only part of them that could possibly procure allied sympathy was that which would recover the genuine Italia Irredenta.Labels: Alfred E. Zimmern, Arthur Greenwood, J. Dover Wilson, R.W. Seton-Watson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walter Lippmann
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Admetus ad-MEE-tuhs noun From Greek mythology: Pherae, a king of Thessaly, saved by Apollo from death when his wife Alcestis offers to die in his place. 1854Henry David ThoreauWaldenWhile my acquaintances went unhesitatingly into trade or the professions, I contemplated this occupation as most like theirs; ranging the hills all summer to pick the berries which came in my way, and thereafter carelessly dispose of them; so, to keep the flocks of Admetus.1882Robert Louis StevensonNew Arabian NightsElvira and Stubbs advanced behind him, like a couple of Admetus's sheep following the god Apollo.1895James BaldwinOld Greek StoriesIt's over, Admetus is marrying her And they're joining the two of them at this moment. Ah! How a jealous soul Endures a harsh torture!1895Kenneth GrahameThe Golden AgePerseus, with his cap of darkness and his wonderful sandals, was not long in winging his way to our hearts; Apollo knocked at Admetus' gate in something of the right fairy fashion; Psyche brought with her an orthodox palace of magic, as well as helpful birds and friendly ants.Labels: Henry David Thoreau, James Baldwin, Kenneth Grahame, Robert Louis Stevenson
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legerdemain le-jur-duh-MAYN noun a magic trick or illusion; sleight of hand; any skillful deception 1889Robert Louis StevensonIn the South SeasHe would not seem to move from his position, and yet every day, when the things fell to be returned the plug had disappeared; he had found the means to conceal it in the roof, whence he could radiantly produce it on the morrow. Although this piece of legerdemain was performed regularly before three or four pairs of eyes, we could never catch him in the fact; although we searched after he was gone, we could never find the tobacco.2000Dean KoontzFrom the Corner of His EyeHe produced her coat as if by legerdemain.Labels: Dean Koontz, Robert Louis Stevenson
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