|
equipollent ee-kwuh-PAW-luhnt adjective equivalent; equal in significance or power 1597Francis BaconThe Essays: Of Custom and EducationOnly superstition is now so well advanced, that men of the first blood, are as firm as butchers by occupation; and votary resolution, is made equipollent to custom, even in matter of blood.1822Sir Walter ScottThe Fortunes of Nigel'Doubtless, my lord, the having, as you say, deserved it, must be an excruciation to your own mind,' replied his tormentor; 'a kind of mental and metaphysical hanging, drawing, and quartering, which may be in some measure equipollent with the external application of hemp, iron, fire, and the like, to the outer man.'1869Albert G. MackeyThe Symbolism of FreemasonryThe ladder of Masonry, like the equipollent ladders of its kindred institutions, always had seven steps, although in modern times the three principal or upper ones are alone alluded to.Labels: Albert G. Mackey, Francis Bacon, Sir Walter Scott
|
Permalink: equipollent
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
otium cum dignitate o-TEE-uhm kuhm dig-nih-TAW-the phrase dignified retirement; dignified leisure 1830 Sir Walter Scott The Monastery For the purpose of commencing my new way of life, I selected for my residence the village of Kennaquhair, in the south of Scotland, celebrated for the ruins of its magnificent Monastery, intending there to lead my future life in the otium cum dignitate of half-pay and annuity. I was not long, however, in making the grand discovery, that in order to enjoy leisure, it is absolutely necessary it should be preceded by occupation. 1863 William Henry Knight Diary of a Pedestrian in Cashmere and Thibet SEPTEMBER 30.--For the last fifteen days we have been living once more the life of OTIUM CUM DIGNITATE common to the travelling Englishman in Cashmere. Basking in the sun, taking the daily row upon the river, eating fruit, and buying trash in the city, have been our principal occupations and amusements. 1909 Staff Writer "Celebrates His Jubilee in Victoria", Victoria Daily Colonist. May 11. p 7.The Hon. Edgar Dewdney is 74 years old. Over six feet high, of military appearance, a gentleman of the 'old school,' he still retains much of the extraordinary vigor which has characterized his career in this province. Even now he is unsatisfied to take his otium cum dignitate, but is still evolving schemes, and thinking out plans in connection with his professionLabels: Sir Walter Scott, Staff Writer, William Henry Knight
|
Permalink: otium cum dignitate
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
moiety MOI-uh-tee noun half of something; a part of something; one portion of something divided 1697William DampierA New Voyage Round the WorldIt is fortified and garrisoned by a large Portuguese Colony, but yet under the Chinese Government, whose People inhabit one Moiety of the Town, and lay on the Portuguese what Tax they please; for they dare not disoblige the Chinese, for fear of losing their Trade.1719Daniel DefoeRobinson CrusoeThe old man told me he had not been in the Brazils for about nine years; but that he could assure me that when he came away my partner was living...but he assured me that the steward of the king's revenue from lands, and the providore, or steward of the monastery, had taken great care all along that the incumbent, that is to say my partner, gave every year a faithful account of the produce, of which they had duly received my moiety.1819Sir Walter ScottIvanhoe'It is sufficient,' said the Disinherited Knight. 'Half the sum my present necessities compel me to accept; of the remaining half, distribute one moiety among yourselves, sir squires, and divide the other half betwixt the heralds and the pursuivants, and minstrels, and attendants.'Labels: Daniel Defoe, Sir Walter Scott, William Dampier
|
Permalink: moiety
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
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
|
Permalink: minauderie
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
hamshackle HAM-shak-uhl verb to bind; to fasten; to hinder 1824Sir Walter ScottRedgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth CenturyAnd then to oppose him downright—he could not but think on the way his poor mother was removed. Would to Heaven he was yoked to some tight piece of business, no matter whether well or ill paid, but some job that would hamshackle him at least until the courts rose, if it were but for decency's sake.'Labels: Sir Walter Scott
|
Permalink: hamshackle
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
lurdane LUR-den adjective ancient term for a stupid and lazy person 1759David HumeThe History of EnglandWe are told that the name lurdane, Lord Dane, for an idle lazy fellow, who lives at other people's expense, came from the conduct of the Danes, who were put to death.1823Sir Walter ScottQuentin DurwardA fine thing it would be for me, who can neither read nor write, to be afraid of a fat lurdane, who has done little else all his Life!1891Charlotte M. YongeTwo Penniless PrincessesAnd here's this other great lurdane knave been striking the poor rogues down right and left!Labels: Charlotte M. Yonge, David Hume, Sir Walter Scott
|
Permalink: lurdane
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
circumlocution sur-kuhm-lo-KYOO-shuhn noun unnecessary wordiness to express something; beating around the bush; evasive communication 1726Jonathan SwiftGulliver's TravelsIt put me to the pains of many circumlocutions, to give my master a right idea of what I spoke; for their language does not abound in variety of words, because their wants and passions are fewer than among us.1817Sir Walter ScottRob RoyI was stupified. The direct bluntness of the demand was much in the style one gentleman uses to another, when requesting explanation of any part of his conduct in a good-humoured yet determined manner, and was totally devoid of the circumlocutions, shadings, softenings, and periphrasis, which usually accompany explanations betwixt persons of different sexes in the higher orders of society.1870Marion HarlandAt LastHe always disdained circumlocution, prided himself upon the directness and simplicity of his address.Labels: Jonathan Swift, Marion Harland, Sir Walter Scott
|
Permalink: circumlocution
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
vae victis wai WIK-tees phrase woe to the vanquished 1823Sir Walter ScottQuentin Durward'Comines, Comines!' said Louis, arising again, and pacing the room in a pensive manner, 'this is a dreadful lesson on the text Vae victis! [woe to the vanquished!]—You cannot mean that the Duke will insist on all these hard conditions?'1921Ralph ConnorTo Him That Hath'Vae victis, eh, old chap?' said Sidney, as they sauntered off together to their respective courts.Labels: Ralph Connor, Sir Walter Scott
|
Permalink: vae victis
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
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
|
Permalink: obnubilate
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
black sanctus blak sank-TUHS noun a rude, comedic or mocking hymn 1819Sir Walter ScottIvanhoeThe nearer the church the farther from God.—-And by my cockscomb,'' he added, 'I think it be even so—-Hearken but to the black sanctus which they are singing in the hermitage!''1821Sir Walter ScottKenilworth'Doth he say so, the mincing, hypocritical miser?' vociferated Lambourne. 'Why, then, he shall come down and receive my commands here, this blessed night, under my uncle's roof! And I will ring him such a black sanctus, that he shall think the devil hath him by the skirts for a month to come, for barely hearing me.'Labels: Sir Walter Scott
|
Permalink: black sanctus
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
ante meridiem an-ti muh-RI-dee-uhm adjective, adverb before noon; source of abbreviation AM which signifies the hours of the day between midnight and noon; literally: before the sun has crossed the line (of the sundial) 1822Sir Walter Scott The Fortunes of Nigel He has established a council of state, who regularly meet for their morning's draught at seven o'clock; convene a second time at eleven for their ante-meridiem, or whet; and, assembling in solemn conclave at the hour of two afternoon, for the purpose of consulting for the good of the commonwealth, are so prodigal of their labour in the service of the state, that they seldom separate before midnight.2004Ted MannDeadwood: Sold Under Sin (Episode 12, Season 1)Ante meridiem constitutional, Mr. Russell?Labels: Sir Walter Scott, Ted Mann
|
Permalink: ante meridiem
Entry By: CJ Cooney
Smash illiteracy! Email This Word To A Friend:
|
|
|
BIO
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
RECENT POSTS
