The Death of Fissiparous and Other Words: A Dictionary of Words & Phrases on the Verge of Extinction

myrmidon

MUR-muh-dawn

noun

a henchman; an unscrupulous follower

1742Henry FieldingThe History of Tom JonesAt which last words the door flew open, and in came Squire Western, with his parson and a set of myrmidons at his heels.1816Thomas Love PeacockHeadlong HallHis myrmidon on this occasion was a little, red-nosed butler, who waddled about the house after his master, while the latter bounced from room to room like a cracker.1914Percival Christopher WrenSnake and SwordAnyhow, he could imagine that Bully Harberth was the Snake or Its emissary and, since he was indirectly brought upon him by the Snake, regard him as a myrmidon—and deal with him accordingly.

Labels: Henry Fielding, Percival Christopher Wren, Thomas Love Peacock

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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equiponderant

ee-kwuh-PAWN-duh-rant

noun

equal in weight

1816Thomas Love PeacockHeadlong Hall'Your theory,' said Mr Jenkison, 'forms an admirable counterpoise to your example. As far as I am attracted by the one, I am repelled by the other. Thus, the scales of my philosophical balance remain eternally equiponderant, and I see no reason to say of either of them, oichetai eis aidao.'1847John AubreyThe Natural History of WiltshireDame Julian Barnes, in her book of Hunting and Hawking, says that the hawk's bells must be in proportion to the hawk, and they are to be equiponderant, otherwise they will give the hawk an unequall ballast: and as to their sound they are to differ by a semitone, which will make them heard better than if they were unisons.

Labels: John Aubrey, Thomas Love Peacock

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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