Operatorious, a. Obs. rare [f. operatory, producing, or capable of producing, an effect + OUS]
1555 BRADFORD Serm. Lord's Supp. Wks. (Parker Soc.) I. 25 No less ... their words spoken of the bread are operatorious and mighty to transubstantiate the bread ... which is absurd.
Showing posts with label Words o' the Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words o' the Day. Show all posts
02 May, 2019
30 April, 2019
Neurypnology: Word of the Day
Neurypnology, [f. NEUR + HYPNOLOGY] That branch of science which deals with the phenomena of hypnotism.
1843 BRAID (title) Neurypnology; or, The Rationale of Nervous Sleep considered in relation with Animal Magnetism. 1887 Daily News 1 Apr. 5/2 Dr. Charnot, the famous Parisian Professor who, with Dr. Braid, has told us so much about the science of neurypnology, or nervous sleep.
1843 BRAID (title) Neurypnology; or, The Rationale of Nervous Sleep considered in relation with Animal Magnetism. 1887 Daily News 1 Apr. 5/2 Dr. Charnot, the famous Parisian Professor who, with Dr. Braid, has told us so much about the science of neurypnology, or nervous sleep.
27 April, 2019
Indivulsion: Word of the Day
Indivulsion, a. Obs. rare [IN - 3 cf. L. indivulsus not torn asunder (Macrobius).] Absence of separation; unsevered condition.
1638 MEDE Wks. (1672) I. xxxvi. 192 The Water ascends upward, the Aire downward, against nature, to maintain the connexion and indivulsion of the parts of the world.
1638 MEDE Wks. (1672) I. xxxvi. 192 The Water ascends upward, the Aire downward, against nature, to maintain the connexion and indivulsion of the parts of the world.
25 April, 2019
Chlamydeous: Word of the Day
Chlamydeous, a. Bot. [f. mod. L. chlamyd -ae fr. chlamydae, having a mantle + ous.] Having one or more floral envelopes.
23 April, 2019
Milge: Word of the Day
Milge, a. Obs. IN - 5 mylge. trans. To dig round about. Hence Milging vbl. so.
c. 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 296 Mylge hem not [orig. circumfredi non debeut] in tymes whan thai floure. Ibid. 362. In their age a mylging they desireth, Lest thai therynne al hoor yberded goo.
[I'll wager one could have a lot of fun with yberded goo. Whatever that is. -MS]
c. 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 296 Mylge hem not [orig. circumfredi non debeut] in tymes whan thai floure. Ibid. 362. In their age a mylging they desireth, Lest thai therynne al hoor yberded goo.
[I'll wager one could have a lot of fun with yberded goo. Whatever that is. -MS]
20 April, 2019
Opifice: Word of the Day
Opifice, Obs. [ad. L. opifici - um a working, f. [opifex] + ficum doing, making] The doing or making of a work, construction, workmanship; concr. a fabric, a work.
1637 TOMLINSON Renou's Disp. 393* Bees ... suppoditate both aliments and medicaments to man by their own opifice.
1637 TOMLINSON Renou's Disp. 393* Bees ... suppoditate both aliments and medicaments to man by their own opifice.
18 April, 2019
Dwang: Word of the Day
Dwang, Sc. [cf. Du. dwang force, compulsion, constraint f. dwingen to force]
1842-76 GWILT Encycl. Archit. Gloss. Dwang, a term used in Scotland to denote the short pieces of timber employed in strutting a floor.
1842-76 GWILT Encycl. Archit. Gloss. Dwang, a term used in Scotland to denote the short pieces of timber employed in strutting a floor.
16 April, 2019
Barathrum: Word of the Day
Barathrum, [L., a Gk. βαραθρov.] A pit, gulf. Hence: a. A deep pit at Athens, into which criminals condemned to death were thrown. b. (earlier in Eng.) The abyss, hell. c. An insatiable extortioner or glutton (so in It.).
c. 1609 Man in Moone (1849) 27 A bottomless Barathrum , a mercilesse money-changer. 1633 MASSINGER New Way III. ii You barathrum of the shambles.
c. 1609 Man in Moone (1849) 27 A bottomless Barathrum , a mercilesse money-changer. 1633 MASSINGER New Way III. ii You barathrum of the shambles.
13 April, 2019
Irrefringible: Word of the Day
Irrefringible, a. Obs. [f. IR + L. refringare to break up, check, etc. f. re- back +L. frangere to break] That cannot or may not be broken down or demolished.
1596 BELL Surv. Popery I. I. ii My just and irrefringible probations.
1596 BELL Surv. Popery I. I. ii My just and irrefringible probations.
11 April, 2019
Strumpery: Word of the Day
Strumpery, Obs. Also stromperie. [f. strump shortened form of STRUMPET + ERY] The practice of harlotry or prostitution.
1553 C BANSLEY Treatice (Percy Soc. 1841) 9 Nowe fye upon proude strumpery. 1573 G HARVEY Letter-Bk. (Camden) 113 A sinke of strumpery.
1553 C BANSLEY Treatice (Percy Soc. 1841) 9 Nowe fye upon proude strumpery. 1573 G HARVEY Letter-Bk. (Camden) 113 A sinke of strumpery.
09 April, 2019
Flaughen: Word of the Day
Flaughen, Sc. Also flaughin, flauchin. A flake of fire or snow.
1649 VISCT. KENMURE Sp. in. Select Biog. (1845) I. 401 The sparks and flaughens of this love shall fly up. 1811 A. SCOTT Poems 43 (Jam.) As new fa'n snaw That, fleecy pure, in flaughins fa'.
1649 VISCT. KENMURE Sp. in. Select Biog. (1845) I. 401 The sparks and flaughens of this love shall fly up. 1811 A. SCOTT Poems 43 (Jam.) As new fa'n snaw That, fleecy pure, in flaughins fa'.
06 April, 2019
Glaciarium: Word of the Day
Glaciarium, [f. L. glaci- es ice + arium as in aquarium, vivarium] A skating-rink with ice artificially produced.
1878 19th Cent. Mar. 365 The real ice at the Chelsea glaciarium.
[Safe to use this one now that the real ice is melting around the ol' homestead. -MS]
1878 19th Cent. Mar. 365 The real ice at the Chelsea glaciarium.
[Safe to use this one now that the real ice is melting around the ol' homestead. -MS]
04 April, 2019
Ambagiosity: Word of the Day
Ambagiosity, Rare- [f. ambagios -us + ITY] Circuitousness.
1824 SOUTHY Lett. (1856) III. 419 Without any delay, let, hindrance, impediment, ambagiosity, circumlocution, or needless, superfluous and unnecessary roundabout forms of speech.
1824 SOUTHY Lett. (1856) III. 419 Without any delay, let, hindrance, impediment, ambagiosity, circumlocution, or needless, superfluous and unnecessary roundabout forms of speech.
02 April, 2019
Portionist: Word of the Day
Portionist, [ad. med.L. portionista (499 in Dn Conge) f. portion- em shortened form of PORTION : see IST.]
1. A student in a college, receiving or entitled to a defined portion or allowance of food (whether as a boarder or as recipient of a benefaction).
1895 RASHDALL Universities II. 488 The body of Portionists (now corrupted to Postmasters) was engrafted ... about the year 1380.
2. Eccl. One of two or more incumbents who share the duties and revenues of a benefice.
1888 Dict. Nat. Biog. XIII 247/2 He was also canon resident and portionist at Hereford.
1. A student in a college, receiving or entitled to a defined portion or allowance of food (whether as a boarder or as recipient of a benefaction).
1895 RASHDALL Universities II. 488 The body of Portionists (now corrupted to Postmasters) was engrafted ... about the year 1380.
2. Eccl. One of two or more incumbents who share the duties and revenues of a benefice.
1888 Dict. Nat. Biog. XIII 247/2 He was also canon resident and portionist at Hereford.
30 March, 2019
Gammock: Word of the Day
Gammock, v. intr. To 'lark about', frolic or romp.
1854 MISS BAKER Northants. Gloss. s.v. 'Our John's always going gammocking about.'
1863 SALA Capt. Dangerous I. viii. 225, I was gammocking in a hayfield with another lass.
1854 MISS BAKER Northants. Gloss. s.v. 'Our John's always going gammocking about.'
1863 SALA Capt. Dangerous I. viii. 225, I was gammocking in a hayfield with another lass.
28 March, 2019
Calicular: Word of the Day
Calicular, a. [f. L. calicul -us, dim. of calix a cup + AR] See also CALYCULAR. Resembling a little cup. Obs.
1658 SIR T. BROWN Gard. Cyrus iii. 124 Contemplating the calicular shafts [of the tease] and uncous disposure of their extremities.
[Uncous disposure? Not as rude as I'd hoped, alas. Just means their extremities are disposed of in a curvilinear fashion -MS]
1658 SIR T. BROWN Gard. Cyrus iii. 124 Contemplating the calicular shafts [of the tease] and uncous disposure of their extremities.
[Uncous disposure? Not as rude as I'd hoped, alas. Just means their extremities are disposed of in a curvilinear fashion -MS]
26 March, 2019
Velleity: Word of the Day
Velleity, v. Obs. rare—. [ad.med.L velleitat-, velleitas, f. L. velle to will, wish: see ITY.]
1. The fact or quality of merely willing, wishing or desiring, without any effort or advance towards action or realization.
1768 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 10. Velleity can scarce be called a power, for a power which never operates is no power at all.
2. With a. and pl. A mere wish, desire or inclination without accompanying action or effort.
Very common in the 17th c.; now somewhat rare.
[This one's for Karl Schroeder, who actually uses it quite a bit—which is quite meta, in its own way. -MS]
1. The fact or quality of merely willing, wishing or desiring, without any effort or advance towards action or realization.
1768 TUCKER Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 10. Velleity can scarce be called a power, for a power which never operates is no power at all.
2. With a. and pl. A mere wish, desire or inclination without accompanying action or effort.
Very common in the 17th c.; now somewhat rare.
[This one's for Karl Schroeder, who actually uses it quite a bit—which is quite meta, in its own way. -MS]
19 March, 2019
Words of the Day: A Note to Self
Despite a perhaps laudable intention to choose words for this occasional feature at random, do not attempt to induce randomness by allowing a volume of the compact OED to fall open where it will.
Where it will fall is sadly likely to be upon one's foot. Ouch.
Where it will fall is sadly likely to be upon one's foot. Ouch.
07 March, 2019
Beskyfte: Word of the Day
Beskyfte, v. Obs. rare—. [f. BE- 3 + ME. skyfte : see SHIFT.] trans. To thrust off.
1470-85 MALORY Arthur (1817) L 91 She coude not beskyfte hym by no means.
Why are so many of these words obsolete? They all seem perfectly cromulent to me; I am going to try manfully to use more of them, more frequently. I shall not be beskyfted from this goal. -MS
1470-85 MALORY Arthur (1817) L 91 She coude not beskyfte hym by no means.
Why are so many of these words obsolete? They all seem perfectly cromulent to me; I am going to try manfully to use more of them, more frequently. I shall not be beskyfted from this goal. -MS
06 March, 2019
Destrayt: Word of the Day
Destrayt Obs. also -te, -tte. [a. OF destreit (-ait, -oit), Mod.F. détroit, 'a strait, a narrow place or passage, a defile, a confined place.' :- late pop. L. district-um, from districtus, tight, strict, severe, pa. pple. of distringêre, to DISTRAIN : cf. DISTRICT] A narrow pass or defile.
1481 CAXTON Godfrey clxv. 244 The day after passed they by a moche sharp & aspre way, & after descended by a destrayt into a playne. c 1500 Melusine lvii, 336 On the morn he passed the destraytte & mounted the mountaynes.
1481 CAXTON Godfrey clxv. 244 The day after passed they by a moche sharp & aspre way, & after descended by a destrayt into a playne. c 1500 Melusine lvii, 336 On the morn he passed the destraytte & mounted the mountaynes.
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