Walker's Definition of the Day

Zachary Taylor

Ispired by the Definition of the Day thread, and the general interest in etymology in this forum, I thought that we all might benefit from a similar thread based on John Walker's 1791 "Critical Pronouncing Dictionary and Expositor of the English Language" which seems to amuse my friends. Feel free to make requests, bearing in mind that the dictionary does not include many words found in modern speech (there is only one entry beginning tele-). So to begin,

Plastick :
Having the power to give form

and


Tea :
A Chinese plant, of which the infusion has lately been much drank in Europe

Sev

Hmm.. what about 'fire'? If I recall correctly, I think that one was rather amusing.

Zachary Taylor

Fire:
The element that burns; anything burning; a conflagration of towns or countries; the punishment of the damned; any thing that inflames the passions; ardour of temper; liveliness of imagination; vigour of fancy; spirit of sentiment; the passion of love; eruptions or imposthumations, as St. Anthony's fire.

Sev

The punishment of the damned.. I like it.

Zachary Taylor

To Glance:
To shoot a sudden ray of splendour; to fly off in an oblique direction; to view with a quick glance of the eye; to censure by oblique hints.

Amz

I've made this thread sticky as it seems interesting. Hopefully it will be a popular addition to the forum.

Zachary Taylor

Nickname:
A name given in scoff or contempt.

To Nickname:
To call by an approbious appelation.

Gordon

Troll?

CuLT

I love this!

Do "automaton", it's excellent from what i can remember .

Gordon, is that "6.66 posts per day" an admin edit? Or are you really a creature off the damned?
Maybe "fire" should be used against you .

Gordon

God, its slowly creeping up to 7 ppd! that's a bit sad Mind you, you're more damned because you noticed it CuLT!

Is there an online version of this book or is it only to be found in that mythical "Papyrus" text? (Papere I think it is called nowadayse)

Zachary Taylor

Musick-
the science of harmonical sounds.

Zachary Taylor

Bouncer-
a boaster, a bully, an empty threatener;a liar.

Gordon

Does it have the word troll?

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

Gordon

What is the definition of "Spurious", I think Merc wants to know as he has many of those type of accounts.

Don't you Merctionary Tilt

Zachary Taylor

Spurious-
Noy genuine, counterfeit, adulterine; not legitimate, bastard

Zachary Taylor

To Troll-
to roll, to turn around; to fish for a pike with a rod which has a pulley towards the bottom

Gordon

PHB

My bad, I was meant to continue this while Zachory Talyor was away

Sorry

Anyway catch up time

Tertian-
Is an argue intermitting but one day, so that there are two fits in three days.

To Deracinate-
To pluck or tear up by the roots.

Fee-
All lands or tenements that are held by any acknowledgement of superiority to a higher
lord; re compense; payments occasionaly claimed by persons in office; reward paid to
physicians or lawyers.

Friend-
One joined to another in mutual benevolance and intimacy, opposed to foe or enemy; one
reconciled to another; a companion; favourer; one propitous; a familiar compellation.

To Imprecate-
To call from evil upon oneself or others.

davej

To Glance:
[.....] to view with a quick glance of the eye; to censure by oblique hints.

I can't believe he used "glance" to explain glance!

davej

Zachary Taylor

I've been away working for the last week or so. Thanks Dave for talking over. In honour of my exotic destination,

Bray:
Noise, Sound

To Bray:
To make the noise of an ass; to make an offensive noise; to pound, or grind small

Zachary Taylor

Uxorious:
Submissively fond of a wife, infected with connubal dotage.

Zachary Taylor

Sabbath:
A day appointed by God among the Jews, and from them established among Christians for publick worship; the seventh day set apart from works of labour to be employed in piety; intermission of pain or sorrow, time of rest.

CuLT

Automaton?

Zachary Taylor

Automaton:
A machine that hath the power of motion within itself.

Sorry for the delay Ross

CuLT

Originally posted by Zachary Taylor
Automaton:
A machine that hath the power of motion within itself.

Sorry for the delay Ross

Excellent, thnx .










......... Zachary..... 0_o . Who might you be? (Nobody informs me who they are on boards )

Zachary Taylor

To Keelhale:
To punish in the seamen's way, by dragging the criminal under water on one side of the ship and up again on the other.
-This word is more properly, and more generally pronounced keelhawl

Zachary Taylor

Arquebuse:
A hand gun.

Arquibusier:
A soldier armed with an arquebuse.

Zachary Taylor

To Enfeoff:
To invest with any dignities or possessions. A law term.

Zachary Taylor

Bloodguiltiness:
Murder

Zachary Taylor

To Espy:
To see a thing at a distance; to discover a thing intended to be hid; to see unexpectedly; to discover as a spy.