A.

(Fr.

Abated, v. lessened, diminished. abattre, to beat down.) Abbot, n. the chief monk in an abbey. (The word comes from the Chaldee, abba, a father, through the Latin, abbas, abbatis; hence the t. Comp. Rom. viii. 15.)

Ablution, n. washing, cleansing. (L. ab, from; luo, lutum.)

Absurdity, n. nonsense, opposed to common sense; folly.

Acclamation, n. applause, noisy delight.

(L. acclamatio-ad, to; clamo, I shout.) Accordant, a. harmonious, pleasantly agreeing.

Accumulate, v. to heap up, to add to, to

go on increasing. (L. accumulo, to add to a heap-ad, to; cumulus, a heap.) Acquisitions, n. savings, possessions obtained. (L. acquiro-quisitum, to find, by searching; ad. to; quaero, I seek.) Adequate, a. made equal to, sufficient, complete. (L. adæquatus - ad, to; @quus, equal.) Administration, n. management; office; term of power.

Adown, adv. and prep. old English form of down. (4.-S. adûn.)

Adulation, n. flattery, high and excessive

praise. (L. adulatio; from adulor, adulatus, to fawn upon as a dog.) Adverse, a. acting in an opposite direction, opposed to.

Adversity, n. opposition of circumstances, misfortune.

Aisle, n. the wing of a building; usually applied to the side portions of a church. (Fr. aisle, aile; L. ala, a wing.) Albeit, conj. be it all; i.e. although. Albyn, n. the ancient name of the Highlands of Scotland. (Probably the same word as Albion, and connected with alp, a hill or cliff.)

Aliment, n. food. (L. alimentum, from alo, I feed.)

Allure, v. to draw by a lure, to entice, to tempt.

Aloof, adv. aside, at a distance though within view, apart, away from. Alternately, adv. first the one and then the other. (L. alter, other.) Amain, adv. with force, strength, or vio

lence, violently. (A.-S. a, on, maegen, strength.)

Ambassador, n. a minister who acts on

behalf of one nation in dealing with another.

Ambition, n. office-seeking; desire of power, fame, or honour. (L. ambitio; from ambio, to go about, as for the purpose of asking votes: ambi, about; and eo, itum, to go.)

Ancestors, n. the departed fathers of a present generation or family, as grandparents, great grandparents, and so on upwards. (L. antecessorante, before; cedo, cessum, to go.) Ancestral, a. relating to one's ancestors. Angerly, adv. angrily, crossly. Anguish, n. severe pain, or grief.

Fr.

angoisse; L. ango, I press tightly.) Animosity, n. hatred, ill-will, dislike bad feeling, enmity.

Anointed, a. consecrated with oil. Antagonist, n. one who opposes another

in combat. (Gr. anti, against; agonizomai, I contend for a prize.) Anticipate, v. to look forward to, to seize beforehand. (L. anticipo-ante, before; capio, I take.)

Antick, n. a foolish trick, a fantastic figure, a buffoon.

Antipodes, n. those who live on the other side of the globe and whose feet are thus opposite to ours. (Gr. anti, opposite to; pons, podos, a foot.) Antique, a. old, old-fashioned.' (L. antiquus, old, ancient.)

Apathy, n. want of feeling, absence of

passion, carelessness, indifference. (Gr. a, want of; pathos, feeling.) Appalled, v. struck with terror. (L. palleo, to be pale.)

Appeased, v. pacified, calmed, soothed, made at ease.

Apt, a. well-fitted, suitable, ready, quick. Aptitude, n. fitness, suitability. (L. aptus, fit.)

Archetype, n. chief type or symbol, or pattern.

Architecture, n. the art of building.

(Gr. archi, chief, or head; and tecton, a builder.) Ardent, a. hot, burning, fiery, fierce. (L. ardeo, ardens, to burn.) Ardently, adv. earnestly, strongly. Ardour, n. earnestness, heat of spirits,

zeal. (L. ardor, from ardeo, to burn.) Arena, n. an open space strewed with sand where men fight.

Armourers, n. smiths who make mail or

armour.

Arras, n. tapestry.

(From Arras, in the north of France, where it was first manufactured.) Array, n. the arrangement of an army in fighting or marching order. It is also applied to a procession, or to an arrangement of objects, e.g. an array of instruments.

Artificer, n. one who makes by art, a skilled workman.

Ascendant, a. above the horizon; rise, command, control. To be in the ascendant is to be in power. Aspect, n. look, appearance, gaze. Assailant, n. an opponent; one who attacks. (Fr. assailir; L. ad, to; salio, I leap, i.e. to leap on, to attack.) Astrology, n. a profession of being able to

tell future events by the positions of the stars. (Gr. astron, a star; logos, reason, knowledge, discourse; to be distinguished from astronomy-astron and nomos, a law-which is the true science of the stars.)

Atrocity, n. cruelty, brutality, horrible wickedness. (L. atrox, atrocis, cruel.) Attribute, n. a quality or property. (L. ad. tribuo, give.)

Auburn, n. an imaginary beautiful village. Audience, n. hearing; also a collection of people gathered to hear. (L. audio, hear.)

Augury, n. a sign that is supposed to foretell the future, an omen, a prophecy. Auxiliaries, n. aids, assistants, supporters. The word is applied specially to irregular forces designed to support a main army. (L. auxilium, help.) Avalanche, n. a snow-slip, a large body of snow sliding down a mountain. Avarice, n. greed, specially for money. Avaunt, int. away! begone! (Fr. avant, before.)

Avenue, n. a passage. The word is applied specially to an alley between two rows of trees.

Aversion, n. dislike; avoidance, distrust. (L. averto-a, from; verto, versum, to turn.)

Avert, v. to turn aside, avoid, escape.

B.

Backgammon, n. a game played by two persons with a box and dice upon a board or table.

Balm, n. a sweet smelling herb, supposed to have healing powers; anything that heals or soothes pain. Shakspeare uses it to represent the oil of consecration.

Balsam, n. an oily, aromatic, resinous substance which is obtained from plants, and has a healing power; a soothing influence.

Bar, n. a rod of any solid substance.
Barbarians, n. savages; uncivilised people.
Barbarity, n. savageness, cruelty.
Bauble, a. toy.

Beacons, v. beacon is usually a noun. Here
it is made into a verb meaning lights
up. [A beacon-light is a fire made
on the hills or on a tower at night,
for a signal or a warning.] (Origin
ally the same word as beckon.)
Beguile, v. to cozen, to delude by flattery.
Beldam, n. grandmother, an old woman,

especially an ugly one. (Curiously enough the word is simply a corruption of the Fr. belle dame, fine lady. It was applied, at first, in compliment to aged female relatives.) Benumbed, a. stiffened by cold, deprived of sensation or feeling. Beshrew, v. to confound. (Shrew means a

brawler. The first syllable is the same as be in bespatter; thus the word means to be-brawl, to confound with noise.) Besiegers, n. soldiers who surround a city or fortified place, and wait there until the foe breaks forth to fight, or is starved to surrender,

Bier, n. a carriage or frame of wood for bearing the dead to the grave.

Boisterous, a. wild, noisy, violent. Bondman, n. a man slave.

Brae, n. a slope, a sloping hill (not steep). (The Scotch form of brow. A.-S. brow.) Brief, a. short.

Brook, v. to bear or endure. (A.-S. bruean to use, to bear.)

Buckler, n. a small shield, having a bent form and central boss. (It. bucca, cheek, chin, buccula; hence, Fr. bouclier.)

Buffoonery, n. the conduct of a buffoon or low jester, nonsense, low jests. Buxom, a. plump, well-formed. (A.-S. bocsum, beogan, búgan, to bow, to be round.)

C.

Cabinet, n. originally the word means a little cabin, hut, or cupboard; hence, it has come to be applied to a private room, as "closet" is in the New Testament. Now it is used specially of the "cabinet council," that is, the chief members of the government who meet and discuss state affairs in private.

Cadence, n. a declining sound, a turn in

a tune, a fall of the voice at the end of a sentence. (L. cado, fall.) Calendar, n. a list of days with notes

of events to be expected or commemorated, changes of the moon, seasons, &c. It is also applied to an orderly arrangement of the contents of a series of documents. (L. calendae, the first day of a month; calendarium, a book of days and months. N.B. calender, to dress cloth, has no connection with the above at all, but is a corruption of cylinder, a roller.) Caliph, n. a successor of Mahomet, who claims, by virtue of this title,

sovereign power in both civil and religious affairs.

Calumny, n. slander, a false charge of crime or offence.

Cancel, v. to blot out, to render void. Canine, a. relating to dogs. (L. canis, a dog.)

Capitol, n. citadel or stronghold on one

of the hills of Rome. In the oldest times it was the chief place of the city. Capitulation, n. properly the terms of a surrender, divided into sections. It is used, however, as equivalent to yielding or giving in. (L. capitulum, dim. of caput, the head, and meaning a section or chapter in a document.) Capricious, a. irregular, whimsical, fanciful.

Cardinal, n. the highest order of clergy in the Roman Catholic Church under the Pope. (L. cardinalis, from cardo,

a hinge; applied to anything holding an important or critical place; that on which important issues depend.) Castellated, a. adorned with towers and turrets, like a castle.

Casual, a. that which comes now and then, uncertain. (L. casus, accident.) Cataphract, n. complete armour, specially

applied to horse armour. (Gr. kataphraktos, completely clad in mail.) Cavalier, n. a horseman, a gentleman, a party name of the royalists as opposed to the Commonwealth men, or "Roundheads," in the time of Charles I. (From low L. caballus; It. cavallo, a horse; Fr. cheval, chevalier.) Cavaliero, n. Spanish form of cavalier. Ceaselessly, adv. never ending. (The pri

vative affix less is not usually found combined with a verb. It seems to be so in this word, but perhaps cease here may be taken as a noun.) Champion, n. a combatant, a warrior, especially one who fights in a cause not his own. (The word is connected with L. campus, a field as a place of battle. It. campione, a fight.) Charnel-house, n. a place under, or near to, a church, where the bones of the dead are placed. (Fr. charnel; L. carnalis, from caro, carnis, flesh.) Chasm, n. a gap, cleft, opening. (Gr. chasma, a gaping hollow.)

Check, v. to stop, hinder. (The history of this word is curious; it is a shortened form of the Fr. échec, the game of chess. "Check" to the king stops everything until it is removed; hence, the word came to be used for any stoppage.)

Chequered, a. diversified; varied. also check.)

(See

Cherubims, n. heavenly spirits. (A Hebrew word; cherub, plur. cherubim. Observe, the addition of the English plural s is unnecessary.)

Chid, v. for chidden, scolded, reproved by words.

Choir, n. a body of singers, also the part

of a church in which the service is performed. (Fr. chœur; Gr. choros.) Choristers, n. singers, specially the singers in a church. (Gr. choros.)

Christendom, n. the people who profess the Christian religion.

Chronicler, n. one who makes records, a historian. (Gr. chronos, time.) Chymic, a. more usually now chemic, belonging to chemistry, chemical, a shortened form from the ancient Alchemy, a pretended science aiming at transmuting all metals into gold. Cincture, n. a girdle or belt, a band worn round the head or body.

Citadel, n. a fortress, a place of defence. Clarion, n. a sort of trumpet whose note is clear and shrill. (Fr. clair, clear.)

Cloven, a. split, divided. Co-herald, n. a herald is one who announces; a co-herald is one who acts with another herald-a partner in the work. (L. co, together; and herald.) Colossal, a. large; from the Gr. Colossos, a gigantic statue at Rhodes. Compatible, a. what can be borne with, suitable, consistent with something else. (L. con, with; patior, I bear.) Complacent, a. contented, easy-going, good-humoured, smooth-tempered. Composure, n. calmness, collectedness. (L. con, together, and pono, positum, to place.)

Conceit, n. properly a notion, then a fancy, specially a notion about one's self, self-satisfaction, vanity. Concord, n. union, agreement, harmony, sounds agreeing one with another. Conduit, n. pipe, channel to conduct

water. (Fr. conduit; old Fr. conduict; from L. conduco, I lead.)

Confines, n. boundaries, borders, limits. Conjuration, n. act of summoning another by a sacred name; calling up supernatural aid; solemn entreaty. (See also conjure.)

Conjure, v. properly to put to an oath and so to urge, to implore with solemnity. The vulgar meaning (the art of a conjuror) comes from the solemn forms or oaths used by tricksters in appealing to unseen powers, as was the custom in old times. In the latter meaning the accent is cônjure; in the former conjúre. (L. con, together; and juro, swear.

Consort, n. companion, a friend having a common lot with another. It is specially applied to the husband or wife of a sovereign. (L. con, with, together; and sors, sortis, a lot.) Conspicuous, a. prominent, manifest, easy to be seen.

Consul, n. one of the two chief magistrates of the ancient Roman Republic. Controversy, n. argument, dispute, quarrel. (L. contra, against; and verto, turn.)

Convulsion, n. trembling, shaking, vibration.

Convulsive, a. violent, irregular, of the nature of spasms.

Corn-land, n. agricultural land. Corse, n. a poetic form of corpse, the dead body of a human being.

Corrie, n. a Highland name for a narrow glen. (See Quarry.) Corroboration, n. confirmation of a fact,

fresh proof. (L. con, together; and robor, strength.)

Corroded, v. rusted, worn away. (L. con, together, completely; and rodo, I gnaw.) Corruption, n. degradation, impurity, dishonesty. (L. con, together, com

pletely; and, rumpo, ruptum, to break. The idea is that of breaking up, coming to pieces, spoiling, by the effects of moral evil.)

Counsellor, n. adviser. To be carefully distinguished from councillor. (Fr. conseil; L. consilium, advice.) Courtesy, n. politeness, gentleness, a kind act. The idea is that of manners fit for a royal court.

Covetousness, n. excessive desire of anything, especially of gain. Craftsmen, n. workmen.

Crafty, a. having craft or skill, artful, cunning.

Craven, a. cowardly; spiritless.
Credence, n. belief. (Low L. credentia,

from credens, credentis, believing.) Crest, n. the plume of feathers on the top of a helmet, a tuft or ornament. In armorial bearings the crest is placed above the shield. (Fr. crête; L. crista, comb of a cock.)

Cripple-tardy-gaited, a. with a step, or walk, as slow and feeble as a cripple. Crow, n. a large iron bar, generally with a claw at the end.

D.

Dauphin, n. a name formerly given to the eldest son of the king of FranceDauphiness, his wife. (Fr. originally the title of the lords of Dauphiné, probably from their crest, a dolphin.) Debauchee, n. a dissolute fellow, a drunkard. (The verb debauch means properly to lead astray; Fr. de, from, and bauche, a marked out course.) Debauchery, n. dissipation, excess in eating and drinking, intemperance. Decree, n. order, declaration, law. (L. decerno, decretum, to decide.)

Dedicate, v. to declare anything set apart, to devote.

Deferred, v. put off.

(L. de, down, or The idea!:

away, and fero, I bear.
that of taking something off the track
as it were, for a time.)

Deign, v. to condescend, to descend or let
one's self down, to descend willingly
to an equal footing with inferiors.
(Through the Fr. designer, from L.
dignari, to think worthy.)
Delineate, v. to draw, pourtray, or make
plain and clear.

Density, n. solidity, thickness. Deplore, v. to bewail, bemoan, regret. Depose, v. to bring down from a throne or high station; to degrade. (L. de, down, pono, positum, to place.) Depravity, n. vileness; corruption of moral principles.

Deputy, n. one appointed to act for another, a representative.

Dervish, n. a Mahommedan monk or re

ligious person, who professes to be
extremely poor and to lead a severe
life.
Descendant, n. issue, offspring, any per
son proceeding from an ancestor of
any degree.

Desolation, n. grief, neglect, loneliness,
helplessness.

Despatch, v. to finish a business.
Detractor, n. one who takes away the re-
pute or character of another person.
(L. detraho, detractus-de, from, away;
and traho, tractum, to draw.)
Dignity, n. honour, a sense of self-respect.
Dilapidation, n. ruin, breakage. (İ, di,

or dis, asunder; and lapides, stones.
The idea is that of tearing the stones
of a building asunder.)
Dilating, a. opening, expanding, stretch-
ing out.

Dire, a. dreadful, terrible.
Discarded, a. abandoned, disowned, re-

jected. (The word means literally off
the cards, thrown out as useless.)
Disclose, v. to open to view, to reveal a
secret.

Discomfortable, a. an old form of uncom-

fortable. (L. prefix dis, asunder, apart
from, instead of; un, not).
Dismantled. v. literally having clothes

torn off and so spoiled, broken down.
Said specially of fortifications made
useless. (L. dis, privative; and Fr.
manteau, for mantle.)
Dismayed, v. terrified.

Disparage, v. to injure by comparison, un-
dervalue, vilify.

Dispossess'd, v. put out of possession,
deprived.

Dissipated, a. scattered, loose, degraded.
Dissonant, a. disagreeing in tone, discor-
dant, harsh, unpleasant. (L. dis,
apart; sonans, antis, sounding.)
Distemper, n. literally a wrong tempering,
an improper mixture, hence derange-
ment, disease. Distemper, meaning
a mode of painting on walls, comes
through the Fr. détremper, to dilute,
and used to be spelled destemper.
Distraction, n. confusion, perplexity. (See
last word.)

Domain, n. an estate in land.
Domestics, n. household servants. (L.
domus, a house.)

Domination, n. mastery.

Dotard, n. a man whose mind is impaired

or weakened by age, a rude term for
an old man.

Drone-pipe, n. a pipe through which a
humming sound is made."
Dross, n. waste matter thrown off in the
process of smelting metals.
Ducat, n. a coin struck in the dominions

of a duke, some of them gold, others
silver; they differ in value in various
parts of Europe.

Dupe, n. the silly victim of a clever knave.

E.

Ebon, a. of the nature of the wood ebony,
hard and black..

Ecstasy, n. delight, excessive joy, rapture.

(Gr. ek, aside, out of; stasis, stand-
ing.) The idea is that of being out of
one's self with excitement.
Eddy, n. a small whirlpool, a back cur-
rent.

Efface, v. to blot out, to wipe out.
Efficacy, n. sufficiency of power, practical
energy. (L. efficio, effectum, to carry
out, to do completely.)

Effigy, n. a figure, image, likeness.
Ejaculation, n. exclamation, sudden utter-
ance, short prayer.
Ejected, v. thrown out.
Elysian, a. pertaining to Elysium, or the
seat of delight; yielding the highest
pleasures, soothing, delicious.
mythology, Elysium was the region
assigned to the spirits of the virtuous
after death.

In

Embarrass, v. to distress, put about, per-
plex.

Embassies, n. messages carried from one

nation to another by a minister or
other person of high position.
Embattailed, v. embattled, ranged, pre-
pared for battle.

Emblazoned, v. displayed with pomp as
though in a blaze. (The word belongs
to heraldry, and refers to the bright
colours used therein.)

Emblems, n. types, symbols, pictures.
Emphatically, adv. strongly, forcibly, with
stress.

Emulous, a. vying with, eager to imitate
or to excel.

Endowed, v. furnished, supplied, blessed.
Energy, n. power, practical or working
force.
Enervated, v. weakened. (L. enervo,
enervatus-e, out of; nervus, a nerve.
The idea is that nerve is gone.)
Enfranchisement, n. release from prison
or slavery; admission to civil or
political privileges.

Engendering, v. begetting, breeding, caus-
ing to grow.

Enrapt, a. carried away with strong feel-
ing; distinct from enwrapped, which
means folded. (En, in; L. raptus,

seized.)

Enrounded, v. drawn round, surrounded.
Ensign, n. a flag to distinguish a nation,
regiment, &c.

Enthralled, v. overpowered, mostly with

delight. (Thrall is the old English
word for slave; to enthrall, therefore,
means to master.)

Entranced, v. put in a trance, having the
soul in deep thought or profound
emotion.

Envious, a. grudging the happiness of
another.