Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 134 results in 134 entries
1. acceptance, n. View full entry 1528-30
...Law. An agreement to abide by the act or contract of another, such as a predecessor in an office, by some act which amounts to a recognition or approval of it,...
2. Achates, n. View full entry 1582
...allusively. A person likened to Achates, esp. a loyal friend or companion. Cf. fidus Achates...
3. Aganippe, n. View full entry a1586
...Used allusively to denote the source of poetic inspiration, or a person's poetic power, voice, or method. Also attrib., as Aganippe spring, Aganippe well, etc....
4. artful, adj. (and n.) View full entry 1583
...Displaying or characterized by technical skill. Cf. art6. Now rare....
5. Babel, n. View full entry a1529
...A confused or discordant medley of sounds, esp. of voices; a hubbub, a din. Perh. influenced by babble2 in later use....
6. Babylonian, n. and adj. View full entry 1534
...A native or inhabitant of the ancient city of Babylon (now in Iraq), or the ancient Babylonian Empire. hist....
7. † ˈbitter-ˌsweeting, n. View full entry 1597
...The Bitter-sweet Apple. (In Shakespeare allusively.)...
8. brave, adj., n., and int. View full entry 1568
...Of persons and their attributes: Courageous, daring, intrepid, stout-hearted (as a good quality)....
9. buskin, n. View full entry 1503
...Originally: a calf-high or knee-high boot or covering for the foot and leg, typically made from cloth or leather; a half-boot. Later in pl. (chiefly regional): gaiters, leggings....
10. Castalia | Castalie | Castaly, n. View full entry 1591
...Proper name of a spring on Mount Parnassus, sacred to the Muses; often used allusively....
11. Charon, n. View full entry a1522
...In Greek and Latin mythology the name of the ferryman who conveyed the shades of the departed across the Styx; often used allusively....
12. choker, n. View full entry 1552
...‘One that chokes or suffocates another....
13. church mouse, n. View full entry 1566
...A mouse which lives in a church. Also fig. and allusive: a person likened to such a mouse (in terms of its proverbial attributes), esp. in being impoverished...
14. circumcised, adj. View full entry 1561
...Having the prepuce cut off; that has undergone circumcision. (Allusively used for ‘Jewish’ or ‘Muslim’.)...
15. Columbus, n. View full entry 1593
...Used allusively for an explorer or discoverer....
16. concoction, n. View full entry ?1531
...Digestion (of food). Obs....
17. conscript, adj. and n. View full entry a1533
...Enrolled or elected a senator. In pl. conscript fathers, fathers conscriptLatinpatres conscripti, properly patres, conscripti, i.e. patres et conscripti fathers: a collective title...
18. ˈcopy-book, n. View full entry 1557
...A book containing copies of documents, accounts, etc. Obs....
19. Cyclops, n. View full entry a1522
...One of a race of one-eyed giants in ancient Greek mythology, who forged thunderbolts for Zeus. Hence often used allusively....
20. Delilah, n. View full entry 1597
...The name of the woman who betrayed Samson to the Philistines (see Judges xvi), used allusively to mean a temptress or treacherous paramour....