Outline of the History of the English Language and Literature (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ... originally knowing, clever, skilled in a craft or trade. The Bible speaks of 'cunning workmen.' Demure, originally of good manners, now staid, grave. Disaster, an unkindly star (Gr. aster, a star); a term from the old astrology. Fond once meant foolish. Gazette, a small newspaper, originally a small coin. The newspaper was so named because a gazetta was paid for it. Gossip sib, or related, in God), originally a sponsor in baptism. Gossip is the kind of talk that goes on between people who are connected witha family. Compare Fr. commere and commerage. Heathen, an unbeliever, originally a dweller on a heath. Compare pagan, a dweller in a pagus, or country canton. Idiot, from Gr. t'diotes, a private person. It afterwards meant a person who kept himself aloof from public business and politics; a person despised by the Athenians. Imp, formerly used in a good sense, meaning scion or offspring. Now a demon of mischief. Impertinent, not relating or belonging to the matter in hand. Influence, a flowing down from the stars; originally a term in astrology. Kind, originally born; hence natural, and so loving. Knave, originally a boy or servant. Sir John Mandeville speaks of Mohammed as a ' poure knave.' Miser sometimes means merely a wretched creature. Spenser, Faerie Queene, II. i. 8: Vouchsafe to stay your steed for humble miser's sake.' Officious, sometimes used in a good sense, obliging, serviceable. Shakspeare, Tit. And. V. ii. 202: 'Come, come, be every one officious To make this banquet.' Ostler = hosteller, properly the keeper of a hostelry or hotel; now applied to the horse-groom. Pagan, from paganus, a dweller in a canton, a countryman or villager; hence a heathen or unbeliever. Christianity was first preached in the large cities. Painful, originally painsta...