  at'las, a collection of maps bound together: "Atlas," a fabled giant who, according to the Greek notion bore the earth upon his shoulders. acad'emy, a superior grade school, a society of learned men: "Academus," a Greek in whose garden near Athens Plato taught. ammo'nia, the pungent matter of smelling salts: "Jupiter Ammon," near whose temple in Libya it was originally obtained. bac'chanal, one who indulges in drunken revels: "Bacchus," the god of wine. bow'ie knife, an American weapon: Colonel "Bowie," the inventor. braggado'cio, a vain boaster: "Braggadochio," a boastful character in Spenser's Faery Queen. bud'dhism, a wide-spread Asiatic religion: "Buddha," a Hindoo sage who lived about 1000 B.C. cal'vinism, the doctrines of Calvin: "Calvin," a Swiss theologian of the 16th century. camel'lia, a genus of evergreen shrubs: "Camelli," a Spaniard who brought them from Asia. cicero'ne (sis e-ro'ne or chĭ chĕ-ro'-ne), a guide: "Cicero," the Roman orator. cincho'na, Peruvian bark: Countess "Cinchona," wife of a Spanish governor of Peru (17th century). By means of this medicine she was cured of an intermittent fever, and after her return to Spain she aided in the diffusion of the remedy. daguerre'otype, a picture produced on a metal plate: "Daguerre," the inventor (1789-1851). dahl'ia, a garden plant: "Dahl," a Swedish botanist. dunce, a dull, slow-witted person: "Duns Scotus," a subtle philosopher of the 13th century. His method of reasoning was very popular in the schools during the Middle Ages, and a very skillful hair-splitter was called a Dunse; but at last, through the influence of the antagonists of the philosopher, the word passed into a term of reproach. ep'icure, one fond of good living: "Epicurus," a Greek philosopher who was said to teach that pleasure is the chief good. Fah'renheit, a thermometer that marks the freezing-point of water at 32° (which is different from both the centigrade and the Reaumur thermometer): "Fahrenheit," the inventor. fuchsia (fu'sĭ-a), a genus of flowering plants: "Leonard Fuchs," a German botanist of the 16th century. gal'vanism, a branch of the science of electricity: "Galvani," an Italian physician, its discoverer. gen'tian, a medicinal root: "Gentian," king of Illyria, who is said to have first experienced the virtues of the plant. gob'elin, a rich tapestry: "Jehan Gobeelen," a Flemish dyer. guillotine', an instrument for beheading: "Guillotin," who invented and brought it into use at the time of the French Revolution, last century. hy'giene, the principles and rules of health: "Hygeia," the goddess of health in classical mythology. Jes'uit, a member of the Society of Jesus, formed by Ignatius Loyola in 1534: "Jesus." lynch, to punish without the usual forms of law: said to be from "Lynch," a Virginia farmer, who took the law into his own hands. macad'amize, to cover a road with small broken stones: "Macadam," the inventor. magno'lia, a species of trees found in the southern parts of the United States: "Magnol," a French botanist. men'tor, a faithful monitor: "Mentor," the counselor of Telemachus. mor'phia, the narcotic principle of opium: "Morpheus," the god of sleep. ne'gus, a mixture of wine, water, and sugar: Colonel "Negus," who introduced its use in the time of Queen Anne. or'rery, an apparatus for showing the motions, etc., of the heavenly bodies: the Earl of "Orrery," for whom one of the first was made. palla'dium, something that affords effectual defense, protection, and safety: Greek "palla'dion," an image of "Pallas Athene," which was kept hidden and secret, and was revered as a pledge of the safety of the town where it was lodged. pan'ic, a sudden fright: "Pan," the god of shepherds, who is said to have caused alarm by his wild screams and appearance. pe'ony, a plant of the genus PÆONIA, having beautiful showy flowers: "PÆon," its discoverer. pet'rel, an ocean bird: diminutive of Peter, probably so called in allusion to "St. Peter's" walking on the sea. pha'eton, an open carriage: "Phaethon," the fabled son of Phoebus or the Sun, whose chariot he attempted to drive. pinch'beck, an alloy of copper and zinc resembling gold: said to be from one "Pinchbeck," the inventor. quas'sia, a bitter wood used as a tonic: "Quassy," a negro who discovered its qualities. rodomontade', vainbluster: "Rodomonte," a boasting hero who figures in Ariosto's poem of the Orlando Furioso. silhouette (sil oo et'), the outline of an object filled in with black color: "Silhouette" (see Webster). tan'talize, to torment or tease: "Tantalus," according to the poets, an ancient king of Phrygia, who was made to stand up to the chin in water with fruit hanging over his head, but from whom both receded when he wished to partake. typhoon', a violent hurricane which occurs in the Chinese seas: "Typhon," a fabled giant who was taught to produce them. volca'no, a burning mountain: "Vulcan," the god of fire. 2.—ADJECTIVES.Amer'ican, relating to America: from "Amerigo (Latin, Americus) Vespucci"—contemporary of Columbus. A'rian, relating to Arius: a theologian of the 4th century who denied the divinity of Christ. Aristote'lian, relating to the deductive method of reasoning set forth by Aristotle: a Greek philosopher of the 4th century B.C. Armin'ian, relating to Arminius: a Dutch theologian of the 16th century, who opposed the doctrines of Calvin. Baco'nian, relating to the inductive method of reasoning set forth by Bacon: an English philosopher of the 17th century. Carte'sian, relating to the philosophy of Descartes: a French philosopher of the 17th century. ce'real, relating to grain: from "Ceres"—the Roman goddess of corn and tillage. Coper'nican, relating to Copernicus: a German philosopher of the 16th century, who taught the theory of the solar system now received, and called the Copernican system. Eliz'abethan, relating to the times of Queen Elizabeth of England: (1558-1603). Eo'lian, relating to the wind: from "Æolus"—the god of the winds in classic mythology. Eras'tian, relating to Erastus:—a German theologian of the 16th century, who maintained that the Church is wholly dependent on the State for support or authority. Escula'pian, relating to the healing art: from "Esculapius"—the god of the healing art among the Greeks. Gor'dian, intricate, complicated, difficult: from "Gordius"—king of Phrygia who tied a knot which could not be untied. Hercule'an, very large and strong: from "Hercules"—a hero of antiquity celebrated for his strength. hermet'ic, relating to Hermes—the fabled inventor of alchemy; adv., hermetically, in a perfectly close manner. Hudibras'tic, in the manner of the satirical poem called Hudibras, by Samuel Butler (1612-1680). jo'vial, gay, merry: from "Jupiter" (Jovis),—the planet of that name having in the Middle Ages been supposed to make those who were born under it of a joyous temper. LinnÆ'an, relating to LinnÆus—the celebrated Swedish botanist. Lu'theran, relating to the doctrines of Luther—a German religious teacher of the 16th century. Machiavel'ian, cunning and sinister in politics: from "Machiaveli"—an Italian writer of the 15th century. mercu'rial, active, sprightly—having the qualities fabled to belong to the god "Mercury." Mosa'ic, relating to Moses, his writings or his time. Newto'nian, relating to Sir Isaac Newton and his philosophy. Pindar'ic, after the style and manner of Pindar—a lyric poet of Greece. platon'ic, relating to the opinions or the school of Plato,—a philosopher of Greece, in the 4th century B.C. Pluton'ic, relating to the interior of the earth, or to the Plutonic theory in geology of the formation of certain rocks by fire: from "Pluto"—in classic mythology, the god of the infernal regions. procrus'tean, relating to or resembling the mode of torture employed by Procrustes—a celebrated highwayman of ancient Attica, who tied his victims upon an iron bed, and, as the case required, either stretched out or cut off their legs to adapt them to its length. Prome'thean, relating to Prometheus—a god fabled by the ancient poets to have formed men from clay and to have given them life by means of fire stolen from heaven, at which Jupiter, being angry, sent Mercury to bind him to Mount Caucasus, and place a vulture to prey upon his liver. Quixot'ic, absolutely romantic, like Don Quixote—described by Cervantes, a Spanish writer of the 16th century. Satur'nian, distinguished for purity, integrity, and simplicity; golden, happy: from "Saturn"—one of the gods of antiquity whose age or reign, from the mildness and wisdom of his government, was called the golden age. Socrat'ic, relating to the philosophy or the method of teaching of Socrates—the celebrated philosopher of Greece (468-399 B.C.). stento'rian, very loud or powerful, resembling the voice of Stentor—a Greek herald, spoken of by Homer, having a very loud voice. Thes'pian, relating to tragic action: from "Thespis"—the founder of the Greek drama. Titan'ic, enormous in size and strength: from the "Titans"—fabled giants in classic mythology. Uto'pian, ideal, fanciful, chimerical: from "Utopia"—an imaginary island, represented by Sir Thomas More, in a work called "Utopia," as enjoying the greatest perfection in politics laws, and society. volta'ic, relating to voltaism or voltaic electricity: from "Volta"—who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action. II.—WORDS DERIVED FROM THE NAMES OF PLACES.ag'ate, a precious stone: "Achates," a river in Sicily where it is found. al'abaster, a variety of soft marble: "Alabastrum," in Egypt, where it is found. ar'ras, tapestry: "Arras," in France, where it is manufactured. arte'sian, applied to wells made by boring into the earth till the instrument reaches water which flows from internal pressure: "Artois" (anciently called Artesium), in France, where many of such wells have been made. At'tic, marked by such qualities as characterized the Athenians, as delicate wit, purity of style, elegance, etc.: "Attica," the country of the Athenians. ban'tam, a small domestic fowl: "Bantam," in Java, whence it was brought. barb, a Barbary horse: "Barbary," in Africa. bay'onet, a dagger fixed on the end of a musket: "Bayonne," in France, where it was invented, in 1679. bedlam, a lunatic asylum: "Bethlehem," a monastery in London, afterwards used as an asylum for lunatics. bur'gundy, a French wine: "Burgundy," where it is made. cal'ico, a kind of cotton cloth: "Calicut," in India, where it was first manufactured. cana'ry, a wine and a bird: the "Canary" Islands. can'ter, an easy gallop: "Canterbury," in allusion to the easy pace at which the pilgrims used to ride thither. car'ronade, a short cannon: "Carron," in Scotland, where it was first made. cash'mere, a rich shawl, from the wool of the Thibet goat: "Cashmere," the country where first made. chalced'ony, a variety of uncrystalized quartz: "Chalcedon," in Asia Minor, where obtained. champagne', a wine: "Champagne," in France, where produced. cher'ry, a red stoned fruit: "Cerasus" (now Kheresoun), in Pontus, Asia Minor, whence the tree was imported into Italy. chest'nut, a fruit: "Castanea," in Macedonia, whence it was introduced into Europe. cog'nac, a kind of French brandy: "Cognac," in France, where extensively made. cop'per, a metal: "Cyprus," once celebrated for its rich mines of the metal. cord'wainer, a worker in cordwain, or cordovan, a Spanish leather: "Cordova," in Spain. curaÇoa', a liquor or cordial flavored with orange peel: the island of "CuraÇoa," where it was first made. cur'rant, a small dried grape: "Corinth," in Greece, of which "currant" is a corruption. dam'ask, figured linen or silk: "Damascus," in Syria, where first made. dam'son, a small black plum: (shortened from "Damascene") Damascus. delf, a kind of earthenware: "Delft," in Holland, where it was orignally made. di'aper, a figured linen cloth, used for towels, napkins, etc.: "Ypres," in Flanders, where originally manufactured. dim'ity, a figured cotton cloth: "Damietta," in Egypt. gamboge', a yellow resin used as a paint: "Cambodia, where it is obtained. ging'ham, cotton cloth, made of yarn dyed before woven: "Guincamp," in France, where it was first made. guin'ea, an English gold coin of the value of twenty-one shillings: "Guinea," whence the gold was obtained out of which it was first struck. gyp'sy, one of a wandering race: old English "Gyptian," from "Egypt," whence the race was supposed to have originated. hol'land, a kind of linen cloth: "Holland," where first made. hol'lands, a spirit flavored with juniper berries: "Holland," where it is extensively produced.. in'digo, a blue dye: "India". jal'ap, a cathartic medicine: "Jalapa," in Mexico, whence it was first imported in 1610. jet, a mineral used for ornament: "Gagates," a river in Asia Minor, whence it was obtained. lan'dau, lan'daulet, a kind of carriage opening at the top: "Landau," a town in Germany. madei'ra, a wine: "Madeira," where produced. magne'sia, a primitive earth: "Magnesia," in Thessaly. mag'net, the loadstone, or Magnesian stone. malm'sey, a wine: "Malvasia," in the Morea. mar'sala, a wine: "Marsala," in Sicily. mean'der, to flow in a winding course: "Meander," a winding river in Asia Minor. mil'liner, one who makes ladies' bonnets, etc.: "Milan," in Italy. moroc'co, a fine kind of leather: "Morocco," in Africa, where it was originally made. nankeen', a buff-colored cloth: "Nankin," in China, where first made. pheas'ant, a bird whose flesh is highly valued as food: "Phasis," a river in Asia Minor, whence it was brought to Europe. pis'tol, a small hand gun: "Pistoja," in Italy, where first made. port, a wine: "Oporto," in Portugal, whence extensively shipped. sardine', a small Mediterranean fish, of the herring family: "Sardinia" around whose coasts the fish abounds. sauterne', a wine: "Sauterne," in France, where produced. sher'ry, a wine: "Xeres," in Spain, where it is largely manufactured. span'iel, a dog of remarkable sagacity: "Hispaniola," now Hayti, where originally found. tar'iff, a list of duties or customs to be paid on goods imported or exported: from an Arabic word, tarif, information. to'paz, a precious stone: "Topazos," an island in the Red Sea, where it is found. trip'oli, a fine grained earth used in polishing stones: "Tripoli," in Africa, where originally obtained. turquois', a bluish-green stone: "Turkey," whence it was originally brought. worst'ed, well-twisted yarn, spun of long-staple wool: "Worsted," a village in Norfolk, England, where first made. |
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