ABLE (S. abal), to answer for, to make able, to en able. Admitted! ay, into her heart I'll able it. O. P. THE WIDOW'S TEARS. To sell away all the powder in the kingdom MIDDL. GAME OF CHESS, ABORTIVE (F. abortif), untimely, prematurely brought forth, irregular, out of season. Thou elvish marked, abortive, rooting hog Thou that was seal'd in thy nativity The slave of nature. If ever he have child, abortive be it. K. RICHARD II. IB. ABRADE (L. abrado), to strike with barrenness, to waste away by degrees. Fair I woxe, and fair I sprad, ROM. OF THE SEVEN SAGES. ABRAHAM-COLOUR, supposed to be a dingy yellow. Archdeacon Nares thinks it a corruption of auburn, which was sometimes written abron, from which, by an easy transition, the present word came into use; but the greater probability is, that Abraham was depicted in the old tapestries with a yellow, or rather an orange tawny, beard, and hence that colour, or something nearly resembling it, derives its name. Shakspeare describes Slender, in the Merry Wives of Windsor, as having a Cain coloured beard; and Dryden sarcastically called Jacob Tonson's hair Judas coloured, i. e. red. The old figures of Cain in arras, uniformly represent Cain with a yellow beard, and Judas with red hair; and it is, therefore, not unreasonable to suppose, that Abraham colour owes its name to a similar cause. In the first folio edition of Shakspeare, the colour of the heads of the citizens in Coriolanus is said to be-some brown, some black, some Abram; and though in some subsequent editions the word has been changed to auburn, yet it is more than probable that Abram was the true reading, and that the editors, not understanding the meaning of Abram coloured, substituted a more common and obvious name. Where is the eldest son of Priam, HAWKINS'S O. P. ABRAHAM-MEN, a cant term for idle and thievish vagabonds, who formerly went about the country half naked, or drest in fantastical attire, pretending to have been mad and discharged from Bethlem Hospital. A person pretending sickness is still said "to sham Abraham." These Abraham-men be those that fayn themselves to have been mad, and have been kept in Bethelem or some other prison. HARMER'S CAVEAT FOR COMMON CURSETORS. Under what hedge, I pray you? or at what cost? Are they padders or Abram-men? NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS. ABRAYDE (S. abredan), to awake, to arise, to arouse; a start from sleep. He had thoght to done hym harme, ROM. OF THE LIFE OF IPOMYDON. The miller is a perillous man, he sayd, CHAUCER'S MILLER'S TALE This word is also used by old writers as synonimous with upbraid, and in many instances is referable to breadth or extension, and it is probable that braid (broad), so spelt and pronounced in the north, is hence derived; we still say, broad awake. See "Braide." ABY (S. abidan), to pay dear for, to suffer; sometimes used for abide or remain. Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. MIDS. NIGHT'S DREAM. SPENSER'S F. QUEEN. But nought that wanteth rest can long aby. ABYCHE, another way of spelling ABY, and having the same meaning. Then starte in Sander Sydebreche, And swore by his fader's sowle he should abyche. ROM. OF HUNTYNG OF THE HARE. ABYSM (L. abysmus), a bottomless pit, a great deep that cannot be sounded. And brutish ignorance ycrept of late SPENSER'S TEARS OF THE MUSES. Ac (S. eac), and. This monosyllable is so frequently used by the early poets, that it is unnecessary to give many authorities here, as it will be repeatedly found in the course of the work. Angys had verament A daughter, fair and gent, Ao she was heathen sarazine. ROM. OF THE TALE OF MERLIN, ACATER (F. achatour pour acheteur, a buyer or caterer), a purveyor of victuals. He is my wardrobe-man, my acater, Cook, butler, and steward. B. JONSON'S DEVIL AN Ass. ACATES (0. F. achat), food, victuals in general; but oftener used to signify delicate viands or sweetmeats. The modern word cates is derived from this, and perhaps cakes When I am eerly and late I pinched nat at hem in myn acate. HOCCLEVE. ACCITE (L. cito), to stir, to move, to summon. Excite and cite are the modern words expressive of the same meaning. And what accites your most worshipful thought to think so? He by the senate is accited home TIT. ANDRONICUS. ACCLOY (F. enclouer), to glut, satiate, or surfeit; to cloy. And whoso it doth full foule himself acctoyeth, For office uncommitted ofte anoyeth. CHAUCER'S ASSEMBLEE OF FOULES, As when no wind at all there blew, SPENSER'S F. QUEEN. And with uncomely weeds the gentle wave accloyes. IB. ACCOAST (L. costa), to sail coastwise, to approach the side or coast. Ne is there hawk that mantleth her on perche, Whether high towering or accoasting low. SPENSER'S F. QUEEN. ACCOIL (F. cuellier), to fold round, to form a circle of several folds, to gather together. About the cauldron many cooks accoiled, SPENSER'S F. QUEEN. ACCOMBRE (F. encombrer), to clog, hinder, or stop Thro' wine and women ther was Loth accombred. PIERCE PLOWMAN'S VISION. He sette not his benefice to hire, And lette his shepe accombre in the mire. CHAUCER'S PERSONNE'S TALE. Bale, in his tragedy or interlude called God's Promises, uses the word to signify destruction or punishment. ·ACCOURAGE (F. encourager), to animate, incite, or stir up. That froward pair she even wold assuage, SPENSER'S F. QUEEN. Accoy (F. coi), to sooth, appease; also, to render coy or diffident. Of fair Polana I received was, And oft embraced as if that I were he, And with kind words accoyed, vowing great love to me. SPENSER'S F. QUEEN. ACCROACH (F. accrocher), to entrench upon, to usurp, to draw to. In semblant, as men sayne, is gile, And that was proved thiľke while; The ship which wende has help accroache ACHEKE (S. aceocan), to choke. GOWER And right anon, when Theseus seeth CHAUCER'S LEGEND OF ARIADNE. |