[19] Aulus Gellius, lib. i. c. 10.
[20] Instit. lib. i. c. 5.
[21] This verse was corrected by Bentley _procudere nummum_, instead
of _producere nomen_, which the critics agree is one of his happy
conjectures.
[22] Henry Cockeram's curious little "English Dictionarie, or an
Interpretation of hard English words", 12mo, 1631, professes to give
in its first book "the choicest words themselves now in use,
wherewith our language is inriched and become so copious." Many have
not survived, such as the following:--
Acyrologicall An improper speech.
Adacted Driven in by force.
Blandiloquy Flattering speech.
Compaginate To set together that which is broken.
Concessation Loytering.
Delitigate To scold, or chide vehemently.
Depalmate To give one a box on the ear.
Esuriate To hunger.
Strenuitie Activity.
Curiously enough, this author notes some words as those "now out of
use, and onely used of some ancient writers," but which we now
commonly use. Such are the following:--
Abandon To forsake or cast off.
Abate To make lesse, diminish, or take from.
[23] A most striking instance of the change of meaning in a word is
in the old law-term _let_--"without _let_ or hindrance;" meaning
void of all opposition. Hence, "I will _let_ you," meant "I will
hinder you;" and not as we should now think, "I will give you free
leave."
[24] Shakspeare makes "Ancient Pistol" use a new-coined Italian
word, when he speaks of being "better accommodated;" to the great
delight of Justice Shallow, who exclaims, "It comes from
_accommodo_--a good phrase!" And Ben Jonson, in his "Tale of a Tub,"
ridicules Inigo Jones's love of two words he often used:--
----If it _conduce_
To the design, whate'er is _feasible_,
I can express.
[25] The term _pluck_, once only known to the prize-ring, has now
got into use in general conversation, and also into literature, as a
term indicative of ready courage.
[26] Such terms as "_patent_ to the public"--"_normal_
condition"--"_crass_ behaviour," are the inventions of the last few
years.
[27] Shakspeare has a powerfully-composed line in the speech of the
Duke of Burgundy, (_Henry V._ Act v. Sc. 2), when, describing the
fields overgrown with weeds, he exclaims--
----The coulter rusts,
That should _deracinate_ such _savagery_.
[28] The "Quarterly Review" recently marked the word _liberalise_ in
italics as a strange word, undoubtedly not aware of its origin. It
has been lately used by Mr. Dugald Stewart, "to _liberalise_ the
views."--Dissert. 2nd part, p. 138.