Acceptable, adj. (Deut. xxxiii. 24; Eccl. xii. 10). Used like the Lat. acceptabilis of that which is worthy of acceptance or approval, and then in the secondary sense of 'agreeable, delightful.' It is employed in the N.T. frequently as the equivalent of the Gk. evάpeσros, elsewhere rendered 'well-pleasing.' The following example from Holland's Pliny (XXXVII. 9) will illustrate the usage of the word. The Jacint also at the first sight is pleasant and acceptable. Access, sb. (Fr. accés, from Lat. accedere, accessum). Occurs in the sense of accession or increase in the heading of Isa. xviii. Besides infinite is the access of territory and empire by the same enterprise. Bacon, Adv. touching an Holy War. Halliwell (Arch. Dict. s.v.) quotes from Lambarde's Perambulation, 1596, p. 301: 'Brought thereunto more accesse of estimation and reverence than all that ever was done before or since.' Accurse, v.t. To curse. participle 'accursed' is now the occurs in the heading of Gal. i. This word of which the only part in common use, Hii mygte acors the fole quene, that Seynt Edward slou. Rob. Gloucester, p. 296. He acorsede alle thulke men, that he had uorth ibrougt. Drede is at the laste Ibid. p. 474. Piers Ploughman's Vis. 198. They decreed also, that all the religious priests and women should ban and accurse him. North's Plutarch, Alcib. p. 222. Acquaint, v. refl. (Job xxii. 21). To make oneself acquainted with, accustom oneself to. The etymology of the word is doubtful. There is an old French word accointer corresponding to the Prov. accoindar, the former being from coint Lat. cognitus. On the other hand there is the Germ. kund, kundig akin to O. E. couth, ken, can. Most probably the word came to us through the former channel. Acqueinte the with charite, Gower, Conf. Am. 1. 277. Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time, Shakespeare, Macb. III. I. To bring them therefore by his example to acquaint themselves with hardnes, he tooke more paines in warres and in hunting. North's Plutarch, Alex. p. 743. Acquaintance, to take (Gen. xxix. c.). To become acquainted. So it befell upon a chaunce A yonge knight toke her acqueintaunce. Acquainted with (Is. liii. 3). Familiar with, accustomed to. For their purses being full, and they acquainted with finenes, were become so dull and lasie, that they could endure no paines nor hardnes of warres. North's Plutarch, Alex. p. 562. 'To acquaint with,' in the sense 'to accustom, make familiar,' is used by Bacon. The illiberalitie of parents, in allowance towards their children, is an harmefull errour; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts. Ess. VII, p. 24. Adamant, sb. (Ezek. iii. 9; Zech. vii. 12). From the Greek adápas, the unconquerable.' The word has now assumed the form of 'diamond' (G. demant, Du. diamant), which is the hardest known stone. In the old writers, and in one instance in a modern work (the Arabian Nights' Entertainments), the word adamant is erroneously used to mean 'loadstone,' or 'magnet.' You draw me, you hard-hearted adamant; Shakespeare, Mid. N.'s Dr. II. 2. If you will have a young man to put his travail into a little roome......when he stayeth in one city or towne, let him change his lodging, from one end and part of the towne, to another; which is a great adamant of acquaintance. Bacon, Ess. XVIII. P. 73.. That diamond and adamant were the same is clear from a passage in Ben Jonson's Alchemist, IV. 1. Mam. Does not this diamant better on my finger Dol. Yes. Mam. Why you are like it, You were created lady for the light! Here you shall swear it; take it, the first pledge Dol. In chains of Adamant. Adjure, v.t. (Josh. vi. 26; Matt. xxvi. 63, &c.). To bind by oath, solemnly entreat, conjure; from Lat. adjurare. Then I adiure you by the faithe that you owe to God, by your honour and by your othe made to Saincte George patron of the noble ordre of the gartier &c. Hall, Rich. III. fol. ix. a. Admiration, sb. (Rev. xvii. 6). Like the Lat. admiratio, used in the sense of simple wonder, astonishment, whether accompanied by approval or disapproval of the object. Your behaviour hath struck her into amazement and admiration. Shakespeare, Hamlet, II. 2. In the same sense Milton uses admire; The undaunted fiend what this might be admired; Ado, sb. (Mark v. 39). This is only once used in Scripture, but can hardly be said to be an uncommon word so long as 'Much Ado about Nothing' remains in the language. Examples are almost needless, as they may be found in great numbers. All the most adoe was like to be how the pietious creature might come to be in ye sight of Jesus. Udal, Erasm. Luk. v. A man that is busy, and inquisitive, is commonly envious: for to know much of other mens matters, cannot be, because all that adoe may concerne his own estate: therfore it must needs be, that he taketh a kinde of plaie-pleasure, in looking upon the fortunes of others. Bacon, Ess. IX. p. 30. It is used by Latimer like the infinitive ‘to do,' which has still the same sense in provincial dialects. I have had ado with many estates, even with the highest of all. Serm. p. 216. Adventure, v.t. and i. (Deut. xxviii. 56; Judg. ix. 17; Acts xix. 31). From Latin advenire 'to arrive, happen,' is derived O. Fr. advenir to happen, and aventure a chance, accident, which passed into Old Eng. in the form aunter (in aunter = in case, Gower, Conf. Am. 1.344); thus the 'Aunturs of Arthur' (Camd. Soc.), and is preserved in the compound peradventure, perchance. In the above passages the word 'venture' would now be used, but 'adventure' was formerly common. Bacon uses 'adventures' in the sense of 'fortunes,' 'casualties.' It is...a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battaile, and the adventures thereof, below. Ess. I. p. 3. Jesus......did not auenture himself emong the common sort, lest the peples affeccions should bee so dainly altered, whereby some comocion wer lyke to ryse. Udal, Erasm. Joh. ii. I will adventure my hedd of it, that her majestie shall haue what peace she will. Leycester Corresp. p. 247. The onely waye was by adventuryng of soom horssmen to staye the enemies martche. Ld. Grey of Wilton, p. 14. I am almost afraid to stand alone Here in the church yard; yet I will adventure. Shakespeare, Rom. and Jul. v. 3. Adventures, at all (Lev. xxvi. 21, m.). At random, haphazard, by chance. In Wisd. ii. 2 'at all adventure' is the translation of the Greek αὐτοσχεδίως. To buy at all aduentures or to buy a pigge in the poke. Emere aleam. Baret, Alvearie, s. v. Poke. I'll say as they say, and persever so, And in this mist at all adventures go. Shakespeare, Com. of Err. II. 2. Adversary, adj. Adverse, opposing; from Lat. adversarius. The phrase 'armed against all adversary powers' occurs in the heading of 2 Cor. x. In Todd's Johnson the following example is quoted : The Lord vphold for euer and keepe from dilapidation and decay these sides of the house, and make them as an vnuanquishable fort against the impressions and assaults of all aduersary forces. Bishop King's Vitis Palatina, p. 30. The late Mr Herbert Coleridge gives it in a MS. list of Wiclif words, but without reference. It is so used Adversary, sb. (Job xxxi. 35; Matt. v. 25; Luke xii. 58; xviii. 3). An opponent in a lawsuit. by Shakespeare, Taming of Shrew, I. 2; And do as adversaries do in law, Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. In this passage however the term refers rather to the plaintiff's and defendant's counsel. I am sorry for thee; art thou come to answer Advertise, v.t. (Num. xxiv. 14; Ruth iv. 4). To inform, to give notice generally without reference to time: like Fr. advertir, which is explained by Cotgrave (Fr. Dict. s. v.) "to informe, certifie, aduertise." This sense is common in Shakespeare, who lays the accent on the middle syllable. Thus, "As I by friends am well advertised," Řich. III, IV. 4. "To one that can my part in him advértise," Meas. for Meas. I. I. So also Ben Jonson, I therefore Advertise to the state how fit it were, &c. Volp. IV. I. May it please the whole generation of my auditours to be aduertised. Nashe's Lenten Stuffe, p. 7. |