Encyclopædia Britannica; Or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature; Constructed on a Plan, by which the Different Sciences and Arts Are digested into the Form of Distinct Treatises or Systems, comprehending The History, Theory, and Practice, of each, according to the Latest Discoveries and Improvements; and full Explanations given of the Various Detached Parts of Knowledge, whether relating to Natural and Artificial Objects, or to Matters Ecclesiastical, Civil, Military, Commercial, &c. Including Elucidations of the most important Topics relative to Religion, Morals, Manners, and the Oeconomy of Life: together with A Description of all the Countries, Cities, principal Mountains, Seas, Rivers, &c. throughout the World; A General History, Ancient and Modern, of the different Empires, Kingdoms, and States; and An Account of the Lives of the most Eminent Persons in every Nation, from the earliest ages down to the present times. Third Edition. Volume 2. Edinburgh: A. Bell and C. MacFarquhar. [Internet Archive]
ANGERONA, in mythology, the name of a pagan deity whom the Romans prayed to for the cure of the quinzy; in Latin, angina. Pliny calls her the goddess of silence and calmness of mind, who banishes all uneasiness and melancholy. She is represented with her mouth covered, to denote patience and refraining from complaints. Her statue was set up, and sacrificed to, in the temple of the goddess Volupia, to show that a patient enduring of affliction leads to pleasure. (EB II, 1797: 1)
Goddess of grace. Hence Estonian "angiin".
On the top of it is a great British post, surrounded by a double row of rude stones with their sharp points uppermost; and in some parts the ramparts are formed of small stones. (EB II, 1797: 4)
One can only imagine the possible shapes of said stones.
It had been a place of vast strength; for, besides the artificial defence, the hill slopes steeply on all sides, and the brink next to the ramparts are mostly precipitous. It is worth while to ascend this hill for the sake of the vast prospect; an intermixture of sea, rock, and alps, most savagely great. (EB II, 1797: 4)
Odd adjective to describe a place.
The best season is from April to October; for, in very cold stormy weather, the fish will not bite: the best times of the day are from three till nine in the morning, and from three in the afternoon till sun-set. In an easterly wind, there is never much sport for the angler; the southerly winds are the best for this purpose, and a warm but lowering day is most of all to be chosen; a gentle wind, after a sudden shower, to disturb the water, makes a very good opportunity for the angler: the cooler the weather in the hottest months, the better; but in winter, on the contrary, the warmer the day the better. A cloudy day, after a bright moonlight night, is always a good day for sport; for the fish do not care for going after prey in the bright moonshine, and are therefore hungry the next morning. (EB II, 1797: 7)
Good advice for when I become a fisherman.
At the first audience Zingha had of Don John (the Portuguese viceroy), she was greatly surprised to find a stately elbow-chair prepared for him to sit upon, and for herself only a rich tapestry spread on the floor, with a velvet cushion embroidered with gold, and placed over against the chair of state. Dissembling her displeasure, however, she beckoned to one of the ladies of her retinue, commanded her to lay herself down on her elbows and knees upon the carpet, and sat herself upon her back during the whole time of the audience. She behaved with such address and dignity, as to gain the admiration of the whole council. (EB II, 1797: 10)
Like something out of a Sasha Baron Cohen's Bruno.
Zingha's next scheme was to rid herself of the Portuguese, who had established themselves in such a manner as to be almost entire masters of the country. They had built fortresses on every convenient spot that suited them, especially near her principal towns, which they could level with the ground with the greatest ease. They had engrossed all her commerce, were become very wealthy, and their numbers increased daily; so that they were dreaded not only by her subjects, but by all the neighbouring nations. As Zingha was of a martial temper, she did not long hesitate. She quickly made all necessary provisions, strengthened herself by alliances with the Giagas, and other idolatrous nations, and even with the Dutch and the king of Congo, With this combined force she attacked the Portuguese so suddenly and unexpectedly, that she gained some advantages over them; and the Dutch made themselves masters of San Paulo de Loando, and soon after of some of the best provinces in the kingdom. This happened in the year 1641; and the Portuguese did not recover these places till the year 1648, when the Dutch were entirely driven out of Angola. (EB II, 1797: 11)
Europeans in Africa doing what Europeans in Africa do.
Zingha being thus oppressed with a complication of misfortunes, and conscious of the crimes she had committed, began seriously to consider whether such a continued series of disasters was not owing to the displeasure of the God of the Christians. (EB II, 1797: 13)
Lovely phrases. The "complication" used as if in the same sense that "complex" is sometimes used.
Women of the lower ranks are obliged, when they receive a stranger, to admit them for a night or two into their embraces. (EB II, 1797: 17)
Convenient.
ANGUINUM OVUM, a fabulous kind of egg, said to be produced by the saliva of a cluster of serpents, and possessed of certain magical virtues. The superstition in respect to these was very prevalent among the ancient Britons, and there still remains a strong tradition of it in Wales. (EB II, 1797: 18)
Sounds like Harry Potter's fourth year.
ANHELATIO, or ANHELITUS, among physicians, a shortness of breath. (EB II, 1797: 20)
Troubles with inhalation.
ANIMA, among divines and naturalists, denotes the soul, or principle of life, in animals. See SOUL.
ANIMA, among chemists, denotes the volatile or spiritous parts of bodies. (EB II, 1797: 20)
Animal anima.
ANIMADVERSION, in matters of literature, is used to signify, sometimes correction, sometimes remarks upon a book, &c. and sometimes a serious consideration upon any point. (EB II, 1797: 21)
Recently met this word somewhere. Modern definition is "adverse criticism".
When the sensitive plant contracts from a touch, it is no more in a state of defence than before; for whatever would have destroyed it in its expanded state, will also do it in its contracted state. We conclude, therefore, that the motion of the sensitive plant proceeds only from a certain property called by physicians irritability; and which, though our bodies possess it in an eminent degree, is a characteristic neither of animal nor vegetable life, but belongs to us in common with brute-matter. (EB II, 1797: 23)
When I physically disturb my basil plant it lets loose its aroma. I am not disturbed by it, even appreciate it, but it is not meant for me. Plants aren't fighting with mammals and cannot do so. They are fighting with insects and microorganisms, against whom their chemical weapons are effective deterrents and not just a pleasant smell.
We ourselves are possessed both of the animal and vegetable life, and certainly must know whether there is any connection between vegetation and sensation or note. - We are conscious that we exist; that we hear, see, &c.: but of our vegetation we are absolutely inconscious. We feel a pleasure, for instance, in gratifying the calls of hunger and thirst; but of the process by which our aliment is formed into chyle, the chyle mixed with the blood, the circulation of that fluid, and the separation of all the humours from it, we are altogether ignorant. (EB II, 1797: 23)
Inconscious?
Notwithstanding the extreme minuteness of these animalcules, they seem to be fond of society; for, after viewing for some time a parcel of them taken up at random, they will be seen disposing themselves in a kind of regular order. If a multitude of them are put into a jar of water, they will form themselves into a regular body, and ascend slowly to the top, where, after they have remained for some time exposed to the air, their green colour changed to a beautiful sky-blue. (EB II, 1797: 26)
They find association agreeable.
None of them lived above three days; and though fresh water was given them two or three times a-day, yet in a few hours it would stink to a degree scarce conceivable, and that too at several yards distance, though, in proportion to the water, all the included insects were not more than as 1 to 1,150,000. This makes it probable, that it is necessary for them to live in a rapid stream, lest they should be poisoned by the effluvia issuing from their own bodies, as no doubt they were in the vial. (EB II, 1797: 31)
Microscopic organisms that poison their own environment - how humans might appear to intelligent extraterrestial beings.
Spermatic Animals, and Animalcula Infusoria. The discovery of living animalcules in the semen of most animals is claimed by Mr Lewenhoek and Mr Nicholas Hartsoeker; who both say they published it about the end of the year 1677 or beginning of 1678: but Mr Lewenhoek having given the most particular description of, and made by far the greatest number of experiments concerning them, the discovery is commonly attributed to him. (EB II, 1797: 31)
Living animalcules in sperm? How horrible!
"At present I shall pass over many other curious observations, which I have made on two years experiments, in order to proceed to the explaining a hint which I received last January from Mr De Saussure of Geneva, when he was here; which is, that he found one kind of these animalcula infusoria that increase by dividing across into nearly two equal parts. (EB II, 1797: 32)
Some linguist's great great grandfather.
"In the foot of an elm, of the bigness of a pretty corpulent man, three or four feet above the root, and exactly in the centre, has been found a live toad, middle-sized, but lean, and filling up the whole vacant space: no sooner was a passage opened, by splitting the wood, than it scuttled away very hastily: a more firm and sound elm never grew; so that the toad cannot be supposed to have got into it. The egg whence it was formed, must, by some very singular accident, have [|] been lodged in the tree at its first growth. There the creature had lived without air, feeding on the substance of the tree, and growing only as the three grew. This is attested by Mr Hubert, professor of philosophy at Caen." (EB II, 1797: 36-37)
A literal tree-frog.
Panem Quotidianem; or A short Discourse tending to prove the legality, decency, and expediency, of set forms of prayers in the Churches of Christ, with a particular Defence of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. Lond. 1661, 4to. (EB II, 1797: 39)
Set phrases.
ANNOTATION, in matters of literature, a brief commentary, or remark, upon a book or writing, in order to clear up some passage, or draw some conclusion from it. (EB II, 1797: 44)
My comments not necessarily annotations then. More like mere anchors.
ANODYNE (from a privative, and οδονω, doleo; or a neg. and ωδυνη, pain); a term applied to medicines which ease pain, and procure sleep. They are divided into three sorts, viz. 1. Paregorics, or such as assuage pain. 2. Hypnotics, or such as relieve by procuring sleep. 3. Narcotics, or such as ease the patient by stupifying him. (EB II, 1797: 52)
That's why the popular representations of hypnotism involve some artificial means of putting the person to sleep (while still sitting upright and listening attentively).
ANONYMOUS, something that is nameless, or of which the name is concealed. It is a term usually applied to books which do not express the author's name, or to authors whose names are unknown. (EB II, 1797: 53)
Nameless author.
ANTANACLASIS, in rhetoric, a figure which repeats the same word, but in a different sense; as, dum vivimus, vivamus.
ANTAGOGE, in rhetoric, a figure by which, when the accusation of the adversary is unanswerable, we load him with the same or other crimes. (EB II, 1797: 59)
Clever rhetoric,
ANTAPHRODISIACS, in pharmacy, medicines proper to diminish the semes, and consequently extinguish or lessen all desires of venery. (EB II, 1797: 59)
Medical castration.
ANTECESSOR, one that goes before. It was an appellation given to those who excelled in any science. Justinian applied it particularly to professors of civil law; and, in the universities of France, the teachers of law take the title antecessores in all their theses. (EB II, 1797: 59)
Backwoodsmen, predecessors.
These words plainly indicate, that Adam was not created within the precincts of Paradise; and it is afterwards said, upon his being turned out of the garden, "He was sent to till the ground whence he was taken." - As to the situation of this garden, concerning which there has been so much learned but uncertain inquiry, see the article PARADISE. (EB II, 1797: 62)
Or Paradise was destroyed.
Were he to give a history of his thoughts, and of the manner in which he received impressions, he might give some such information as this. I remember the moment when my existence commenced. It was a moment replete with joy, with amazement and anxiety. I neither knew what I was, where I was, nor whence I came. I opened my eyes. But what an amazing increase of sensation! The light, the celestial vault, the verdure of the earth, the transparency of the waters, gave animation to my spirits, and conveyed pleasures which exceed the powers of expression. At first I believed that all these objects existed within me, and formed a part of myself. When, turning mine eyes to the sun, his splendor overpowered me. I voluntarily shut out the light, and felt a small degree of pain. During this moment of darkness, I imagined that I had lost the greatest part of my being. I was then roused with the variety of sounds. The singing of birds and the murmuring breezes formed a concert, which excited the most sweet and inchanting emotions. I listened, and was convinced that these harmonious sounds existed within me. (EB II, 1797: 62)
Buffon in Smellie's translation, on the first thoughts of Adam.
Seized with terror, I ventured to law my hand upon the object, and perceived it to be a being distinct from myself, because it did not, like touching my own body, give me a double sensation. (EB II, 1797: 63)
Phenomenological double articulation: expression and impression.
But before the Almighty gave any instruction to our first parents, we must suppose he inspired them with the knowledge of the meaning of every word which they hear him speak; otherwise it would have been impossible that he could have had any such communication with them. The words which they heard, and were made to understand, being imprinted upon their memories, would serve as the foundation of a language, which they would afterwards increase and enlarge as new objects began to multiply, and hence give rise to new terms and definitions. (EB II, 1797: 63)
The god damn innate ideas.
The author of the book of Ecclesiasticus says of our first parents, "They received the use of the five operations of the Lord; and in the sixth, he imparted to them understanding; and in the seventh, speech to interpret the cogitations thereof." The meaning cannot be, that he gave them every word they were to pronounce, more than every idea which their senses were to convey to their understanding. Our talents, and the exercise of them, may be both said to be given us of God; but whatever capacities we receive from him, it is supposed that we ourselves must improve them, before we can attain to any acquirements whatever. Although Adam had heard and understood the words of God, yet Moses does not give the least hint that he ever attempted to speak before this time. (EB II, 1797: 63)
Understanding the sixth sense and language the seventh?
It is afterwards said, There were giants in the earth in those days: and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men, which were of old, men of renown. (EB II, 1797: 66)
Unhappy phrasing.
But Uranus taking the [|] kingdom of his father, married his sister Ge, and had by her four sons; Ilus, who is called Cronus [or Saturn]; Betylus; Dagon, who is Siton or the god of corn; and Atlas: but by other wives Uranus had much issue. (EB II, 1797: 68-69)
Ilus on ilus poisinimi.
Temperance might undoubtedly have some effect, but not possibly to such a degree. There have been many temperate and abstemious persons in later ages, who yet seldom have exceeded the usual period. (EB II, 1797: 70)
Abstaining.
He supposes the period of doubling must have been much shorter in the earliest ages, and much longer in the later, contrary to reason and fact. For mankind being sprung from one pair only, the increase at first must have been very slow, but come on very fast when a considerable number were married. (EB II, 1797: 72)
Gliding over a non-math problem almost unnoticed.
Though it is reasonable to think that the Antediluvians, notwithstanding their longevity, came to mature age at 150; yet as we are not sure that they all married so soon sa they were ripe for marriage, and that the earliest in the genealogies is born in the 162d year of his father, who might probably be a first-born, our author does not suppose Cain, Abel, or any of the succeeding children or grandchildren of Adam to have married till they were 160, but to have had children from 161 or 162 till they were of the age of 500, at the fore-named distance or interval between the births; though Noah we know had three sons after he was 500, at the due intervals. (EB II, 1797: 84)
Imagine having to live a century and a half, more than any known person has lived, before you lose your virginity.
It cannot be denied but that the Antediluvians were come to the age of puberty and marriage at 160 years, when we find a son born in 162. (EB II, 1797: 76)
Yes, it cannot be denied. Ancient desert goat herders had the sole revelation from the creator of the universe.
I need therefore go no farther on to the eighth or ninth son; but the following eight or nine births I may reasonably take to have been daughters, and married to the brothers that preceded them. (EB II, 1797: 72)
Cool cool cool.
ANTEPOSITION, a grammatical figure, whereby a word, which by the ordinary rules of syntax ought to follow another, comes before it. As when, in the Latin, the adjective is put before the substantive, the verb before the nominative case, &c. (EB II, 1797: 77)
Communion phatic.
ANTEROS, in mythology, one of the two Cupids who were the chief of the number. They are placed at the foot of the Venus of Medici; this is represented with a heavy and sullen look, agreeably to the poetical description of him, as the cause of love's ceasing. The other was called Eros. (EB II, 1797: 77)
The mythical cause of all divorce.
ANTHROPOGLOTTUS, among zoologists, an appellation given to such animals as have tongues resembling that of mankind, particularly to the parrot kind. (EB II, 1797: 80)
There is a word for everything, isn't there.
ANTHROPOLOGY, a discourse upon human nature. (EB II, 1797: 81)
Simple!
ANTHROPOPATHY, a figure or expression by which some passion is ascribed to God, which properly belongs only to man. (EB II, 1797: 81)
Love.
ANTHROPOSCOPIA, from ανθρωπος, and σχοπεω, I consider, the art of judging or discovering a man's character, disposition, passions, and inclinations, from the lineaments of his body. In which sense, anthroposcopia seems of somewhat greater extent than physiognomy or metoposcopy. Otto has published an Anthroposcopia, sive judicium hominis de homine ex lineamentis externis. (EB II, 1797: 82)
Ancient personology.
ANTICHAMBER, an outer chamber for strangers to wait in, till the person to be spoken with is at leisure. (EB II, 1797: 83)
Waiting room.
ANTIGUGLER, is a crooked tube of metal, so bent, as easily to be introduced into the necks of bottles, and used in decanting liquors, without disturbing them. For this purpose the bottle should be a little inclined, and about half a spoonful of the liquor poured out, so as to admit an equal quantity of air; let one end of the bent tube be stopped with the finger, whilst the other is thrust into the body of the liquor near to the bubble of air already admitted. When the finger is taken off, the bottle will have vent, and the liquor will run out steadily and undisturbed. (EB II, 1797: 85)
An invention needful with carbonated liquids.
ANTILOGY, in matters of literature, an inconsistency between two or more passages of the same book. (EB II, 1797: 85)
When a text is self-inconsistent.
Agricola stood on his own defence, and complained that opinions were imputed to him which he did not hold. Nicholas Amsdorf fell under the same odious name and imputation, and seems to have been treated more unfairly than even Agricola himself. It is rather hard to charge upon a man all the opinions that may be inferred from things that have hastily dropped from him, when he himself disavows such inferences. (EB II, 1797: 87)
How did things drop from him? Did he lose limbs?
ANTIPÆDOBAPTISTS, (derived from αντι, against, παις, παιδος, child, and βαπτισω, baptize, whence βατιςης), is a distinguishing denomination given to those who object to the baptism of infants; because they say, infants are incapable of being instructed, and of making that profession of faith which intitles them to this ordinance and an admission into church communion. (EB II, 1797: 90)
A thought that evidently doesn't enter into other christian minds.
Josephus says, that Antipas caused St John to be laid hold of, because he drew too great a concourse of people after him; and that he was afraid lest he should make use of the authority which he had acquired over the minds and affections of the people, to induce them to revolt. (EB II, 1797: 94)
Followers.
ANTIPATHY, in physiology, is formed from the two Greek works, αντι contrary, and παθος passion. Literally taken, the word signifies incompatibility: but for the most part the term antipathy is not used to signify such incompatibilities as are merely physical; it is reserved to express the aversion which an animated or sensitive being feels at the real or ideal presence of particular objects. In this point of view, which is the light in which we at present consider the term, antipathy, in common language, signifies "a natural horror and detestation, an insuperable hatred, an involuntary aversion, which a sensitive being feels for some other object, whatever it is, though the person who feels this abhorrence is entirely ignorant of its cause, and can by no means account for it." Such is, they say, the natural and reciprocal hostility between the salamander and the tortoise; between the toad and the weasel; or between sheep and wolves. Such is the invincible aversion of particular persons against cats, mice, spiders, &c.; a prepossession which is sometimes so violent, as to make them faint at the sight of these animals. Of these and a thousand other antipathies the ancient naturalists, the schoolmen, and the vulgar, form so many legends; and related them as certain facts, that they may demand an explication of them from the philosophers. But these sages begin with investigating whether such antipathies actually exist or not. (EB II, 1797: 94)
Being ignorant of the cause not a neccessary quality in interpersonal relations, as in conflicts of interest.
It has been taught us both by precept and example, when others at their approach have assumed in our view the appearance of detestation and even of terror, that we should fly from them, that we should not touch them. (EB II, 1797: 95)
A priori and a posteriori.
ANTIPATHY, in ethics, hatred, aversion, repugnancy. Hatred is entertained against persons; aversion, and antipathy, indiscriminately against persons or things; and repugnancy, against actions alone.
Hatred is more voluntary than aversion, antipathy, or repugnancy. These last have greater affinity with the animal constitution. The causes of ANTIPATHY are less known than those of aversion. Repugnancy is less permanent than either the one or the other - We hate a vitious character, we feel aversion to its exertions: we are affected with ANTIPATHY for certain persons at first sight; there are some affairs which we transact with repugnancy - Hatred calumniates; aversion keeps us at a distance from certain persons; ANTIPATHY makes [|] us detest them; repugnancy hinders us from imitating them. (EB II, 1797: 95-96)
Looks like a whole system. Whose ethics?
ANTISTASIS, in oratory, a defence of an action from the consideration that had it been omitted worse would have ensued. This is called by Latin writers comparativum argumentum; such, e. gr. would be the general's defence who had made an inglorious capitulation, That, without it, the whole army must have perished. (EB II, 1797: 99)
If Joe Biden would have had to handle coronavirus instead of Trump, millions would have died instead of the quarter million to date.
ANTISTROPHE, in grammar, a figure by which two things mutually depending on one another, are reciprocally converted; as, the servant of the master, the master of the servant. (EB II, 1797: 99)
The grammar of poetry and the poetry of grammar.
ANTITYPE, a Greek word, properly signifying a type or figure correspondent to some other type.
The word antitype occurs twice in the New Testament; viz. in the Epistle to the Hebrews, ix. 24. and in St Peter, 1 Ep. iii. 21. where its genuine import has been much controverted. The former says, that "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are αντιτυπα, the figures or antitypes of the true - now to appear in the presence of God for us." Now τυπος, signifies the pattern by which another thing is made; and as Moses was obliged to make the tabernacle, and all things in it, according to the pattern showed him in the mount; the tabernacle so formed was the antitype of what was shown to Moses: any thing, therefore, formed according to a model or pattern, is an antitype. (EB II, 1797: 100)
Something to consider alongside the problem of the ecktype.
ANTLIA, an ancient machine, supposed to be the same with our pump. Hence the phrase, in antliam condemnari, according to the critics, denotes a kind of punishment, whereby criminals were condemned to drain ponds, ditches, or the like. (EB II, 1797: 100)
Those poor dutchmen in Amsterdam (cf. EB I, 1797: 636).
ANTONOMASIA, a form of speech, in which, for a proper name, is put the name of some dignity, office, profession, science, or trade; or when a proper name is put in the room of an appellative. Thus a king is called his majesty; a nobleman, his lordship. We say the philosopher instead of Aristotle, and the orator [|] for Cicero: Thus a man is called by the name of his country, a German, an Italian; and a grave man is called Cato, and a wise man a Solomon. (EB II, 1797: 105-106)
Useful information.
ANTOSIANDRIANS, a sect of rigid Lutherians, who oppose the doctrine of Osiander relating to justification. These are otherwise denominated Osiandromastiges. - The Antosiandrians deny that man is made just, with that justice wherewith God himself is just; that is, they assert, that he is not made essentially, but only imputatively, just; or, that he is not really made just, but only pronounced so. (EB II, 1797: 106)
Justice is attributed to man.
AORASIA, in antiquity, the invisibility of the gods. The word is Greek, αορασια, and derived from α, priv. and οραω, to see. The opinion of the ancients with regard to the appearance of the gods to men, was, that they never showed themselves face to face, but were known from their backs as they withdrew. Neptune assumed the form of Calchas to speak to the two Ajaxes; but they knew him not till he turned his back to leave them, and discovered the god by his majestic step as he went from them. Venus appeared to Æneas in the character of a huntress: but her son knew her not till she departed from him; her divinity was then betrayed by her radiant head, her flowing robe, and her majestic pace. (EB II, 1797: 108)
All gods are vanishing gods.
APÆDUSIA, denotes ignorance or unskilfulness in what relates to learning and the sciences. Hence also persons uninstructed and illiterate are called apædeutæ. The term apædeutæ was particularly used among the French in the time of Huet; when the men of wit at Paris were divided into two factions, one called by way of reproach apædeutæ, and the others eruditi. The apædeutæ are represented by Huet, as persons who, finding themselves either incapable or unwilling to undergo a severe course of study in order to become truly learned, conspired to decry learning, and turn the knowledge of antiquity into ridicule, thus making a merit of their own incapacity. The apædeutæ in effect were the men of pleasure; the eruditi the men of study. The apædeutæ in every thing preferred the modern writers to the oncient, to supersede the necessity of studying the latter. The eruditi derided the moderns, and valued themselves wholly on their acquaintance with the ancients. (EB II, 1797: 109)
Anti-science. The term propadeutic now makes a lot more sense.
APANTHROPY, in medicine, denotes a love of solitude, and aversion for the company of mankind. Apanthropy is by some reckoned among the symptoms, by others among the species or degrees, of melancholy; and also passes for an ill indication in leucophlegmatic cases. (EB II, 1797: 110)
I don't think I've ever met this word.
APHASIA, (from α, and φημι, "I speak,") in the sceptic philosophy, denotes a state of doubt, wherein a person not knowing what to determine on, it is best for him to be silent. In this sense, aphasia stands opposed to phasis, under which are included both assertion and negation. (EB II, 1797: 113)
Phanai - claim.
APHORISM, a maxim or principle of a science; or a sentence which comprehends a great deal in a few words. The word comes from αφοριζω, I separate; q.d. a choice or select sentence. - The term is chiefly used in medicine and law. We say, the aphorisms of Hippocrates, of Sanctorius, of Boerhaave, &c. aphorisms of the civil law, &c. (EB II, 1797: 116)
A higher order set phrase.
APHRODITE, in mythology, a name of Venus, derived from αφρος, froth; because, according to the poets, Venus is supposed to have been produced from the froth or foam of the sea. (EB II, 1797: 117)
Africa is frothing land?
APINA, or Apinæ, a town of Apulia, built by Diomedes, as was also Tricæ, (Pliny). Alpinæ and Tricæ is a proverbial saying for things trifling and of no value, (Martial); and Apinarii was the appellation for triflers or buffoons, (Trebellius Pollio.) (EB II, 1797: 117)
Triteness comes from the second name of an ancient town?
This term expired, the priests repaired in pomp to his [Mercury's] habitation, and saluted him by the name of Apis. They then placed him in a vessel magnificently decorated, covered with rich tapestry, and resplendent with gold, and conducted him to Nilopolis, singing hymns, and burning perfumes. There they kept him for forty days. During this space of time, women alone had permission to see him, and saluted him in a particular manner. (EB II, 1797: 117)
After Zalmoxis I've come to think of Christianity as a mash-up of all the common pagan tropes.
"It would be tedious to describe the dances, the rejoicing, the shews, the banquets, to which the Egyptians abandon themselves on this occasion, and impossible to express the intoxication of joy which breaks forth in all the towns of the kingdom." (EB II, 1797: 118)
Rõõmujoovastus.
APOBATERION, in antiquity, valedictory speech or poem made by a person on departing out of his own country, and addressed to his friends or relations. (EB II, 1797: 120)
A speech before going abroad. Kui mälu ei peta siis üks Lydia Koidula luuletus vastab täpselt sellele kirjeldusele.
Apollo had a variety of other names, either derived from his principal attributes, or the chief places where he was worshipped. He was called the Healer from his enlivening warmth and cheering influence; Pæan, from the pestilential heats: to signify the former, the ancients placed the graces in his right hand; and for the latter, a bow and arrows in his left: Nomius, or the shepherd, from his fertilizing the earth, and thence sustaining the animal creation: Delius, from his rendering all things manifest: Pythius, from his victory over Python; Lycias, Phæbus, and Phaneta, from his purity and splendor. (EB II, 1797: 123)
Hence Pythian Apollo.
However, though this be in general true, yet it does appear, from many passages in ancient authors, that there was some illustrious personage named Apollo, who after his apotheosis, was taken for the sun; as Osiris and Orus in Egypt, whose existence cannot be called in question, were, after their death, confounded with the sun, of which they became the symbols, either from the glory and splendor of their reigns, or from a belief that their souls had taken up their residence in that luminary. (EB II, 1797: 124)
Something familiar from pythagoreanism.
The next incident to be mentioned in the history of Apollo is his defeat of the serpent Python.
The waters of Deucalion's deluge, says Ovid, which had overflowed the earth, left a slime, from whence sprung innumerable monsters; and among others the serpent Python, which made great havoc in the country about Parnassus. Apollo, armed with his darts, put him to death; which, physically explained, implies, that the heat of the sun having dissipated the noxious steams, those monsters soon disappeared; or, if this fable be referred to history, the serpent was a robber, who haunting the country about Delphos, and very much infesting those who came thither to sacrifice; a prince, who bore the name Apollo, or one of the priests of that god, put him to death. (EB II, 1797: 125)
Makes a lot more sense now.
The cock was consecrated to him [Apollo], because by his crowning he announces the rising of the sun; and the grasshopper on account of his singing faculty, which was supposed to do honour to the god of music. (EB II, 1797: 125)
Could explain the devil fearing the rooster in Christian tradition, what with Jesus being a knock-off of Apollo.
APOLLONIUS, a Pythagorean philosopher, born at Tyana in Cappadocia, about the beginning of the first century. At 16 years of age he became a strict observer of Pythagoras's rules, renouncing wine, women, and all sorts of flesh; not wearing shoes, letting his hair grow, and wearing nothing but linen. He soon after set up for a reformer of mankind, and chose his habitation in a temple of Æsculapius, where he is said to have performed many wonderful cures. Philostratus has wrote the life of Apollonius, in which there are numberless fabulous stories recounted of him. We are told that he went five years without speaking; and yet, during this time, that he stopped many seditions in Cicilia and Pamphylia: that he travelled, and set up for a legislator; and that he gave out he understood all languages, without having ever learned them: that he could tell the thoughts of men, and understood the oracles which birds gave by their singing. The Heathens were fond of opposing the pretended miracles of this man to those of our Saviour; and by a treatise which Eusebius wrote against one Hierocles, we find that the drift of the latter, in the treatise which Eusebius refutes, seems to have been to draw a parallel betwixt Jesus Christ and Apollonius, in which he gives the preference to this philosopher. (EB II, 1797: 127)
Pythagorean rules all familiar. Evidently another source that could have inspired the Jesus myth. And possibly for the Star Trek TNG episode "Loud As A Whisper", in which a deaf peace negotiator helps end a civil war, and accidentally also looks like modern depictions of Jesus.
APORON, or APORIME, a problem difficult to resolve, and which has never been resolved, though it be not, in itself, impossible.
The word is derived from απορος, which signifies something very difficult, and impracticable; being formed from the privative α and πορος, passage. Such we conceive the quadrature of the circle; the duplicature of the cube; the trifection of an angle, &c. (EB II, 1797: 129)
A perennial problem. Or an unsolvable one.
But the fourth sort was of those who, after having been some time Christians, voluntarily relapsed into Paganism.
The perversion of a Christian to Judaism, Paganism, or other false religion, was punished by the emperors Constantius and Julian with confiscation of goods; to which the emperors Theodosius and Valentinian added capital punishment, in case the apostate endeavoured to pervert others to the same iniquity. (EB II, 1797: 129)
Has Christianity ever been about belief?
In order to qualify the apostles for the arduous task of converting the world to the Christian religion, they were, in the first place, miraculously enabled to speak the languages of the several nations to whom they were to preach: and, in the second place, were endowed with the power of working miracles, in confirmation of the doctrines they taught; gifts which were unnecessary, and therefore ceased, in the after ages of the church, when Christianity came to be established by the civil power. (EB II, 1797: 130)
How convenient.
APOSTLES Creed: A formula, or summary, of the Christian faith, drawn up, according to Ruffinus, by the apostles themselves; who, during their stay at Jerusalem, soon after our Lord's ascension, agreed upon this creed, as a rule of faith, and as a word of distinction by which they were to know friends from foes. Baronius, and some other authors, conjecture, that they did not compose it till the second year of the reign of Claudius, a little before their dispersion. As to their manner of composing it, some fancy, that each apostle pronounced his article, which is the reason of its being called symbolum apostolicum, it being made up of sentences jointly contributed, after the manner of persons paying each their club (symbolum) or share of a reckoning. (EB II, 1797: 131)
How pythagorean.
APOSTROPHE, in rhetoric, a figure by which a person who is either absent or dead is addressed as if he were present, and attentive to us. This figure is, in boldness, a degree lower than the address to personified object (see PERSONIFICATION); since it requires a less effort of imagination to suppose persons present who are dead or absent, than to animate insensible beings and direct our discourse to them. (EB II, 1797: 132)
Addresing the non-present third person. Every prayer is technically an apostrophe.
The bed being thus placed amidst a quantity of spices and other combustibles, and the knights having made a solemn procession round the pile, the new emperor, with a torch in his hand, set fire to it, whilst an eagle, let fly from the top of the building, and mounting in the air with a firebrand, was supposed to convey the soul of the deceased to heaven; and thenceforward he was ranked among the gods. (EB II, 1797: 133)
The ceremony of apoetheosis involves a connection between birds and souls.
APPARATUS is also used as a title of several books composed in form of catalogues, bibliothecas, dictionaries, &c. for the ease and conveniency of study. The apparatus to Cicero is a kind of concordance, or collection of Ciceronian phrases, &c. The apparatus sacer of Possevin, is a collection of all kinds of ecclesiastical authors printed in 1611, in three volumes. - Glossaries, comments, &c. are also frequently called apparatuses. (EB II, 1797: 134)
This blog is my apparatus.
APPELLATION, the name by which any thing is known or distinguished when spoken of. See NAME.
Nothing can be more foreign to the original meaning of many words and proper names, than their present appellations, frequently owing to the history of those things being forgotten, or an ignorance of the language in which they were expressed. Who, for example, when the crier of a court bawls out, "O yes, O yes," would dream that it was a proclamation commanding the talkers to become hearers, being the French word Oyez, "listen," retaining in our courts even since the pleadings were held in law French? Or would any person suppose that the head-land on the French coast, near Calais, called by our seamen Blackness, could be so titled from its French name of Blanc Nez, or, the White Head-land? (EB II, 1797: 136)
Interesting on two counts: appeal and vocative amount to much the same, and a phatic call to attention ("lend me your ears" type).
APPELLATIVE NAMES, in grammar, in contradistinction to proper names, are such as stand for universal ideas, or a whole rank of beings, whether general or special. Thus fish, bird, man, city, river, are common or appellative names; and so are trout, eel, lobster; for they all agree to many individuals, and some to many species. See NAME. (EB II, 1797: 136)
Tokens and types.
APPETITE, in a general sense, the desire of enjoying some object, supposed to be conducive to our happiness. When this inclination is guided by reason, and proportioned to the intrinsic value of the object, it is called rational appetite; as, on the other hand, it is [|] denominated sensitive appetite, when we have only a blind propensity to a thing, without dterminate ideas of the good qualities for which we desire it.
Appetites are passions directed to general objects, in contradistinction to passions directed to particular objects, which retain their proper name. Thus we say, as appetite for fame, for glory, for conquest, for riches; but we say the passion of love, of gratitude, of envy, &c. Appetite may be also distinguished from passion, since the latter has no existence till a proper object be presented; whereas the formere xists first, and then is directed to an object. (EB II, 1797: 136-137)
Wow. Malinowski should have written of the appetite for power and wealth, etc.
APPIAN, an eminent writer of the Roman history in Greek, under the reign of Trajan and Hadrian. He was of a good family in Alexandria in Egypt; whence he went to Rome, and there distinguished himself so well as an advocate, that he was chosen one of the procurators of the empire, and the government of a province was committed to him. He did not complete the Roman history in a continued series: but wrote distinct histories of all nations that had been conquered by the Romans, in which he placed every thing relating to those nations in the proper order of time. His style is plain and simple: in the opinion of Phocius, he has shown the gretaest knowledge of military affairs, and the happiest talent at describing them, of any of the historians; for while we read him, we in a manner see the battles which he describes. Of all this voluminous work there remains only what treats of the Punic, Syrian, Parthian, Mithridatic, and Spanish wars, with those against Hannibal, the civil wars, and the wars in Illyricum, and some fragments of the Celtic or Gallic wars. (EB II, 1797: 137)
An eye-minded historian.
APPIUS CLAUDIUS, a Sabine by birth, one of the principal inhabitants of Regillum: his shining merit having drawn the envy of his fellow-citizens upon him, he retired to Roma with all his family. Appius was admitted into the senate, and was made consul, with Publius Servilius Priscus, in 258 from the building of Rome: but he was hated by the Plebeians, being an austere opposer of their clamours and seditions. The Claudian family continued long one of the most illustrious of the patrician families in Rome; and several in succession of the name of Appius supported the same stern character that distinguished their first founder. (EB II, 1797: 137)
The O.G Lucius Malfoy.
APPLICATION, in a general sense, is the laying two things together, in order to discover their agreement or disagreement. (EB II, 1797: 137)
So, comparison.
APPREHENSION, in logic, denotes the simple attention of the mind to an object presented either to our sense or our imagination, without passing a judgement or making any inference. (EB II, 1797: 138)
Port-Royal?
All such incorporations were anciently called universities; which, indeed, is the proper Latin name for any incorporation whatever. The university of smiths, the university of taylors, &c. are expressions which we commonly meet with in the old charters of ancient towns. When those particular incorporations which are now peculiarly called universities were first established, the term of years which it was necessary to study, in order to obtain the degree of master of arts, appears evidently to have been copied from the term of apprenticeship in common trades, [...] (EB II, 1797: 138)
The influence of guilds on universities. 7 years of study common to both.
In France, the duration of apprenticeship is different in different towns and in different trades. In Paris, five years is the term required in a great number; but before any person can be qualified to exercise the trade as a master, the must, in many of them, serve five years more as a journeyman. During this latter term he is called the companion of his master, and the term itself is called his companionship. (EB II, 1797: 139)
A sensible designation.
APPROACHING, in fowling, a term used to express such devices as are contrived for the getting within shot of shy birds. It is principally used in marshy low places. The best method of approaching is by means of three hoops tied together at proper distances according to the height of the man that is to use it, and having boughs of trees tied all round it, with cords to hang it over his shoulders; a man getting into this, conceals himself, and approaches by degrees towards his game in the form of a moving bush. Geese, ducks, and teal, quit the waters in the evening, and pass the night in the fields; but at the approach of morning they return to the water again, and even when on the water they will retire to great distances, on the approach even of a horse or cow, so that the business of the stalking-horse is of little use; but this device of approaching by the moving bush succeeds tolerably well with them. (EB II, 1797: 140)
I'm pretty sure this can be used metaphorically in all sorts of ways.
APPROBATION, a state of disposition of the mind, wherein we put a value upon, or become pleased with, some person or thing. Moralists are divided on the principle of approbation or the motive which determines us to approve and disapprove. The Epicureans will have it to be only self-interest: according to them, that which determines any agent to approve his own action, is its apparent tendency to his private happiness; and even the approbation of another's action flows from no other cause but an opinion of its tendency to the happiness of the approver, either immediately or remotely. Others resolve approbation into a moral sense, or a principle of benevolence by which we are determined to approve every kind of affection either in ourselves or others, and all publicly useful actions, which we imagine to flow from such affection, without any view therein to our own private happiness. (EB II, 1797: 140)
Purposeless expressions of opinion not so purposeless but connected with self-interest.
APRIL, the fourth month of the year, according to the common computation; but the second, according to that of the astronomers. It contains 30 days. - The word is derived from aprilis, of aperio, "I open;" because the earth, in this month, begins to open her bosom for the production of vegetables. (EB II, 1797: 141)
Blossom.
AQUARIANS, Christians in the primitive church who consecrated water in the eucharist instead of wine. This they did under pretence of abstinence and temperance; or, because they thought it universally unlawful to eat flesh or drink wine. Epiphanius calls them Encratites, from their abstinence; St Austin, Aquarians, from their use of water; and Theodoret, who says they sprang from Tatian, Hydroporastatæ, because they offered water instead of wine. (EB II, 1797: 145)
There is a heretical christian sect for everyone, even hydrohomies.
The poets feign, that Aquarius was Ganumede, whom Jupiter ravished under the shape of an eagle, and carried away into heaven, to serve as a cup-bearer, in the room of Hebe and Vulcan; whence the name. - Others hold, that the sign was thus called, because, when it appears in the horizon, the weather usually proves rainy. (EB II, 1797: 146)
Veevalajad on kannupoisi tähtkuju.
AQUINAS (St Thomas), styled the Angelican Doctor, was of the ancient and noble family of the counts of Aquino, descended from the kings of Sicily and Arragon; and was bor nin the castle of Aquino, in the Terra di Lavora in Italy, in the year 1224 or 1225. He entered into the order of the Dominicans; and, after having taught scool-divinity in most of the universities of Italy, at last settled at Naples: where he spent the rest of his life in study, in reading of lectures, and in acts of piety; and was so far from the views of ambition or profit, that he refused the archbishoprick of that city, when it was offered him by Pope Clement IV. (EB II, 1797: 148)
A casual triad: (1) profit; (2) ambition; and (3) study.
Arabia Petræa, on the east, was bounded by Syria and Arabia Deserta; on the west, by Egypt, or rather the isthmus of Suez which separates Asia from Africa, and the Hercopolitan gulph or western arm of the Red sea; on the north, by Palenstine, the lake Alphaltites, and Cœlosuria; and on the south by Arabia Felix. This tract did not admit of much cultivation, the greatest part being covered with dry sands, or rising into rocks, interspersed here and there with some fruitful spots. Its metropolis was Petra, which by the Syrians was styled Rakam, and in Scripture Joktheel. Several other cities of Arabia Petræa are mentioned by Ptolemy; but as it is very improbable such a barren country should abound with large cities, we must look upon them as inconsiderable places. (EB II, 1797: 149)
Just recently saw a video about the history of Petra.
"Kail having begged of God that he would send rain to the people of Ad, three clouds appeared, a white, a red, and a black one; and a voice from heaven ordered him to choose which he would. Kail failed not to make choice of the last, thinking it would be laden with most rain; but when this cloud came over them, it proved to be fraught with the Divine vengeance, and a tempest broke forth from it which destroyed them all." (EB II, 1797: 150)
That's the creator of the universe - answering prayers with murderous tricks.
To him succeeded Yusef, who lived about 70 years before Mahomet. He persecuted all those who would not turn Jews, putting them to death by various tortures, the most common of which was throwing them into a glowing pit of fire; whence he had the appellation of the lord of the pit. This persecution is taken notice of in the Koran. (EB II, 1797: 150)
No wonder Judaism was once again remixed in those parts, now into Islam.
They then asked him what recompence they were to expect if they should happen to be killed in his quarrel: he answered, Paradise; upon which they pledged their faith to him, after Mahomet had chosen twelve out of their number, who were to have the same authority under him that the twelve apostles had under Christ. (EB II, 1797: 155)
Not surprising.
The first to whom he applied was Khosru Parviz the king of Persia; but he, finding that Mahomet had put his own name before his, tore the letter in pieces, and sent away the messenger very abruptly. (EB II, 1797: 158)
The most important aspect of any message - whose name appears first.
But while our impostor was thus going on in the full career of success, and industriously propagating his infamous falsehoods by all the means he could think of, he was poisoned by a maid, who wanted, as she said, to make an experiment whether he was a prophet or not. This was done by communicating some poison to a shoulder of mutton, of which one of his companions named Bashar Ebn Al Bara, eating heartily, died upon the spot; and Mahomet himself, though he recovered a little, and lived three years after, yet never enjoyed perfect health. (EB II, 1797: 158)
Dangerous business, being the prophet of god and preaching predeterminism.
Then he prayed between the two pillars there, with two inclinations, as well as without the Caaba; saying to those that attended him, "This is your Kebla, or the place towards which you are to turn your faces in prayer." (EB II, 1797: 159)
See on sinu kelbas.
The news of this sad event was no sooner published there, than a number of people assembled before his door, crying out, "How can our apostle be dead? Our intercessor, our mediator, has not entirely left us! He is taken up into heaven, as was Isa (Jesus); therefore he shall not be buried." (EB II, 1797: 160)
"Father" in Estonian.
Wathek, some time after his arrival there, having observed the khalif to fall asleep under a tree, on which he had placed himself so as not to be observed by any one, drew his dagger, and was upon the point of stabbing him; but, as the Arab writers tell us, he was deterred by a lion, who walked round the khalif, and licked his feet till he awoke, after which he instantly went away. This struck Wathek with a profound reverence for Omar; he came down from his tree where he had been confined by the lion, confessed his design, and embraced the Mahometan religion. (EB II, 1797: 165)
Big cats have some profound effects on humans.
For some time they could not meet with a single person to give them intelligence of the enemy's motions; but at last they took a Greek prisoner, who informed them, that the imperial army, which consisted of 30,000 men, lay encamped on a spot not three leagues distant. The prisoner refusing to profess Mahometanism, they cut off his head, and then marched towards the imperial camp. (EB II, 1797: 166)
The religion of peace.
The challenge was accepted by a young Arab officer of Yaman; who being animated by a notion, derived from the prophet himself, that "the spirits of the martyrs rest in the crops of green birds, that eat of the fruits and drink of the rivers of paradise," discovered an uncommon eagerness to encounter his enemy. (EB II, 1797: 166)
Sounds pagan-ish.
The empire of Alexander the Great, which arose with still more rapidity than that of the Arabs, had no support but from his own ambition and personal qualifications. While he lived, he was without a rival, because all were afraid of him; but when he died, the bands of union, whereby his empire had been held together, were immediately dissolved. (EB II, 1797: 169)
Not bonds but bands.
The only remarkable effort that was made by the troops of Ayesha in this engagement, was in defence of her person. It is said, that no fewer than 70 men who held her camel by the bridle, had their hands cut off successively; and that the pavilion in which she sat was so full of darts and arrows, that it resembled a porcupine. (EB II, 1797: 170)
By the French song one wouldn't guess that the child bride had a successor assassinated and started a civil war.
He also did his utmost to put Mecca in a proper posture of defence, expecting a speedy visit from his formidable competitor, who now gave law to Irak, Syria, and Egypt, without controul. (EB II, 1797: 176)
Very British indeed.
"The slaves of domestic tyranny may vainly exult in their national independence; but the Arab is personally free; and he enjoys, in some degree, the benefits of society, without forfeiting the prerogatives of nature. In every tribe, superstition, or gratitude, or fortune, has exalted a particular family above the heads of their equals." (EB II, 1797: 182)
A semi-pythagorean triad. From Gibbon's hist.
"In the study of nations of men, we may observe the causes that render them hostile or friendly to each other, that tend to narrow or enlarge, to mollify or exasperate, the social character. The separation of the Arabs from the rest of mankind has accustomed them to confound the ideas of stranger and enemy; and the poverty of the land has introduced a maxim of jurisprudence, which they believe and practise to the present hour." (EB II, 1797: 182)
Exactly how Malinowski depicted his "primitives".
Dr Lister tells us, that attending closely to a spider weaving a net, he observed it suddenly to desist in the mid-work; and turning its tail to the wind, it darted out a thread with the violence and stream we see water spout out of a jet: this thread, taken up by the wind, was immediately carried to some fathoms long; still issuing out of the belly of the animal. By-and-by the spider leaped into the air, and the thread mounted her up swiftly. After this discovery, he made the like observation in near thirty different sorts of spiders; and found the air filled with young and old, failing on their threads, and doubtless seizing gnats and other insects in their passage, there being often manifest signs of slaughter, legs and wings of flies, &c. on these threads, as well as in their webs below. Dr Hulse discovered the same thing about the same time. (EB II, 1797: 193)
Spiders are also airborne hunters.
In the water its belly appears covered with a silver vanish, which is only a bubble of air attached to the abdomen by means of the aily humours which transpire from its body, and prevent the immediate contact of the water. This bubble of air is made the substance of its dwelling, which it constructs under water: for it fixes several threads of silk, or such fine matter, to the stalks of plants in the water; and then ascending to the surface, thrusts the hinder part of its body above water, drawing it back again with such rapidity, that it attaches underneath a bubble of air, which it has the art of detaining under water, by placing it underneath the threads abovementioned, and which it binds like a covering almost all around the air-bubble. Then it ascends again for another air-bubble; and thus proceeds until it has constructed a large aerial apartment under water, which it enters into or quits at pleasure. (EB II, 1797: 195)
I faintly recall a snippet of dome nature documentary or other that showed this aquatic spider.
The bite of the tarantula is said to occasion an inflammation in the part, which in a few hours brings on sickness, difficulty of breathing, and universal faintness. The person afterwards is affected with a delirium, and sometimes is seized with a deep melancholy. The same symptoms return annually, in some cases, for several years; and at last terminate in death. Music, it has been pretended, is the only cure. (EB II, 1797: 196)
Doesn't sound too pleasant, getting depression from a spider-bite.
The island of Arbe would have every thing requisite for the subsistence of its small population, if the land was cultivated by a people less stupid and lazy. (EB II, 1797: 201)
Okay then.
ARBORESCENT, an epithet applied to such objects as resemble trees. (EB II, 1797: 203)
Tree-like. The Lotman monument in front of the library comes to mind.
His talents and worth were the strongest recommendations of him to the men of wit and learning of his day; and he entered into particular connection with Pope and Swift, with whom he joined in publishing several volumes of miscellanies; among which are the well-known Memoirs of Martinus Scribelius, a satire of infinite humour on the abuses of human learning. (EB II, 1797: 204)
A phatic operation.
When they are to be finally set out, all the moulds may be turned out of the pots hanging to the roots; and having proper holes made ready, they may be planted in them, and the plant will be ignorant of its new situation. (EB II, 1797: 205)
Dubious.
ARCADE, in architecture, is used to denote any opening in the wall of a building formed by an arch. (EB II, 1797: 206)
Those large early gaming consoles being such openings into other worlds.
According to Pliny, the wine of this country cured barenness in women, and inspired the men with rage; and the berries of the yew gathered there were so strong a poison, that whoever slept or took refreshment under that tree were sure to die. (EB II, 1797: 206)
So, mixed results.
ARCESILAUS, a celebrated Greek philosopher, about 300 years before the Christian era, was born at Pitane, in Eolis. He founded the second academy, which is called the second school. He was a man of great erudition, and well versed in the writings of the ancients. He was remarkable for the severity of his criticisms; but nevertheless he knew how to accommodate himself to the age, and pursue the allurements of pleasure. He had a great number of disciples. His doctrines were different in several respects from those of the ancient school: and perhaps he was led into this diversity of opinions by many capital errors in the ancient schools, such as the incredible arrogance of the dogmatists, who pretended to assign causes for all things; the mysterious air they had thrown upon the doctrine of ideas; the entirely discarding the testimony of the senses; but objections of the Pyrrhonests, who now began to broach their opinions; the powerful opposition of the Stoics and Peripatetics, who discovered the feeble parts of the academic philosophy. These might have given cause to reform the ancient school, and to found a new one. The middle school, therefore, laid it down as a principle, that we could know nothing, nor even assure ourselves of the certainty of this position; from whence they inferred, that we should affirm nothing, but always suspend our judgment. They advanced, that a philosopher was able to dispute upon every subject, and bring conviction with him, even upon contrary sides of the same question; for there are always reasons of equal force both in the affirmative and negative of every argument. According to this doctrine, neither our senses, nor even our reason, are to have any credit: and therefore, in common affairs, we are to conform ourselves to received opinions. Arcesilaus was succeeded by his disciple Lacydes. (EB II, 1797: 206)
Never before heard of him. By this characterization a philosophical centrist.
Before this period the commercial intercourse between Russia and the northern parts of Europe had been long carried on by the Hanseatic towns; which usually sailed to Revel or Narva, and from thence passed through Dorpt to Plescof and Novogorod, where their factories were established. The accidental discovery of Archangel, in 1553, deprived the Hanseatic towns of a great part of this lucrative commerce, and transferred it to the English. (EB II, 1797: 207)
Estonia!
ARCHELAUS, a celebrated Greek philosopher, [|] the disciple of Anaxagoras, flourished about 440 years before Christ. He read lectures at Athens, and did not depart much from the opinions of his master. He taught that there was a double principle of all things, namely, the expansion and condensation of the air, which he regarded as infinite. Heat, according to him, was in continual motion. Cold was ever at rest. The earth, which was placed in the midst of the universe, had no motion. It originally resembled a wet marsh, but was afterwards dried up; and its figure, he said, resembled that of an egg. Animals were produced from the heat of the earth, and even men were formed in the same manner. All animals have a soul, which was born with them; but the capacities of which vary according to the structure of the organs of the body in which it resides. - Socrates, the most illustrious of his disciples, was his successor. (EB II, 1797: 208-209)
Another one. The opinion on souls is sensible.
He executed, in marble, the apotheosis of Homer. This masterpiece in sculpture was found in 1568, in a place named Fratocchia, belonging to the princes of Colonna, where, it is said, the emperor Claudius had a pleasure-house. (EB II, 1797: 209)
I hope that's just a synonym for summer home.
Besides these, there is another prize annually contended for a butt or point-black distance, called the Goose. The ancient manner of shooting for this prize was, a living goose was built in a turf-butt, having the head only exposed to view; and the archer who first hit the goose's head was intitled to the goose as his reward. But this custom, on account of its barbarity, has been long ago laid aside; and in place of the goose-head, a mark of about an inch diameter is affixed upon each butt, and the archer who first hits this mark is captain of the butt-shooters for a year. (EB II, 1797: 214)
God damn it.
ARCHETYPE, the first model of a work, which is copied after to make another like it. (EB II, 1797: 214)
Copy, ectype, archetype. With the last appearing first.
The archetypal world, among Platonists, means the world as it existed in the idea of God before the visible creation. (EB II, 1797: 215)
That's the stuff.
ARCHIATER, ARCHIATRUS, properly denotes chief physician of a prince who retains several. The word is formed of αρχη, principium, "chief;" and ιατρος, medicus, a "physician." (EB II, 1797: 215)
Hence psychiatrist (psühhiaater).
The rage of Archilochus was proverbial in antiquity; which compared the provoking this satirist to the treading upon a serpent: A comparison not very severe, if it be true that Lycambes, and, as some say, his three daughters, were so mortified by his satire, as to be driven to the consolation of a halter. (EB II, 1797: 216)
No steppy.
ARCHIMANDRITE, in ecclesiastical history, was a name given by the ancient Christians to what we now call an abbot. Father Simon observes, that the word mandrite is Syriac, and signifies a solitary monk. (EB II, 1797: 216)
Võib-olla kohandatav sõna. Mandriit.
When our author afterwards gasconades about the works of the French king, it is difficult to avoid laughter at hearing him declare, that "infinitely more money has been expended, and much more genius required, as well as more power, taste, and time, to finish Versailles, with all its defects, than to construct a pyramid, or erect an obelisk." (EB II, 1797: 220)
Exaggerated boasting.
When the empire was entirely over-run by the Goths, the conquerors naturally introduced their own method of building. Like the ancient Egyptians, the Goths seem to have been more studious to amaze people with the greatness of their building than to please the eye with the regularity of their structure, or the propriety of their ornaments. They corrected themselves, however, a little by the models of the Roman edifices which they saw before them: but these models themselves were faulty; and the Goths being totally destitute of genius, neither architecture nor any other art could be improved by them. (EB II, 1797: 221)
A whole people without any genius.
"Modern Gothic, as it is called (says Rious), is distinguished by the lightness of its work, by the excessive boldness of its elevations and of its sections; by the delicacy, profusion, and extravagant fancy of its ornaments. The pillars of this kind are as slender as thes of the ancient Gothic are massive; such productions, so airy, cannot admit the heavy Goths for their author. How can be attributed to them a style of architecture, which was only introduced in the tenth century of our æra, several years after the destruction of all those kingdoms, which the Goths had raised upon the ruins of the Roman empire, and at a time when the very name of Goth was entirely forgotten? From all the marks of the new architecture, it can only be attributed to the Moors; or, what is the same thing, to the Arabians or Saracens, who have expressed, in their architecture, the same taste as in their poetry; both the one and the other falsely delicate, crowded with superfluous ornaments, and often very unnatural: the imagination is highly worked up in both; but it is an extravagant imagination; and this has rendered the edifices of the Arabians (we may include the other orientals) as extraordinary as their thoughts." (EB II, 1797: 222)
Yeah, it's definitely bad when architecture is beautiful.
The marks which constitute the character of Gothic, or Saracenical architecture, are its numerous and prominent buttresses, its lofty spires and pinnacles, its large and ramified windows, its ornamental niches or canopies, its sculptured saints, the delicate lace-work of its fretted roots, and the profusion of ornaments lavished indiscriminately over the whole building: but its peculiar distinguishing characteristics are, the small clustered pillars and pointed arches formed by the segments of two intersecting circles; which arches, though last brought into use, are evidently of more simple and obvious construction than the semicircular ones; two flat stones, with their tops inclined to each other, and touching, form its rudiments; a number of boughs stuck into the ground opposite each other, and tied together at the top, in order to form a bower, exactly describe it: whereas a semicircular arch appears the result of deeper contrivance, as consisting of more parts; and it seems less probable chance, from whence all these inventions were first derived, should throw several wedge-like stones between two set perpendicular, so as exactly to fit and fill up the interval. (EB II, 1797: 223)
What a long sentence, and yet still would require pictures ta clarify.
These wooden houses of the ancient Gauls and Britons were not square but circular, with high tapering roofs, at the top or center of which was an aperture for the admission of light and emission of smoke. (EB II, 1797: 224)
Luna's family home comes to mind, though its walls weren't covered with clay chalked white.
In the reign of Henry III. however, this manner of building seems to have gained a complete footing; the circular giving place to the pointed arch, and the massive column yielding to the slender pillar. Indeed, like all novelties, when once admitted, the rage of fashion made it become so prevalent, that many of the ancient and solid buildings, erected in former ages, were taken down in order to be re-edified in the new taste, or had additions patched to them, of this mode of architecture. (EB II, 1797: 229)
Diffusion.
From this time Gothic architecture began to decline; and was soon after supplanted by a mixed style, if one may venture to call it one; wherein the Grecian and Gothic, however discordant and irreconcileable, are jumbled together. (EB II, 1797: 230)
Dynamic synchrony of styles.
In considering attentively the beauty of visible objects, we discover two kinds. The first may be termed intrinsic beauty, because it is discovered in a single object, without relation to any other. The second may be termed relative beauty, being founded on a combination of relative objects. Architecture admits of both kinds. (EB II, 1797: 231)
Not "extrinsic".
The proportions, for example, of the numbers [|] 16, 24, and 36, are agreeable; and so, say they, are the proportions of a room, whose weight is 16 feet, the breadth 24, and the length 36. (EB II, 1797: 231-232)
The measurements of an ideal room?
The same thing may be said of numbers. Quantity is a real quality of every body; number is not a real quality, but merely an idea that arises upon viewing a plurality of things in succession. (EB II, 1797: 232)
Cf. Peirce and Kant.
But a skilful artist will not confine his view to regularity and proportion; he will also study congruity, which is perceived when the form and ornaments of a structure are suited to the purpose for which it is appointed. Hence every building ought to have an expression suited to its destination. Ap alace ought to be sumptuous and grand; a private dwelling, neat and modest; a play-house, gay and splendid; and a monument, gloomy and melancholy. A heathen temple has a double destination: it is considered as a house dedicated to some divinity; therefore it ought to be grand, elevated, and magnificent: It is also considered as a place of worship; and therefore ought to be somewhat dark and gloomy, because dimness or obscurity produces that tone of mind which is favourable to humility and devotion. (EB II, 1797: 232)
"Tone of mind" sounds not like musical tone but like muscle tone.
This suggests a division of ornaments into three kinds, viz. 1. Ornaments that are beautiful without relation to use; such as statues, vases, basso or alto relievo: 2. Things in themselves not beautiful, but possessing the beauty of utility, by imposing on the spectator, and appearing to be useful; such as blind windows: 3. Where things are beautiful in themselves, and at the same time take on the appearance of use; such as pilasters. (EB II, 1797: 233)
Good for itself, good for other things, and both.
The proportions of this [Corinthian] order are extremely delicate. It is divided into a great variety of members, and enriched with a profusion of ornaments. Scamozzi calls it the virginal order; and indeed it has all the delicacy in its make, and all the delicacy in its dress, peculiar to young girls. (EB II, 1797: 236)
Okay then.
COLUMNS are either engaged, or insulated; and, when insulated, are either very near the wall, or at a considerable distance from it. Engaged columns, or such as are near the walls of a building, are not limited in their intercolumniations, as these depend on the breadths of the arches, windows, niches, or other decorations placed between the columns. (EB II, 1797: 239)
Relative and autonomous.
The chimneys should always be situated so as to be immediately seen by those who enter the room. The middle of the partition wall is the most proper place in hall, salons, and other rooms of passage; but in drawing-rooms, dressing-rooms, and the like, the middle of the back-well in the best situation. (EB II, 1797: 244)
A room for drawing, next to a room for painting.
Chimney-pieces are composed of wood, stone, or marble; the last of which ought to be preferred, as figures or profiles are best represented in a pure white. (EB II, 1797: 244)
Because?
In mean houses, the floors may be made of clay, ox blood, and a moderate portion of sharp sand. These three ingredients, beaten throughly together and well spread, make a firm good floor, and of a beautiful colour. (EB II, 1797: 249)
Why did even building houses involve animal sacrifice?
When the foundation is thus prepared, they make a kind of mortar called beton, which consists of twelve parts of pozolano or Dutch terrass, six of good sand, nine of unflaked lime the best that can be had, thirteen of stone splinters not exceeding the bigness of an egg, and three parts of tile-dust, or cinders, or else scales or iron out of a forge: [...] (EB II, 1797: 254)
Betoon? Never heard of it.
This might probably do, if piers were built with solid stones crampt together; but as this is hardly ever the case, and on the contrary, as the inside is filled up with shingle, chalk, or other loose materials, their rule is not to be depended upon: besides it makes the space above too narrow for lading and unlading the ships, unless in a great depth of water; so that it does not appear that their method can be followed, excepting in a very few cases where the water has but very little motion. (EB II, 1797: 256)
Loading, Estonian "laadimine".
Among the ancient Greeks and Persians, the trust was committed to none but men of the first rank; among the Franks, the clergy being the only men of letters, kept the office among themselves. - Since the erection of the electoral college, the Archbishop of Mentz has had the direction of the archives of the empire. (EB II, 1797: 257)
The what now.
The title of the second was king; that of the third, polemarchus: to these were added six thesmothetæ. These magistrates, elected by the scrutiny of beans, were obliged to prove, before their respective tribes, that they had sprung, both in their father's and their mother's side, for three descents, from citizens of Athens. (EB II, 1797: 257)
Voting by counting the beans actually a Greek custom. See the Pythagorean symbol, "do not eat beans".
ARCHYTAS of Tarentum, a philosopher of the Pythagorean sect, and famous for being the master of Plato, Eudoxas, and Philolaus, lived about 408 years before Christ. He was an excellent mathematician, particularly in that part of the science which regards mechanics: he is said to have made a wooden pigeon that could fly, and to be the first that brought down mathematics to common uses. He is said to be the inventor of the ten categories. He asserted, that God was the beginning, the supporter, and the end, of all things. There are two epistles preserved in Diogenes Laertius, one from Archytas to Plato, and another from Plato to Archytas. He acquired great reputation in his legislative capacity. He likewise commanded the army seven times, and was never defeated; but was at last cast away in the Adriatic Sea, and thrown upon the coast of Apulia. (EB II, 1797: 258)
Felicity is the use of virtue in prosperity.
The tender stems of the common kind, deprived of the bark, may be boiled and eat like 'sparagus. When raw, they are good with oil and vinegar. Boys catch bats by throwing the prickly heads of this species up into the air. (EB II, 1797: 258)
Why would they do that? Do they want to catch zoonotic viruses?
Every nurse in Florence is obliged to lay her child in an arcutio, under pain of excommunication. (EB II, 1797: 259)
Who knows better what children need than the Catholic church. Also, imagine being denied passage to heaven because you refused to lay your child in "a machine made of a board, covered with pieces of hoops, like the tilt of a waggon" (ibid.).
ARDAMON, or ARDAMA, in antiquity, a vessel of water placed at the door of a person deceased, till the time of burial, as a token that the family was in mourning, and to serve to sprinkle and purify persons as they came out of the house. (EB II, 1797: 259)
I do like these kinds of words. Perhaps I'll get to use them some day in some fictional writing.
It sometimes stood near, for half an hour after dinner, with the head turning alternately, as if listening to the conversation. (EB II, 1797: 260)
The crane is a spy!
Perhaps the esteem they were in as a delicacy during those days occasioned their extirpation in our islands; abroad they are still common, especially in the southern parts of Europe, where they appear in flocks. (EB II, 1797: 261)
Eating a species to extinction is no esteem.
As there are many thousand leaves upon one tree: every branch bearing many scores upon it, and every leaf being set at a small and equal distance from one another, the beauty of such a regular lofty group of waving foliage, susceptible of motion by the most gentle gale of wind, is not to be described. (EB II, 1797: 264)
Undescribable.
ARENSBGOURG, an episcopal and maritime town of Livonia in Sweden, setaed in the isle of Osel, in the Baltic Sea. E. Long. 22. 40. N. Lat. 58. 15. (EB II, 1797: 265)
Kuressaare.
They well knew that the impetuousity of juvenile passion gave the most violent shocks to health and growing virtue; tha tit was the duty of inspectors of education to soften the austerity of moral discipline with innocent pleasure; and that no recreations were more eligible than bodily exercises, which enable a young man to give a good education its full play, which improve health, give a pleasurable and agreeable vivacity, and even fortify the mind. (EB II, 1797: 265)
More and more I've come to associate Ancient Greek notion of "education" with physical exercise. While education otherwise tend towards thirdness and bodily exercise towards firstness, in the Ancient Greek model they both pertain to secondness.
The most important qualifications were required in those who entered into the Areopagus. Solon made a law, by which they who had not been archons for a year should not be admitted members of the Areopagus. To give more force to his law, he subjected himself to it, and was only admitted on that title. This was but the first step; those annual magistrates, after having given law to the republic, were interrogated on their administration. If their conduct was found irreproachable, they were admitted Areopagites with eulogium; but the smallest misconduct excluded them from that honour for ever. What administration was not to be expected from a tribunal so well composed? (EB II, 1797: 266)
Enviable. These days it looks more like being a white collar criminal with a history of corruption, tax fraud and financial crimes is a necessary precondition for a political career.
Such respect was paid them, that people presumed not to laugh in their presence; and so well established was their reputation for equity, that those whom they condemned, or dismissed without granting their petition, never complained that they had been unjustly treated. (EB II, 1797: 266)
Laughter, whatsoever kind, is offensive?
We must not, however, suppose that the Areopagus always preserved its old reputation; for such is the constitution of human affairs, that perfection, with regard to them, is a violent, and consequently a transitory, state. (EB II, 1797: 268)
That's so well put.
ARES, a word of Paracelsus's, by which he would express that power of nature in the whole material world, by which species are divided into individuals. (EB II, 1797: 269)
Evolution? Individuation?
ARETOLOGI, in antiquity, a sort of philosophers, chiefly of the Cynic or Stoic tribe, who, having no school or disciples of their own, haunted the tables of great men, and entertained them in their banquets with disputations on virtue, vice, and other popular topics. These are sometimes also denominated Circulatores Philosophi. In this sense, the word is derived from the Greek αρειη, virtue, and λογος, discourse. Some authors choose to derive the word from αριτος, gratus, "agreeable;" and define Aretologi, by persons who strive to divert and entertain their audience with jokes and pleasant tales; which latter seems the more natural explication. (EB II, 1797: 271)
Something to consider for the title of my own work on virtues and vices.
ARGEA, or ARGEI, in Roman antiquity, thirty human figures, made of rushes, thrown annually by the priests or vestals into the Tiber, on the day of the ides of May. - Plutarch, in his Roman Questions, inquires why they were called Argea. There are two reasons assigned. The first, that the barbarous nation who first inhabited these parts cast all the Greeks they could meet with into the Tiber: for Argians was a common name for all Grecians: but that Hercules persuaded them to quit so inhuman a practice, and to purge themselves of the crime by instituting this solemnity. The second, that Evander, an Arcadian, and a sworn enemy of the Argians, to perpetuate that enmity to his posterity, ordered the figures of Argians to be thus cast into the river. (EB II, 1797: 271)
An ancient form of stalinism.
Acrisius, the last king of Argos, died B.C. 1313; and was succeeded by Perseus, his grandson, who transferred the seat of government to Mycenæ, 544 years from the first year of Inachus, in the reign of Cecrops II. king of Athens, and about the time when Pelops the son of Tantalus king of Phrygia, having been compelled by Ilus to leave his native country, came into Greece with great wealth, and acquired supreme power in the region afterwards called by his name. (EB II, 1797: 272)
Ilus on ilus nimi.
ARGENTARIUS is frequently used in Roman writers, for a money changer or banker. The argentarii were monied people, who made a profit either by the changing, or lending of money at interest. These had their tabernæ, or offices, in the forum Romanum, built there as early as the reign of L. Tarquinius Priscus. The argentarii and fœneratores were much hated on account of their covetousness and extortion. (EB II, 1797: 272)
The agents of ursury.
ARGUTIÆ, witty and acute sayings, which commonly signify something further than what their mere words at first sight seem to import. (EB II, 1797: 276)
Short saying with a deeper meaning. Allusion is a species listed here.
This country, like all other parts of the Highlands, affords a very wild and horrid prospect of hills, rocks, and huge mountains, piled upon each other in a stupendous and dreadful disorder: bare, bleak, and barren to the view; or at best covered with shagged heath, which appears black and dismal to the eye, except in the summer, when it is variegated with an agreeable bloom of a purple colour. (EB II, 1797: 276)
Alliteration. The scene is familiar enough from Scottish movies.
The appellation Arian has been indiscriminately applied, in more modern times, to all those who consider Jesus Christ as inferior and subordinate to the Father; and whose sentiments cannot be supposed to coincide exactly with those of the ancient Arians. (EB II, 1797: 279)
You don't say.
ARIMANIUS, the evil god of the ancient Persians. The Persian Magi held two principles: a good dæmon, or god, and an evil one: the first the author of all good, and the other of all evil: the former they supposed to be represented by light, and the latter by darkness, as their truest symbols. The good principle they named Yezad or Yezan, or Ormozd or Hormizda, which the Greeks wrote Oromasdas; and the evil dæmon they called Abriman, and the Greeks Arimanius. Some of the Magians held both these principles to have been from all eternity; but this sect was reputed heterodox: the original doctrine being, that the good principle only was eternal, and the other created. - Plutarch (De Iside et Osiride, p. 369) gives the [|] following account of the Magian traditions in relation to these gods and the introduction of evil into the world, viz. That Oromazes consisted of most pure light, and Arimanius of darkness; and that they were at war with each other: that Oromazes created six gods; the first, the author of benevolence; the second, of truth; the third, of justice, riches, and the pleasure which attends good actions; and that Arimanius made as many, who were the authors of the opposite evils or vices: that then Oromazes, triplicating himself, removed as far from the sun as the sun is from the earth, and adorned the heaven with stars, appointing the dog-star for their guardian and leader: that he also created 24 other gods, and inclosed them in an egg; but Arimanius having also made an equal number, these last perforated the egg, by which means evil and good became mixed together. However, the fatal time will come, when Arimanius, the introducer of plagues and famine, must be of necessity utterly destroyed by the former, and annihilated; then the earth being made plain and even, mankind shall live in a happy state, in the same manner, in the same political society, and using one and the same language. Theopompus writes, that, according to the Magians, the said two gods, during the space of 3000 years, alternately conquer, and are conquered; that for other 3000 years, they will wage mutual war, fight, and destroy the works of each other, till at last Hades (or the evil spirit) shall perish, and men become perfectly happy, their bodies neding no food, nor casting any shadow, i.e. being perfectly transparent. (EB II, 1797: 279-280)
Ahriman. And what sounds like the inverse of the tower of Babel story. Also, curiously alike to the Gnostic eschatology.
It was but a small, though convenient house: being asked, why he had not built it in a more magnificent manner, since he had given such noble descriptions of sumptuous palaces, beautiful porticos, and pleasant fountains, in his Orlando Furioso? he replied, That words were cheaper laid together than stones. (EB II, 1797: 281)
Parem kui "suuga teeb suure linna, käega ei kärbsepesagi".
Upon the door was the following inscription:Parva, sed apta mihi, sed nulli obnoxia, sed nonWhich Mr Harrington thus translates:
Sordida, parta meo sed tamen ære, domus.This house is small, but fit for me, but hurtful unto none;In his diet he was temperate, and so careless to dainties, that he was fit to have lived in a world when they fed upon acorns. (EB II, 1797: 281)
But yet not sluttish, as you see, yet paid for with mine own.
Mu koduke on tilluke kuid ta on armas minule [ja ei tee liiga kellelegi].
ARISTARCHUS, a Grecian philosopher of Samos, one of the first that maintained that the earth turns upon its own centre. We are not sure of the age in which he lived; and have non of his works but a Treatise of the greatness and distance of the Sun and Moon, translated into Latin by Frederic Commandine, and published with Pappus's explanations in 1572. (EB II, 1797: 282)
What Galileo called a Pythagorean dogma.
We have several remarkable passages concerning him during his residence at that court mentioned by diogenes Laertius. Dionysius, at a feast, commanded that all should put on womens purple habits, and dance in them. But Plato refused, repeating these lines:I cannot in this gay effeminate dressBut Aristippus readily submitted to the command, and made this reply immediately:
Disgrace my manhood, or my sex betray.[...] At feasts, where mirth is free,(EB II, 1797: 283)
A sober mind can never be corrupted.
It is very obvious who is better dinner party company.
"To one who boasted of his great reading, he said, "That as they who feed and exercise most are not always more healthy than they who only eat and exercise to satisfy nature; so neither they who read much, but they who read no more than is useful, are truly learned." (EB II, 1797: 283)
A triad: (1) eat; (2) exercise; and (3) read.
Being cast by shipwreck ashore on the island of Rhodes, and perceiving mathematical schemes and diagrams drawn upon the ground, he said, "Courage, friends; for I see the footsteps of men." (EB II, 1797: 284)
Ah, it is that Aristippus! Too bad this doesn't report the whole story of that shipwreck, including the moral of not carrying anything with you that the sea can take away (i.e. carry only wisdom).
ARISTOCRACY, a form of government where the supreme power is vested in the principal persons of the state. The word is derived from αριςος, optimus, and χρατεω, imperio, "I govern." The ancient writers of politics prefer the aristocratical form of government to all others. The republic of Venice is an aristocracy. Aristocracy seems to coincide with oligarcy; which, however, is more ordinarily used to signify a corruption of an aristocratical state, where the administration is in the hands of too few, or where some one or two usurp the whole power. (EB II, 1797: 284)
The government of "the best" which is easily corrupted by the fact that "the best" people turn out not to be the best people.
The principles of Aristotle's philosophy, the learned agree, are chiefly laid down in the four books de Cælo; the eight books of Physical Auscultation, φυσιχης αχροασεως, belonging rather to logics, or metaphysics, than to physics. Instead of the more ancient systems, he introduced matter, form, and privation, as the principles of all things; but he does not seem to have derived much benefit from them in natural philosophy. His doctrines are, for the most part, so obscurely expressed, that it has not yet been satisfactorily ascertained what were his sentiments on some of the most important subjects. He attempted to refute the Pythagoræan doctrine concerning the twofold motion of the earth; and pretended to demonstrate, that the matter of the heavens is ungenerated, incorruptible, and subject to no alteration: and he supposed that the stars were carried round the earth in solid orbs. The reader will find a distinct account of the logical part of his philosophy, by Dr Reid professor of moral philosophy in the university of Glasgow, in the second volume of Lord Kames's Sketches of the History of Man; and Mr Harris has published a sensible commentary on his Categories, under the title of Philosophical Arrangements. (EB II, 1797: 286)
No wonder Aristotle is not someone undergraduates are made to read. My brief experience with Nicomachean Ethics proved that he is also difficult to translate, as the available translations varied greatly in terms of intelligibility, and none proved very good.
We cannot conceive how any man endowed with reason can be without some knowledge of numbers. We are indeed told of nations in America who have no word in their language to express a greater number than three; and this they call pætarrarorincouroac: but that such nations should have no idea of a greater number than this, is absolutely incredible. Perhaps they may compute by threes, as we compute by tens; and this may have occasioned the notion that they have no greater number than three. (EB II, 1797: 288)
A story that indeed appeared somewhere in the first volume.
The Greeks were the first European nation among whom arithmetic arrived at any degree of perfection. M. Goguet is of opinion, that they first used pebbles in their calculations: a proof of which he imagines is, that the word ψηφιζω, which comes from φεφος, a little stone, or flint, among other things, signifies to calculate. The same, he thinks, is probable of the Romans; and derives the word calculation from the use of little stones (calculi) in their first arithmetical operations. (EB II, 1797: 288)
Something I was wondering at when kidney stones were called "calculi".
Their method is still used for distinguishing the chapters of books, and some other purposes. Their numeral letters and values are the following:Any number, however great, may be represented by repeating and combining these according to the following rules:
I V X L C D M One, five, ten, fifty, one hundred, five hundred, one thousand.
1st, When the same letter is repeated twice, or oftener, its value is represented as often. Thus II signifies two: XXX thirty, CC two hundred.
2d, When a numeral letter of lesser value is placed after one of greater, their values are added: thus XI [|] signifies eleven, LXV sixty-five, MDCXXVIII one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight.
3d, When a numeral letter of lesser value is placed before on of greater, the value of the lesser is taken from that of the greater: thus IV signifies four, XL forty, XC ninety, CD four hundred. (EB II, 1797: 288-289)
A concise teaching of Roman numerals.
The oldest treatises extant upon the theory of arithmetic are the seventh, eight, and ninth books of Euclid's elements, where he treats of proportion and of prime and composite numbers; both of which have received improvements since his time, especially the former. The next of whom we know any thing is Nicomachus the Pythagorean, who wrote a treatise of the theory of arithmetic, consisting chiefly of the distinctions and divisions of numbers into classes, as plain, solid, triangular, quadrangular, and the rest of the figurate numbers as they are called, numbers odd and even, &c. with some of the more general properties of the several kinds. This author is, by some, said to have lived before the time of Euclid; by others, not long after. His arithmetic was published at Paris in 1538. The next remarkable writer on this subject is Boethius, who lived at Rome in the time of Theodoric the Goth. He is supposed to have copied most of his work from Nicomachus. (EB II, 1797: 289)
Nearly impossible for some pythagorean or other not to show up in a section on arithmetic.
About the year 1464, Regiomentanus, in his triangular tables, divided the Radius into 10,000 parts instead of 60,000; and thus tacitly expelled the sexagesimal arithmetic. Part of it, however, still remains in the division of time, as of an hour into 60 minutes, a minute into 60 seconds, &c. (EB II, 1797: 289)
So that's why that is.
[...] therefore an additional character of cipher (o) is necessary, which has no signification when placed by itself, but serves to supply the vacant places, and bring the figures to their proper station. (EB II, 1797: 290)
Null, zero, cypher.
8.437,982.564,738.972,645 (EB II, 1797: 291)
Somehow the half period (1,000) has survived whereas the full period (1.000,000) has not.
ARIUS, a divine of the fourth century, the head and founder of the ARIANS, a sect which denied the eternal divinity and substantiality of the Word. (EB II, 1797: 325)
As with Charles Boycott, it is neat to find out that a specific person was associated with a common word.
But the heresy did not die with the heresiarch: his parlty continued still in great credit at court. Athanasius, indeed, was soon recalled from banishment, and as soon removed again; the Arians being countenanced by the government, and making and deposing bishops as it best served their purposes. In short, this sect continued with great lustre above 300 years: it was the reigning religion of Spain for above two centuries; it was on the throne both in the east and west; it prevailed in Italy, France, Pannonia, and Africa; and was not extirpated till about the end of the 8th century. (EB II, 1797: 326)
The leader, ruler or master of the sect.
With regard to the state of Arianism in England, it may be sufficient to observe, that from the numerous publications of that cast which are daily making their appearance, it seems to be rather a growing, than exploded, doctrine there. (EB II, 1797: 326)
Perhaps some day I'll get to read more about the Christian trinity.
ARK of the Covenant, a small chest or coffer, thre feet nine inches in length, two feet three inches in breadth, and two feet three inches in height, in which were contained the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod, and the tables of the covenant. This coffer was made of shittim-wood, and covered with a lid, which was made of solid gold. The ark was reposited in the holiest place of the tabernacle. It was taken by the Philistines, and detained 20, some say 40, years, at Kirjath-jearim; but the people being afflicted with emerods on account of it, returned it with divers presents. It was afterwards placed in the temple. (EB II, 1797: 327)
Hemorroides or tumors. See "Ancient Aliens" for a theory that it was a nuclear weapon and is currently held in an underground temple in Ethiopia.
ARM is also used figuratively for power. The secular arm is the lay or temporal authority of a secular judge; to which recourse is had for the execution of the sentences passed by ecclesiastical judges.
The church sheds no blood: even the judges of inquisition, after they have found the person guilty, surrender him to the secular arm. The council of Antioch, held in 341, decrees, that recourse be had to the secular arm to repress those who refuse obedience to the church: for secular arm, they here use exterior power. (EB II, 1797: 328)
That sounds like shedding blood with extra steps.
The armatura was practised with great diligence among the Romans: they had their campidoctores, on purpose to instruct the tyrones or young soldiers in it. Under it were included the throwing of the spear or javelin, shooting with bows and arrows, &c. (EB II, 1797: 331)
A "tyro", then, is not just a beginner but a military grunt.
The king, having now subdued all Syria to the borders of Egypt, and being elated with a long course of victories and prosperous events, began to look upon himself as far above the level of other crowned heads. He assumed the title of King of kings, and had many kings waiting upon him as menial servants. He never appeared on horseback without the attendance of four kings dressed in livery, who run by his horse; and when he gave answers to the nations that applied to him, the ambassadors stood on either side the throne with their hands clasped together, that attitude being of all others then accounted among the orientals the greatest acknowledgement of vassalage and servitude. (EB II, 1797: 333)
Will keep this in mind. Pease says it shows one is cold or uncomfortable, Byzantine icons as not knowing what to do and dying of cold.
The Armenians are an honest, civil, polite people, scarce troubling themselves about any thing else but trade, which they carry on in most parts of the world, by which means they have spread themselves over the east, and also great parts of Europe; and wherever they come, commerce is carried on with spirit and advantage. (EB II, 1797: 335)
Aramaic was the language of their trading routes. Also an uncharacteristically positive description of a people.
ARMILLARY, in a general sense, something consisting of rings or circles. (EB II, 1797: 336)
The logo of Olympic games.
On the third article, they held, "That true faith cannot proceed from the exercise of our natural faculties and powers, nor from the force and operation of free will; since man, in consequence of his natural corruption, is incapable either of thinking of doing any good thing; and that therefore it is necessary, in order to his conversion and salvation, that he be regenerated and renewed by the operation of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God through Jesus Christ." (EB II, 1797: 337)
Self-imposed intellectual immaturity. Pre-enlightenment.
The modern system of Arminianism likewise, founded on a comprehensive plan projected by Arminius himself, as appears from a passage in his last will, extends the limits of the Christian church, and relaxes the bonds of fraternal communion in such a manner, that Christians of all sects and denominations, whatever their sentiments and opinions may be, papists excepted, may be formed into one religious body, and live together in brotherly love and concord. (EB II, 1797: 337)
Phatic verbiage.
Arminius was esteemed an excellent preacher: his voice was low, but very agreeable; and his pronounciation admirable: he was easy and affable to persons of all ranks, and facetious in his conversation amongst his friends. (EB II, 1797: 337)
Phatic personology.
ARMOURY is also used for a branch of heraldry; being the knowledge of coat-armours, as to their blazons, and various intendments. (EB II, 1797: 338)
What is an indentment?
The king may prohibit force of arms, and punish offenders according to law; and herein every subjec tis bound to be aiding. Stat. 7. Edw. I. None shall come with force and arms before the king's justices, nor ride armed in affray of the peace, on pain to forfeit their armour, and to suffer imprisonment, &c. 2 Ed. III. c. 3. (EB II, 1797: 339)
None shall pass.
In the History of the Royal Academy for the year 1707, we have an account of some experiments made with fire-arms differently loaded, by M. Cassini. Among other things he observes, that by loading the piece with a ball which is somewhat less than the calibre, and only laying a little gunpowder below the ball and a good deal above it, it will yield a vehement noise, but have no sensible effect or impulse on the ball. - This he takes to have been all the secret of those people who pretended to sell the art of rendering one's self invulnerable, or shot-proof. (EB II, 1797: 339)
Who wants to become bulletproof?
In this poem, which is not collected in his works, he wantonly hazarded a reflection on Churchill, which drew on him the serpent-toothed vengeance of that severest of satirists, whose embalming or corrosive pen could deify or lampoon any man, acording as he acquiesced with, or dissented from, his political principles. (EB II, 1797: 340)
Political opinions are always dangerous, aren't they.
It has been observed, that in Europe a prince with a million of subjects cannot keep an army of above 10,000 men, without ruining himself. It was otherwise in the ancient republics: the proportion of soldiers to the rest of the people, which is now as about 1 to 100, might then be as about 1 to 8. The reason seems owing to that equal partition of lands which the ancient founders of commonwealths made among their subjects; so that every man had a considerable property to defend, and means to defend it with: whereas, among us, the lands and riches of a nation being shared among a few, the rest have no way of subsisting but by trades, arts, and the like; and have neither any free property to defend, nor means to enable them to go to war in defence of it, without starving their families. A large part of our people are either artisans or servants, and so only minister to the luxury and effeminacy of the great. (EB II, 1797: 341)
Anticapitalist critique of society on the basis that the rich have drained the population so dry that even proper armies can't be had.
As it is only by means of a well-regulated standing army that a civilized country can be defended, so it is only by means of it that a barbarous country can be suddenly and tolerably civilized. A standing army establishes, with an irresistible force, the law of the sovereign through the remotest provinces of the empire, and maintains some degree of regular government in countries which could not otherwise admit of any. (EB II, 1797: 343)
That is to say, any "barbarous nation" can be occupied and exploited with an army. No sudden civilizing takes place in the subject nation but the access allowed by this violence may make it seem so to visitors from the conquering nation.
Where the security of the magistrate, though supported by the principal people of the country, is endangered by every popular discontent; where a small tumult is capable of bringing about in a few hours a great revolution; the whole authority of government must be employed to suppress and punish every murmur and complaint against it. (EB II, 1797: 343)
Are the complaints merited, though?
To a sovereign, on the contrary, who feels himself supported not only by the natural aristocracy of the country, but by a well-regulated standing army, the rudest, the most groundless, and the most licentious remonstrances, can give little distrubance. He can safely pardon or neglect them, and his consciousness of his own superiority naturally disposes him to do so. (EB II, 1797: 343)
Might is right, after all. If you've got the gun then you can do anything, really. Brilliant!
Arnaud had a remarkable strength of genius, memory, and command of his pen; nor did these decay even to the last year of his life. Mr Bayle says, he had been told by persons who had been admitted into his familiar conversation, that he was a man very simple in his manners; and that unless any one proposed some question to him, or desired some information, he said nothing that was beyond common conversation, or that might make one take him for a man of great abilities; but when he set himself to give an answer to such as proposed a point of learning, he seemed as it were transformed into another man: he would then deliver a multitude of fine things with great perspicuity and learning, and had a particular talent at making himself intelligible to persons of not the greatest penetration. (EB II, 1797: 344)
Phatic qualia.
The Brescian walked amongst them; his deportment was humble, his countenance emaciated, his address affable, and he spoke to them of moderation, of submission, of obedience. With the nobles and new senators he held another language; though to them also he was mild and diffident, speaking much of virtue and of respect for religion and the laws. But no sooner was he sensible of his own real influence, and saw the length to which the revolters had already carried their designs, than he threw aside the mask, and appeared in his own character, daring, impetuous, self-sufficient, vain. He harangued the people; he talked of their forefathers the ancient Romans, who, by the wisdom of their senate and the valour of their armies, had conquered nations and subdued the earth. He dwelt on the names and the atchievements of the Bruti, the Gracchi, and the Scipios; and of these men, said he, are you not the children? (EB II, 1797: 346)
Switching from firstness (moderation) to secondness (ambition) in an instant after realizing his influence.
ARRAIGNMENT, in law, the arraigning or setting a thing in order, as a person is said to arraign a writ of novel dissension, who prepares and fits it for trial. (EB II, 1797: 348)
Aranžeerimine.
If he says nothing, the court ought ex officio to impannel a jury to inquire whether he stands obstinately mute, or whether he be dumb ex visitatione Dei. (EB II, 1797: 349)
Ex machina.
The English judgment of penance for standing mute was as follows: That the prisoner be remanded to the prison from whence he came, and put into a low, dark chamber; and there be laid on his back, on the bare floor, naked, unless where decency forbids; that there be placed upon his body as great a weight of iron as he could bear, and more; that he have no sustenance, save only, on the first day, three morsels of the worst bread; and, on the second day, three draughts of standing water that should be nearest to the prison-door; and in this situation this should be alternately his daily diet, till he died, or, as anciently the judgment ran, till he answered. (EB II, 1797: 349)
Not simply torture and poisoning. The entry goes on to tell that this practice was called "pressing him to death".
From the beginning of February to the end of May, if the weather permits, they are engaged in labouring their ground: in autumn they burn a great quantity of fern, to make kelp. So that, excepting at new-year's-day, at marriages, or at the two or three fairs in that island, they have no leisure for any amusements: no wonder then at their depression of spirits. (EB II, 1797: 351)
We've kept depression but lost the spirits.
ARRANGEMENT, or RANGEMENT, the disposition of the parts of a whole, in a certain order.
The modern philosophy shows us, that the diversity of the colours of bodies depends entirely on the situation and arrangement of the parts, which reflect the light differently; the diversity of tastes and smells on the different arrangements of the pores, which render them differently sensible; and the general diversity of bodies on the different arrangement of their parts. The happy arrangement of words makes one of the greatest beauties of discourse. (EB II, 1797: 351)
Rangement sounds like something has been arranged beforehand by unknown others or something.
In civil cases, it signifies either the detaining of strangers or natives in meditatione fugæ, till they find causation judicio sifti, or the attaching the effects of a stranger in order to found jurisdiction. (EB II, 1797: 353)
In jail? What, no. I was meditating... Behind bars.
ART is defined by Lord Bacon, A proper disposal of the things of nature by human thought and experience, so as to answer the several purposes of mankind; in which sense art stands opposed to nature. (EB II, 1797: 358)
Art is everything humans make.
A clock that strikes the hours was unknown in Europe till the end of the 12th century. And hence the custom of employing men to proclaim the hours during night; which to this day continues in Germany, Flanders, and England. (EB II, 1797: 358)
A function taken over by church bells.
The difference is visible in the manners of the people: in a country where, from want of hands, several occupations must be carried on by the same person, the people are knowing and conversable: in a populous country, where manufactures flourish, they are ignorant and unsociable. (EB II, 1797: 360)
The gist being: the more the merrier.
One would imagine, however, that these compositions were too simple to enchant for ever; as variety in action, sentiment, and passion, is requisite, without which the stage will not continue long a favourite entertainment: and yet we find not a single improvement attempted after the days of Sophocles and Euripides. (EB II, 1797: 362)
(1) passion, (2) action, and (3) sentiment.
Having traced the progress of the fine arts toward maturity, in a summary way, the decline of these arts comes next in order. An art, in its progress toward maturity, is greatly promoted by emulation; and, after arriving at maturity, its downfal is not less promoted by it. (EB II, 1797: 363)
What was missing from Gomperz: the downfall following the perfection of an art or style of art.
But the novelty, of which we here speak, consist in the ingenious use of combinations of all the various objects of nature, that are new, happy, and agreeable, that have not yet been exhausted, and which appear even to be inexhaustible; and of the use which the artist makes of all new discoveries, which he turns to his advantage, by a judicious application. Invention therefore supposes a considerable fund of preliminary knowledge, such as is capable of furnishing ideas and images, to form new combinations. (EB II, 1797: 366)
A significant innovation requires thorough previous familiarity with tradition.
ARTEMISIA, wife of Mausolus king of Caria, has immortalized herself by the honours which she paid to the memory of her husband. She built for him in Halicarnassus a very magnificent tomb, called the Mausoleum, which was one of the seven wonders of the world, and from which the title of Mausoleum was afterwards given to all tombs remarkable for their grandeur; but she died of regret and sorrow before the Mausoleum was finished. (EB II, 1797: 368)
This I did not know.
The arum was formerly an ingredient in an officinal preparation, the compound powder; but in that form its virtues are very precarious. Some recommended a tincture of it drawn with wine; but neither wine, water, nor spirits, extract its virtues. (EB II, 1797: 379)
A non-moral use of the word "virtue", meaning probably just "power" or "effect".
ARUSPICES, or HARUSPICES, in Roman antiquity, an order of priests who pretended to foretel future events by inspecting the intrails of victims killed in sacrifice; they were also consulted on occasion of portends and prodigies. The haruspices were always chosen from the best families; and as their employment was of the same nature as that of the augurs, they were as much honoured. Their college, as well as those of the other religious orders, had its particular registers and records. (EB II, 1797: 385)
Did it take them a really long time to realize that entrail have very little bearing upon the future?
Both the roots and leaves [of ASARUM] have a nauseous, bitter, acrimonious, hot taste; their smell is strong, and not very disagreeable. Given in substance from half a dram to a dram, they evacuate powerfully both upwards and downwards. (EB II, 1797: 386)
Powerful plant, then.
ASCENDANT, in astrology, denotes the horoscope, or the degree of the ecliptic which rises upon the horizon at the time of the birth of any one. This is supposed to have an influence on the person's life and fortune, by giving him a bent and propensity to one thing more than another.
In the celestial theme, this is also called the first house, the angle of the East or Oriental angle, and the significator of life. - Such a planet ruled in his ascendant: Jupiter was in his ascendant, &c. - Hence the word is also used in a moral sense, for a certain superiority which one man has over another, from some unknown cause. (EB II, 1797: 387)
Hay babygurl, what's your name, what's your first house?
ASCENT, in a general sense, implies the motion of a body upwards, or the continual recess of a body from the earth. The Peripatetics attribute the spontaneous ascent of bodies to a principle of levity inherent in them. The moderns deny any such thing as spontaneous levity; and show, that whatever ascends, does it in virtue of some external impulse or extrusion. (EB II, 1797: 389)
Preferable to combustion, I guess.
ASCESIS is also used by philosophers, to denote an exercise conducive to virtue, or to the acquiring a greater degree of virtue. This is particularly denominated the philosophical ascesis, because practised chiefly by philosophers, who make a more peculiar profession of improving themselves in virtue; on the model whereof, the ancient Christians introduced a religious Ascesis. (EB II, 1797: 389)
An interesting topic. See Nietszche, Cowper, etc.
ASCETERIUM, in ecclesiastical writers, is frequently used for a monastery, a place set apart for the exercises of virtue and religion. The word is formed from ascesis, "exercise;" or ascetra, "one who performs exercise". Originally it signified a place where the athletæ or gladiators performed their exercises. (EB II, 1797: 389)
Didn't know there was a special word for it.
The root of the third species has been sometimes sent over from America instead of that of ipecacuanha, and mischievous effects have been produced by it. Those who cultivate this plant ought to be careful that none of its milky juice mix with any thing which is taken inwardly. (EB II, 1797: 391)
Ipecac neat.
ASCODUTÆ, in antiquity, a sect of heretics, in the second century, who rejected all use of symbols and sacraments, on this principle, That incorporeal things cannot be communicated by things corporeal, nor divine mysteries by any thing visible. (EB II, 1797: 391)
The inextended and the extended.
ASGILL (John), a late humorous writer, was bred to the law, and practised in Ireland with great success. He was there elected a member of the house of commons, but was expelled for writing a treatise on the possibility of avoiding death; and being afterwards chosen a member for the borough of Bramber in Sussex, he was also on the same account expelled the parliament of England. (EB II, 1797: 391)
One of the Hallows.
The ancient Persians had a sort of punishment for some great criminals, which consisted in executing them in ashes. The criminal was thrown headlong from a tower 50 cubits high, which was filled with ashes to a particular height, (2 Mac. xiii. 5, 6.) The motion which the criminal used to disengage himself from this place, plunged him still deeper into it, and this agitation was farther increased by a wheel which stirred the ashes continually about him till at last he was stifled. (EB II, 1797: 392)
Gruesome, like thse Amsterdam cellars.
Mr Ashmole was a diligent and curious collector of manuscripts. In the year 1650, he published a treatise written by Dr Arthur Dee, relating to the philosopher's stone; together with another tract on the same subject, by an unknown author. About the same time, he was busied in preparing for the press a complete collection of the works of such English chemists as had still then remained in manuscript. (EB II, 1797: 392)
Interesting. It is now more apparent why the motif made it into HP.
ASPASIA of MILETUS, a courtesan who settled at Athens under the administration of Pericles, and one of the most noted ladies of antiquity. She was of admirable beauty: yet her wit and eloquence, still more than her beauty, gained her extraordinary reputation among all ranks in the republic. In eloquence she surpassed all her contemporaries; and her conversation was so entertaining and instructive, that notwithstanding the dishonourable commerce she carried on in female virtue, persons of the first distinction, male and female, resorted to her house as to an academy: she even numbered Socrates among her hearers and admirers. (EB II, 1797: 397)
A familiar name, though unable to say from where. A possible triad: (1) beauty; (2) eloquence; and (3) wit. Note the entertaining (agreeable) and instructive (informative).
The companions of Aspasia served as models for painting and statuary, and themes for poetry and panegyric. Nor were they merely the objects, but the authors of many literary works, in which they established rules for the behaviour of their lovers, particularly at table; and explained the art of gaining the heart and captivating the affections. The dress, behaviour, and artifices of this class of women, became continually more seductive and dangerous; and Athens thenceforth remained the chief school of vice and pleasure, as well as of literature and philosophy. (EB II, 1797: 397)
A similarity with Catherin II, whose courtly table manners may have had something to do with Kant's treatment of table manners in his Anthropology.
ASPASTICUM, (from ασπαζομαι, "I salute," in ecclesiastical writers), a place, or apartment, adjoining to the ancient churches, wherein the bishop and presbuters sat, to receive the salutations of the persons who came to visit them, desire their blessing, or consult them on business. - This is also called aspaticum, diaconicum, receptorium, metatorium, or mesatorium, and salutorium; in English, "greeting-house." (EB II, 1797: 397)
Phatic architecture beyond the drawing-room.
ASPECT, in astronomy, denotes the situation of the planets and stars with respect to each other.
There are five different aspects. 1. Sextile aspect is when the planets or stars are 60° distant, and marked thus *. 2. The quartile, or quadrate, when they are 90° distant, marked ☐. 3. Trine, when 120° distant, marked Δ. 4. Opposition, when 180° distant, marked ☍. And, 5. Conjunction, when both in the same degree, marked ☌.
Kepler, who added eight new ones, defines aspect to be the angle formed by the rays of two stars meeting on the earth, whereby their good or bad influence is measured: for it is to be observed, that these aspects being first introduced by astrologers, where distinguished into benign, malignant, and indifferent; the quartile and opposition being accounted malign; the trine and sextile, benign or friendly; and the conjunction indifferent. (EB II, 1797: 397)
I suspect this may have something distant to do with the Pythagorean number symbolism.
Henry count of Champaigne, who married Isabella daughter of Amaury king of Jerusalem, passing over part of the territory of the Assassins in his way to Syria, and talking highly of his power, their chief came to meet him, "Are your subjects (said the old man of the mountain) as ready in their submission as mine?" and, without staying for an answer, made a sign with his hand, when ten young men in white, who were standing on an adjacent tower, instantly threw themselves down. On another occasion, Sultan Malek-Shah summoning the Scheik to submit himself to his government, and threatening him with the power of his arms, should he hesitate to comply; the latter, very composedly turning himself towards his guards, said to one of them, "Draw your dagger and plunge it into your breast;" and to another, "Throw yourself headlong from yonder rock." His orders were no sooner uttered than they were joyfully obeyed: and all the answer he deigned to give the sultan's envoy was, "Away to thy master, and let him know I have many thousand subjects of the same disposition." (EB II, 1797: 402)
What a waste of human life. These are the very same assassins associated with "hashish", though no mention of the drug yet.
To animate them in their frantic obedience, the Scheik, before their departure on such attempts, used to give them a small foretaste of some of the delights which he assured them would be their recompense in paradise. Delicious soporific drinks were given them; and while they lay asleep, they were carried into beautiful gardens, where every allurement invited their senses to the most exquisite gratifications. From these seats of voluptuousness, inflamed with liquor and enthusiastic views of perpetual enjoyments, they sallied forth to perform assassinations of the blackest dye. (EB II, 1797: 402)
This is the part involving drugs (instead of drinks) in the iteration I can across more than a decade ago.
ASSAY, ESSAY, or SAY, in metallurgy, the proof or trial of the goodness, purity, value, &c. of metals and metalline substances. (EB II, 1797: 402)
The meaning Diderot was hinting at.
ASSEMBLAGE, the uniting or joining of things together; or the things themselves so united or joined. It is also used, in a more general sense, for a collection of various things so disposed and diversified, that the whole produces some agreeable effect. (EB II, 1797: 403)
As opposed to an aggregate.
ASSEVERATION, a positive and vehement affirmation of something. (EB II, 1797: 404)
Never heard of it before.
ASSIDUUS, or ADSIDUUS, among the Romans, denoted a rich or wealthy person. The word in this sense is derived from as assis, q.d. a monied man. Hence we meet with assiduous sureties, assidui fidejussores; answering to what the French now call city sureties or securities, cautions bourgeois. (EB II, 1797: 404)
Eat the assiduusae.
ASSIGNATION, an appointment to meet. The word is generally understood of love-meetings. (EB II, 1797: 405)
A date.
ASSOCIATION, the act of associating, or constituting a society, or partnership, in order to carry on some scheme or affair with more advantage. - The word is Latin, associatio; and compounded of ad, to, and socio, to join. (EB II, 1797: 406)
Frequently met in old sociology books.
ASTEISM, in rhetoric, a genteel irony, or handsome way of deriding another. Such, e. gr. is that of Virgil:Diomed places the characteristic of this figure, or species of irony, in that it is not gross and rustic, but ingenious and polite. (EB II, 1797: 409)Qui Bavium non odit, amet tua carmina, Mævi, &c.
There are levels in irony.
Her [ASTELL (Mary)] mind was generally calm and serene; and her conversation was innocently facetious, and highly entertaining. She would say, "The good Christian only hath reason, and he always ought, to be cheerful;" and, "That dejected looks and melancholy airs were very unseemly in a Christian." But these subjects she hath treated at large in some of her excellent writings. (EB II, 1797: 410)
If only it were so. "I am a good Christian" is a proclamation of superiority yelled at others in a public freakout these days.
ASTOMI, in anthropology, a people feigned without mouths. Pliny speaks of a nation of Astomi in India, who lived only by the smell or effluvia of bodies taken in by the nose. (EB II, 1797: 411)
Elavad õhust ja armastusest.
ASTROGALOMANCY, a species of divination performed by throwing small pieces, with marks corresponding to the letters of the alphabet; the accidental disposition of which formed the answer required. This kind of divination was practised in a temple of Hercules, in Achaia. The word is derived from αςταγολαι, and μαντεια, divination. (EB II, 1797: 413)
It's all just random.
1. The mouse. 2. The ox or cow. 3. The tiger. 4. The hare. 5. The dragon. 6. The serpent. 7. The horse. 8. The sheep. 9. The monkey. 10. The cock or hen. 11. The dog; and, 12. The boar. (EB II, 1797: 415)
The original astronomical signs.
Dr Long represents the state of astronomy in China as at present very low; occasioned, he says, principally by the barbarous decree of one of their emperors, to have all the books in the empire burnt, excepting such as related to agriculture and medicine. (EB II, 1797: 415)
There is no shortness of historical ass-hats.
Their astronomical knowledge, however, was greatly improved by Thales the Milesian, who travelled into Egypt, and brought from thence the first principles of the science. He is said to have determined the height of the pyramids by measuring their shadows at the time the sun was 45 degrees high, and when of consequence the lengths of the shadows of objects are equal to their perpendicular heights. (EB II, 1797: 417)
Same tale is related by Gomperz, so probably a representative anecdote about Thales.
Anaxagoras also predicted an eclipse which happened in the fifth year of the Peloponnesian war; and taught that the moon was habitable, consisting of hills, valleys, and waters, like the earth. His cotemporary Pythagoras, however, greatly improved not only astronomy and mathematics, but every other branch of philosophy. He taught that the universe was composed of four elements, and that it had the sun in the centre; that the earth was round, and had antipodes; and that the moon reflected the rays of the sun; that the stars were worlds, containing earth, air, and ether; that the moon was inhabited like the earth; and that the comets were a kind of wandering stars, disappearing in the superior parts of their orbits, and becoming visible only in the lower parts of them. The white colour of the milky-way he ascribed to the brightness of a great number of small stars; and he supposed the distances of the moon and planets from the earth to be in certain harmonic proportions to one another. He is said to have exhibited the oblique course of the sun in the ecliptic and the tropical circles, by means of an artificial sphere; and he first taught that the planet Venus is both the evening and morning star. This philosopher is said to have been taken prisoner by Cambyses, and thus to have become acquainted with all the mysteries of the Persian magi; after which he settled at Crotona in Italy, and founded the Italian sect. (EB II, 1797: 418)
An exposition dump.
The celebrated Archimedes, who next to Sir Isaac Newton holds the first place among mathematicians, was nothing inferior as an astronomer to what he was as a geometrician. (EB II, 1797: 419)
Phraseology. Polnud midagi alam.
During the long period from the year 800 to the beginning of the 14th century, the western parts of Europe were immersed in deep ignorance and barbarity. (EB II, 1797: 419)
And somehow these barbarians "brought culture" to us in the east, through barbarity.
He soon perceived the deficiency of all the hypotheses by which it had been attempted to account for these motions; and for this reason he set himself to study the works of the ancients, with all of whom he also was dissatisfied excepting Pythagoras; who, as has been already related, placed the sun in the centre, and supposed all the planets, with the earth itself, to revolve round him. (EB II, 1797: 421)
Copernicus and Pythagoras, sitting in a tree...
It was not, however, for many years relished by the foreign philosophers, though almost immediately adopted at home, and has continued ever since to spread its reputation farther and farther, so that now it is in a manner established all over the world. "But (says Dr Long) that, after Newton's system had for so long a time been neglected, it should all at once be universally received and approved of, is not to be attributed to chance, or the caprice of fashion, as some who are ignorant of it are apt to think; and from thence to expect that some other system will hereafter take its place, and bury it in oblivion. The system of Newton, like that of Copernicus, is so agreeable to the phenomena of nature, and so well put together, that it must last as long as truth and reason endure, altho' time may perhaps bring the word attraction into difuse; and though it may no longer be thought inherent in matter, yet the laws of gravitation, as they are now called, and on which this system is founded, will never be forgotten." (EB II, 1797: 424)
Yes, nothing will ever surpass Newton's physics. Of that we may be certain until 1913.
Tycho's 19th Aquarii. Hevelius says that this star was missing, and that Flamstead could not see it with his naked eye in 1679. (EB II, 1797: 431)
Such valuable information for pages upon pages.
Excepting the two kinds of spots abovementioned, however, no kind of object is discoverable on the surface of the sun, but he appears like an immense ocean of elementary fire or light. (EB II, 1797: 435)
Spot on.
As a specimen of what were the opinions of the ancient philosophers concerning the nature of the sun, it may suffice to mention, that Anaximander and Anaximenes held, that there was a circle of fire all along the heavens, which they called the circle of the sun; between the earth and this fiery circle was placed another circle of some opaque matter, in which there was a hole like the mouth of a German flute. Through this hole the light was transmitted, and appeared to the inhabitants of this earth as a round and distinct body of fire. The eclipses of the sun were occasioned by stopping this hole. (EB II, 1797: 447)
Sounds only reasonable. To a flat earther, that is.
Without entering into any tedious discussion, however, we shall confine ourselves to such particulars as appertain to the more obvious characters of the spots, and which also seem to be irreconcileable with the theory; and first of all with regard to the distinguishing features of the umbra. (EB II, 1797: 454)
Too late. The lengthy article on Agronomy was much more interesting than this one on Astronomy.
He tells us, however, of an English astronomer, who presented the Royal Society with a draught of what he saw in the moon at the time of this eclipse; from which Louville seems to conclude that lightnings had been observed by that astronomer near the centre of the moon's disk. (EB II, 1797: 459)
Draft?
"Among the moderns (says Dr Long), Huygens has written a treatise, which he calls Cosmotheoros, or A view of the world, worth persuing. One thing, however, I must find fault with; that, in peopling the planets with reasonable creatures, he insists upon their being in all points exactly similar to the human race, as to the shape of their bodies and the endowments of their minds: this is too confined a thought; for we cannot but acknowledge that infinite power and wisdom is able to form rational beings of various kinds, not only in shape and figure different from the human, but endowed also with faculties and senses very different; such as in our present state we can have no idea of." (EB II, 1797: 460)
People on other planets also speak modern English.
On Venus, for instance, the heat must be more than double what it is with us, and on Mercury upwards of ten times as great; so that were our earth brought as near the sun as Mercury, every drop of liquid would be evaporated into steam, and every combustible solid set on fire; while, on the other hand, were we removed to the distance of the superior planets, such as the Georgium Sidus, Saturn, or even Jupiter, there is the highest probability that our liquids would all be congealed into ice, at the same time that the climate would be utterly insupportable by such creatures as we are. (EB II, 1797: 461)
Phraseology.
The many discoveries which, since the time of Newton, Hailey, and other celebrated mathematicians, have been made in electricity, having brought in a new element unknown to former ages, and which shows a vast power through every part of the creation with which we are acquainted, it became natural to imagine that it must extend also into those higher regions which are altogether inaccessible to man. The similarity of the tails of comets to the aurora borealis, which is commonly looked upon to be an electrical phenomenon, therefore suggested an opinion at present far from being generally disbelieved, that the tails of comets are streams of electric matter. (EB II, 1797: 465)
What?
Thus much concerning the bodies of which our solar system is composed. But the conjectures of astronomers have reached even beyond its boundaries: they have supposed every one of the innumerable multitude of fixed stars to be a sun attended by planets and comets, each of which is an habitable world like our own; so that the universe may in some measure be represented by fig. 161. (EB II, 1797: 470)
Habitable for whom?
Those who take the contrary side of the question affirm, that the disappearance of some of the fixed stars is a demonstration that they cannot be suns, as it would be to the highest degree absurd to think that God would create a sun which might disappear of a sudden, and leave its planets and their inhabitants in endless night. (EB II, 1797: 470)
Definitely something absurd in that kind of reasoning.
"The very great number of stars (says he [Mr Mitchell]) that have been discovered to be doubre, treple, &c. particularly by Mr Herschel, if we apply the doctrine of chances, as I have hereafter done in my Inquiry into the probable parallax, &c. of the fixed stars, published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1767, cannot leave a doubt with any one who is properly acquainted with the force of those arguments, that by far the greatest part, if not all of them, are systems of stars so near each other, as probably to be liable to be affected sensibly by their mutual gravitation; and it is therefore not unlikely, that the periods of the revolutions of some of these about their principals (the smaller ones being, upon this hypothesis, to be considered as satellites to the others) ma ysome time or other be discovered." (EB II, 1797: 471)
"The universe is sensibly small, actually" - someone very confident in their maths.
With the powerful telescope mentioned in the note, Mr Herschel first began to survey the Via Lactea, and found that it completely resolved the whitish appearance into stars, which the telescopes he formerly used had not light enough to do. (EB II, 1797: 472)
Road of milk [the milky way] makes as little sense as the road of birds. Birds don't generally travel by road, milk even less so.
By a continued series of observations, Mr Herschel became confirmed in his notions; and in a succeeding paper has given a sketch of his opinions concerning the interior construction of the heavens. - "That the milky way (says he) is a most extensive stratum of stars of various sizes, admits no longer of the least doubt; and that our sun is one of the heavenly bodies belonging to it, as is evident. I have now viewed and gauged this shining zone in almost every direction, and find it composed of shining stars, whose number, by the account of those gauges, constantly increases and decreases in proportion to its apparent brightness to the naked eye. But in order to develope the ideas of the universe that have been suggested by my late observations, it will be best to take the subject from a point of view at a considerable distance both of space and time. (EB II, 1797: 474)
Humans find their position in the known universe.
"There remains then (says he [Mr Herschel]) only to see how the particular stars belonging to separate clusters areprevented from rushing on to their centres of attraction." This he supposes may be done by projectile forces; "the admission of which will prove such a barrier against the seeming destructive power of attraction, as to secure from it all the stars belonging to a cluster, if not for ever, at least for millions of ages. Besides, we ought perhaps to look upon such clusters, and the destruction of a star now and then in some thousands of ages, as the way means by which the whole is preserved and renewed. These clusters may be the laboratories of the universe, wherein the most salutary remedies for the decay of the whole are prepared." (EB II, 1797: 479)
Unable to cope with the absurdity of meanonglessness.
To apply this theory, it is necessary, in the first place, to observe, that the rules of philosophising direct us to refer all phenomena to as few and simple principles as are sufficient to explain them. Astronomers, therefore, having already observed what they call a proper motion in several of the fixed stars, and which may be supposed common to them all, ought to resolve it, as far as possible, into a single and real motion of the solar system, as far as that will answer the known facts; and only to attribute to the proper motion of each particular star the deviations from the general law which the stars seem to follow. (EB II, 1797: 481)
Idealistic. Now it would be marked down as a rule of science. Falsifiability, etc.
We are told that Pythagoras maintained the motion of the earth, which is now universally believed, but at that time appears to have been the opinion of only a few detached individuals of Greece. As the Greeks borrowed many things from the Egyptians, and Pythagoras had travelled into Egypt and Phenice, it is probable he might receive an account of this hypothesis from thence: but whether he did so or not, we have [|] now no means of knowing, neither is it of any importance whether he did or not. Certain it is, however, that this opinion did not prevail in his days, nor for many ages after. In the 2d century after Christ, the very name of the Pythagorean hypothesis was suppressed by a system erected by the famous geographer and astronomer Claudius Ptolemæus. This system, which commonly goes by the name of the Ptolemaic, he seems not to have originally invented, but adopted as the prevailing one of that age; and perhaps made it somewhat more consistent than it was before. He supposed the earth at rest in the centre of the universe. Round the earth, and the nearest to it of all the heavenly bodies, the moon performed its monthly revolutions. Next to the moon was placed the planet Mercury; then Venus; and above that the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, in their proper orbits; then the sphere of the fixed stars; above these, two spheres of what he called chrystalline heavens; above these was the primum mobile, which, by turning round once in 24 hours, by some unaccountable means or other, carried all the rest along with it. This primum mobile was encompassed by the empyrean heaven, which was of a cubic form, and the seat of angels and blessed spirits. Besides the motions of all the heavens round the earth once in 24 hours, each planet was supposed to have a particular motion of its own; the moon, for instance, once in a month, performed an additional revolution, the sun in a year, &c. (EB II, 1797: 483-484)
The picture of ancient pythagoreqnism becomes a little bit more complete. The Ptolemaic model of the universe calls Matrix to mind, and the simulation boxes in Rick and Morty.
To a spectator placed in the sun, all the planets would appear to describe circles annually in the heavens; for though their motions are really elliptical, the eccentricity is so small, that the difference between them and true circles is not easily perceived even on earth; and at the sun, whether great or small, it would entirely vanish. These circles, which in such a situation would appear to be annually described among the fixed stars, are called the heliocentric circles of the planets; and if we suppose the orbits of the planets to be extended to the extreme bounds of the creation, they would describe among the fixed stars those circles just mentioned. (EB II, 1797: 506)
How?
For this reason, a belt or hoop taken in the concave sphere of the heavens about 10 degrees on each side of the ecliptic, is called the zodiac, from a Greek word which signifies an animal; and the constellations through which the ecliptic is drawn, are called the constellations of the zodiac. (EB II, 1797: 507)
These animals are enumerated above.
ASTROSCOPE, a kind of astronomical instrument, composed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations, with their stars, are delineated, by means whereof the stars may easily be known. The astroscope is the invention of William Schukhard, formerly professor of mathematics at Tubinger, who published a treatise expressly on it in 1698. (EB II, 1797: 600)
I skipped these past hundred pages because I found that the lengthy and tedious discourse on measuring the degrees of various heavenly bodies made me less than enthusiastic about continuing with this project.
ASTYAGES, son of Cyaxares, the last king of the Medes. He dreamed that from the womb of his daughter Mandane, married to Cambyses king of Persia, there sprung a vine that spread itself over all Asia. She being with child, he resolved to kill the infant as soon as born. Its name was Cyrus; and Harpagus, being sent to destroy it, preserved it: which Astyages after a long time hearing of, he caused Harpagus to eat his own son. Harpagus called in Cyrus, who dethrones his grandfather, and thereby ended the monarchy of the Medes. (EB II, 1797: 601)
Perhaps the information received from dreams is unreliable?
ASYNDETON, in grammar, a figure which omits the conjunction in a sentence. As in veni, vidi, vici, where ET is left out: or in that of Cicero concerning Catiline, abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit: or in that verse of Virgil,Ferte citi flammas, date vela, impellite remos.Asyndeton stands opposed to polysundeton, where the copulatives are multiplied. (EB II, 1797: 601)
There's a grammatical term for everything, isn't there?
ATARAXY, a term used by the stoics and sceptics, to denote that calmness of mind which secures us from all emotions arising from vanity and self-conceit. (EB II, 1797: 602)
Vabadus edevusest ja enesepettusest.
ATHANATI, in Persian antiquity, a body of ccavalry, consisting of 10,000 men, always complete. They were called athanati (a word originally Greek, and signifying immortal), because, when one of them happened to die, another was immediately appointed to succeed him. (EB II, 1797: 603)
A familiar image from history books, of rows of similar looking bearded soldiers.
"The temple of Minerva in 1676, as Wheeler and Spon assert, the finest mosque in the world, without comparison. The Greeks had adapted the fabric to their ceremonial by constructing at one end a femicircular recess for the holy tables, with a window: for before it was enlightened only by the door, obscurity being preferred under the heather ritual, except on festivals, when it yielded to splendid illuminations; the reason, it has been surmised, why temples are commonly found simple and unadorned on the insides." (EB II, 1797: 608)
Something new on ancient temples.
"The pandroséum is a small, but very particular building, of which no satisfactory idea can be communicated by description. The entablature is supported by women called Caryatides. Their story is thus related. The Greeks, victorious in the Persian war, jointly destroyed Carya, a city of the Peloponnesus, which had favoured the common enemy. They cut off the males, nad carried into captivity the women, whom they compelled to retain their former dress and ornaments, though in a state of servitude. The architects of those times, to perpetuate the memory of their punishment, represented them, as in this instance, ecah with a burden on her head, one hand uplifted to it, and the other hanging down by her side. The images were in number six, all looking toward the parthenon. The four in front, with that next to the proypléa, remain, but mutilated, and their faces besmeared with paint. (EB II, 1797: 610)
Before we knew that all Ancient Greek statues were originally painted, this must have seemed weird indeed.
The chief object of the athletic diet, was to obtain a firm, bulky, weighty body; by force of which, more than art and agility, they frequently overpowered their antagonist: hence they fed altogether on dry, solid, and viscuous meats. In the earlier days, their chief food was dry figs and cheese, which was called arida saginatio, ξερα τροφη, and Αςχησις διαξηρων ισχδων. Oribasius, or, as others say, Pythagoras, first brought this in disuse, and substituted flesh in lieu thereof. They had a peculiar bread called χοληπια: They exercised, eat, and drank, without ceasing: they were not allowed to leave off eating when satiated, but were obliged to cram on till they could hold no more; by which means they at length acquired a degree of voracity which to us seems incredible, and a strength proportioned. (EB II, 1797: 611)
The significance of the vegetarian diet in hisorical context.
ATHOS, a celebrated mountain of Chalcidia in Macedonia, situated E. Long. 26. 20. N. Lat. 40. 10. The ancients entertained extravagant notions concerning its height. Mela affirmed it to be so high as to reach above the clouds; and Martianus Campellinus, that it was six miles high. It was a received opinion, that the summit of mount Athos was above the middle region of the air, and that it never rained there; because the ashes left on the altars erected near its summit were always found as they were left, dry and unscattered. (EB II, 1797: 611)
An example of indexical semiosis. Not unlike the footprints in the sand.
ATLANTIS, ATALANTIS, or ATLANTICA, an island mentioned by Plato and some others of the ancients, concerning the real existence of which many disputes have been raised. Homer, Horace, and the other poets, make two Atlanticas, calling them Hesperides and Elysian Fields, making them the habitations of the blessed. The most distinct account of this island we have in Plato's Timæus, of which Mr Chambers gives the following abridgement. "The Atlantis was a large island in the western ocean, situated before or opposite to the straits of Gades. Out of this island there was an easy passage into some others, which lay near a large continent exceeding the bigness all Europe and Asia. Neptune settled in this island (from whose son Atlas its name was derived), and divided it among his ten sons. To the youngest fell the extremity of the island, called Gadir, which in the language of the country signifies fertile, or abundant in sheep. The descendants of Neptune reigned here from father to son for a great number of generations in the order of primogeniture, during the space of 9000 years. They also possessed several other islands; and, passing into Europe and Africa, subdued all Libya as far as Egypt, and all Europe to Asia Minor. At length the island sunk under water; and for a long time afterwards the sea thereabout was full of rocks and shelves." (EB II, 1797: 613)
Hadn't heard about there being two. Everything else is familiar stuff.
According to M. Chenier, this mountain is formed by an endless chain of lofty eminences, divided into different countries, inhabited by a multitude of tribes, whose ferocity permits no stranger to approach. (EB II, 1797: 613)
Phatic phraseology.
ATMOSPHERE, a word generally used to signify the whole mass of fluid consisting of air, aqueous and other vapours, electric fluid, &c. surrounding the earth to a considerable height. (EB II, 1797: 614)
What are the analogies with "social atmosphere"?
All that we can know on this subject is, that the electric fluid pervades the atmosphere; that it appears to be more abundant in the superior than the inferior regions; that it seems to be the immediate bond of connection between the atmosphere and the water which is suspended in it; and that by its various operations, the phenomena of hail, rain, snow, lightning, and various other kinds of meteors, are occasioned. (EB II, 1797: 614)
Bonds of union/connection. Ühendussidemed.
He [M. Lambert] does not decide with regard to the identity of fire and light, though he seems inclined to believe it. M. de Luc compares elementary fire to a continuous fluid, whose parts are condensed by being mutually compressed. He denies that fire and light are the same; and maintains that the latter is incapable, by itself, of setting fire to bodies, though it does so by putting in motion the igneous fluid they contain; and that it acts with more force near the earth than at a distance from its surface, by reason of this fluid, which he calls an heavy and elastic one, being more condensed there than at a greater height. (EB II, 1797: 617)
An ancient physical debate.
From these experiments Mr Sex concludes, that a greater diminution of heat frequently takes place near the earth in the night-time than at any altitude in the atmosphere within the limits of his inquiry, that is, 220 feet from the ground; and at such times the greatest degrees of cold are always met with nearest the surface of the earth. (EB II, 1797: 619)
Mr what?
A hole, about the size of a crow-quill, was bored into a large air-vessel placed at the commencement of the principal pipe of the water works of Derby. (EB II, 1797: 620)
This is how "pencil-sized" will look in a few centuries.
They appear to be of a frank, chearful disposition; and are equally free from the fickle levity which characterizes the inhabitants of Otaheite, and the sedate cast which is observable among many of those of Tongataboo. They seem to cultivate a sociable intercourse with each other; and, except the propensity to thieving, which is as it were innate in most of the people in those seas, they appeared extremely friendly. (EB II, 1797: 624)
Not phatic but agreeable.
ATRIP, in nautical language, is applied either to the anchor or sails. The anchor is atrip, when it is drawn out of the ground in a perpendicular direction, either by the cable or buoy-rope. The top-sails are atrip, when they are hoisted up to the mast-head, or to their utmost extent. (EB II, 1797: 626)
Ülestõmmatud?
ARTIUM, in ecclesiastical antiquity, denotes an open place or court before a church, making part of what was called the narthex or antemple.
The atrium in the ancient church was a large area or square plat of ground, surrounded with a portico or cloyster, situate between the porch or vestible of the church, and the body of the church.
Some have mistakenly confounded the atrium with the porch or vestible, from which it was distinct; others with the narthex, of which it was only a part.
The atrium was the mansion of those who were not suffered to enter farther into the church. More particularly, it was the place where the first class of penitents stood to beg the prayers of the faithful as they went into the church. (EB II, 1797: 626)
1. magister artium? 2. plats! 3. kes sind kirikusse sisse lasi?
For when it is now clear beyond all dispute, that the criminal is no longer fit to live upon the earth, but is to be exterminated as a monster and a bane to human society, the law sets a note of infamy upon him, puts him out of its protection, and takes no farther care of him than barely to see him executed. He is then called attaint, attinctus, stained, or blackened. He is no longer of any credit or reputation; he cannot be witness in any court; neither is he capable of performing the functions of another man: for, by an anticipation of his punishment, he is already dead in law. This is after judgment: for there is great difference between a man convicted, and attainted; though they are frequently through inaccuracy confounded together. (EB II, 1797: 628)
The legal importance of reputation laid bare.
The jury who are to try this false verdict must twenty-four, and are called the grand jury; for the law [|] wills not that the oath of one jury of twelve men should be attainted or set aside by an equal number, nor by less indeed than double the former. (EB II, 1797: 628-629)
There goes the question of how many people should sit on the grand jury.
But those against whom it is brought are allowed, in the affirmance of the first verdict, to produce new matter: because the petit jury may have formed their verdict upon evidence of their own knowledge, which never appeared in court; and because very terrible was the judgment which the common law inflicted upon them, if the grand jury found their verdict a false one. The judgment was, 1. That they should lose their liberam legem, and become for ever infamous. 2. That they should forfeit all their goods and chattels. 3. That their lands and tenements should be seised into the king's hands. 4. That their wives and children should be thrown out of doors. 5. That their houses should be rased and thrown down. 6. That their trees should be rooted up. 7. That their meadows should be ploughed. 8. That their bodies should be cast into jail. 9. That the party should be restored to all that he lost by reason of the unjust verdict. But as the severity of this punishment had its usual effect, in preventing the law from being executed, [...] (EB II, 1797: 629)
Being a corrupt judge had its risks though the paragraph goes on to explain how these punishments were practically never employed because white collar crime by reputable people almose never seems to get punished.
ATTENTION, a due application of the ear, or the mind, to any thing said or done, in order to acquire a knowledge thereof. The word is compounded of ad, "to," and tendo, "I stretch." (EB II, 1797: 629)
Stretch out and grab something.
Attention of mind is not properly an act of the understanding; but rather of the will, by which it calls the understanding from the consideration of other objects, and directs it to the thing in hand. Nevertheless, our attention is not always voluntary: an interesting object seizes and fixes it beyond the power of controul. (EB II, 1797: 629)
E. R. Clay's quasi-attention.
Attention, in respect of hearing, is the stretching or straining of the membrana tympani, so as to make it more susceptible of sounds, and better prepared to catch even a feeble agitation of the air. Or it is the adjusting the tension of that membrane to the degree of loudness or lowness of the sound to which we are attentive. (EB II, 1797: 629)
I've had unpleasant personal experiences with that stretching and infrasound.
When viscid humours, occasioning disorders of the breast, are to be attenuated and expectorated, the intention is most effectually answered by elecampane and orice roots; and by gum ammoniacum, myrrh, or benjamin, and balsam of Peru; or by regenerated tartar, oxymel of squills, a solution of crabs eyes in distilled vinegar, and the syrups of tobacco, and the like. (EB II, 1797: 630)
Crazy medicines.
These, and many more speculations, amused the nation at that time; and men, as usual, judged of things by the measure of their own affections and prejudices. (EB II, 1797: 632)
Idiomorphization?
We shall conclude Bishop Atterbury's character, as a preacher, with the encomium bestowed on him by the author of "the Tatler;" who, having observed that the English clergy too much neglected the art of speaking, makes a particular exception with regard to our prelate; who, says he, "has so particular a regard to his congregation, that he commits to his memory what he has to say to them; and has so soft and graceful a behaviour, that it must attract your attention. His person (continues this author), it is to be confessed, is no small recommendation; but he is to be highly commended for not losing that advantage, and adding to propriety of speech (which might pass the criticism of Longinus) an action which would have been approved by Demonsthenes. He has a peculiar force in his way, and has many of his audience, who could not be intelligent hearers of his discourse were there no explanation as well as grace in his action. This art of his is used with the most exact and honest skill. He never attempts your passions, till he has convinced your reason. All the objections which you can form are laid open and dispersed before he uses the least vehemence [|] in his sermon; but when he thinks he has your head, he very soon wins your heart, and never pretends to show the beauty of holiness, till he has convinced you of the truth of it." (EB II, 1797: 635-636)
Referential (truth) and emotive/aesthetic (beauty) functions.
The soil of this country was naturally barren and craggy, though by the industry of its inhabitants it produced all the necessaries of life. On this account Attica was less exposed to invasions than other more fertile countries; and hence it preserved its ancient inhabitants beyond all the other kingdoms in its neighbourhood; so that they were reputed to be the spontaneous productions of the soil; and as a badge of this, Thucydides tells us, they wore golden grasshoppers in their hair. (EB II, 1797: 636)
Reminds me of the Finnish national anthem, which includes an explicit statement that they have no gold.
After this he [Theseus] divested himself of all his regal power, except the title of king, the command of the army, and the guardianship of the laws. The rest he committed to proper magistrates chosen out of three different orders of the people, whom he divided into nobles, husbandmen, and artificers. The first he invested with the power of interpreting and executing the laws, and regulating whatever related to religion. The other two chose their inferior magistrates from among themselves, to take care of whatever related to their separate orders: so that the kingdom was in some measure reduced to a commonwealth, in which the king had the greatest post, the nobles were next to him in honour and authority, the husbandmen had the greatest profits, and the artists exceeded them in number. (EB II, 1797: 637)
A familiar theme that stretches from Plato to Marx.
After this he undertook an expedition against the Amazons, whom he overcame, took their queen Hippolita, and afterwards married her. Soon after this, Theseus contracted an intimacy with Perithous the son of Ixion; and being invited to his nuptials, assisted him in killing a number of Centaurs, or rather Thessalian horsemen (who in their cups had offered violence to their female guests), and drove the rest out of the country. (EB II, 1797: 637)
One gets "infected" with same-sex intimacy.
Our two associates then proceeded to Sparta, where Theseus fell in love with the famed Helena, at that time not above nine years old, while he himself was upwards of fifty. (EB II, 1797: 637)
wtf
The first archon of whom we hear any thing worth notice, is named Draco. He reigned in the second, or, as others say, in the last year of the 39th Olympiad, when, it is supposed, he published his laws: but though his name is very frequently mentioned in history, yet no connected account can be found either of him or his institutions; only, in general, his laws were exceedingly severe, inflicted death for the smallest faults; which gave occasion to one Demades an orator to observe, that the laws of Draco were written with blood, and not with ink. For this extraordinary severity he gave no other reason, than that small faults seemed to him to be worthy of death, and he could find no higher punishment for the greatest. (EB II, 1797: 638)
The punishment for accidentally stepping on flowers? Death, of course.
Solon being now invested with ultimate authority, set about the arduous task of compiling new laws for the turbulent people of Attica; which having at last completed in the best manner he was able, or in the best manner the nature of the people would admit, he procured them to be ratified for 100 years. Such as related to private actions were preserved on parallelograms of wood, with cases which reached from the ground, and turned about upon a pin like a wheel. These were thence called Axones; and were placed first in the citadel, and afterwards in the prytaneum, that all the subjects might have access to them when they pleased. (EB II, 1797: 641)
Aksiomaatiline.
From Athens Solon travelled into Egypt, where he conversed with Psenophis the Heliopolitan, and Sonchis the Saite, the most learned priests of that age. From these he learned the situation of the island Atlantis, of which he wrote an account in verse, which Plato afterwards continued. (EB II, 1797: 641)
A story all too familiar, now garnished with names.
If any thing can exceed the enormity of such a proceeding as this, it was the treatment Aristides next received. Miltiades had proposed an expedition which had not proved successful, and in which he might possibly have had bad designs; but against Aristides not so much as a shadow of guilt was pretended. On the contrary, his extraordinary virtue had procured him the title of Just, and he had never been found to swerve [|] from the maxims of equity. His downfal was occasioned by the intrigues of Themistocles: who being a man of great abilities, and hating Aristides on account of the character he deservedly bore among his countrymen, took all opportunities of insinuating that his rival had in fact made himself master of Athens without the parade of guards and royalty. "He gives laws to the people (said he); and what constitutes a tyrant, but giving laws?" In consequence of this strange argument, a strong party was formed against the virtuous Aristides, and it was resolved to banish him for 10 years by the Ostracism. In this case, the name of the person to be banished was written upon a shell by every one who desired his exile, and carried to a certain place within the forum inclosed with rails. If the number of shells so collected exceeded 6000, the sentence was inflicted; if not, it was otherwise. When the agents of Themistocles had sufficiently accomplished their purpose, on a sudden the people flocked to the forum desiring the ostracism. One of the clowns who had come from a borough in the country, bringing a shell to Aristides, said to him, "Write me Aristides upon this." Aristides, surprised, asked him if he knew any ill of that Athenian, or if he had ever done him any hurt? "Me hurt! (said the fellow), no, I don't so much as know him; but I am weary and sick at heart on hearing him every where called the just." Aristides therefore took the shell, and wrote his own name upon it; and when informed that the ostracism fell upon him, modestly retired out of the forum, saying, "I beseech the gods that the Athenians may never see that day which shall force them to remember Aristides." (EB II, 1797: 645-646)
Approximately an Ancient Greek version of "owning the libs".
In these battles they had fought against effeminate and ill-disciplined Persians, but now they encountered and defeated a superior army composed of the bravest Greeks. After this victory, Myronides marched to Tanagra; which he took by storm, and razed to the ground: [...] (EB II, 1797: 639)
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.
The worst of all was, that, this example once set, the several states of Greece felt in their turns the like commotions, which were always heightened by agents from Sparta and Athens; the former endeavouring to settle aristocracy, and the latter democracy, wherever they came. (EB II, 1797: 653)
The extreme of pllitical polarization where you put members of the opposing party to death.
In the winter, new negociations were entered into on all sides, but nothing determined, and universal murmuring and discontent took place. (EB II, 1797: 655)
Phraseology.
In the beginning of the 15th year, the Argives, with a levity seemingly natural to all the Greeks, renounced their alliance with Sparta, abolished aristocracy, drove all the Lacedemonians out of the city, and renewed their league with Athens. (EB II, 1797: 655)
Not the first time they've been slurred agaist like this.
At the same time they looked on victory as so certain, that they consulted what they should do with their prisoners; which, by the advice of Philocles their general, was, to cut off all their right hands, or, according to Plutarch, their right thumbs; and Adiamantus one of their officers rendered himself very obnoxious by saying, that such idle discourse did not become Athenians. (EB II, 1797: 657)
Phatic?
The mind of the same people, adds Plutarch, are not formed for laborious researches. They seize a subject, as it were by intuition; they have not patience and phlegm enough to examine it gradually and minutely. This part of their character may seem surprising and incredible. Artisans, and other people of their rank, are in general slow of comprehension. But the Athesians of every degree were endowed with an inconceivable vivacity, penetration, and delicacy of taste. (EB II, 1797: 661)
Classical classism.
It was Solon who decreed that none should be accounted free but such as were Athenians both by father and mother. After his time it fell into desuetude, till revived by Pericles, and again at his instance repealed. After the expulsion of the 30 tyrants, Solon's law was restored. A person born of a stranger was styled Nothos, a bastard; whereas the son of a free woman was called Cnesius, i.e. legitimate. (EB II, 1797: 665)
An aspect of ancient slavery?
In the reign of Erichtheus, they were again changed; the soldiers were called Oplitai, the craftsmen Ergatai, the farmers Georgoi, the graziers nad shepherds Aigicorai: in this state they were when Solon settled the commonwealth, and appointed the senate to be composed of 400, 100 out of each tribe. (EB II, 1797: 665)
Huh. There were no farmers or shephards in Plato's Republic?
As to slaves, they were absolutely theproperty of their masters, and as such were used as they thought fit: They were forbidden to wear clothes, or to cut their hair like their masters; and which is indeed amazing, Solon prohibited them to love boys, as if that had been honourable: They were likewise debarred from anointing or perfuming themselves, and from worshipping certain deities: They were not allowed to be called by honourable names; and in most other respects were used like dogs. They stigmatized them at their pleasure, that is, branded them with letters in the forehead and elsewhere. However, Theseus's temple was allowed them as a sanctuary, whither, if they were exceedingly ill used, they might fly, and thereby oblige their owners to let them be transferred to another master. (EB II, 1797: 665)
The details of ancient Athenian slavery.
In this and many other respects the Athenian slaves were in a much better condition than those throughout the rest of Greece: they were permitted to get estates for themselves, giving a small premium to their masters, who were obliged to make them free if they could pay their ransom; they likewise obtained the same favour from the kindness of their masters, or for having rendered military services to the state. When they were made free, they were obliged to choose patrons; and had likewise the privilege of choosing a curator, who, in case their patrons injured them, was bound to defend them. (EB II, 1797: 665)
Same with higher education in the U.S. today: military service will enable some upward mobility.
When the debates were over, the president permitted the people to vote; which they did by casting first beans, but in after-times pebbles, into certain vessels: these were counted, and then it was declared that the decree of the senate was either rejected or approved: after which, the Prytanes dismissed the assembly. (EB II, 1797: 666)
Do not eat beans.
Besides these, there were 10 settled orators called Rhetores, elected by lot; their business was to plead public causes in the senate-house. For this they had their stated sees; and with respect to thir qualifications, the law run thus: "Let no one be a public orator who hath struck his parents, denied them maintenance, or shut them out of his doors; who hath refused to serve in the army; who hath thrown away his shield; who hath been addicted to lewd women, notoriously effeminate, or has run out his patrimony. If any man who has been guilty of these crimes dare to deliver an oration, let him be brought to trial upon the spot. Let an orator have children lawfully begotten, and an estate within Attica; if in his oration he talks impertinently, makes idle repetitions, affects an unbecoming raillery, digresses from the point in question, or, after the assembly is over, abuses the president, let the Proedri fine him 50 drachms; and if that is not thought enough, let him be brought before the next assembly and fined again." (EB II, 1797: 667)
Donald Trump would not have been permitted to be an orator in Ancient Greece.
The Trigonon was so called, because it was triangular in its form. (EB II, 1797: 667)
A small triangular harp.
ATTITUDE, in painting and sculpture, the gesture of a figure or statue; or it is such a disposition of their parts as serves to express the action and sentiments of the person represented. (EB II, 1797: 669)
Attitude is inherently a nonverbal affair.
So early as the statue 4 Hen. IV. c. 18. it was enacted, that attorneys should be examined by the judges, and none admitted but such as were virtuous, learned, and sworn to do their duty. (EB II, 1797: 669)
Nearly a triad: 2, 3, and 1 (dubious).
The Newtonian attraction is a more indefinite principle; denoting not any particular kind or manner of action, nor the physical cause of such action; but only a tendency in the general, a conatus accedendi, to whatever cause, physical or metaphysical, such effect be owing; whether to a power inherent in the bodies themselves, or to the impulse of an external agent. (EB II, 1797: 670)
Conative "tendency" or disposition.
ATTRIBUTE, in a general sense, that which agrees with some person or thing; or a quality determining something to be after a certain manner. Thus understanding is an attribute of mind, and extension an attribute of body. That attribute which the mind conceives as the foundation of all the rest, is called its essential attribute: thus extension is by some, and solidity by others, esteemed the essential attributes of body or matter. (EB II, 1797: 672)
Faculty/attribute.
AUDEUS, the chief of the Audeans, obtained the name of an heretic, and the punishment of banishment, for celebrating Easter in the manner of the Jews, and attributing an human form to the Deity. He died in the country of the Goths, about the year 370.
AUDEANISM, the same with anthropomorphism. (EB II, 1797: 674)
An example contrary to the wild claim that Christian heretical sects started flourishing only after the year 800.
AUDIENDO & TERMINANDO, a writ, or rather a commission to certain persons, when any insurrection or great riot is committed in any place, for the appeasing and punishment thereof. (EB II, 1797: 674)
8 months after the fact they're still arresting some of the Jan 6 participants. Our "audiendo" will probably be a documentary series.
The great excellency of this artist above that of any other engraver was, that though he drew admirably himself, yet he contracted no manner of his own; but transcribed on copper simply, with great truth and spirit, the style of the master whose pictures he copied. On viewing his prints you lose sight of the engraver, and naturally say, it is Le Brun, it is Poussin, it is Mignard, or it is Le Sueur, &c. as you turn to the prints which he engraved from those masters. (EB II, 1797: 675)
The duality of a copy in the semiotics of art.
His other poems are lost, except a small piece, in which he says, "That when he was young, he acted against his reason; but that when he was in years, he followed its dictates:" upon which he utters this wish; "Would to God I had been born old, and that in my youth I had been in a state of perfection!" As to religion, his opinions were, that Christianity is absurd; Judaism, the religion of children, Mahometanism, the religion of swine. (EB II, 1797: 681)
Benjamin Button. Averroes had a good grasp of religions.
AVERSION, according to Lord Kames, is opposed to affection, and not to desire, as it commonly is. We have an affection to one person; we have an aversion to another: the former disposes us to do good to its object, the latter to do ill. (EB II, 1797: 681)
I would have thought it to be a disposition towards avoidance, not doing ill.
Tho' half the inhabitants are Lutherans, there are a great many Popish processions. There are no Jews in the town, nor are they suffered to lie there; but they inhabit a village at about a league distance, and pay so much an hour for the liberty of trading in the day-time. (EB II, 1797: 682)
Imagine the suffering caused by having your neighbors believing in the same creator deity slightly differently than you. Now compare it to the suffering caused by those who believe themselves suffering from another's belief. One is a fiction, the other is recorded history and still ongoing.
Many things originated in this town which have had a great influence on the happiness of mankind. (EB II, 1797: 683)
Wholesome.
In 1703, the elector of Bavaria took the city after a siege of seven days, and demolished the fortifications: however, the battle of Hochsted restored their liberty, which they yet enjoy under the government of their own magistrates, the bishop having no temporal dominion in the city. (EB II, 1797: 683)
There was once a religious official making a fuss because the new prime liberal minister in a largely atheist democratic country is not at his whim an always available to take his calls like the previous one during the Trump era.
From the whole of what has been observed, it seems probable that natural augury gave rise to religious augury, and this to aruspicy, as the mind of man makes a very easy transition from a little truth to a great deal of error. (EB II, 1797: 684)
This still holds good. Conspiracy theorists frequently begin with something commonly known and taken for granted and then run away with it into the deep end.
AUGUSTOBONA, a city of the Tricassers in ancient Gaul, from whom it was afterwards called Tricasses, and Trecassæ; and still farther corrupted to Thracæ, or Treci; whence the modern name Troyes, in Champaigne on the Seyne. (EB II, 1797: 686)
For some reason, a lot confusion with Thrace and the Danes.
Mahmud, the son of Sabektekin, the first sultan of the Dynasty of the Samanides, was then the most powerful prince of the east. Imagining that an implicit obedience should be paid by all manner of persons to the injunctions of his will, he wrote a haughty letter to Mamun sultan of Kharazm, ordering him to send Avicènes to him, who was at his court, with several other learned men. Philosophy, the friend of liberty and independence, looks down with scorn on the shackles of compulsion and restraint. Avicènes, accustomed to the most flattering distinctions among the great, could not endure the imperious manner of Mahmud's inviting him to his court, and refused to go there. (EB II, 1797: 687)
You don't command a philosopher.
Cabous then reigned in that country. A nephew, whom he was extremely fond of, being fallen sick, the most able physicians were called in, and none of them were able to know his ailment, or give him any ease. Avicènes was at last consulted. So soon as he had felt the young prince's pulse, he was confident with himself, that his illness proceeded from a violent love, which he dared not to declare. Avicènes commanded the person who had the care of the different apartments in the palace, to name them all in their respective order. A more lively motion in the prince's pulse, at hearing mentioned one of these apartments, betrayed a part of his secret. The keeper then had orders to name all the slaves that inhabited that apartment. At the name of one of these beauties, the young Cabous could not contain himself; an extraordinary beating of his pulse completed the discovery of what he in vain desired to keep concealed. Avicènes, now fully assured that this slave was the cause of this prince's illness, declared, that she alone had the power to cure him. (EB II, 1797: 687)
A whole damn fairy tale about nonverbal communication.
On one of the pointed extremities, and in a situation which appears almost inaccessible, are seen the remains of an ancient castle, projecting over the water. The peasants call it Il castello di Petrarca, and add, with great simplicity, that Laura lived upon the opposite side of the river, under the bed of which was a subterranean passage by which the two lovers visited each other. (EB II, 1797: 689)
A tale straight out of Avatar TLA.
AVISO, a term chiefly used in matters of commerce to denote an advertisement, an advice, or piece of intelligence. (EB II, 1797: 689)
Perhaps a useful word. Could O&R "table of contents" be said to consist of avisos?
AULIC, an epithet given to certain officers of the empire, who compose a court which decides, without appeal, in all processes entered in it. Thus we say, aulic council, aulic chamber, aulic counsellor. (EB II, 1797: 690)
Meie Aulic kõrgehärra.
AUMBRY, a country-word denoting a cup-board. (EB II, 1797: 690)
Unfamiliar. Same with that clothes-cupboard in The Catcher in the Rye - "chiffonier".
AURÆ, in mythology, a name given by the Romans to the nymphs of the air. They are mostly to be found in the ancient paintings of ceilings; where they are represented as light and airy, generally with long robes and flying veils of some lively colour or other, and fluttering about in the rare and pleasing element assigned to them. They are characterised as sportive and happy in themselves, and wellwishers to mankind. (EB II, 1797: 691)
IDK bro sounds like ancient aliens.
Another mountain of Moelia Superior, or Servia (Peutinger), to the south of the Danube, with a cognominal town at its foot on the same river. (EB II, 1797: 692)
Just recently tried to recall this very word. Pärnu river is cognomial with the town it passes through. Likewise with novels and their screenings, which may or may not bear the same title. Samanimeline.
AURORA, the goddess of the morning, according to the Pagan mythology. She was the daughter of Hyperion and Theia, according to Hesiod; but of Titan and Terra, according to others. It was under this name that the ancients deified the light which foreruns the rising of the sun above our hemisphere. The poets represent her as rising out of the ocean, in a chariot, with rosy fingers dropping gentle dew. Virgil describes her ascending in a flame-coloured chariot with four horses. (EB II, 1797: 692)
IDK bro sounds like ancient aliens, specifically the transmedium UAP's seen off coasts all around the world.
Dr Blagden, indeed, informs us, that instances are recorded, where the northern lights have been seen to join, and form luminous balls, darting about with great velocity, and even leaving a train like the common fire-balls. It would seem therefore, that the highest regions of the aurora borealis are the same with those in which fireballs move. (EB II, 1797: 694)
IDK bro sounds like aliens again.
AUSONA (anc. geog.), a town of the Ausones, a people who anciently occupied all the Lower Italy, from the Promontorium Circæum down to the straits og Sicily (Livy), but were afterwards reduced to a much narrower compass; namely, between the montes Circæi and Massici: nor did they occupy the whole of this, but other people were intermixed. Concerning Ausona or its remains there is nothing particular recorded. (EB II, 1797: 698)
Ausõna rahvas.
AUSPEX, a name originally given to those who were afterwards denominated augurs. In which sense the word is supposed to be formed from avis, "bird," and inspicere, "to inspect;" auspices, q.d. avispices. Some will therefore have auspices properly to denote those who foretold future events from the sight of birds. (EB II, 1797: 698)
Just recently read about bird migration being the first phase of telling the future. Sounds like a specious word inserted to protect the encyclopaedist's intellectual property.
AUSTER, one of the four cardinal winds, as Servius [|] calls them. blowing from the south, (Pliny, Ovid, Manilius).
AUSTERE, rough, astringent. Thus an austere taste is such a one as constringes the mouth and tongue; as that of unripe fruits, harsh wines, &c.
AUSTERITY, among moral writers, implies severity and rigour. Thus we say, Austerity of manners, austerities of the monastic life, &c. (EB II, 1797: 698-699)
Austerity measures - measures that leave your mouth dry and throat parched.
AUTOCHTONES, an appellation assumed by some nations, importing that they sprung, or were produced, from the same soil which they still inhabited. In this sense, Autochtones amounts to the same with Aborigines. The Athenians valued themselves on their being Autochthones, self-born, or γηγενεις, earth-born; it being the prevailing opinion among the ancients, that, in the beginning, the earth, by some prolific power, produced men, as it still does plants. The proper Autochthones were those primitive men who had no other parent beside the earth. But the name was also assumed by the descendents of these men, provided they never changed their ancient seat, nor suffered other nations to mix with them. In this sense it was that the Greeks, and especially the Athenians, pretended to be Autochthones; and, as a badge thereof, wore a golden grasshopper woven in their hair, an insect supposed to have the same origin. (EB II, 1797: 700)
How have I never heard of this? It also makes more sense now why in the article about Athens, an overview of its history specified when the city was abandoned and no original inhabitants or original settlers remained.
AUTOMATE, called also Hiera, one of the Cyclades, an island to the north of Crete (Pliny), said to have emerged out of the sea, between the islands Thera and Therasia, in the fifth year of the emperor Claudius; in extent thirty stadia, (Orosius). (EB II, 1797: 701)
Automatic (self-emerging) islands.
AZAZEL. The word relates to the authority of the scape-goat, under the Jewish religion. Some call the goat itself by this name, as St Jerom and Theodoret. Dr Spencer says, the scape-goat was to be sent to Azazel; by which is meant the devil. Mr le Clerc translates it præcipitium, making it to be that steep and inaccessible place to which the goat was sent, and where it was supposed to perish. (EB II, 1797: 705)
This looks very uncertain.
AZONI, in ancient mythology, a name applied by the Greeks to such of the gods as were deities at large, not appropriated to the worship of any particular town or country; but acknowledged in general by all countries, and worshipped by every nation. These the Latins called dii communes. Of this sort were the Sun, Mars, Luna, &c. (EB II, 1797: 706)
Relevant for the history of religion course.
The streets are pretty broad, the inhabitants mostly Mahometants, with a few Christians of the Greek communion, who have a church under the jurisdiction of the archbishop of Gaza. (EB II, 1797: 707)
Curious use of the word "communion".
B, the second letter of the English and most other alphabets. It is the first consonant, and first mute, and in its pronunciation is supposed to resemble the bleating of a sheep; upon which account Pierius tells us in his hieroglyphics, that the Egyptians represented the sound of this letter by the figure of that animal. (EB II, 1797: 707)
It took me nearly two years to get here.
The word baal (in the Punic language), signifies lord or master; and doubtless meant the supreme Deity, the Lord and Master of the universe. It is often joined with the name of some false god, as Baal-berith, Baal-peor, Baal-zephon, and the like. This deity passed from the Phœnicians to the Carthaginians, who were a colony of the Phœnicians; as appears from the Carthaginian names, Hannibal, Asdrubal, &c. according to the custom of the east, where kings and great men added to their own names those of their gods. (EB II, 1797: 708)
Wow.
There was a sensible custom among the Babylonians, worthy to be related. They brought their sick into the forum, to consult those who passed on their diseases; for they had no physicians. They asked those who approached the sick, if they ever had the same distemper? if they knew any one who had it? and how he was cured? Hence, in this country, every one who saw a sick person was obliged to go to him, and inquire into his distemper. (EB II, 1797: 715)
This should work wonders for infectious diseases.
Pausanias, in his Attics, speaks of a place at Athens consecrated to Bacchus the singer; thus named, he says, for the same reason as Apollo is called the chief and conductor of the muses. Whence it should seem that Bacchus was regarded by the Athenians not only as the god of wine, but of song; and it must be owned, that his followers, in their cups, have been much inclined to singing ever since. Indeed we are certain, that in none of the orgies, processions, triumphs, and festivals, instituted by the ancients to the honour and memory of this prince of bons vivans, music was forgotten, as may be still gathered from ancient sculpture, where we find not only that musicians, male and female, regaled him with the lyre, the flute, and with song; but that he was accompanied by fawns and satyrs playing upon timbrels, cymbals, bagpipes, and horns: these Suidas calls his minstrels; and Strabo gives them the appellations of Bacchi, Sileni, Satyri, Bacchæ, Lenæ, Thyæ, Mamillones, Naiades, Nymphæ, and Tituri. (EB II, 1797: 717)
Alcohol makes one sing.
BACKER, or BAKEER, (Jacob), painter of portrait and history, was born at Harlingen in 1609, but spent the greatest part of his life at Amsterdam; and by all the writers on this subject, he is mentioned as an extraordinary painted, particularly of portraits, which he executed with strength, spirit, and a graceful resemblance. (EB II, 1797: 724)
An odd triad but I'll take it: 1) graceful resemblance, 2) strength, and 3) spirit.
BACKHUYSEN (Ludolph), an aminent painter, was born at Embden in 1631, and received his earliest instruction from Albert Van Everdingen; but acquired his principal knowledge by frequenting the painting rooms of different great masters, and observing their various methods of touching and colouring. One of those masters was Henry Dubbels, whose understanding in his art was very extensive; and he was as remarkably communicative of his knowledge to others. From him Backhuysen obtained more real benefit than from all the painters of his time, either by studying their works, or personally conversing with them. His subjects were sea-pieces, ships, and sea-ports. (EB II, 1797: 724)
Sounds nice.
BAGAUDÆ, or BACAUDÆ, an ancient faction of peasants, or malecontents, who ravaged Gaul. The Gauls being oppressed with taxes, rose about the year of Christ 290, under the command of Amand and Elian; and assumed the name bagaudæ, which, according to some authors, signified in the Gallic language forced rebels; according to others, tribute; according to others, robbers; which last signification others allow the word had, but then it was only after the time of the bagaudæ, and doubtless took its rise from them. (EB II, 1797: 730)
Baguette.
According to a Persian historian, before the hostilities at this time commenced, Nicephorus made the khalif a present of several fine swords, giving him thereby plainly to understand that he was more inclinable to come to blows than to make peace with him. All these swords Harun cut asunder with his famous sword Samsamah, as if they had been so many radishes, after which severe proof there did not appear the least flaw in the blade; a clear proof of the goodness of the sword, as the cutting the others with it was of the strength of Harun's arm. This sword had fallen into Al Rashid's hands among the spoils of Ebn Dakikan, one of the last Hamyaritic princes of Yaman; but is said to have belonged originally to a valiant Arab named Amru Ebn Maadi Carb, by whose name it generally went among the Moslems. This man is said to have performed very extraordinary feats with his sword, which induced a certain prince to borrow it from him; but he not being able to perform any thing remarkable with it, complained to Amru that it had not the desired effect: upon which that brave man took the liberty to tell him, that he had not sent him his arm along with his sword. (EB II, 1797: 733)
A memorable story.
This pear is also remarkable for the first disturbances raised in the Moslem empire by the Karmatians. The origin of this sect is not certainly known; but the most common opinion is, that a poor fellow, by some kalled Karmata, came from Khuzestan to the villages near Cusa, and there pretended great sanctity and strictness of life, and that God had enjoined him to pary 50 times a-day; pretending also to invite people to the obedience of a certain Imam of the family of Mahomet; and this way of life he continued till he had made a very great party, out of whom he chose twelve as his apostles to govern the rest, and to propagate his doctrines. He also assumed the title of prince, and obliged every one of his earlier followers to pay him a dinar a-year. But Al Haidam, the governor of that province, finding men neglected their work, and their husbandry in particular, to say those 50 prayers a-day, seized the fellow, and having put him in prison, swore that he should die. This being overheard by a girl belonging to the governor, she, out of compassion, took the key of the dungeon at night from under her master's head, released the man, and restored the key to its place while her master slept. The next morning the governor found his prisoner gone; and the accident being publicly known, raised great admiration; Karmata's adherents giving out that God had taken him into heaven. After this he appeared in another province, and declared to a great number of people he got about him, that it was not in the power of any person to do him hurt; notwithstanding which, his courage failing him, he retired into Syria, and was never heard of any more. After his disappearance, the sect continued and increased; his disciples pretending that their master had manifested himself to be a true prophet, and had left them a new law, wherein he had changed the ceremonies and form of prayer used by the Moslems, &c. (EB II, 1797: 738)
History does rhyme, doesn't it?
There is a communication between the city and suburbs by a bridge of boats; the only kind of bridge which that river will admit of, as it is broad and deep, and in its ordinary course very rapid. At certain seasons it swells to a prodigious height, and overflowing the country occasions many morasses on the side opposite to the city. Among these are several towns and villages, whose inhabitants are said to be the ancient Chaldeans: they are of a particular religion, which they pretend is that of Seth. (EB II, 1797: 740)
Sethian gnostics in the suburbs of Baghdad?
The Mahometan women are very richly dressed, wearing bracelets on their arms and jewels in their ears: the Arabian women have the partition between their nostrils bored, wherein they wear rings. (EB II, 1797: 740)
Faces uncovered and dress other than black?
The present Turks, Jews, and Arabians, are fond of believing this to be the identical ruin of the ancient tower of Babel, for which they assign a variety of reasons; but all so void of the appearance of truth, that to set about confusing them would be losing time in trifles. (EB II, 1797: 741)
Fraas: kaotaks aega tülinatele.
BAGNOLIANS, or BAGNOLANSES, in church-history, a sect of heretics, who in reality were Manichees, though they somewhat disguised their errors. They rejected the Old Testament and parts of the New; held the world to be eternal; and affirmed that God did not create the soul when he infused it into the body. (EB II, 1797: 742)
Are all heretics basically gnostics, trying to hide that they believe early christian gospels the church censured?
The pipers were then ordered to play a favourite martial air; and the Highlanders, the moment they heard the music, returned and formed with alacrity in the rear. (EB II, 1797: 743)
Must be my first time seeing alacrity in the wild.
BAHIR, a Hebrew term signifying famous or illustrious; but particularly used for a book of the Jews, treating of the profound mysteries of the cabbala, being the most ancient of the Rabbinical works. (EB II, 1797: 744)
Still thinking that one day I'll look into kaballah.
He [Vandervoort] travelled through several parts of Italy, to see the works of the celebrated masters of that country, and for a few years resided at Rome; and abroad, as well as in his own country, the correctness of his drawing, and the delicate handling and finishing of his pictures, procured him employment, admirers, and friends. (EB II, 1797: 748)
The social necessaries of life.
Utility is pled in justification of bull-baiting. This animal is rarely killed without being first baited; the chaffing and exercise whereof makes his flesh tenderer and more digestible. In reality, it disposes it for putrefaction; so that, unless taken in time, baited flesh is soon lost. But a spirit of barbarism had the greatest share in supporting the sport: bulls are kept on purpose, and exhibited as standing spectacles for the public entertainment. The poor beasts have not fair play: they are not only tied down to a stake, with a collar about their necks, and a short rope, which gives them not above four or five yards play; but they are disarmed too, and the tips of their horns cut off, or covered with leather, to prevent their hurting the dogs. In this sport, the chief aim of the dog is to catch the bull by the nose, and hold him down; to which end, he will even creep on his belly: the bull's aim, on the countrary, is, with equal industry, to defend his nose; in order to which, he thrusts it close to the ground, where his horns are also in readiness to toss the dog. - Bull-baiting was first introduced into England as an amusement in the reign of King John, about 1209. (EB II, 1797: 749)
Animal cruelty.
Mr Granger observes, that his Chronicle of the kings of England was ever more esteemed [|] by readers of a lower class than by such as had a critical knowledge of history. The language of it was, in this reign, called polite; and it long maintained its reputation, especially among country gentlemen. The author seems to have been sometimes more studious to please than to inform, and with that view to have sacrificed even chronology itself to method. (EB II, 1797: 749-750)
A phatic accusation!
The reason he assigns why people make heavy bread is, not because they have not barm enough, but because they do not know that barm is the same to flour as fire is to fuel; that, as a spark of fire will kindle a large body by only blowing of it up, so will a thimble-full of barm, by adding of warm water, raise or spunge any body of flour; for warm water gives fresh life to that which is before at work: so that the reason of making bread heavy is, because the body spunged is not large enough, but was made up and put into the oven before it was ripe. (EB II, 1797: 753)
Barm = pärm.
This indeed is so wonderful an instance, that several of the Jewish doctors, who, upon other occasions are fond enough of miracles, seem as if they would hardly be induced to assent to this. Philo, in his Life of Moses, passes it over in silence; and Maimonides pretends that it happened to Balaam in a prophetic vision only. But St Peter (2 Pet. ii. 16.) speaks of this fact as literal and certain, and so all interpreters explain it. St Austin, who understands it exactly according to the letter, finds nothing in the whole account more surprising than the stupidity of Balaam, who heard his ass speak to him, and answered it as if he talked with a reasonable person. He is of opinion, that this diviner was accustomed to prodigies like this, or that he was strangely blinded by his avarice, not to be stopped by an event of so extraordinary a nature. (EB II, 1797: 753)
Huvitav inimkeeli-rääkiva-looma lugu otse vanast testamendist, mida võiks kõrvutada Locke'i vahendatud anekdoodiga brasiilia papagoist, kes ajas printsiga mõistlikku juttu.
The tail is broad and semilunar; and when the fish lies on one side, its blow is tremendous. The tail alone it makes use of to advance itself forward in the water; and it is surprising to see with what force and celerity its enormous bulk cuts through the ocean. The fins are only made use of for turning in the water, and giving a direction to the velocity impressed by the tail. (EB II, 1797: 754)
Whales are majestic.
Every species of whale propagates only with those of its own kind, and does not at all mingle with the rest: however, they are generally seen in shoals, of different kinds together, and make their migrations in large companies from one ocean to another. They are gregarious animals; which implies their want of mutual defence against the invasions of smaller, but more powerful, fishes. (EB II, 1797: 755)
The estimates of a whale's age according to barrels of blubber killing it will yield are very uncomfortable.
The building they surround is an oblong square, the front of which, turned towards the east, is out of the line of the left wing of the great court. To reach it you must cross trunks of columns, heaps of stone, and a ruinous wall by which it is now hid. After surmounting these obstacles you arrive at the gate, where you may survey the inclosure which was once the habitation of a god; but instead of the awful scene of a prostrate people and sacrifices offered by a multitude of priests, the sky, which is open from the falling in of the roof, only lets in light to show a chaos of ruins covered with dust and weeds. (EB II, 1797: 760)
A striking phrase.
By what means could the ancients move these enormous masses? This is doubtless a problem in mechanics curious to resolve. The inhabitants of Balbec have a very commodious manner of explaining it, by supposing these edifices to have been constructed by Djenoun, or genii, who obeyed the orders of King Solomon; adding, that the motive of such immense works was to conceal in subterraneous caverns vast treasures, which still remain there. (EB II, 1797: 761)
The stuff of Ancient Aliens.
But their tradition on the subject of this prince may suggest three important observations. First, That all tradition relative to high antiquity is as false among the Orientals as the Europeans. With them, as with us, facts which happened 100 years before, when not preserved in writing, are altered, mutilated, or forgotten. To expect information from them with respect to events in the time of David or Alexander, would be as absurd as to make inquiries of the Flemish peasants concerning Clovis or Charlemagne. (EB II, 1797: 761)
Ethnography does not yield history.
Secondly, That throughout Syria, the Mahometans, as well as the Jews and Christians, attribute every great work to Solomon: not that the memory of him still remains by tradition in those countries, but from certain passages in the Old Testament; which, with the gospels, is the source of almost all their tradition, as these are the only historical books read or known; but as their expounders are very ignorant, their applications of what they are told are generally very remote from truth: [...] (EB II, 1797: 761)
The unimaginable ignorance of reading only the bible.
Among the causes of baldness, immoderate venery is reputed one of the chief: old age usually brings it on of course. Some will have the proximate cause of baldness to be the dryness of the brain, and its shrinking from the cranium; it having been observed, that in bald persons there is always a vacuity or empty space between the skull and the brain. (EB II, 1797: 762)
The what?
He [BALE (John)] is the earliest dramatic writer in the English language, or at least author of the first pieces of that kind that we find in print. Of his writings in that way no fewer than 21 have been enumerated; only three of them, however, have been seen in print, viz. 1. God's Promises, an interlude; 2. St John Baptist, an interlude; 3. Concerning the Laws of Nature corrupted: the first of which has been reprinted by Dodsley in the first volume of his collection of old plays, and the only copy extant of the last is preserved in St Sepulchre's library in Dublin. As to the rest, they are mentioned by himself, as his own, in his account of the writers of Britain before mentioned. He also translated the tragedies of Pammachius. His other works are very numerous; but the chief is his catalogue of British Authors: a book of some merit, as it contains some information which is not elsewhere to be found; but he has destroyed his credit by his intemperate Billingsgate abuse of all those who differed from him in religion. (EB II, 1797: 763)
BALE-Goods, among the English merchants, are all such as are imported or exported in bales; but the French give that name to certain hardwares, and other sorts of merchandize, which come to Paris, and are commonly made by bad workmen of indifferent materials. (EB II, 1797: 763)
Harsh. Those materials really don't care: "do you?".
BALEARES INSULÆ, or the Balearic Islands. The appellation is commonly derived from Βαλλειν, because the inhabitants were excellent slingers. But Bochart makes the name of Punic or Phœnician original, as were the people: Baal-jare, a master, or skillful at throwing; the Phœnicians and Hebrews being dexterous at the use of the sling. (EB II, 1797: 763)
After learning, from here, that the "bal" (in Belzebub) means "lord", some entries do hit different (e.g. Balbec, above).
He copied the antiques, he attended to the works of the most memorable modern artists; and at his return to his own country, the visible improvement of his taste recommended him to the favour and esteem of the ablest judges of the art. He distinguished himself by a good manner of designing, and his works are admitted into the cabinets of the curious, among those of the principal painters. (EB II, 1797: 764)
That phrase reads like Aristotle's "men of prudence" (NE), whose approval those who live for fame and glory seek.
His [Balen (John Van)] pictures were well handled, his trees touched with spirit, and his herbage and verdure looked natural and lively. The carnations of his figures were clear and fresh; his colouring in general was transparent; and the airs of his heads were in the manner of Albano. (EB II, 1797: 764)
Define:carnation - clove pink (flower). Thought it might be a term in painting that I'm unfamiliar with.
He is recorded for his skill in micrography, or miniature-writing, in Hollinshed's Chronicle, anno 1575; and Mr Evelyn also hath celebrated his wonderful skill in this delicate operation of the hand. (EB II, 1797: 764)
Peter Bales seems to have begun the art of really tiny hand-writing.
The verrucosus, has a triradiated back-fin; and the tail is full of little warts. (EB II, 1797: 765)
Triadic triradiated triplicitites.
BALIVO AMOVENDO, in law, was a writ for removing a bailiff from his office, for want of having sufficient land in his bailwick to answer the king and his people, according to the statute of Westminster, 2 reg. Orig. 78. (EB II, 1797: 766)
It's baalivo aamovendo, not balivoo amovendoo.
Zoologists speak of a sort of balls of hair covered over with a smooth shining coat, or shell, found in the stomachs of oxen, cows, calves, horses, sheep, and goats. See the article BEZOAR. (EB II, 1797: 767)
I will, proffessor Snape.
FIRE-BALLS, are bags of canvas filled with gunpowder, sulphur, salt-petre, pitch, &c. to be thrown by the soldiers, or out of mortars, in order to fire the houses incommoding trenches, advanced posts, or the like. - The Greeks had divers kinds of fire-balls, or Πυροβολοι λιθοι; one kind called, more particularly, σχυταλια, or σχυταλιδες, made of wood, sometimes a foot or even a cubit long; their heads being armed with spikes of iron, beneath which were hemp, pitch, and other combustibles, which being set on fire, they were cast among the enemy. (EB II, 1797: 767)
The early modern grenade. The description recalls round bombs with a fuse from old cartoons.
Stink-BALLS, those which yield a great stench where fired to annoy the enemy. Their preparation is thus: Melt ten pounds of pitch, six of rosin, twenty of saltpetre, eight of gun-powder, and four of colophony; to these add two or charcoal, six of horse-hoofs cut small, three of assa-fœtida, one of stinking-saracen, and any other offensive ingredients. The rest as in the former. (EB II, 1797: 768)
Olden warfare was juvenile.
Sky-BALLS, those cast on high out of mortars, and which, when arrived at their height, bursting like rockets, afford a spectacle of decoration. Sky-balls are made of a wooden shell, filled with various compositions, particularly that of the stars of rockets. These are sometimes intermixed with crackers and other combustibles, making rains of fire, &c. (EB II, 1797: 768)
Fireworks.
BALLAD, a kind of song, adapted to the capacity of the lower class of people; who, being mightily taken with this species of poetry, are thereby not a little influenced in the conduct of their lives. Hence we find, that seditious and designing men never fail to spread ballads among the people, with a view to gain them over to their side. (EB II, 1797: 768)
Classist. Also pointing to a connection between song and propaganda.
BALLET, BALET, or BALETTO, a kind of dramatic poem, representing some fabulous action or subject divided into several entries; wherein several persons appear, and recite things under the name of some deity, or other illustrious character.
BALLET is more particularly used for a kind of comic dance, consisting of a series of several airs of different kinds of movements, which together represent some subject or action. They are performed chiefly by masks representing sylvans, tritons, nymphs, shepherds, and the like; and consist of three parts, the entry, figure, and the retreat. The word is of Greek origin, formed from βαλλειν, jacere, to cast, throw, or toss; whence also in writers of the middle age, we find ballationes for saltationes, dancings; and ballare for saltare, to dance. (EB II, 1797: 769)
Curious.
It took the denomination ballisteum from the Greek βαλλω, jacio, or jacto, to cast or toss, on account of the motions used in this dance, which was attended with great elevations and swingings of the hands. The ballistea were a kind of popular ballads, composed by poets of the lower class, without much regard to the laws of metre. (EB II, 1797: 769)
The winners throw their hands up. Some casual classism mixed in. It's called free verse.
BALNEARII SERVI, in antiquity, servants or attendants belonging to the baths. Some were appointed to heat them, called fornicatores; others were denominated capsarii, who kept the cloaths of those that went into them; others aliptæ, whose care it was to pull off the hair; others unctuarii, who anointed and performed the body. (EB II, 1797: 770)
What are you doing? - I'm filling the bath with warm water. - Oh, so you're fornicating!
BALNEARIUS FUR, in antiquity, a kind of thief who practised stealing the cloaths of persons in the baths; sometimes also called fur balnearum. The crime of those thieves was a kind of sacrilege; for the hot baths were sacred: hence they were more severely punished than common thieves who stole out of private houses. The latter were acquitted with paying double the value of the thing stolen; whereas the former were punished with death. (EB II, 1797: 770)
Huh. Fair enough.
BALSAMICS, Balsamica is a Latin word which signifies mitigating, The term balsamic is a very lax one; it includes medicines of very different qualities, as emolliments, detergents, restoratives, &c. (EB II, 1797: 771)
Phraseology.
BALTIC SEA, a great gulph surrounded by Sweden, Russia, Courland, Prussia, Pomerania, and Denmark. The king of Denmark levies a tax at Elsineur on every snip that enters the Baltic sea. It is remarkable that this sea neither ebbs nor flows, and there is always a current sets through the sound into the ocean. It is generally frozen over three or four months in the year. Yellow amber is found in plenty on this coast. (EB II, 1797: 771)
Ha, just yesterday read something about how the Baltic dea froze over during this era, and how the Swedes once used such an occasion to bypass the Danish fleet and occupy their country.
M. Baluze is much more noted for collecting ancient MSS. and illustrating them by notes, than famed for his own compositions. (EB II, 1797: 771)
Likely my own fate as well.
Near the palace was a river, which was then quite dried up, and no water to be found but what was digged for in the channel. The hall of audience was only a large tent about a musket-shot from the rest. (EB II, 1797: 771)
An oddly outdated measure of distance.
His [Bamboccio's] style of painting is sweet and true; and his touch delicate, with great transparency of colouring. His figures are always of a small size, well-proportioned, and correctly designed; and altho' his subjects are taken but from the lower kind of nature, such as plunderings, paying at bowls, inns, farrier shops, cattle, and conversations; yet whatever he painted was so excellently designed, so happily executed, and so highly finished, that his manner was adopted by many of the Italian painters of his time. (EB II, 1797: 772)
Why am I noticing so much classism here in recent pages?
What they produce in superfluities they want in necessaries. The land will not bring forth any kind of corn; and the pith of the sago serves the natives of the country instead of bread. (EB II, 1797: 775)
Neat. I've become accustomed with the term "necessaries of life", which now turns out to be half of a pair.
BANE (from the Sax. bana, a murderer), signifies destruction or overthrow. Thus, "I will be the bane of such a man," is a common saying. So, when a person receives a mortal injury by any thing, we say, "it was his bane:" and he who is the cause of another man's death, is said to be le bane, i.e. a malefactor. (EB II, 1797: 776)
"The bane of my existence" = "the murderer of my existence".
BANGUE, a species of opiate, in great use throughout the east, for drowning cares and inspiring joy. - This by the Persians is called beng; by the Arabs, essrar, corruptly asseral, and assarth; by the Turks, bengitie, and vulgarly called mastack; by the European naturalists, bangue or bange. - It is the leaf of a kind of wild hemp, growing in the countries of the [|] Levant; it differs little, either as to leaf or seed, from our hemp, except in size. Some have mistaken it for a species of althæa. [...] The effects of this drug are, To confound the understanding; set the imagination loose; induce a kind of folly, and forgetfulness, wherein all cares are left, and joy and gaiety take place thereof. Bangue in reality, is a succedaneum to wine, and obtains in those countries where Mahometanism is established; which prohibiting the use of that liquor absolutely, the poor musselmans are forced to have recourse to succedanea, to rouse their spirits. (EB II, 1797: 776-777)
Sounds like cannabis. Indeed, "Bhang (IAST: Bhāṅg) is an edible preparation made from the leaves of the cannabis plant originating from the Indian Subcontinent."
The name Banian imports as much, in the Bramin language (wherein their law is written), as a people innocent and harmless; void of all guile; so gentle, that they cannot endure to see either a fly or a worm injured; and who, when struck, will patiently bear it, without resisting or returning the blow. (EB II, 1797: 777)
Turn the other cheek, as homeboy Jeshoua put it.
BANKS (John), a dramatic writer, was bred to the law, and belonged to the society of Gray's Inn; but this profession not suiting his natural disposition, he quitted it for the service of the muses. Here, however, he found his rewards by no means adequate to his deserts. His emoluments at the best were precarious, and the various successes of his pieces too feelingly convinced him of the error in his choice. This, however, did not prevent him from pursuing with cheerfulness the path he had taken; his thirst of fame, and warmth of poetic enthusiasm, alleviating to his imagination many disagreeable circumstances into which indigence, the too frequent attendant on poetical pursuits, frequently threw him. His turn was entirely to tragedy. His merit in which is of a peculiar kind. For at the same time that his language must be confessed to be extremely unpoetical, and his numbers uncouth and unharmonious; nay, even his characters very far from being strongly marked or distinguished, and his episodes extremely irregular: yet it is impossible to avoid being deeply affected at the representation, and even at the reading, of his tragic pieces. This is owing in the general to an happy choice of his subjects; which are all borrowed from history, either real or romantic; and indeed the most of them from circumstances in the annals of our own country, which, not only from their being familiar to our continual recollection, but even from their having some degree of relation to ourselves, we are apt to receive with a kind of partial prepossession, and a pre-determination to be pleased. He has constantly chosen as the basis of his plays such tales as were in themselves and their well-known catastrophes most truly adapted to the purposes of the drama. He has indeed but little varied from the strictness of historical facts; yet he seems to have made it his constant rule to keep the scene perpetually alive, and never suffer his characters to droop. His verse is not poetry, but prose run mad. Yet will the false gem sometimes approach so near in glitter to the true one, at least in the eyes of all but the real connoisseurs (and how small a part of an audience are to be ranked in this class will need no ghost to inform us), that bombast will frequently pass for the true sublime; and where it is rendered the vehicle of incidents in themselves affecting, and in which the heart is apt to interest itself, it will perhaps be found to have a stronger power on the human passions than even that property to which it is in reality no more than a bare succedaneum. (EB II, 1797: 786)
Positive outlook, even in dire circumstances. Memberberries - his writing was shite but about people everyone knows or has heard about (the queen, Cyrus the Great, etc). Succedaneum again - not even sure how to pronounce that word.
BANN, or BAN (from the Brit. ban, i.e. clamour), is a proclamation or public notice; any public summons or edict, whereby a thing is commanded or forbidden. (EB II, 1797: 787)
Huh. Nowadays used only in the forbidding sense.
BANN, is also used to denote proscription or banishment for a crime proved; because anciently published by sound of trumpet; or, as Vossius thinks, because those who did not appear at the abovementioned summons, were punished by proscription. Hence, to put a prince under the bann of the empire, is to declare him divested of all his dignities. The sentence only denotes an interdict of all intercourse, and offices of humanity, with the offender; the form of which seems taken from that of the Romans, who banished persons by forbidding them the use of fire and water. Sometimes also cities are put under the imperial bann; that is, stripped of their rights and privileges. (EB II, 1797: 787)
The prince is banned from his own kingdom's servers. Banning intercourse here probably means that it is forbidden to speak with the banned person, but what are the "offices of humanity"? Also, one can perhaps make do without fire but not so long without water, so quite harsh.
BANQUET, a feast or entertainment where people regale themselves with pleasant foods or fruits. (EB II, 1797: 788)
Surprisingly short and to the point.
BANQUETING ROOM or HOUSE. See SALOON. The ancient Romans supped in the atrium, or vestibule, of their houses; but, in after-times, magnificent saloons, or banqueting-rooms, were built, for the more commodious and splendid entertainment of their guests. Lucullus had several of these, each distinguished by the name of some god; and there was a particular rate of expense appropriated to each. Plutarch relates with what magnificence he entertained Cicero and Pompey, who went with design to surprise him, by telling only a slave who waited, that the cloth should be laid in the Apollo. The emperor Claudius, among others, had a splendid banqueting-room named Mercury. But every thing of this kind was outdone by the lustre of that celebrated banqueting-house of Nero, called domus aurea; which, by the circular motion of its partitions and ceilings, imitated the revolution of the heavens, and represented the different seasons of the year, which changed at every service, and showered down flowers, essences, and perfumes, on the guests. (EB II, 1797: 788)
The ancestor of the "drawing room", perhaps. Of course Nero's was super "extra".
Secondly, that, among foreign nations, the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and others, it was customary that those who were to be initiated into their mysteries, or sacred rites, should be first purified by dipping their whole body in water. That learned writer adds, as a farther confirmation of his opinion, that the cup of blessing likewise, added to the paschal supper, seems plainly to have been derived from a pagan original: for the Greeks, at their feasts, had one cup, called ποτηριον αγαθος δαιμονος, the cup of the good dæmon or god, which they drank at the conclusion of their entertainment, when the table was removed. (EB II, 1797: 789)
Naturally, the christian baptism is a mutilated copy of pagan mysteries.
Those baptised in their sick-beds were called clinici; and were held in some reproach, as not being reputed true Christians. Hence several censures, in councils and ecclesiastical writers, of clinical baptism. This clinic baptism was not sufficient to qualify the person, in case of recovery, for ordination. (EB II, 1797: 790)
The label at least makes sense.
After the questions and answers, followed exorcism; the manner and end of which was this: The minister laid his hands on the person's head, and breathed in his face, implying thereby the driving away or expelling of the devil from him, and preparing him for baptism, by which the good and holy spirit was to be conferred upon him. [...] Being come to the font, the priest exorcises the evil spirit again; and taking a little of his own spittle, with the thumb of his right-hand, rubs it on the child's ears and nostrils, repeating, as he touches the right ear, the same word (Ephatha, be thou opened) which our Saviour made use of to the man born deaf and dumb. (EB II, 1797: 791)
For a ritual signifying cleansing, baptism seems to involve every method available to spead contagious diseases.
By King Edward's first book, the minister is to dip the child in the water thrice; first, dipping the right-side; secondly, the left; the third time, dipping the face toward the font. This trine immersion was a very ancient practice in the Christian church, and used in honour of the Holy Trinity; though some later writers say, it was done to represent the death, burial, and resurrection, of Christ, together with his three days continuance in the grave. (EB II, 1797: 792)
Trine triadic triplicities.
By the ancient laws, baptism was not to be conferred on image-makers, stage-players, gladiators, aurigæ or public drivers, magicians, [|] or even strolling beggars, till they quitted such professions. Slaves were not allowed the privilege of baptism without the testimony and consent of their masters; excepting the slaves of Jews, Heathens, and heretics, who were not only admitted to baptism, but, in consequence thereof, had their freedom. (EB II, 1797: 792-793)
Which is to say, the slaves of christian masters were not to be baptised, everyone else's were. How one would consider oneself a good christian and hold slaves, I do not know.
BAPTISM by Fire, spoken of by St John the Baptist, has occasioned much conjecture. The generality of the fathers held, that believers, before they enter paradise, are to pass through a certain fire, which is to purify them from all pollutions remaining on them unexpiated. Others, with St Basil, understand it of the fire of hell; others, of that of tribulation and temptation. Others, with St Chrysostom, will have it denote an abundance of graces. Others suppose it to mean the descent of the Holy Ghost on the apostles, in form of fiery tongues. Lastly, others maintain, that the word fire here is an interpolation; and that we are only to read the text, He that shall come after me will baptize you with the Holy Ghost. In reality, it is not found in divers manuscript copies of St Matthew. (EB II, 1797: 793)
The religious associations with fire and afterlife are exceedingly interesting.
The ancient baptiseries were commonly called φοτισηγιχ, photisteria, q.d. places of illumination; an appellation sometimes given to baptism. Or they might have the name for another reason, because they were the places of an illumination, or instruction, preceding baptism: for here the catechumens seem to have been trained up, and instructed in the first rudiments of the Christian faith. (EB II, 1797: 795)
Another curious religious association with light.
In Venatius Fortunatus, it is called aula baptismatis, the large hall of baptism; which was indeed so capacious, that we sometimes read of councils meeting and sitting therein. This hall, or chapel, was always kept shut during Lent, and the door sealed up with the bishop's seal, not to be opened till Maunday-Thursday. (EB II, 1797: 795)
Eesti keeles ka "aula".
BARALLOTS, in church-history, a sect of heretics at Bologna in Italy, who had all things in common, even their wives and children. - Their facility in complying with all manner of debauchery made them get the name obedientes, "compliers." (EB II, 1797: 796)
Are wives and children "things"?
BARATIERE (Philip), a most extraordinary instance of the early and rapid exertion of mental faculties. This surprising genius was the son of Francis Baratiere, minister of the French church at Schwobach near Nuremberg, where he was born Jan. 10th 1721. The French was his mother-tongue, together with some words of High Dutch; but by means of his father insensibly talking Latin to him, it became as familiar to him as the rest: so that, without knowing the rules of grammar, he at four years of age talked French to his mother, Latin to his father, High Dutch to the maid or neighbouring children; and all this without mixing or confounding the respective languages. About the middle of his fifth year he acquired Greek in like manner; so that in 15 months he perfectly understood all the Greek books in the Old and New Testament, which he readily translated into Latin. When he was five years and eight months old, he entered upon Hebrew; and in three years time was so expert in the Hebrew text, that from a bible without points, he could give the sense of the original in Latin or French; or translate extempore the Latin or French versions into Hebrew, almost word for word; and had all the Hebrew psalms by heart. He composed at this time a dictionary of rare and difficult Hebrew words, with critical remarks and philological observations, in about 400 pages in 4to; and, about his tenth year, amused himself for twelve months with the Rabinical writers. With these he intermixed a knowledge of the Chaldaic, Syriac, and Arabic; and acquired a taste for divinity and ecclesiastical antiquity, by studying the Greek fathers, and councils of the first four ages of the church. In the midst of these occupations, a pair of globes coming into his possession, he could in 8 or 10 days time resolve all the problems on them; and in about three months, in Jan. 1735, devised his project for the discovery of the longitude, which he communicated to the Royal Society at London and the Royal Academy of Sciences at Berlin. In June 1731, he was matriculated in the university of Altorf; and at the close of the year 1732, he was presented by his father at the meeting of the reformed churches of the circle of Franconia; who, astonished at his wonderful talents, admitted him to assist in the deliberations of the synod; and to preserve the memory of so singular an event, it was ordered to be registered in their acts. In 1734, the Margrave of Brandenburgh Anspach granted this young scholar the use of whatever books he wanted from the Anspach library, together with a pension of 50 florins, which he enjoyed three years; and his father receiving a call to the French church at Stetin in Pomerania, young Baratiere was, on the journey, admitted master of arts, with universal applause, at the university of Hall: at Berlin he was honoured with several conversations with the king of Prussia, and was received into the royal academy. Towards the close of his life he acquired a taste for medals, inscriptions, and antiquities; metaphysical inquiries, and experimental philosophy, intervening occasionally between these studies. He wrote several essays and dissertations; made astronomical remarks, and laborious calculations; took great pains toward a history of the heresies of the anti-trinitarians, and of the 30 years war in Germany: his last publication, which appeared in 1740, was on the succession of the bishops of Rome. The final work he engaged in, and for which he had gathered large materials, was Inquiries concerning the Egyptian Antiquities. But the substance of his blazing meteor was now almost exhausted: he was always weak and sickly; and died October 5. 1740, aged 19 years 8 months and 16 days. He published 11 different pieces, and left 26 manuscripts on various subjects, the contents of which may be seen in his life written by M. Formey professor of philosophy at Berlin. (EB II, 1797: 797)
What the hell did I just read?
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