Glossary.
Letter A
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- ABATE
- to shorten
- To cast down
- To blunt
- ABATEMENT
- diminution
- ABHOR
- protest; disgust
- ABIDE
- to sojourn
- to expiate
- ABLE
- to uphold
- ABRIDGEMENT
- a short play
- ABROAD
- away, apart
- ABROOK
- to brook, abide
- ABSEY-BOOK
- a primer
- ABSOLUTE
- positive, certain
- Complete
- ABUSE
- to deceive
- ABUSE
- deception
- ABY
- to expiate a fault
- ABYSM
- abyss
- ACCITE
- to cite, summon
- ACCUSE
- accusation
- ACHIEVE
- to obtain
- ACQUITTANCE
- a receipt or discharge
- ACTION-TAKING
- litigious
- ACTURE
- action
- ADDITION
- title, attribute
- ADDRESS
- to prepare oneself
- ADDRESSED
- prepared
- ADVANCE
- to prefer, promote to honour
- ADVERTISEMENT
- admonition
- ADVERTISING
- attentive
- ADVICE
- consideration, discretion
- ADVISE
- sometimes neuter, sometimes reflective, to consider, reflect
- ADVISED
- considerate
- ADVOCATION
- pleading, advocacy
- AFEARED
- afraid
- AFFECT
- to love
- AFFY
- to affiance
- To trust
- AFRONT
- in front
- AGAZED
- looking in amazement
- AGLET-BABY
- the small figure engraved on a jewel
- AGNISE
- to acknowledge, confess
- A-GOOD
- a good deal, plenteously
- A-HOLD
- a sea-term
- AIERIE
- the nest of a bird of prey
- AIM
- a guess
- ALDER-LIEFEST
- most loved of all
- ALE
- alehouse
- ALLOW
- to approve
- ALLOWANCE
- approval
- AMES-ACE
- two aces, the lowest throw of the dice
- AMORT
- dead, dejected
- ANCHOR
- an anchorite, hermit
- ANCIENT
- an ensign-bearer
- ANGEL
- a coin, so called because it bore the image of an angel
- ANIGHT
- by night
- ANSWER
- retaliation
- ANTHROPOPHAGINIAN
- a cannibal
- ANTICK
- the fool in the old plays
- ANTRE
- a cave
- APPARENT
- heir-apparent
- APPEAL
- accusation
- APPEAL
- to accuse
- APPEARED
- made apparent
- APPLE-JOHN
- a kind of apple
- APPOINTMENT
- preparation
- APPREHENSION
- opinion
- APPREHENSIVE
- apt to apprehend or understand
- APPROBATION
- probation
- APPROOF
- approbation, proof
- APPROVE
- to prove
- To justify, make good
- APPROVER
- one who proves or tries
- ARCH
- chief
- ARGAL
- a ridiculous word intended for the Latin ergo
- ARGENTINE
- silver
- ARGIER
- Algiers
- ARGOSY
- originally a vessel of Ragusa or Ragosa, a Ragosine; hence any ship of burden
- ARGUMENT
- subject
- ARMIGERO
- a mistake for Armiger, the Latin for Esquire
- AROINT
- found only in the imperative mood, get thee gone
- A-ROW
- in a row
- ARTICULATE
- to enter into articles of agreement
- to exhibit in articles
- ASK
- to require
- ASPECT
- regard, looks
- ASPERSION
- sprinkling; hence blessing, because before the Reformation benediction was generally accompanied by the sprinkling of holy water
- ASSAY
- attempt
- ASSAY
- to attempt, test, make proof of
- ASSINEGO
- an ass
- ASSUBJUGATE
- to subjugate
- ASSURANCE
- deed of assurance
- ASSURED
- betrothed
- ATOMY
- an atom
- Used in contempt of a small person
- ATONE
- to put people at one, to reconcile
- to agree
- ATTACH
- to seize, lay hold on
- ATTASKED
- taken to task, reprehended
- ATTEND
- to listen to
- ATTENT
- attentive
- ATTORNEY
- an agent
- ATTORNEY
- to employ as an agent
- To perform by an agent
- AUDACIOUS
- spirited, daring, but without any note of blame attached to it
- AUGUR
- augury
- AUTHENTIC
- clothed with authority
- AVAUNT
- int. be gone, a word of abhorrence
- AVE
- the Latin for hail; hence acclamation
- AVE-MARY
- the angelic salutation addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- AVERRING
- confirming
- AVOID
- get rid of
- AWFUL
- worshipful
- AWKWARD
- contrary