Dictionary of phrase and fable, giving the derivation, source or origin of common phrases, allusions, and words that have a tale to tell... . To which is added a concise bibliography of English literature / by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer.

  • Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham, 1810-1897.
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dictionary of phrase and fable, giving the derivation, source or origin of common phrases, allusions, and words that have a tale to tell... . To which is added a concise bibliography of English literature / by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/1457 (page 3)
    ul-Latif {servant of the Gracious One), etc. Abdael (2 syl.). George Monk, third Duke of Albemarle, “ Brave Abdael o’er tlie prophets’ school was placed; Abdael, with all his father's virtues graced. . . without one Hebrew’s blood, restored the crown.” J)n/den and Tait: Absalom and Achitophel, Fart ii. V Tate’s blunder for Abdiel {q.v.). Abdall'ah, the father of Mahomet, was so beautiful, that when he married iVmina, 200 virgins broke their hearts from disappointed love.— Washington Irving : Life of Mahomet. Abdall'ah. Brother and predecessor of Giaffir, pacha of Aby'dos. He was murdered by Giaffir (2 syl.).—Byron: Bride of Abydos. Ab'dals. Persian fanatics, who think it a merit to kill anyone of a different religion; and if slain in the attempt, are accounted martyrs. Abde^ra. A maritime town of Thrace, said in fable to have been founded by Ahdera, sister of Diomede. It was so overrvm with rats that it was abandoned, and the Abderltans migrated to Mace- donia. Abderi^tan. A native of Ahdera, a maritime city of Thrace, The Abderl- tans were proverbial for stupidity, hence the phrase, “You have no more mind than an Abderite.” Yet the city gave birth to some of the wisest men of Greece : as Democritos (the laughing philosopher), Protagoras (the great so- phist) , Anaxarchos (the philosopher and friend of Alexander), Hecataeos (the historian), etc, Abderitan Laughter. Scoffing laughter, incessant laughter. So called from Ahdera, the birthplace of Democ- ritos, the laughing philosopher. Ab'derite (3 syl.). A scoffer, so called from Democ'ritos. Abde'rus. One of Herakles’s friends, devoured by the horses of Diomede. Diomede gave him his horses to hold, aud they devoured him. Ab'diel. The faithful seraph who withstood Satan when he urged the angels to revolt. (See ~°aradise Lost, Bk. V., lines 896, etc.) “ [He] adheres, with the faith of Abdiel, to the aucient form of adoration.”—Sir W. Scott. Abeceda'rian. One who teaches or is learning his ABC. Ahecedariam hymns. Hymns which began with the letter A, aiid each verse or clause following took up the letters of the alphabet in regular succession. {See Acrostic Poetry.) Abel and Cain. The Mahometan tradition of the death of Abel is this: Cain was born with a twin sister who was named Aclima, and Abel with a twin sister named Jumella. Adam wished Cain to marry Abel’s twin sister, and Abel to marry Cain’s. Cain would not consent to this arrangement, and Adam proposed to refer the question to God by means of a sacrifice. God re- jected Cain’s sacrifice to signify his dis- approval of his marriage with Aclima, his twin sister, and Cain slew his brother in a fit of jealousy, Abel Keene. A village schoolmaster, afterwards a merchant’s clerk. He was led astray, lost his place, and hanged himself. — Crahbe: Borough, Letter xxi. A'belites (3 syl.), AbeVians, or Abe- lo'nians. A Christian sect of the fourth century, chiefiy found in Hippo (N. Africa). They married, but lived in continence, as they affirm Abel did. The sect was maintained by adopting the children of others. No children of Abel being mentioned in Scripture, the Abelites assume that he bad none, Abes^sa. The impersonation of Abbeys and Convents, represented by I Spenser as a damsel. When Una asked I if she had seen the Bed Cross Knight, Abessa, frightened at the lion, ran to the cottage of blind Superstition, and shut the door. Una arrived, and the lion burst the door open. The meaning is, that at the Reformation, when Trutn came, the abbeys and convents got alarmed, and would not let Truth enter, but England (the lion) broke down the door.^—Faene Queen, i. 3. Abesta. A book said to have been written by Abraham as a commentary on the Zend aud the Pazend. It is furthermore said that Abraham read these three books in the midst of the furnace into which he was cast by Nimrod.—Persian Mythology. Abey'ance really means something gaped after (French, bayer, to gape). The allusion is to men standing with their mouths open, in expectation of some sight about to appear. Abbigit. The propitiatory sacrifice made by an Indian rajah who has slain a priest without premeditation. Abhor' (Latin, ab, away from, and liorreo, to shrink ; originally, to slmdderj