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.

E. Cobham Brewer

Date:: 1910

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.

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$“and per-se (mid liy itself, mid). A ii 0 4) . . . , X \ iSr. “ Any odil sIihik.' folks uiulerstaiul To iiK'H.ii my ProCean amperzaiifl ” Punch (17 April, Jsti9, ]i. ]r>a, col. '1). Tlie martyr Bradford, says Lord llussell, was “ .\ per se A ” with them, “to their comfort,” uic.—i.e. stood alone in their defence. Amphi'alus, son of Cecropia, in love with Philoclea , but he ultimately married Queen Helen of Corinth.—Sir Phil)2) Sidneif : The Countess of Peru- hrohe's Areadia. Amphictyon'ic Council. A coimcil of confederate Greeks fi'om twelve of their tribes, each of which had two deputies. The council met twice a year —in the spring at Delithi, and in the autumn at Thermop’ylae. According to fable, it was so called from Amithic'tyon, sou of DeucaTion, its supposed founder. (Greek, umphietiones^ dwellers round about.) Amphig'ons. Words strung together without any real connection. The two jileaders in Panfaijruel by Rabelais (book ii. c. 11-13) give an excellent example. Amphigouri, nonsense verse, rigma- role. “ A kind of overgrown amphigouri, a hetero- geneous combination.”—(>nnrfer?v/ IP view, i. .=>0, ISO'i. %* Person’s “Three Children sliding- on the Ice'’ is a good specimen of amphigouri. Amphi'on is said to have built Thebes by the music of his lute, which was so rnelodious that the stones danced into walls and houses of their own accord. Tennyson has a rhymingd'esprit. Amphitri'te (either 3 or 4 syl.). The sea. In classic mythology, the wife of Neptune (Greek, amphl-trio for triho. nibbing or wearing away [the shore] on all sides). “ His weary chariot songlit t.lie t)owers Of Am)>liitrite and her tending nymphs.” Thmnsov : Summer. (16tk5-(h. Amphit'ryon. Te reritahle Aniphi- trpon est V Amphitryon oh Von dine (Mo- liere). That is, the person who provides the feast (whether master of the house or not) is the real host. The tale is that Jupiter assumed the likeness of Am- })hit'ryon, and gave a banquet ; but Amphitryon himself came home, and claimed the honour of being the master of the house. As far as the servants and guests were concerned, the dispute was soon decided—“he who gave the feast was to them the host.” Amphrysian Prophetess {Am- ■ phrysif( ] (lies). Tlie Curaaean sibyl; so called fi-om Amphrysos, a river of Thessaly, on the banks of which Apollo fed the herds of Adme'tos ; consequently Amphrys'ian means Apollo'nian. Ampoulle {Sainte). The jug or I liottle containing oil used in anointing I the kings of France, and said to have been brought from heaven by a dove for I the coronation service of St. Louis. It I was preserved at Rheims till the first Revolution, when it was destroyed. Amram’s Son. Moses. (Exodus vi. 20.) “As when tlie potent rod Of Amrnm’s son, in Egypt's evil day, Waved round the coast.” Milton: Paradise Lost, i. 338-40. Amri, in the satire of Absalom and Achitophef by Dry den and Tate, is designed for Heneage Finch, Earl of Nottingham and Lord Chancellor. Our list of nobles next let Arari grace, Whose merits claimed the Abethdin’s {Lord Chancellor's) high place— To whom the double blessing does belong. With Moses’ inspiration, Aaron’s tongue.” Part ii. Amri'ta. The elixir of immortality, made by churning the milk-sea {Hindu mythology). Sir William Jones speaks of an apple so called, because it bestows immortality on those who partake of it. The word means immortal. {See Am- BUOSIA.) Amsanc'tus. A lake in Italy, in the territory of Hirpi'num, said to lead down to the infernal regions. I'he Avord means sarred water. Amuck'. To run amuck. To talk or ! write on a. subject of which you are Avholly ignorant; to run foul of. The I Malays, under the influence of opium, ! become so excited that they sometimes I rush forth with daggers, yelling '‘‘‘Amoq ! anioq ” (Kill! kill !), and fall foul of any one they chance to meet. j “Satire’s my weapon. Imt I’m too discreet To run amuck and tilt at all 1 meet.” I Pope; Satires, i. e><)-70. I Am'ulet. Sometliing worn, generally I round the neck, as a charm. (Arabic, I hamulet., that which is suspended.) I 'The early Christians used to wear ; amulets called Ichthus, fish; the word is composed of the initial letters of I le'sos CHristos THeouUios Soter (.lesus I Christ, Son of God, our Saviour). {See \ Notabica.) Amun'deville. Lady Adeline Amun- deville, a lady who “ had a twilight tinge of bine,” could make epigrams, give$