Volume 2

A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers. To which are prefixed, a history of the language, and an English grammar / by Samuel Johnson.

  • Samuel Johnson
Date:
1755
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers. To which are prefixed, a history of the language, and an English grammar / by Samuel Johnson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Wit lying mod in the aflcmblage of ideas, and putting thofe together with quicknefs and variety, wherein can be found any refemblance, or congruity, thereby to make up pleafant pidlures in the fancy. Judgment, on the contrary, lies in*feparating carefully one from another, ideas, wherein can be found the leaft difference, thereby to avoid being miffed by fimilitude. Locke. Cou’d any but a knowing prudent caufe Begin fuch motions, and aflign fuch laws ? If the great mind had form’d a different frame. Might not your wanton wit the fyftem blame ? Bladmore. 3. Sentiments produced by quicknefs of fancy. All forts of men take a pleafure to gird at me. The brain of this foolifli compounded clay, man, is not able to invent any thing that tends more to laughter, than what I invent, and is invented on me. I am not only witty in myfelf, but the caufe that wit is in other men. Shakefpeare. His works become the frippery of wit. B. John/on. The Romans made thofe times the ftandard of their wit, when they fubdu’d the world. . Sprat. The definition of wit is only this ; that it is a propriety of thoughts and words ; or, in ether terms, thoughts and words elegantly adapted to the fubjeft. Dryden. Let a lord once but own the happy lines ; How the wit brightens, and the ftyle refines! Pope. 4. A man of fancy. Intemperate wits will fpare neither friend nor foe; and make themfelves the common enemies of mankind. L’Ejlr. A poet, being too witty himfelf, could draw nothing but wits in a comedy : even his fools were infected with the difeale of their author. Dryden. To tell them wou’d a hundred tongues require ; Or one vain wit’s, that might a hundred tire. Pope. 5. A man of genius. Searching wits, of more mechanick parts; Who grac’d their age with new-invented arts : Thofe who to worth their bounty did extend, And thofe who knew that bounty to commend. Dryden. How vain that fecond life in others breath ? Th’ eftate which wits inherit after death ; Eafe, health, and life, for this they muff refign, Unfure the tenure, but how vaft the fine ! The great man’s curfe, without the gain endure; Be envy’d, wretched ; and be flatter’d, poor. Pope. 6. Senfe; judgment. Strong was their plot, Jheir practice clofe, their faith fufpe&ed not; Their ftates far off, and they of wary wit. Daniel. Come, leave the loathed ffage. And this more loathfome age ; Where pride and impudence in faction knit, Ufurp the chair of wit. B. John/on. Though his youthful blood be fir’d with wine. He wants not wit the danger to decline. Dryden. 7. In the plural. Sound mind ; intellect not crazed. If our wits run the wild-goofe chace, I have done: for thou haft more of the wild-goofe in one of thy wits, than I have in my whole five. Shake/p. Borneo and Juliet. I had a fon. Now outlaw’d from my blood ; he fought my life : The grief hath craz’d my wits. Shake/p. K. Lear. Are his wits fafe ? is he not light of brain ? Shakefpeare. Sound fleep cometh of moderate eating; he rifeth early, and his wits are with him : but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unfatiable man. Eccluf. xxxi. 20. Wickednefs is voluntary frenzy, and every finner does more extravagant things than any man that is crazed, and out of his wits, only that he knows better what he does. ’Tillotfon. No man in his wits can ferioufly think that his own foul hath exifted -from all eternity. Bentley. 8. Contrivance; fhatagem ; power of expedients. How can it chufe but bring the fimple to their wits end ? how can it chufe but vex and amaze them ? Hooker. I was like to be apprehended for the witch of Brainford; but that my admirable dexterity of wit, counterfeiting the action of an old woman, delivered me. Shakefpeare. Sleights from his wit and fubtlety proceed. Milton. The neighbourhood were at their wits end, to confider what would be the iflue. L’EJlrange. Wi'tcraft. n. f \wit and craft. 1 Contrivance; invention. Obfolete. J He was no body that could not hammer out of his name an invention by this witcraft, and picture it accordingly. Camden’s Remains. W/tcracker. n.f. [zFit and cracker.] A joker; one who breaks a jeft. A college of witcrackers cannot flout me out of my hu¬ mour; doff: thou think I care for a fatire or an epigram ? Shak. Wi'tworm. n.f. [wit and worm.] One that feeds on wit; a canker of wit. T1- to come forth fo fuddenly a witworm. B. Johnfon. WJ 1 CH. n.f [piece, Saxon.J J J 1. A woman given to unlawful arts. Wife judges have prefcribed, that men mav not rafhly be¬ lieve the~confeffions of witches, nor the evidence againft them, for the witches themfelves are imaginative ; and peo¬ ple aie credulous, and ready to impute accidents to witch- cra *■’ r-p, . , , Bacon's Nat. Hijl. I he night-hag comes to dance Lapland witches, while the lab’ring moon Eclipfes at their charms. ALilton When I confider whether there are fuch perfons as witch”’, my mind is divided : I believe in general that there is fuch a thing as witchcraft, but can give no credit to any particular mftanceofit HMfin’s Sp,Bat,’r, N» 117. 2. [from pic, Saxon.j A winding finuous bank. Leave me thofe hills where harbrough nis to fee • Nor holy bulh, nor briar, nor winding witch. ’Spenfer. To Witch, v. a. [from the noun.] To bewitch ; to enchant. ’Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn, “ Sbahfp. Hamlet. Me ill befits, that in der-doing arms, And honour’s fuit my vowed days do fpend. Unto thy bounteous baits, and pleafing charms. With which weak men thou witchejl to attend. Spenfer. I’ll witch fweet ladies with my words and looks. Shakefp'. Sit and witch me ? Shakefp Hen. VI. WITCHCRAFT, n.f. [witch and craft.] The practices of witches. Urania name, whofe force he knew fo well, He quickly knew what witchcraft gave the blow. Sidney. If you cannot Bar his accefs to the king, never attempt Any thing on him, for he hath a witchcraft Over the king in’s tongue. Shakefp. Hen. VIII. People are credulous, and ready to impute accidents and natural operations to witchcraft. Bacon’s Nat. Hijl. What fubtile witchcraft man conffrains, T'o change his pleafure into pains. Denham. Witchery, n.f. [from witch.] Enchantment. Another kind of petty witchery, if it be not altogether de¬ ceit, they call charming of beafts and birds. * Raleigh. Great Comus ! Deep-fkill’d in all his mother’s witcheries. Milton. ToWite. v. a. [pi2an, Saxon.] To blame; to reproach. The palmer ’gan moff bitterly Her to rebuke, for being loofe and light; Which not abiding, but more fcornfully Scoffing at him, that did her juftly wite. She turn’d her boat about. Fairy Ejhteen, c. xii. Wite. n.f. [from the verb.] Blame; reproach. Spenfer. With, prepofit. [pfS, Saxon.] 1. By. Noting the caufe. Truth, tir’d with iteration. As true as fteel, as plantage to the moon. Shakefpeare. With ev’ry ftab her bleeding heart was torn. With wounds much harder to be feen than born. Rowe. 2. Noting the means. Rude and unpolifhed are all operations of the foul in their beginnings, before they are cultivated with art and ftudy. Dryd. 3. Noting the inftrument. Boreas through the lazy vapour flies, And fweeps, withhedthy wings, the rank polluted [kies.Rowe. By perflations with large bellows, miners give motion to the air. Woodvjard. 4. On the fide of; for. O madnefs of difeourfe f That caufe fets up with, and againft thyfelf! Shakefpeare. 5. In oppolition to ; in competition or conteff. I do conteff as hotly and as nobly with thy love. As ever againft: thy valour. Shakejp. Coriolanus. He Ihall lie with any friar in Spain. Dryden’s Spanijh Friar. 6. Noting comparifon. Can blazing carbuncles with her compare ? Sandys. 7. In fociety. God gave man a foul that fhould live for ever, although the body be deftroyed ; and thofe who were good fhould be with him. Stiilingfeet. In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow, Thou’rt fuch a touchy, tefty, pleafing fellow ; Haft fo much wit, and mirth, and fpleen about thee. There is no living with thee, nor without thee. Tatler. 8. In company of. At the inftant that your meflenger came, in loving vifita- tion was with me, a young doeffor from Rome. Shakefpeare. 9. In appendage; noting confequence, or concomitance. Men might know the perfons who had a right to regal power, and with it to their obedience. Locke. 10. In mutual dealing. I will buy with you, fell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and fo following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. Shakefpeare.