|
|
November 2007Notable and Quotable: Robert Louis StevensonRobert Louis Stevenson, born November 13, 1850, wrote dozens of verses, short stories, and novels before his death at age 44. The author of Treasure Island was himself a treasure trove of terms for lexicographers seeking examples of word senses in context; many of the 171 places he is quoted in the Unabridged Dictionary highlight terms that are archaic, dialectal, chiefly Scottish . . . or some combination. Interested in finding words from a favorite author in the dictionary? It's easy. Select either the Unabridged or the Collegiate as a reference source, and click on Advanced Search. Type the last name of the author in the Author field, and click Search.
bike noun (chiefly Scotland) : a crowd or swarm of people
bitter adverb (dialect England) : extremely, very
blink noun (chiefly Scotland) : glimpse, glance
busk verb (chiefly Britain) : to make ready : prepare
charge verb (archaic) : to place as a load
ding verb (dialect) : to get the better of : surpass, overcome
dispart verb (archaic) : to put or force apart : separate, divide
dozened adjective (chiefly Scotland) : stupefied
gowl verb (dialect Britain) : howl, yell
heather cat adjective (Scotland) : vagabond, rover
his adjective (archaic) : 's -- used after a noun or noun phrase in place of the possessive ending 's
keek noun (chiefly Scotland) : peep, look
kenning noun (chiefly Scotland) : a perceptible but small amount : little
kyte noun (chiefly Scotland) : stomach, belly
lippen verb (chiefly Scotland) : to have faith or trust : trust, rely, confide -- usually used with to
main adverb (now dialect) : very, extremely
mettle adjective (archaic Scotland) : spirited, mettlesome
mind verb (chiefly dialect) : to recall and bear in mind : have in mind : remember
mop noun (archaic) : grimace, face
ought verb (chiefly Scotland) : possess
part noun (archaic) : hand
pith noun (archaic) : vigor, energy, strength
poison adjective (chiefly dialect) : extremely, very
rout verb (dialect, chiefly Britain) : to shout out : roar
seek verb (archaic) : to be at a loss to know or act
spring noun (chiefly Scotland) : a lively tune or dance
unfriend noun (chiefly Scotland) : one that is not a friend : enemy
upon preposition (chiefly Scotland) : to
waif adjective (chiefly Scotland) : circulating, current -- used of a report or rumor
well-willing adjective (archaic) : favorably or kindly disposed : benevolent, loyal
wite noun (chiefly Scotland) : responsibility for a fault or misfortune
wuther verb (dialect England) : to blow with a dull roaring sound |
