A PRONOUNCING, EXPLANATORY, AND SYNONYMOUS DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, WITH I. PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK AND LATIN PROPER NAMES. II. III. IV. V. COMMON CHRISTIAN NAMES, WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATION. VI. PHRASES AND QUOTATIONS IN LATIN, FRENCH, ITALIAN, AND SPANISH. VII. THE PRINCIPAL DEITIES AND HEROES IN GREEK AND ROMAN FABULOUS HISTORY. BY JOSEPH E. WORCESTER, LL. D. BOSTON: HICKLING, SWAN, AND BROWN. PREFACE. THE "Comprehensive, Pronouncing, and Explanatory Dictionary," by the author of the present work, was first published in 1830. The dictionary which was at that time in most extensive use in schools in this country, was a small abridgment of Walker's Dictionary; but it was too defective in various respects to supply the wants of common schools, and it was altogether insufficient as a manual for the use of the higher schools; and the Comprehensive Dictionary was prepared with a view to supply a need which then existed. The first edition of the work contained a much more full vocabulary of English words than the dictionaries which, at that time, were generally used in schools; and it comprised also Vocabularies of Greek, Latin, and Scripture Proper Names. In 1847, the Comprehensive Dictionary was revised; all parts of it were enlarged; and a "Vocabulary of Modern Geographical Names," with their pronunciation, was added to the work. This is supposed to have been the first considerable vocabulary of the kind ever annexed to an English dictionary. In 1849, further additions were made, comprising "Abbreviations used in Writing and Printing,” “A Collection of Phrases and Quotations in the Latin, French, Italian, and Spanish Languages," and "A Brief Account of the Principal Deities, Heroes, &c., in the Fabulous History of the Greeks and Romans." The Dictionary which is now offered to the public, is substantially an enlargement of the Comprehensive Dictionary. The several Vocabularies have been increased; nearly three thousand words have been added to the Dictionary proper; and a more full definition has been given to many of the words. The Vocabulary of Greek and Latin Proper Names, in its present state, comprises, in addition to the names found in Walker's "Key," about to this subject of Carr, Sharpe, and Trollope; and a list of common Christian Names, with their signification, has been inserted. A new and peculiar feature has been given to this Dictionary by bringing into view the principal Synonymes of the language. The notices of the synonymes are necessarily short; yet, brief as they are, it is believed that they will be of essential service to the student in enabling him to understand the meaning and proper use of these words. It is often desirable to know what words are regarded as synonymous or nearly allied in meaning to each other, and what are the characteristic differences of the meanings, and the proper application of such words. By looking, for example, at the words abbey, axiom, clergyman, courage, insanity, language, and lawyer, one will readily see that more useful instruction can be given in this way respecting the meaning and use of the several words classed together, and the manner in which they are to be discriminated from each other, than can be presented by any other method. In preparing notices of these synonymes, use has been made of the works on this subject of Crabb, Taylor, Platts, and Graham, and of a small work revised by Archbishop Whately. In the preparation of this work, the author has endeavored to adapt it to the use of the higher schools and seminaries of learning, and also to fit it for supplying such wants of families and individuals as can be supplied by a small and cheap manual. It has been rendered as complete as its limits would permit, with respect to all well-authorized English words, and also all other words in relation to which an English reader most needs information, as to their orthography, pronunciation, or meaning. Thus it comprises, in addition to the common words of the language, numerous technical terms in the various arts and sciences, some words which are obsolete or antiquated, but which are found in books that are much read, some which are local or provincial, some which are peculiar to the United States, and a large number of such words and phrases from foreign languages, as are often met with in English books. These several classes of words are respectively discriminated or noted. Active or transitive, and neuter or intransitive verbs, are carefully distinguished, irregular verbs are conjugated, and the plural forms of irregular nouns are exhibited. The definitions are necessarily concise; but they will, perhaps, be found as comprehensive and exact as could be reasonably expected in a manual of the sort; and, in many instances, technical, obsolete, provincial, and American uses of words are pointed out and explained. The design has been, to give the greatest quantity of useful matter in the most condensed form, and to In adjusting the orthography of this Dictionary, much care has been used; and, in doing it, attention has been paid to usage, etymology, and analogy. In cases in which good usage is divided, etymology and analogy have been consulted in deciding disputable points; but no innovation has been attempted in relation to matters of settled and invariable usage. The subject of orthography presents many difficulties, inasmuch as there are various irregularities which cannot be easily reduced to consistency; and there is a considerable number of words respecting the orthography of which good usage is divided. In relation to this subject the reader is referred to the "Remarks on Orthography," and to the "Vocabulary of Words of Various or Doubtful Orthography," in the introductory part of this volume. He will there find a notice of nearly all the diversities of orthography in the English language now often met with. In the preparation of this work, pronunciation has been made a special object, and has received particular attention; and a comprehensive view of the Principles of Pronunciation is prefixed to the volume. A peculiar feature of this Dictionary, and also of the "Comprehensive Dictionary" and the "Universal and Critical Dictionary," consists in the exhibition of authorities respecting words of various, doubtful, or disputed pronunciation; and these works are so constructed as to exhibit, in relation to all this class of words, which form the most essential part of a pronouncing dictionary, the modes in which they are pronounced by all the most eminent English orthoëpists. With respect to the pronunciation of most of the words of the English language, all the orthoëpists are substantially agreed, though they differ a good deal in their mode of representing it. The number of English words respecting the pronunciation of which there is any important difference, may be stated at about two thousand; and it is on account of these words that a pronouncing dictionary is especially wanted. There is much difference in the pronunciation of many of these words, both among the best orthoëpists, and among the best speakers of the language. It is not possible that any one orthoëpist should know, from personal observation, what is the best usage with respect to all these words; and no one who is scrupulous about his pronunciation, will be willing to place implicit reliance on any single orthoëpist, but he will wish to know, in relation to doubtful matters, the different modes adopted by all who are entitled to be regarded as of much authority. The reader who is desirous of this sort of information, may here find it condensed in a small space, in a form convenient for use, and be spared the labor of searching for it in many volumes. In relation to the pronunciation of many of the words about which orthoë A* |