New Word-Analysis Part 52

LU'THERAN, _relating to the doctrines of Luther_--a German religious teacher of the 16th century.

MACHIAVEL'IAN, _cunning and sinister in politics_: from "Machiaveli"--an Italian writer of the 15th century.

MERCU'RIAL, _active, sprightly_--having the qualities fabled to belong to the G.o.d "Mercury."

MOSA'IC, _relating to Moses, his writings or his time_.

NEWTO'NIAN, _relating to Sir Isaac Newton and his philosophy_.

PINDAR'IC, _after the style and manner of Pindar_--a lyric poet of Greece.

PLATON'IC, _relating to the opinions or the school of Plato_,--a philosopher of Greece, in the 4th century B.C.

PLUTON'IC, _relating to the interior of the earth, or to the Plutonic theory in geology of the formation of certain rocks by fire_: from "Pluto"--in cla.s.sic mythology, the G.o.d of the infernal regions.

PROCRUS'TEAN, _relating to or resembling the mode of torture employed by Procrustes_--a celebrated highwayman of ancient Attica, who tied his victims upon an iron bed, and, as the case required, either stretched out or cut off their legs to adapt them to its length.

PROME'THEAN, _relating to Prometheus_--a G.o.d fabled by the ancient poets to have formed men from clay and to have given them life by means of fire stolen from heaven, at which Jupiter, being angry, sent Mercury to bind him to Mount Caucasus, and place a vulture to prey upon his liver.

QUIXOT'IC, _absolutely romantic, like Don Quixote_--described by Cervantes, a Spanish writer of the 16th century.

SATUR'NIAN, _distinguished for purity, integrity, and simplicity_; _golden, happy_: from "Saturn"--one of the G.o.ds of antiquity whose age or reign, from the mildness and wisdom of his government, was called the _golden age_.

SOCRAT'IC, _relating to the philosophy or the method of teaching of Socrates_--the celebrated philosopher of Greece (468-399 B.C.).

STENTO'RIAN, _very loud or powerful, resembling the voice of Stentor_--a Greek herald, spoken of by Homer, having a very loud voice.

THES'PIAN, _relating to tragic action_: from "Thespis"--the founder of the Greek drama.

t.i.tAN'IC, _enormous in size and strength_: from the "t.i.tans"--fabled giants in cla.s.sic mythology.

UTO'PIAN, _ideal, fanciful, chimerical_: from "Utopia"--an imaginary island, represented by Sir Thomas More, in a work called "Utopia," as enjoying the greatest perfection in politics laws, and society.

VOLTA'IC, _relating to voltaism or voltaic electricity_: from "Volta"--who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action.

II.--WORDS DERIVED FROM THE NAMES OF PLACES.

AG'ATE, _a precious stone_: "Achates," a river in Sicily where it is found.

AL'ABASTER, _a variety of soft marble_: "Alabastrum," in Egypt, where it is found.

AR'RAS, _tapestry_: "Arras," in France, where it is manufactured.

ARTE'SIAN, _applied to wells made by boring into the earth till the instrument reaches water which flows from internal pressure_: "Artois"

(anciently called Artesium), in France, where many of such wells have been made.

AT'TIC, _marked by such qualities as characterized the Athenians, as delicate wit, purity of style, elegance, etc._: "Attica," the country of the Athenians.

BAN'TAM, _a small domestic fowl_: "Bantam," in Java, whence it was brought.

BARB, _a Barbary horse_: "Barbary," in Africa.

BAY'ONET, _a dagger fixed on the end of a musket_: "Bayonne," in France, where it was invented, in 1679.

BEDLAM, _a lunatic asylum_: "Bethlehem," a monastery in London, afterwards used as an asylum for lunatics.

BUR'GUNDY, _a French wine_: "Burgundy," where it is made.

CAL'ICO, _a kind of cotton cloth_: "Calicut," in India, where it was first manufactured.

CANA'RY, _a wine and a bird_: the "Canary" Islands.

CAN'TER, _an easy gallop_: "Canterbury," in allusion to the easy pace at which the pilgrims used to ride thither.

CAR'RONADE, _a short cannon_: "Carron," in Scotland, where it was first made.

CASH'MERE, _a rich shawl, from the wool of the Thibet goat_: "Cashmere,"

the country where first made.

CHALCED'ONY, _a variety of uncrystalized quartz_: "Chalcedon," in Asia Minor, where obtained.

CHAMPAGNE', _a wine_: "Champagne," in France, where produced.

CHER'RY, _a red stoned fruit_: "Cerasus" (now Kheresoun), in Pontus, Asia Minor, whence the tree was imported into Italy.

CHEST'NUT, _a fruit_: "Castanea," in Macedonia, whence it was introduced into Europe.

COG'NAC, _a kind of French brandy_: "Cognac," in France, where extensively made.

COP'PER, _a metal_: "Cyprus," once celebrated for its rich mines of the metal.

CORD'WAINER, _a worker in cordwain, or cordovan, a Spanish leather_: "Cordova," in Spain.

CURAcOA', _a liquor or cordial flavored with orange peel_: the island of "Curacoa," where it was first made.

CUR'RANT, _a small dried grape_: "Corinth," in Greece, of which "currant"

is a corruption.

DAM'ASK, _figured linen or silk_: "Damascus," in Syria, where first made.

DAM'SON, _a small black plum_: (shortened from "Damascene") Damascus.

DELF, _a kind of earthenware_: "Delft," in Holland, where it was orignally made.

DI'APER, _a figured linen cloth, used for towels, napkins, etc._: "Ypres,"

in Flanders, where originally manufactured.

DIM'ITY, _a figured cotton cloth_: "Damietta," in Egypt.