Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Conservative:

Having the power of opposing diminution or injury.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Liking:

(Perhaps because plumpness is agreeable to sight.)
Plump; in a state of plumpness

Monday, December 14, 2009

Maggot

Whimsy; caprice; odd fancy.

She pricked his maggot, and touched him in the tender point; then he broke out into violent passion.

-Arbuthnot

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Merry Andrew

A buffoon; a zany; a jack-pudding.

"He would be a statesman because he is a buffoon; as if there went no more to the making of a counsellor than the faculties of a merry-andrew or tumbler."

-L'Estrange

Friday, December 11, 2009

Increpate:

To chide, to reprehend.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Reticense:

Concealment by silence

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Macaroon:

A coarse, rude, low fellow; whence macaronick poetry, in which the language is purposely corrupted.

Like a big wife, at sight of lothed meat,
Ready to travail; so I sigh and sweat,
To hear this macaroon talk in vain.

-Donne