] before a word or
definition
indicates that the word
or the particular meaning is obsolete; parallel lines [ || ] before
a word, that it has never become naturalized in English; an
interrogation point [ ?
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
8. 142, 3 I will tell truth=, etc. Jonson uses this proverb again
in _Tale Tub_, _Wks._ 6. 150: 'tell troth and shame the devil.'
GLOSSARY
This glossary is designed to include obsolete, archaic, dialectal,
and rare words; current words used in obsolete, archaic, or
exceptional senses; and, so far as practicable, obsolete and archaic
phrases. Current words in current uses have occasionally been
included to avoid confusion, as well as technical words unfamiliar to
the ordinary reader. Favorite words have been treated, for the sake
of illustration, with especial fullness.
For most words treated in its volumes published up to March, 1905,
Murray's _New English Dictionary_ is the chief authority. For
words not reached by that work the _Century Dictionary_ has been
preferred. The _Stanford Dictionary_ has been found especially
useful for anglicized words. It has often been necessary to resort
to contemporary foreign dictionaries in the case of words of Romance
origin.
It has been thought best to refer to all or nearly all important
passages. Etymologies are given only in cases of especial interest.
A dagger [ ?
] before a word or
definition
indicates that the word
or the particular meaning is obsolete; parallel lines [ || ] before
a word, that it has never become naturalized in English; an
interrogation point [ ?
], that the case is doubtful.
=A=, _prep._ [Worn down from OE. preposition _an_, _on_.]
With _be_: engaged in. _Arch._ or _dial._ 5. 1. 4.
