
You will find that the language of the early 1800’s is somewhat different than today. These are a few of the words that I have found and what they meant then.
&c. | etc. |
Abate | Subside, retreat, decline |
about | approximately, or in the near vacinity of, or ready to |
acceed | absolute form of accede (to agree) |
Acclivity | An upward slope |
accosted | approach and address boldly |
ad nauseam | disgust that has continued so long – to the point of nausea |
adamic | pertaining to Adam (Language in garden of eden) |
Adonis | God of Beauty and desire |
agone | archaic form of ago |
akimbo | with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward. |
alcalde | Magistrate or Mayor in Spanish |
Alderney | Extinct breed of cow from British Island |
Amount | Surrounded by, or equivalent (reach in kind) |
anon | soon or shortly |
assuaged | to soothe, calm, or mollify: |
atone | make amends or reparation |
bach | A small modest home (bachelor’s crib) |
bane | Cause of great distress |
batch | Living as a bachelor |
Beau Brumell | arbiter of men’s fashion |
blarneying | Using charm and pleasant flattery to persuade |
bombast | High-sounding language- little meaning to impress people |
caboose | a kitchen on the deck of a ship; galley. |
cache | hiding place for stores |
Campbellites | Follower of Thomas Campbell – Disciples of Christ claim origin from them. |
Carmine | Deep-Red Pigment from the cochineal scale |
catamount | cat of the mountain. |
chicanery | Deception by sophisticated trickery |
chide | Scold or rebuke |
Clamor | Loud Confused shouting of people |
compelled | Force or oblige (someone) to do something |
compunctions | Feeling of guilt that follows doing something bad |
corpulency | overweight |
deadly Upas, | Posion sap used on posion arrows |
demeanor | Outward behavior or actions |
deputed | appoint or instruct to perform task |
desultory | lacking a plan, casual, superficial |
disconsolate | cheerless, unhappy |
Doggery | A cheap Saloon |
éclat | brilliant display or effect |
Eddy | circular movement of water, causing whirlpool |
edifying | providing moral or intellectual instruction |
embark | begin a course of action |
empanelled | enrolled onto a jury |
enemy movements. | |
Enjoined | Urged or instructed to do |
enphonious | |
epithets | Descriptive phrase of personal characteristics |
equivocated | use ambigous language to conceal the truth |
espoused | To support a cause |
exultation | triumphant yell of joy |
fin de siecle | end of century |
firejam | |
fisticuffs | Fighting with the fists |
flitters | Bread cooked similar to pancakes |
foray | raid or sudden attack |
Fourpence | British Coin worth 1/60th of a pound sterling |
Freshet | spring thaw |
furlong | |
furore | outbreak of public anger or excitement |
glee | great pleasure or satisfaction |
gratously | |
Gullied | eroded ravine in soil |
hasten | to speed up |
held sway | have a controlling interest |
impetuous | quickly without thought or care |
incontrovertible | Not able to be denied or disputed |
inculated | Impress upon or teach by frequent instruction |
Inkpaduta | Ink-pa-du-ta (sub-chief to Blackhawk) |
intimation | indication or hint |
introducted | past tense of introduce |
inveterate | long established habbit |
jorums | large jug or bowl for serving liquor |
Larrup | To beat or thrash |
Lawing | Exercising the practice of law |
leggins | buckskin leg coverings |
Linn | Wood from a linden or basswood tree |
linsey wammus | Hunting Shirt of coarse woven fabric |
lope | long bounding stride |
Lugubrious | very sad especially in an exaggerated or insincere way |
magnanimous | very generous or forgiving toward a rival |
Malice Prepence | Premeditated and deliberate criminal act |
meandered | wader at random – like river |
melee | a confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle |
Milch | Middle English for Milk |
muss | in a state of disorder |
Nimrod | Mighty Hunter |
nob | |
pampas | plain – fertile lowlands |
panoply | splendid display |
pantaloon | man’s close-fitting garment for the hips and legs, |
pell mell | in a confused, rushed or disorderly manner |
perambulating | walk or travel through an area |
perfidious | deceitful and untrustworthy |
pettifogger | |
phiz | A persons face or expression |
physiognomy | Facial features |
pickets | soldiers performing a specific function |
Pirouke or Pea Rogue | trading boat |
proclivity | inclination or tendency to do something regularly |
pugilistical | Related to Fist Fighting |
puncheon | Split log with one face smoothed |
punctiliously | meticulous, strictly attentive to minute details |
quandom | former |
reconnoitering | make a military observation |
recreancy | shameful cowardice |
remonstrances | a forcefull reproachful protest |
riffle | shallow stream with rapid current, surface broken by rocks |
rigmarole | Lengthy and complicated procedure |
rout | disorderly retreat of defeated troups |
sallied | a military sortie – sudden rush |
salute | A formal gesture made |
skullduggery | Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior |
slough | stagnant wetland, swamp, or shallow lake |
Sock-dolger | a forceful blow |
spreeing | random acts of fun and sport, no direction |
succor | give assistance or aid |
Suttlers | civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army |
temerity | Excessive confidence or boldness, audacity |
titbit | small piece of tasty food |
Tow | coarse, broken fibre, removed during processing flax |
trans-mognified | transform in surprising or magical manner |
vedettes | mounted sentry beyond outposts to observe enemy movements. |
Verdue | Green growth health and vigor |
viz | namely; in other words |
wammus | warm jacket |
Waumas | Heavy Wool Shirt |
whit | a very small part or amount |
wick-a-up | shelter made of sticks and bark |
Wight | Unfortunate living human being |
withal | in addition |
Withes | tough flexible branch of willow to bind or wrap |
wont | in the habit of doing something |
wooer | seek the favor, affection |
wroth | intensely angry |