Chapter Aminadab to Amundeville of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Aminadab to Amundeville

Aminadab A Quaker. The Scripture name has a double m, but in old comedies, where the character represents a Quaker, the name has generally only one. Obadiah is used, also, to signify a Quaker, and Rachel a Quakeress.

Amine (3 syl.) Wife of Sidi Nouman, who ate her rice with a bodkin, and was in fact a ghoul. "She was so hard-hearted that she led about her three sisters like a leash of greyhounds." - Arabian Nights.

Aminte (2 syl.) The name assumed by Cathos as more aristocratic than her own. She is courted by a gentleman, but discards him because his manners are too simple and easy for "bon ton;" he then sends his valet, who pretends to be a marquis, and Aminte is charmed with his "distinguished style of manners and talk." When the game has gone far enough, the trick is exposed, and Aminte is saved from a mésalliance. - Molière: Les Précieuses Ridicules.

It was a prevailing fashion in the Middle Ages to change names; Voltaire's proper name was Arouet (1694--1778); Melancthon's was Schwarzerde (1497--1560). The real names of Desiderius Erasmus were Gheraerd Gheraerd (1467--1336); Anacharsis Clootz was Jean Baptiste Clootz, etc.

Amiral or Ammiral An early form of the word "admiral." (French, amiral; Italian, ammiraglio.) (See Admiral.)

Amlet (Richard) The gamester in Vanbrugh's drama called The Confederacy.

Ammon The Libyan Jupiter; so called from the Greek ammos (sand), because his temple was in the desert. Herodotus calls it an Egyptian word (ii. 42).

Son of Jupiter Ammon. Alexander the Great. His father, Philip, claimed to be a descendant of Hercules, and therefore of Jupiter; and the son was saluted by the priests of the Libyan temple as son of Ammon. Hence was he called the son or descendant both of Jupiter and of Ammon.

Ammonian Horn (The) the cornucopia. It was in reality a tract of very fertile land, in the shape of a ram's horn, given by Ammon, King of Libya, to his mistress Amalthea (q:v.) (the mother of Bacchus).

Ammonites (3 syl.) Fossil molluscs allied to the nautilus and cuttlefish. So called because they resemble the horn upon the ancient statues of Jupiter Ammon. (See above.)

Amon's Son (in Orlando Furioso) is Rinaldo. He was the eldest son of Amon or Aymon, Marquis d'Este, and nephew of Charlemagne.

Amoret brought up by Venus in the courts of love. She is the type of female loveliness - young, handsome, gay, witty, and good; soft as a rose, sweet as a violet, chaste as a lily, gentle as a dove, loving everybody and by all beloved. She is no Diana to make "gods and men fear her stern frown"; no Minerva to "freeze her foes into congealed stone with rigid looks of chaste austerity"; but a living, breathing virgin, with a warm heart, and beaming eye, and passions strong, and all that man can wish and woman want. She becomes the loving, tender wife of Sir Scudamore. Timias finds her in the arms of Corflambo (sensual passion); combats the monster unsuccessfully, but wounds the lady. - Spenser: Faëry Queen, book iii.

Amoret a love-song, love-knot, love-affair, love personified. A pretty word, which might be reintroduced.

"He will be in his amorets, and his canzonets, his pastorals, and his madrigals." - Heywood: Love's Mistress.

"For not icladde in silke was he,
But all in flouris and flourettes,
I-paintid all with amorettes."
Romance of the Rose, 892.

Amorous (The) Philippe I of France; so called because he divorced his wife Berthe to espouse Bertrade, who was already married to Foulques, count of Anjou. (1061--1108.)