Chapter Animosity to Anthony of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Annus Mirabilis The year of wonders, 1666, memorable for the great fire of London and the successes of our arms over the Dutch. Dryden has written a poem with this title, in which he describes both these events.

Anodyne Necklace (An), a halter. An anodyne is a medicine to relieve pain. Probably a pun on nodus, a knot, is intended also. George Primrose says: "May I die by an anodyne necklace, but I had rather be an under-turnkey than an usher in boarding-school."

Anomoeans or Unlikists. A sect in the fourth century, which maintained that the essence of the Son is wholly unlike that of the Father. (Greek, anmoios, unlike.)

Anon immediately, at once. The Old English an-on or an-ane = at once. Variants, on one, anone.

"They knewye hym in brekyng of brede, and onone he vanyste awaye fro hem." - MS. Lincoln, A 1, 17.

"Spek the lion ...
To the fox anone his wille."
Wright's Political Songs.

"For the nonce" is a corrupt form of "For the-n once," where the-n is the accusative case, meaning "For the once" or "For this once."

Anon-rightes Right quickly.

"He had in town five hundred knightes,
He hem [them ] of [off ] sent anon-rightes."
Arthur and Merkin, p. 88.

Ansarian The Moslems of Medina were called Ansarians (auxiliaries) by Mahomet, because they received him and took his part when he was driven from house and home by the Koreishites (Kore-ish-ites).

Answer is the Old English and-swaru, verb and swar-ian or swerian, where And is the preposition = the Latin re in re-spond-eo. (See Swear.)

To answer like a Norman, that is, evasively.

"We say, in France. "Answering like a Norman," which means to give an evasive answer, neither yes nor no." - Max O'Rell; Friend M”Donald, ch. v.

To answer its purpose, to carry out what was expected or what was intended. Celsus says, "Medicina sæpius respondet, interdum tamen fallit."

To answer the bell is to go and see what it was rung for.

To answer the door is to go and open it when a knock or ring has been given.

In both the last two instances the word is "answering to a summons."

To swear means literally "to affirm something," and to an-swear is to "say something" by way of rejoinder; but figuratively both the "swer" and the "answer" may be made without words.

"... My story being done, ...
She [Desdemona ] swore [affirmed ] 'twas strange,...
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful."
Shakespeare: Othello, i. 3.

Answer more Scotico (To). To divert the direct question by starting another question or subject.

""Hark you, sirrah," said the doctor, "I trust you remember you are owing to the laird 4 stone of barleymeal and a bow of oats. ..."
""I was thinking," replied the man more Scotico, that is, returning no direct answer on the subject on which he was addressed, "I was thinking my best way would be to come down to your honour, and take your advice, in case my trouble should come back."" - Sir Walter Scott: The Abbot, ch. xxvi.

Antaeos in Greek mythology, was a gigantic wrestler, whose strength was invincible so long