A growing assortment of words and definitions used in the Early Modern era. See the Guide for more information.
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Word
Definition
Lavender
A washerwoman; early and rarely also a washerman. Old French lavandier, lavandiere; Latin lavanda, things to be washed; lavare, to wash, cp. laver, The plant probably derived its name from being used (at least as early as the 16th century) for perfuming baths or for laying in newly washed linen; it may, however, be from lividual, diminutive of lividus, livid, bluish, shifted in form by association with the use. A lavendry (14th to 16th century) was a laundry. To lay in lavender, to store away carefully for future use; hence (15th and 16th centuries) to pawn; to put where one can do no harm, as in prison. References to such pawning are frequent; George Chapman in EASTWARD HOE (1605) says: Good faith, rather then thou shouldest pawne a rag more lie lay my ladyship in lavender,, if I knew where. Greene in THE UPSTART COURTIER (1592) pictured a persistent evil: The poore gentleman paies so deere for the lavender it is laid up in, that if it lie long at a broker's housey he seems to buy his apparell twice.
Novation
A simpler form for innovation. Novation was common in Scotland from 1560 to 1650; George Chapman in BUSSY D'AMBOIS (1607) uses the word to mean a revolution. Hence also novator, novatrix; J. B. Rose in his translation (1866) of Ovid's METAMORPHOSES said Nature the novatrix remoulds the frame. Also novaturient (17th century), desirous of novelty or change.
Scoptic
Mocking. Also scoptical. Greek skoptikos; skoptein, to jeer. Thus scoptics, satirical or mocking writings. George Chapman commented (1611) on the ILIAD: In this first and next verse. Homer (speaking scoptically) breakes open the fountaine of his ridiculous humor.
Tread
As a noun. A footprint. A trodden way; a path; a way of life; Buckle in his essay on CIVILIZATION (1862) spoke of conditions which determine the tread and destiny of nations. Also, those that move on the routine paths of life; George Chapman in his translation (1615) of the ODYSSEY: the bread Which now he begg'd amongst the common tread. Hence, a course or manner of behaving; custom; sometimes (16th and 17th centuries) used to mean trade, business. Also, the act of a male bird in intercourse; a tread-fowl, a male bird. Thus the treadle, the little membrane (chalaza) that holds the yolk of an egg in place; so called because it was thought to be the sperm; by extension, an egg. For this use, see fraight; cp. tredefoule.
