DUNCE, _a dull, slow-witted person_: "Duns Scotus," a subtle philosopher of the 13th century. His method of reasoning was very popular in the schools during the Middle Ages, and a very skillful hair-splitter was called a Dunse, but at last, through the influence of the antagonists of the philosopher, the word pa.s.sed into a term of reproach.

EP'ICURE, _one fond of good living_: "Epicurus," a Greek philosopher who was said to teach that pleasure is the chief good.

FAH'RENHEIT, _a thermometer that marks the freezing-point of water at_ 32 (which is different from both the centigrade and the Reaumur thermometer): "Fahrenheit," the inventor.

FUCHSIA (fu'si-a), _a genus of flowering plants_: "Leonard Fuchs," a German botanist of the 16th century.

GAL'VANISM, _a branch of the science of electricity_: "Galvani," an Italian physician, its discoverer.

GEN'TIAN, _a medicinal root_: "Gentian," king of Illyria, who is said to have first experienced the virtues of the plant.

GOB'ELIN, _a rich tapestry_: "Jehan Gobeelen," a Flemish dyer.

GUILLOTINE', _an instrument for beheading_: "Guillotin," who invented and brought it into use at the time of the French Revolution, last century.

HY'GIENE, _the principles and rules of health_: "Hygeia," the G.o.ddess of health in cla.s.sical mythology.

JES'UIT, _a member of the Society of Jesus, formed by Ignatius Loyola in_ 1534: "Jesus."

LYNCH, _to punish without the usual forms of law_: said to be from "Lynch,"

a Virginia farmer, who took the law into his own hands.

MACAD'AMIZE, _to cover a road with small broken stones_: "Macadam," the inventor.

MAGNO'LIA, _a species of trees found in the southern parts of the United States_: "Magnol," a French botanist.

MEN'TOR, _a faithful monitor_: "Mentor," the counselor of Telemachus.

MOR'PHIA, _the narcotic principle of opium_: "Morpheus," the G.o.d of sleep.

NE'GUS, _a mixture of wine, water, and sugar_: Colonel "Negus," who introduced its use in the time of Queen Anne.

OR'RERY, _an apparatus for showing the motions, etc., of the heavenly bodies_: the Earl of "Orrery," for whom one of the first was made.

PALLA'DIUM, _something that affords effectual defense, protection, and safety_: Greek "palla'dion," an image of "Pallas Athene," which was kept hidden and secret, and was revered as a pledge of the safety of the town where it was lodged.

PAN'IC, _a sudden fright_: "Pan," the G.o.d of shepherds, who is said to have caused alarm by his wild screams and appearance.

PE'ONY, _a plant of the genus_ PaeONIA, _having beautiful showy flowers_: "Paeon," its discoverer.

PET'REL, _an ocean bird_: diminutive of Peter, probably so called in allusion to "St. Peter's" walking on the sea.

PHA'ETON, _an open carriage_: "Phaethon," the fabled son of Phbus or the Sun, whose chariot he attempted to drive.

PINCH'BECK, _an alloy of copper and zinc resembling gold_: said to be from one "Pinchbeck," the inventor.

QUAS'SIA, _a bitter wood used as a tonic_: "Qua.s.sy," a negro who discovered its qualities.

RODOMONTADE', _vainbl.u.s.ter_: "Rodomonte," a boasting hero who figures in Ariosto's poem of the _Orlando Furioso_.

SILHOUETTE (sil oo et'), _the outline of an object filled in with black color_: "Silhouette" (see Webster).

TAN'TALIZE, _to torment or tease_: "Tantalus," according to the poets, an ancient king of Phrygia, who was made to stand up to the chin in water with fruit hanging over his head, but from whom both receded when he wished to partake.

TYPHOON', _a violent hurricane which occurs in the Chinese seas_: "Typhon,"

a fabled giant who was taught to produce them.

VOLCA'NO, _a burning mountain_: "Vulcan," the G.o.d of fire.

2.--ADJECTIVES.

AMER'ICAN, _relating to America_: from "Amerigo (Latin, _Americus_) Vespucci"--contemporary of Columbus.

A'RIAN, _relating to Arius_: a theologian of the 4th century who denied the divinity of Christ.

ARISTOTE'LIAN, _relating to the deductive method of reasoning set forth by Aristotle_: a Greek philosopher of the 4th century B.C.

ARMIN'IAN, _relating to Arminius_: a Dutch theologian of the 16th century, who opposed the doctrines of Calvin.

BACO'NIAN, _relating to the inductive method of reasoning set forth by Bacon_: an English philosopher of the 17th century.

CARTE'SIAN, _relating to the philosophy of Descartes_: a French philosopher of the 17th century.

CE'REAL, _relating to grain_: from "Ceres"--the Roman G.o.ddess of corn and tillage.

COPER'NICAN, _relating to Copernicus_: a German philosopher of the 16th century, who taught the theory of the solar system now received, and called the _Copernican system_.

ELIZ'ABETHAN, _relating to the times of Queen Elizabeth of England_: (1558-1603).

EO'LIAN, _relating to the wind_: from "aeolus"--the G.o.d of the winds in cla.s.sic mythology.

ERAS'TIAN, _relating to Erastus_:--a German theologian of the 16th century, who maintained that the Church is wholly dependent on the State for support or authority.

ESCULA'PIAN, _relating to the healing art_: from "Esculapius"--the G.o.d of the healing art among the Greeks.

GOR'DIAN, _intricate, complicated, difficult_: from "Gordius"--king of Phrygia who tied a knot which could not be untied.

HERCULE'AN, _very large and strong_: from "Hercules"--a hero of antiquity celebrated for his strength.

HERMET'IC, _relating to Hermes_--the fabled inventor of alchemy; adv., HERMETICALLY, _in a perfectly close manner_.

HUDIBRAS'TIC, _in the manner of the satirical poem called Hudibras_, by Samuel Butler (1612-1680).

JO'VIAL, _gay, merry_: from "Jupiter" (Jovis),--the planet of that name having in the Middle Ages been supposed to make those who were born under it of a joyous temper.

LINNae'AN, _relating to Linnaeus_--the celebrated Swedish botanist.