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Etymologies
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Examples
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There is as little agreement amongft the learned concerning the etymology of Orichal - cum, as concerning its origin, Thofe who write it Auricbalcumy fuppofe that it is an hybri - dous word, compofed of a Greek term fignify - ing copper, and a Latin one fignifying gold.
Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester 1785
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My brethren here mth oie have thought it their duty to fignify iSbk nee4
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S. 12. and light, what they fignify in Scripture, n Eph. 5. 8.
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What does a few hats fignify, compared with that ar - ticle of luxury, fugar; the confumption of fugar is daily increaling both in America and Europe, and become one of the neceffaries of life.
Anecdotes of the Life of the Right Hon. William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and of the Principle ... 1797
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Sometimes alfo pannagt is ufed to fignify the monev Hfbicb is paid for the pannage itfelf.
Ecclesiastical Law 1797
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* The fmoke of her torment, maybe probably, be deftroycd, either by fuh - taken, as in the paraphrafe, either in the terraneous fires bur fling out of the vol - metaphorical fenfe to fignify the mod canos, that are frequent in thofe parts; dreadful and entire deftruction of all her or by the fire of enemies in befieging it, pomp and power, through the whole ex - when the ten kin?
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Thus their building of the temple did fignify the reformation of the church, having laid the foundation, which reprefents the fecuring of the ground-work of rc« ligion.
Sermons and Other Practical Works: Consisting of Above One Hundred and Fifty Sermons Besides His ... 1796
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But what will this fignify, if in our works we deny him; if in our lives we are like heathens, not knowing or not valuing the bleffing of a Redeemer?
Sermons: by the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Wilson, ... 1795
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But there are two words, which by a fynecdoche are often ufed in fcripture to fignify all his futferings of every kind, from firfl to laft; viz. liis blood and his crofs.
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Chap.T. * ApoJlolicalFdfbffs. - f ably the firft time that the term coming has been thought to fignify the circumftances of one's death.
A Vindication of the Doctrine of Scripture,: Concerning the Deity of Christ: in Reply to Dr ... 1794
paynekjkwordsmith commented on the word fignify
This entry was a complete error. All the quotes were from old pieces of writing that were misread by a transcriber, who saw the old-fashioned Tall S which died out in the 18thC as if it were an "f". I think such entries ought to be discouraged!
June 2, 2014
alexz commented on the word fignify
The 'tall s' in the examples would have been transcribed by Optical Character Recognition software, or people having to decode a captcha to access a website.
Was it really a tall S? Did people really say fignify in the 1700's?
June 2, 2014
qms commented on the word fignify
No, people did not say "fignify." They said "signify" but the printer's convention was to form the "S," sometimes only in the initial position, sometimes more generally, like an elongated "f."
There is an amusing Flanders and Swann treatment of “Greenfleeves,” (funny name for a fong) that you can listen to here.
June 2, 2014
ruzuzu commented on the word fignify
I've added this to my list of long-s-examples. Please feel free to add any others you might come acrofs.
June 2, 2014
alexz commented on the word fignify
With the rhotic shift, I could see the s and f being a thing.
June 2, 2014
qroqqa commented on the word fignify
Of courfe they faid it. The examples in the right-hand column include a ftirring fermon by the late Reverend (and Pious) Samuel Davies, who afsures us:
Now clearly 'liis' was an aberration; perhaps the Devil had pofsefsed him at that moment and he was unable to think clearly. I don't think we fhould take 'liis' ferioufly here. But his firfl futfering: what a fynecdoche!
June 3, 2014