N.H., The Ladies Dictionary (1694)

John Considine, Sylvia Brown

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781351916004
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

The ladies dictionary, being a general entertainment for the fair-sex was published on 19 March 1694 by John Dunton. No compiler was named on the title page, but the dedication by 'the author' addressed 'to the Ladies, Gentlewomen, and Others, of the Fair-Sex' was signed 'N. H.' The book offers around 1950 lexical and encyclopaedic entries, the great majority excerpted either verbatim or with some degree of abridgement or adaptation from other published books. It was the first substantial reference book to be published in England with women as its principal target audience, and was arguably the first alphabetically-arranged encyclopaedia to be published in English. The editor's introduction in this edition starts with an overview of the publisher John Dunton, and goes on to discuss the compilers of LD; its sources; its editing, printing and proof-reading; and its advertising, publication and afterlife. It concludes with lists of primary and secondary sources (including all the identified sources of LD). The reproduction of the dictionary that follows is from the Robert H. Taylor collection at Princeton. Because LD is irregularly alphabetized, the reproduction is followed by a new index of entries in strict alphabetical order, with their sources identified.

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THE LADIES DICTIONARY.

A.

ASigal,

Sam. 25.40. i. e. my Fathers Jo, or the rejoicing of my Father. Abigal being Wife to churlish Nabal the Carmelite, by her Prudence in timely meeting David by the way, which her Husband had refused to send him, prevented the Destruction of her House; and Nabal dying for fear when he heard what ruin had like to have fallen upon him, she became David‘s Wife.——

Abisbag,

King. 1. 3. i. e. my Father’s Ignorance, or Errour.

Acsah,

Gnaksah; Josh. 15.16. perhaps deck’d or trimmed with tinkling Ornaments, such as formerly Women wore about their Feer, see I/a,. 3. 16, 18. from the root

gnekes. Ferrers; hence R. LeviGerform writes,

Gnakasim, Sunt sicae ornamenta quest gestant (nuhers) in pedibes suss, i. e. that is, That those (Fetters) were like those Ornaments which (Women) wore on their Feet.

Adelin, i. e. Noble, or descended from Princes.

Agar, see Hagar.

Agatha, a sovn she that is good or ‘honest.

Agnes, i. e. Pure, Holy, Chast, Uedefiled, from asvG which seems to be so called from ᾶγζ, εiς, το, i.e. Veneratio i.e. Honour and Wership, quod cam possidentes veneratione. & laude dignos reddat castitas, i.e. because Chaslity renders them that have it worthy of Honour and Praise, so the Latin word ϰαςoς, i. e dorned, from ϰαζα, to adorn: “For as (Solon faith) pure ‘‘Chastity, is Beauty to our “Souls, Grace to our Bodies, “and Peace to our Desires “so contrariwise, if Chastity “be once lost, there is nothing “left praise worthy in a Women (as Nicephorne faith.)

Alethia, Aλnϑhd, Verisas, i. e. Truth.

Alexander, a helper or succourer of Men.

Alice or Alse i.e Noble, abridged from Ade-hz, Ger. or a Delendress. Fr

Amata, i.e. she that is beloved.

Aimie, i. e. beloved, from aimié. Fr.

Anastare, Etym. ab wasaıσıς i. e. Resurrectio, a Resurrection.

Anthorette, one that lives folitarily, Gr.

Angelletta, dim. from Anpelus i. e. a Messenger, from αγζελλο, to declare.

Anne, see Hammah.

Apphia, Aπϕıα, Phil. 2. it signifies with them that make Comedies, a Mistress, Gr.

Arbella, i. e. God hath avenzed, Heb.

Areta, Aρετπ, i. e. Virtus Virtue, Gr.

Athaliah,

Gnatahabu 2 King. 8–26 as if

Gnee la hovah, i.e. time for the Lord.

Audzie, i. e. noble Advice. Ge.

Avire, i. e. Lady in defence.

Aurcola, i. e. little pretty golden Lady, dim. ab Aram, Gohl.

Azubah,

Gnazubah, a Kinz. 22.24 i.e. forsaken.

Abodona, filled by the Ancients the Goddess of Truc-Lovers, after her death, because in her Life time she had charitably relieved them in their Journey, and furnished them with Guides to shew them the difficult ways.

Acalis bel Acacalis, held to be the Wife of Mercury the Hermf of the Gols, and Daughter of Monos the once amous Kins, of Creer now failed Candy and in the Possession of the Turks, on which the fair Lady. Mercury is held to beget Sydon, the supposed Founder of Sydonia, now Candia in Creet, or Candy.

Acca Laurentia, married Faustalus, Shepherd to King Numpitor, and is famous in Story for. Nursing Romulus and Rheemus, the first Founders of Rome, when they were cast out to be destroyed of wild Beasts on the Mountains; she was also called Lupa, from whence it is fabled they were nursed by a she Woolf.

Acidalia, was a Name given to Venus the fabled Goddess of Beauty, by the Boetiant, from a Fountain there dedicated to her wherein it is said the and the Graces were wont to bathe themselves.

Actia, Mother of August us Crsar, sleeping in Apollos semple, dreamed the was Embraced by a Dragon; and being with Child at another time, dreamed her Bowels were carried into the Air, and spread over all the Earth, which denoted that Son she was soon after delivered of was to he Emperor of Rome, and a mighty Conqueror.

Atte, A Female Bondslave to the Emperor Nero, she was so exceeding beautiful that he not gaining upon her otherways, desired leave of the Senate to many her, pretending she was nobly descended, but that not appealing, his Sate was rejected.

Adzigis, Adargiseis, amongst the Assyrians, was esteemed by them as a Goddess. She was feigned by them to be married to Adad in that Language, signifying one. These two were pictured, the first shooting Raies upwards, and the latter downwards, to signifies the benefit the Earth receives by the Suns influence.

Adamantaca, held to be the Nurse of Jupiter, who by her Prudence placed his Cradle in a Tree among thick Boughs where the Bees fed him certain days with Honey, and saved him from the Destruction wherewith his Father Saturn threaten’d him.

Avelais, Wife of Lothaire the Second, being sollicited by Berrenter the Second (who had usurped her Husband’s Kingdoms) to marry him, she utterly refused it, no Threats or Promises being able to work upon her; so that after a long Imprisonment where she begg’d her. Bread, she had the good Fortune to Escape; and there as a reward of her Constancy in not contenting to the will of that Usurper; Otho the great Emperor of Germany married her, by whom she had many Children, and lived happy the remainder of her days.

Addona, feigned a Goddess, and worshipped by the Heathens, when they defied casie liberty or access to my great Person, because in her Lifetime she had been very courteous and humble to all forts of People. Adrastid, having for the other name Nemisis feigned by poets to be the Daughter of Jupiter, and Necessityas also to be Goddess of Justice or Revenge. The Athenians pictured her with Wings, to shew how ready she was to execute, and the Egyptians sitting on the Moon, and inspecting Human Affairs.

ACmplia, an Italian Woman having been married 12. Years to a Husband, by a strange Metamorphosis, at the end of that time, found her self changed into a Man, and turning off her Husband, married a Wife. Æstretta, a Woman of Laodicea, after long cohabiting; with a Husband, was changed in the like mariner as the foregoing.

Æthia, the Wise of Atlas, was feigned the Daughter of Thetis, and Oceanus having one Son and twelve Daughters, five of the Daughters wept to death upon the Sons being killed by a Serpent, whereupon they were turned into the Stars called Hyades, which rise about St. Santhin‘s Day, and generally bring Lowring or Rainy Weather.

Atrania, she was Wife to Lucinus Buccio, a woman of Masculine Spirit; for though the Senate of Rome had decreed, that Women should not speak in the places of Judicature, unless questions were asked them, she bodily starred up before the Pretors, and pleaded her own Law Suits.

Agarilla, Daughter to Clistenes, was so exceeding beautiful, that all the Grecian Youths were Enamoured on her, and at great colt, made Plays and other Entertainments that she being present they might feast their Eyes on her beauteous face.

Agatha, a Sicilian Lady, who refusing turn Pagan, and Marry Qnintianus the Proconsul, was by him cruelly Tormented, and afterwards put to death: When that day Twelvemonth Mount Altna broke out in a violent Torrent of fire, which dreamed in flames as far as Carana, where she was Mattyred, so that the Pagan Inhabitants looking upon it as a fearful Judgment, for shedding innocent blood; ran to her Grave, and taking the Shroud that covered her, opposed it to the Torrent of Fire, which thereupon immediately stopped.

Agarhociea, a samous Carrezien, so bewitched Ptolome Philopater, King of Egypt, with her Charms and Beauty, that to make way for Marrying her, he made away his Wife Emridiev, by whom he had Peome, Epiphases whom the new advanced Queen would have murthered but the pconie hindered and made her shy the Couned.

Agave, was Daughter to Cadintis and Hermione, Marryed to Echiron of Thebes, by whom she had Pensbeus, who was King of Thebes, after his Fathers death; but torn to pieces by his Mother and other Women, at the feet of Baccus, in their drunken fits, because he disapproved of such unseemly Revels:

Agenozia, was a name the Ancients gave to their Goddess of Industry, and a Temple was erected to her in the Aventine Mount.

Agno, one of the Nimphs-by whom Jupiter was brought up, she gave name, to a Fountain, said to have this rare gist that if in time of drowth, the Priest of Jupiter, Lyceus stirred it with an Oaken bough, a thick milt would arise from in, and immediately gathering into Clouds, send down plenty of Rain.

Aguodice, a Vitgin of Athens, who above all things, desired to study Physick, and became so famous therein that the Physicians envyed her, and accused her before the Arespagotes or Judges, as an Ignorant Pretender; but she gave such Learned Demonstrations, that the Cause not only went for her, hut an Order was made, That any free Woman or Athens, might practice Phyhek, and that the Mers Physicians should no more meddle with Women in Childbirth, seeing the Women were as capable in all matters.

Agzaules, was Daughter to Cecrops, sometimes King of Athens, who being over curious, though forbid if in opening a Basket, wherein Minerva had hid Ericthonius was stricken with Phrenzy to that height of madness, that running to a precipice, she threw her self headlong from it, and was dashed in pieces on the Recks.

Agiripina, Daughter to Marcus Agrippa, she was Marryed to Tyberius the Emperor, by whom he had Drusins.

Agripina Kespania, daughter to M. Agrippa by Julia the Daughter of Augnstus; a Woman Courageous and Chast, but because she prosecuted the Murderers of her Husband: Tyberius banished her.

Agrippiha, wife of Claudius, daughter of Germanicus, and Sister to Caligula, and Mother to Nero, all Casars, so that she had more Emperours in her Family, than any before or after her: She was slain at the commandment of her Son Nero, when he was Emperour, as had been foretold by a Soothsayer, and her belly ripped up to show him the place where he had lain.

Albtina, Anciently held as a Goddess, and worshipped at Rome, had Fane being in a Grove in the Territories of Tyburtum: Some will have her to be Juno, the Daughter of Athmus, who flying her Husbands fury, threw her self together with her son, Melicerta into the Sea.

Ateeste, otherwise Aleest is, she was daughter to Peleus wife to Admetus King of Thessaly; and so loving was she to her husband, that being Condemned, she offered to lay down her Life as a Ransom for his.

Alcippehed. To be the Daughter of Mars and Aglauros, who being pursed by Halirroties, Neptimes Son, who designed to Ravish her, and she crying but for help, Mars came to her rescue, and killed her Pursuer.

There was likewife another Alcippe, daughter to Oenoman wife, to Eucmis, and Mother to Murpissa, who being Ravished by Ida; but the Raviver being pursued, threw himself into the River Lycornd where he is tabled to be turned into a River God.

Ateippe, a Woman mentioned by Pliny, to have brought forth an Elephant.

Aleirhoz, for despising the Feals of Bachhus and spinning at home, whilst other Women were Celebrating her Fettival; is fabled to be turned into a Batt, and her spinning yarn into Ivy and a Vine.

Alemeria, Electryas daughter by Lysidice, and Wife to Amphitryo, on her Jupiter begot Hercules, by forming to himself the shape of her Husband, which Hercuies became famous for his great Labours.

Althea, Wife to Collidon, upon notice that all her Sons except Meleager were slain in Battle, threw a brand into the Fire, on which the Fates had write his desteny, at the Expiration of which, though many miles distant he dyed, and upon notice of his death, after repenting, her rash Act, she killed herself.

Amalasontha, Daughter to the Austra-gothick King a Woman of rare Wit and Ingenuity, so that after the death of her Father, taking the Government upon her; she answered all Ambassadors in their own Language: But marrying her Kinsman, that he might assist her in the Government, he put her to death, to gain a more absolute power, which Justinian the Roman Emperour Revenged, by driving him and his people out of Iralv.

Amalrhea, was Daughter to Melisius King of Greet, and said to Nurse Jupiter with Goats Milk and Honey, when his Father Saturis had doomed him to death, for which he afterwards gave her plenty of what ever she desired, and placed the Goat as the Celestial Sign Capricorn.

Amestric, Wife to Xerxes King of Persia, upon a jealousie that her Husband loved his Sons Wife, took an opportunity to beg her of him in a drunken humour, at his Feast, called, Tyeta, and then most. Inhumanely murthered her she like wife caused divers of the Persian Nobility to be buryed alive as Sacrisices to her Idol, that she might have long Life, and be prosperous in her undertakings.

Ampmone, Accounted the Daughter of Danaus, she gave her self much to Hunting, and in a Forrest, letting an Arrow fly at Random, she wounded a Satyr, who thereby being roused, pursued her to Ravish her, but upon her Invocation, Neptune rescued her, and for that kindness got her good will, and by him she conceived, and brought forth Nauplcous a famous Hero.

Ancelis, was Celebrated amongst the Eastern People, and the fairest Females that could be chosen, were her Priestesses, who by an Indecent custom, prostituted their Chastity to such as came to offer at her Shrine, which brought her crouds of Adorers.

Anchite, Queen of Sparta, upon a discovery, that her Son designed to betray her Country to her Enemy; Ordered him to be brought to Justice, but upon notice of it he fled to the Temple of Minerva, which she caused to be so strictly guarded, in order to prevent his Escape, that he there perished by famine.

Andzonieda, Daughter to Cepheus, for her Mothers comparing her Beauty to that of the Ner...