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#105435 - 06/12/03 04:58 AM accinge and excubant
Bingley Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/09/00
Posts: 3065
Loc: Jakarta
Two more words from "Crotchet Castle":

An immense bowl of spiced wine, with roasted apples hissing on its surface, was borne into the hall by four men, followed by an empty bowl of the same dimensions, with all the materials of arrack punch, for the divine's especial brewage. He accinged himself to the task, with his usual heroism; and having finished it to his entire satisfaction, reminded his host to order in the devil.

THE REV DR FOLLIOTT
I think, Mr Chainmail, we can amuse ourselves very well here all night. The enemy may be still excubant: and we had better not disperse till daylight. I am perfectly satisfied with my quarters. Let the young folks go on with their gambols; let them dance to your old harper's minstrelsy; and if they please to kiss under the mistletoe, whereof I espy a goodly bunch suspended at the end of the hall, let those who like it not, leave it to those who do. Moreover, if among the more sedate portion of the assembly, which, I foresee, will keep me company, there were any to revive the good old custom of singing after supper, so to fill up the intervals of the dances, the steps of night would move more lightly.





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#105436 - 06/12/03 08:33 AM Re: accinge and excubant
wwh Offline
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Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
"accinge" might have same root at "cingulum" = ?belt or girdle? One site gave its meaning as "to apply oneself".
That would fit in the given passage.

The same site gave "keeping watch" for "excubant". It sounds more like "sleeping outside".

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#105437 - 06/12/03 09:57 PM Re: accinge and excubant
Bingley Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 04/09/00
Posts: 3065
Loc: Jakarta
In fact, that's what the Latin verb excubo originally meant. For the way the word developed, see http://makeashorterlink.com/?J185269E4


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