[‘ An issue or talking point used to influence voters temporarily, typically in the period preceding an election.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈɡʊdᵻnʌf ˈmɔːɡ(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈɡʊdəˌnəf ˈmɔrɡən/ Etymology: < good-enough adj. + the name of William Morgan, a New York Freemason who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in 1826. The term originated at the time of the Anti-Masonic Movement in 1828. Public resentment against Freemasons, who were regarded as a secretive elite, had run high for some time.

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[‘ /trans./ To smother, muffle up; to encumber, burden.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈmʌɪðə/, U.S. /ˈmaɪðər/ Forms: 18 *mayther*, 18 *meither*, 18 *meyther*, 18– *mither*, 18– *myther*. Etymology:Variant of moider v.  orig. Eng. regional (north. and midl.).  *1.* /trans./ To smother, muffle up; to encumber, burden. 1847 J. O. Halliwell /Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words/ II, /Mither/, to muffle up; to smother; to encumber. Northampt. 1888 S. O. Addy /Gloss. Words Sheffield/ 149 A Derbyshire woman said that a child was ‘mythered up in clothing’ when it was too much wrapped up.

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[‘ A piece of fun; a game, a jest; a frolic. Freq. in pl.: antics, ‘tricks’.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈɡamək/, U.S. /ˈɡæmək/ Forms: 18 *gammyk* /Eng. regional/ (Devon), 18 *gamock* /Eng. regional/ (Shropshire), 18 *gommack* /Eng. regional/ (Essex), 18– *gamack* /Eng. regional/ (Surrey), 18– *gamak* /Eng. regional/ (E. Anglian), 18– *gamalk* /Eng. regional/ (E. Anglian), 18– *gammick* /Eng. regional/ (Essex), 18– *gammik* /Eng. regional/ (Somerset), 18– *gammock*, 18– *gammuck* /Eng. regional/ (Cheshire), 18– *gammux* /Eng.

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[‘ A spell of anger or strong feeling; a fit of passion. Also as a mass noun: anger, fury.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ɪmˈpɔːtm(ə)nt/, ɛmˈpɔːtm(ə)nt, U.S. /ᵻmˈpɔrtm(ə)nt/, ɛmˈpɔrtm(ə)nt Forms: 16– *emportment*, 19– *emportement*. Etymology: < French /emportement/ fit of passion or rage (1661 in the passage translated in 1663, or earlier) < /emporter/ (reflexive) to be carried away by anger or passion (1632; 10th cent. in Old French in transitive use in sense ‘to transport (something), to take (something) away’ < /em/ em- prefix + /porter/ port v.

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*Pronunciation:* Brit. ˈdʒiːnɪəs , U.S. ˈdʒinjəs Inflections: Plural genii ˈdʒiːnɪaɪ , geniuses. Forms:* ME– *genius, 15–16 genij (plural), 16–18 genious (nonstandard); also Sc. pre-17 genyus; Irish English 19– janius; U.S. regional 18– genus. *Etymology:* < classical Latin genius male spirit of a family, existing in the head of the family and subsequently in the divine or spiritual part of each individual, personification of a person’s natural appetites, spirit or personality of an emperor regarded as an object of worship, spirit of a place, spirit of a corporation, (in literature) talent, inspiration, person endowed with talent, also demon or spiritual being in general (2nd cent.

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*Pronunciation:* ˈdʒɛnjuːɪn *Etymology:* < Latin genuīnus. < pre-Latin *genwo- (compare ingenuus native, free-born, etc.: see ingenuous adj.), < Aryan root *gen- to beget, produce, be born: see kin n.1 †*1.*  *a.* Natural, not foreign or acquired, proper or peculiar to a person or thing, native. Obs. 1607 M. Drayton Legend Cromwel 10 Strongly attracted by a Genuyne light. 1612 M. Drayton Poly-olbion ix. 133 A constant Mayden still shee onely did remaine, The last her genuine lawes which stoutly did retaine.

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[‘ An introductory discourse at the beginning of a piece of writing; a preface, preamble.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈprəʊɛm/, U.S. /ˈproʊˌɛm/ Forms: lME *prochem*, lME *procheyn* transmission error, lME *proheim*, lME *proheime*, lME *proym*, lME–15 *proheme*, 15 *proëme*, 15–16 *prooeme*, 15–18 *proeme*, 15– *proem*, 16–17 *proëm*, 16–18 *prooem*; also /Sc./ pre-17 *proaeme*, pre-17 *proheym*. Etymology: < Middle French /proeme/, proheme (a/1310 in Old French; French /proème) and its etymon classical Latin /prooemium/ (also prohoemium, prohēmium) prooemium n.

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[‘ A person who practises sleight of hand or legerdemain; a conjuror; a juggler. Also in extended use.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌprɛstᵻˈdɪdʒᵻteɪtə/, U.S. /ˌprɛstəˈdɪdʒəˌteɪdər/ Forms: 17– *prestidigitator*, 18– *prestidigitateur* Brit. /ˌprɛstᵻˌdɪ(d)ʒᵻtəˈtəː/, U.S. /ˌprɛstəˌdɪdʒədəˈtər/. Etymology: < French /preste/ nimble (second half of the 15th cent. in Middle French) or its etymon Italian /presto/ presto adj. + classical Latin /digitus/ finger (see digit n.) + -ator suffix, perhaps after prestigiator n. Compare French /prestidigitateur/ (1823), Italian /prestidigitatore/ (1835; < French).

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[‘ As a term of endearment: ‘my love’; ‘dear’.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈɑːɡrə/, U.S. /ˈɑɡrə/ Forms: 18– *a ghradh*, 18– *agra*, 18– *a gra*, 18– *a gradh*, 18– *agrah*, 18– *agraw*, 18– *a graw*, 19– *a ghra*, 19– *aghra*, 19– *agradh*, 19– *a’graw*. Etymology: < Irish /a ghrá/, †/a ghrádh/ < /a/, vocative particle + grá, †/grádh/ love (Early Irish /grád/; of unknown origin). Compare earlier gra int.  /Irish English/.

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[‘ /intr./ To go searching or seeking for something; to go from place to place. Chiefly with adverb or prepositional phrase. Now rare (colloq. in later use).'] Pronunciation: Brit. /bʌsk/, U.S. /bəsk/ Forms: 16 *buske*, 16– *busk*. Etymology:Probably < French /busquer/ to look for, seek (1550 in Middle French), to shift, to filch, to prowl, to catch (1611 in Cotgrave) or its etymon Spanish /buscar/ to seek out, to procure (c/1200), of uncertain origin.

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