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LEME searches and displays word-entries from monolingual English dictionaries, bilingual lexicons, technical vocabularies, and other encyclopedic-lexical works, 1480-1755. Read more

What's New

2021

LEME has settled into bright new quarters in two offices and a carrell on the 14th floor of Robarts Library. My thanks to Larry Alford (Chief Librarian), Sian Meikle (Associate Chief Librarian for Digital Strategies and Technology, and LEME's Library Liaison), and Arts and Science for giving us this high-demand space. The Library also generously furnished LEME offices with... Read more

Word of The Day

Spathula mundani.His instrument is newly deuised by my selfe, to serue vpon any occasion of extreame costiuenesse, which often happeneth to sea men, so that no purging medicine neither vpward nor dowenward administred or taken will worke, which my selfe haue more then once seen, in which case the fundament, with the speculum ani aforesaid, if occasion vrge, is to be opened, and the spoone end of this instrument put in and the hard excrements therewith drawne out, which in some bodies are so drie that they may be poudered. This disease killeth many, and may by the diligent Artist be easily cured as aforesaid. This recited instrument may bee easily forced into the fundament with the speculum ani to conduct it, being annointed or greased, and first warmed a little; this greife commeth now and then to men which haue the scuruie...
John Woodal. The Surgeon's Mate (1617)
James Howell's Lexicon Tetraglotton (1660) frontispiece

James Howell's Lexicon Tetraglotton (1660) frontispiece,
Courtesy of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
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