/chuckle-meaning

// Verb. 

// Pronunciation and accent: tʃʌk(ə)l).  

// Etymology: it is said to be derived from the verb CHUCK “to make a clucking noise”, to which is suffixed –le (suffix with frequentative force). W. Skeat: it might be related to CHOKE more immediately than to CHUCK. 

// Preterite tense, preterite participle: chuckled.

// Present participle: chuckling.

// It is dated from the end of 1500.

// Intransitive: 1. Obsolete meaning: to laugh convulsively.

// 2. To laugh in a suppressed manner, as if inwardly; to laugh to oneself, as when one congratulates oneself; to laugh quietly with a chuckle (an almost inaudible laugh).

// Antonyms: to sulk, pout, boody.

// Synonyms for “chuckle”: titter, giggle, snigger, snicker, sniggle.

// Translation: ridacchiare, in Italian; reír entre dientes, in Spanish; glousser, in French.

The last man being gone, Mr Gregsbury rubbed his hands and chuckled, as merry fellows will, when they think they have said or done a more than commonly good thing.

Dickens… Nicholas… 1839

Making an obeisance, the man left the baron alone, chuckling in anticipation of success.

Pierce Egan… Robin Hood… 1840

Gibson chuckled with delight; he had humbugged a stranger.

Marryat… Travels and Adventures… 1843

I chuckled excessively when I thought of my acumen. It was the first time I had ever known Wyatt to keep from me any of his artistical secrets.

E. Poe… The Oblong Box… 1844

// With the preposition “over” + the cause of the joy:

Joe Duncombe was, to tell the truth, a little ashamed of his credulity on that occasion. He entertained no doubt that he had been victimized by a clever practical joke, and while he chuckled over the recollection that it had been an expensive jest to the perpetrator, who had lost a valuable gold coin by the transaction, he had no fancy for exposing himself to any further ridicule on the occasion.

E. Braddon… Run to Earth 1868

// With the preposition “at” + a noun, or a gerund, by which the cause of the joy is designated:

Gashford, with many a sly look towards the bed, sat chuckling at his master's folly.

Dickens… Barnaby… 1841

Upon the eighth night, I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers - of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back - but no.

E. Poe… The Tell-Tale… 1843

... they chuckled inwardly at the idea of the workmen's discomfiture and defeat, in their attempt to alter one iota of what Thornton had decreed.

Gaskell… North and South… 1854

… my companions chuckled hugely at the success of their manoeuvre.

Burton… First footsteps… 1856

Jeremiah chuckled at having forced her to adopt his phrase.

Dickens… Little Dorrit… 1857

“Buenos días, Señor!” returned the captain, with so vile a pronunciation that Jack could scarcely repress a smile. He passed on unrecognized, and chuckled at having so completely deceived the worthy captain.

H. Strang… The Light brigade in Spain… 1905

Corson chuckled at the thought of such easy money.

M. Brand… Alcatraz… 1923

// With a verb in infinitive, by which the cause of the joy is designated:: 

Next to Nicot, an old woman and a young virgin were muttering in earnest whispers, and the atheist painter chuckled inly to overhear their discourse.

E. Lytton… Zanoni… 1842

// With the preposition “to” + noun of the person to whom the chuckler signifies joy by a chuckle:

Approaching the nest, … [Charley] gently lifted the crying infant from between its two screeching and somewhat pugnacious companions. The moment he had done so, the little innocent became quiet, and instantly recognising him, she held out her hands, and smiled and chuckled to him....

T. Lauder… Tales of the Highlands… 1841

… Sarah Benson instantly chuckled to her daughters to attract their notice before Seph had passed the door to the men’s side.

E. Marshall… Life’s aftermath… 1877

//  With reflexive pronoun: 

The old man walked all around the big bell. Not a boy was to be seen… The boys chuckled to themselves as they watched the puzzled old man walking around the bell, again and again peering over the balustrade…

Noah Brooks… Fairport 1880

He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands together.

Doyle… Sherlock Holmes… 1892

// With reciprocal meaning:

The men on the doorsteps chuckled to each other and kept silence.

W. Johnson… Among French folk… 1922

// Transitive: to utter (a sound, interjection, etc.) while chuckling. 

"He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector.

A. Doyle… Sherlock… 1892

Harrigan chuckled his triumph and went on with the scrubbing of the bridge.

M. Brand… Harrigan… 1918

// With the adverb “out”, in a pleonastic construction:

He chuckled out a deep rumbling laugh of amusement.

A. Hope… The Great Miss Driver… 1908

// English words derived from “chuckle”: chuckler, chuckling, chucklingly. 

 

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 /CHIP-meaning

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation: tʃɪp.

-) Etymology: from Middle English chippen.

-) Preterite tense: chipped (tʃɪpt).  Preterite participle: chipped.

-) Present participle: chipping.

-) It is dated from the end of 1400.

-) Transitive: -) 1. Obsolete meaning: to pare (bread) by cutting away its crust..

-) 2. To hew with a cutting tool, as an ax, chisel, adze, etc. 

One of the men was sitting on an upturned box beside the fire, waiting for the gently-humming kettle to boil; whilst the other was chipping wood outside the house.

E. Landor… The Bushman… 1847

… there was cold ham, and chipped beef, and sausages.

James Hall… Legends… 1869

-) 3. To cut one or more small pieces from (something); to break one or more fragments off; to cut or break into fragments; to reduce to chips.

-) Translation: astillar, in Spanish; ébrécher, in French; scheggiare, in Italian.

Near these relicks there is a defaced inscription… It was defaced, as we were informed, by two Frenchmen, who, because they could not read it themselves, chipped it off out of spite to the British travellers.

J. Galt… Voyages and travels… 1812

… the large blue dish for the cake is not chipped at the edges.

E. Carrington… Confessions… 1828

The rails fencing the lawn from what was termed the park, were rotten, chipped, broken down, or tied together with pack-thread.

E. Pickering… The Squire… 1837

One of the demonstrators dined with us upon a certain occasion, when a glass was observed to be slightly chipped at the rim, and a remark was made on the delicacy of the blow that had fractured so nicely without destroying the glass.

The Dollar Magazine… Vol. 2… 1842

The Old Red House was the same shadowy, mysterious looking place as heretofore. Though occupied, nothing had been done to sustain or decorate it; indeed, decay seemed going apace in its destruction. Its paint was still more chipped by wind and rain.

E. Meteyard… Lilian’s golden hours… 1858

-) 4. To cut or break (a small piece or a chip) from something.

-) With “off”, “from”, etc. 

As we walked on, many were the fragments of stones or of soil that Bob picked up, and, as he chipped them with his hammer, we discussed their nature, the order of formations to which they belonged, the metals whose ores they contained, or the chemical or other properties by which they were distinguished.

R. Douglas… Adventures… 1848

One sat up and chipped earth from his huge boots with an iron girder he grasped in his hand; the second rested on his elbow; the third whittled a pine tree into shape and made a smell of resin in the air.

H. Wells… The Food… 1903

-) 5. To diminish or shape by cutting away small portions; to make (a work) by chipping.

We have never seen a man who could take a round ball, and so chip it off on four sides as to make a square block, and have nothing left.

The Mechanic… Vol. 3… 1834

Agates are made into marbles at Oberstein by first chipping the pieces nearly round with a hammer, and then wearing them down upon the face of large grindstones.

American cyclopaedia… 1861

-) 6. (Of a chicken) to crack (the egg-shell).

There has it dwelt, since first it chipped the shell, and came forth from the clear brown egg.

The Sporting magazine… 1856

-) 7. (Of a player) to put in a chip or chips as one’s share of a stake; stake chips; hence, to make one’s contribution; to contribute.

-) Found only in the colloquial combination “chip in”. Also as intransitive verb.

-) Intransitive: -) 1. To make chipping strokes.

Peter opened the letter and read it. Then without a word, he gave it open to the Dozent. There was silence in the laboratory while the Dozent read it, silence except for his canary, which was chipping at a lump of sugar.

M. Rinehart… The Street… 1914

-) 2. (Of a thing) to break in one or more small pieces; to be chipped.

The old peasant so often mentioned in the preceding pages spoke of the inscription as originally cut or scratched upon a thin "tabulet" which hung from a projection on the headstone in the glen. Something like a projection still remains; the tablet is not to be found. The stone itself is of a white flaky substance, which has gradually chipped off, with the moisture of the grotto; and if the tablet were of the same material, this may account for its disappearance.

G. Darley… The labours of idleness… 1826

-) 3. To chip at: to aim a blow at, hit at; also, to banter.

-) It is also found with the omission of “at”, and equivalent to “to make (a person) the object of a joke”.

-) Words derived from CHIP: chipping, chipper, chipped, unchipped.

 

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 /CHERISH-meaning

-) Transitive verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: tʃɛrɪʃ.

-) It is dated from the beginning of 1300.

-) Etymology: from Middle French cheriss-, stem of chérir “to cherish, hold dear”, from cher “dear”, + -ish, from Latin carus “dear”.

-) 1. Obsolete meanings: -) a. To treat caressingly or fondly; to hold dear. -) b. To caress; to pat endearingly.

… you shall cherish him [the horse], that he may understand what your will is.

Gervase Markham… A Way to Get Wealth… 1695

-) 2. Rare: -) a. To treat with fostering care; nurse (children). -) b. To cultivate (a plant, etc.)

… it is cherished in the gardens of Italie.

J. Gerard… The Herball… 1636

In wandering round the shattered walls and through the devastated interior, I gathered evidence that the calamity was not of late occurrence.  Winter snows, I thought, had drifted through that void arch, winter rains beaten in at those hollow casements; for, amidst the drenched piles of rubbish, spring had cherished vegetation: grass and weed grew here and there between the stones and fallen rafters.

C. Bronte… Jane… 1847

We left him in the arms of his faithful nurse, and we find him still tenderly loved and cherished by her. 

C. Crosland… Lydia 1852

… Peggy cherished the girl with an all-indulgent tenderness…

Oliphant… The House on the Moor… 1861

-) 3. Obsolete meaning: to entertain kindly, cherishingly or lovingly (a guest).

-) 4. Obsolete and rare: to keep carefully and cherishingly (a thing, either material o immaterial).

This book I had again and again perused with delight… Yet, when this cherished volume was now placed in my hand--when I turned over its leaves, and sought in its marvellous pictures the charm I had, till now, never failed to find--all was eerie and dreary…

C. Bronte… Jane… 1847

-) 5. Archaic and rare: to keep warm.

-) 6. To keep, maintain or entertain (a hope, design, thought, etc.) in the mind, as if by cultivation or nursing.

He was too cordial-hearted, however, to cherish any malice against the offenders.

C. Frances… Mothers… 1830

To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious dog, I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable.  

Poe… The Black Cat… 1843

It would be difficult to say why they cherished this fancy…

S. Cooper… Rural Hours… 1850

Henry was incapable of cherishing vindictive feelings against any one.

C. Hentz… Robert… 1855

He was aware of this change of feeling, despised himself for it, struggled with it nay, internally yielded to it and cherished it, long before he suffered the slightest expression of it, by word, action, or look, to escape him.

Dickens… A House to Let… 1858

We walked round the ruined garden twice or thrice more, and it was all in bloom for me. If the green and yellow growth of weed in the chinks of the old wall had been the most precious flowers that ever blew, it could not have been more cherished in my remembrance.

Dickens… Great Expectations… 1861

-) Hence: /cherished (participial adjective):

… whenever I pressed him to divulge the cherished secret, he shook his head knowingly, and placing his finger on his nose, uttered solemnly the word, "Wait!"—and I did so.

Bentley's Miscellany, vol. IX 1842

Henry, to whom Robert the night before had told his plighted faith to Julia, rejoiced at this consummation of his cherished wishes.

Hentz… Robert Graham… 1856

-) English words derived from the verb CHERISH: cherisher, cherishing, cherishingly, cherishment, cherishable, uncherished, uncherishing.

 

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/chary-meaning

/chary

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: tʃɛərɪ.

-) Comparative form: charier.

-) Superlative form: chariest.

-) Etymology: from Old English cearig “careful”, from cearu, caru “care”. Walter Skeat: chary is the adjective of care, and partakes of its double acceptation: sorrow, heedfulness.

-) It is dated from 1000.

-) 1. Obsolete and pristine meanings: -) a. Causing sorrow. -) b. Feeling sorrow.

-) 2. Archaic meaning: kept or preserved carefully as an object of affection.

-) 3. Current meaning: (the subject: an animated being) careful, cautious; caring much.

-) Synonyms for “chary”: wary, cautious, circumspect, careful, prudent, heedful, concerned, interested, mindful, attentive, solicitous, regardful.

-) Antonyms of “chary”: reckless, careless, rash, heedless, unconcerned; not caring; uninterested; indifferent, regardless, unattending, inattentive, unmindful, unsolicitous, unheedful, incautious, unchary.

… the importance of being chary of one's steed on the prairies.

Irving… A Tour on the Prairies… 1835

-) a. Specially: careful about what to eat and what not to eat; hesitant about food; fastidious:

Another [eagle], which is rather smaller, not so powerful, … is either for the land or water, hunting or fishing…; not inhabiting so wild places, nor quite so chary in its food as the former…

R. Mudie… The feathered tribes… 1834

-) b. In special: cautiously reluctant; careful no to do something.

-) It is usually construed with the prepositions “of”, “in”. Less usually “about”.

There is a coarser variety of this fish… that is not so chary in taking the bait.

The Sporting magazine… 1840

It appears that the populace, having become somewhat chary in their belief in astrologers, conjurors, and mountebanks, were more loth than before to part with their money to such worthies.

London. Vol. 1-2, edited by C. Knight… 1842

She was on all occasions chary of opening the street door.

Dickens… Chuzzlewit… 1844

… his habitual reserve often concealed feelings that he was chary of displaying.

J. Stepney… Leaves from the diary… 1854

He looked habitually on the ground when he conversed, was chary of speech, embarrassed.

J. Motley… The Rise… 1855

The sheriff's name was O'Malley, which is reason enough why Luis was chary of confiding Mexican secrets to his keeping.

Bower… Starr… 1917

-) b. In special: careful not to waste; careful not to part with.

-) It is usually construed with the preposition “of”.

The ancient Persians, as well as the Parthians, esteemed water the best drink: for, we are told of their kings, that they drank nothing but water; of which they were very chary, as well as cautious in their choice.

C. Lucas… An essay on waters… 1756

The Literary Club… had now been in existence several years. Johnson was exceedingly chary at first of its exclusiveness, and opposed to its being augmented in number.

Irving… O. Goldsmith… 1832

Fortunately, however chary the Indians might be of their horses, they were liberal of their dogs.

Irving… Astoria… 1836

At five o'clock in summer, at seven in winter (for Miss Honeyman, a good economist, was chary of candlelight), Hannah woke up little Sally, and these three women rose.

Thackeray… The Newcomes… 1854

My father sits… in his chair all day, more chary of speech than ever, more irritable, and with look more vacant.

Robinson… The House… 1855

[Gustave] haunted the dull salon, dim and dreary in the twilight; for Madame Magnotte was chary of lamps and candles, and prolonged to its utmost limits the pensive interval between day and night.

E. Braddon… Charlotte's Inheritance… 1868

I have other things that I care more to write to you about than politics, and am chary of my space, because, though I can cross my letter, I can only have one sheet of paper.

F. Kemble… Records of a Girlhood… 1878

-) Words derived from “chary”: unchary, charily, chariness.

 

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/celebrate-meaning

/celebrate-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: sɛlɪbreɪt. 

-) Etymology: from Latin celebratus, participle of celebrare “to frequent, celebrate”, from celeber “much frequented, famous”.

-) Transitive: -) 1. (Documented since 1500) to perform (a ceremony, a marriage, etc.) by means of a celebration; to perform solemnly with the appropriate rite; to solemnize. 

… to have your nuptials celebrated.

S. Richardson… Clarissa… 1748

The widow then, partially keeping her promise, actually celebrated her nuptials on the appointed evening.

J. Motley… United Netherlands… 1869

… celebrated his funeral with great magnificence

J. Lord… Ancient States… 1869

-) 2. Obsolete meaning: to enter into (a contract). (Documented since 1500).

-) 3. -) a. To solemnize; to commemorate (an anniversary, festival, etc.) with one or more ceremonies or rites; to observe with rites or with special formality.

-) Translation: célébrer, in French; celebrar, in Spanish; celebrare, in Italian.

… soldiers of the conqueror, who celebrated his victories by a splendid festival.

J. Lord… Ancient States… 1869

-) Also without a direct object. (Documented since 1900).

-) 4. -) a. To make publicly known or much talked about; to render celebrated. 

-) b. To speak the praises of (somebody or something famous)

This natural group has been long celebrated for their docility, and easy instruction, whether in music, or in performing a variety of tricks.

A. Wilson… American ornithology… 1808

[The] beauty of her eyes, so celebrated by all the contemporary poets.

A. Jameson… Visits and Sketches… 1834

[Sea Perch fish] was celebrated as well for the excellency of its flavour, as for the stratagems it used when encircled by nets, or fastened by the hook.

Jardine… The Natural History of Fishes… 1835

-) Celebrated (adjective): having celebrity; famous; famed; renowned.

-) Words derived from the verb CELEBRATE: celebration, celebrity, celebrating, celebrational, celebrative, celebrator, celebratory, uncelebrated.

 

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/caution-verb-meaning

/caution-verb-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: kɔːʃən.

-) Third-person singular simple present: she, he, it cautions.

-) Preterite tense, preterite participle: cautioned.

-) Present participle: cautioning.

-) Etymology: from the noun “caution”, which is from Latin caution “caution”, from caut- participial stem of cavere “to beware, to caution oneself”.

-) It is dated from 1600.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To give a caution to (a person); to advise (them) to be careful or to take heed of danger, risk, or misconduct.

-) Synonyms for “caution”: to warn, admonish, forewarn.

-) Antonyms: to deceive, advise, delude.

-) Translation: avertir, in French; advertir, in Spanish; avvertire, in Italian.

I recollect now how you used to caution me when a girl.

C. Marryat… Jacob… 1842

As we neared the grounds returning, he stopped me and we had a further brief confidential talk together. I was young and egotistical enough to think that I could defy all the rivals in existence, but he cautioned me, saying: "Hold on, Tom. You're young yet; you know nothing about the weaker sex, absolutely nothing.”

A. Adams… A Texas Matchmaker… 1904

-) With the preposition “against” + a noun or a gerund:

[They] cautioned me against melancholy.

S. Richardson… Clarissa… 1748

… women cannot be cautioned too much against such lovers.

H. Fielding… Amelia… 1751

It is sufficient… to caution the reader against drawing general inferences from particular instances.

P. Shelley… A Defence of Poetry… 1821

To caution him against their visitor, to show any fear or suspicion in reference to him, would only be, she feared, to increase that interest with which Barnaby regarded him, and to strengthen his desire to meet him once again.

Dickens… Barnaby Rudge 1841

… he cautioned her against assumptions and appearances.

Dickens… Little Dorrit… 1857

-) With the prepositions “about” and “on” + a noun or a gerund:

The Intendant cautioned him on his behaviour in many points, and also relative to his dress… during his stay in the metropolis.

Marryat… The Children… 1847

Fanny cautioned me about this, and she objected, and I object.

Dickens… Little Dorrit… 1857

I cautioned her about showing that she knew too much.

Walter… My Secret Life… 1888

I was allowed to retain my horse, provided he did his share of the work. A mule and three range horses were also allotted to me, and I was cautioned about their care.

A. Adams… Reed Anthony… 1907

-) With the preposition “to” + a noun or an infinitive:

[He] cautioned her to be extremely careful with respect to any money transactions with Mr Harrel, whose splendid extravagance he assured her was universally known to exceed his fortune.

Burney… Cecilia… 1782

His old friend cautioned him to the utmost carefulness in the preparation of prescriptions, which advice he scrupulously followed.

Titan. A monthly magazine… 1852

… families were publicly cautioned not to go out of town without removing their furniture to upholsterers' warehouses for security.

Dickens… A Tale… 1859

There had been little need to caution me to secrecy. I was not tempted to speak.

H. Wilson… The Boss… 1905

-) With the prepositional construction “as to”:

Mrs. Hollister attended them to the door in person, cautioning her guests as to the safest manner of leaving her premises.

Cooper… The Pioneers… 1823

He did not choose to caution Ethel as to whether she should burn the letter or divulge it to her friends.

Thackeray… The Newcomes… 1854

-) With the preposition “from” + a noun or a gerund:

… to caution parents from trusting to the specious representations of any schoolmaster…

E. Howard… Rattlin… 1834

-) 2. (The object is a clause introduced by the conjunction “that”, or in manner of quotation) to interject, utter or say as a caution or warning.

I swam in the direction of the hill… I had remarked to my companion, before leaving the raft, that I was convinced it could not be more than three miles off, and I had often swam a much greater distance. He cautioned me that three miles appeared very little on the water; and repeated, that I should be lost if I made the attempt.

J. Adshead… A Circumstantial Narrative… 1833

I feel as if it were some one else speaking to you, and not I, when I caution you that you have made a dangerous friend.

Dickens… David… 1850

"Now, don't be too sure," cautioned Joel. "You can't see one hundred yards in this storm, and if you get bewildered, all country looks alike. Trust your horse in any event…”

A. Adams… Wells Brothers… 1911

"Ssh!" cautioned Merton.

H. Wilson… Merton… 1919

"The wolf!" he cautioned, grasping the shoulder of his companion.

M. Brand… The Night Horseman… 1920

-) English words derived from Latin cavere: precaution (noun, verb), precautioning, precautional, precautionary, precautious, precautiously, cautioned, cautioning, cautionary, cautioner, cautionless, cautious, cautiously, cautiousness, incautious, incautiously, incautiousness, incaution, over-caution.

 

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