Victorian encyclopedism, folklore, and mythology

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, or Origin of Common Phrases, Allusions, and Words that have a Tale to Tell

Name: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, or Origin of Common Phrases, Allusions, and Words that have a Tale to Tell
Author: E. Cobham Brewer

E. Cobham Brewer1870

IntermediatePrimary Sourcecomplete

The definitive Victorian reference work for understanding the origins of names, phrases, and allusions in Western history and literature. Brewer provides thousands of entries covering everything from Greek mythology and Arthurian legends to obscure superstitions, heraldry, and historical trivia. It is a vital tool for any student of the occult or literature, as it provides the 'secret history' and folklore behind common terms and symbols.

Also known asBrewer's Dictionary · Dictionary of Fable

This edition1898

EditionCassell and Company, London (New and Enlarged Edition)

Folklore & SuperstitionMythologyEtymology of Esoteric TermsLiterary referencesastrologyComparative Mythologyritual documentationAnthropologyFolklore StudiesSymbolism in LanguageHeraldryPhilologyAlchemyfolk belief documentationesoteric symbolism

Archive Paths

Hermeticism and Alchemy

Hermetic and alchemical source texts covering the Corpus Hermeticum, Divine Pymander, The Kybalion, Paracelsus, alchemical symbolism, medicine, and spiritual transformation.

Alchemy

Alchemy texts and commentaries covering transmutation, medicine, allegory, spiritual regeneration, and the symbolic language of the great work.

Comparative Mythology

Comparative mythology texts on gods, hero cycles, symbolic patterns, classical myth, Indo-European myth, and cross-cultural mythic structures.

Folklore Studies

Folklore studies texts on folk tales, fairy belief, superstition, regional customs, oral tradition, and the collection of vernacular belief.

Anthropology of Religion

Anthropological texts on ritual, animism, totemism, taboo, early religion, culture, and theories of belief formation.

Astrology and Divination

Astrology and divination texts on zodiacal symbolism, astrological doctrine, geomancy, dream interpretation, and related predictive arts.

Contents3 chapters

01part In' the Inquisition for the punishment of heretics, and the absolution of those who renoimce their heretical doctrines. The sentence of the Inquisition...
02chap. 57. Boom-Passenger (A). A convict on board ship, who was chained to the boom when made to take his daily exercise. Boon Companion {A). A convivial...
03chap. xvi. Letters. Their proportionate use is as follows : — 1,000 H 770 K 728 D 704 L 680 1 U 672 C 670 M Consonants, 5,97 .. 120 Vowels, 3,400. As initial...