Influence, a flowing down from the stars; originally a term in astrology.
Kind, originally born; hence natural, and so loving.
Knave, originally a boy or servant. Sir John Mandeville speaks of Mohammed as a ‘poure knave.’
Miser sometimes means merely a wretched creature. Spenser, Faerie Queene, II. i. 8:
‘Vouchsafe to stay your steed for humble miser’s sake.’
Officious, sometimes used in a good sense, obliging, serviceable. Shakspeare, Tit. And. V. ii. 202:
‘Come, come, be every one officious
To make this banquet.’
Ostler = hosteller, properly the keeper of a hostelry or hotel; now applied to the horse-groom.
Pagan, from paganus, a dweller in a canton, a countryman or villager; hence a heathen or unbeliever. Christianity was first preached in the large cities.
Painful, originally painstaking. ‘Rev. J. Flavel was a painful preacher.’