The state of the Jews was in that depression, in that conculcation, in that consternation, in that extermination in the captivity of Babylon.—Donne, Sermons, 19.
| Facetious, | } |
| Facetiousness. |
It is certainly not a little remarkable that alike in Greek, Latin, and English, words expressive of witty festive conversation should have degenerated, though not all exactly in the same direction, and gradually acquired a worse signification than that with which they began; I mean εὐτραπελία, ‘urbanitas,’ and our own ‘facetiousness;’ this degeneracy of the words warning us how easily the thing itself degenerates: how sure it is to do so, to corrupt and spoil, if it be not seasoned with the only salt which will hinder this. ‘Facetiousness’ has already acquired the sense of buffoonery, of the making of ignoble mirth for others; there are plain indications that it will ere long acquire the sense of indecent buffoonery: while there was a time, as the examples given below will prove, when it could be ascribed in praise to high-bred ladies of the court and to grave prelates and divines.
He [Archbishop Williams] demonstrated that his mind was the lighter, because his friends were about him, and his facetious wit was true to him at those seasons, because his heart was true to his company.—Hacket, Life of Archbishop Williams, part ii. p. 32.
A grave man, yet without moroseness, as who would willingly contribute his shot of facetiousness on any just occasion.—Fuller, Worthies of England: Oxfordshire.
The king easily took notice of her [Anne Boleyn]; whether more captivated by the allurements of her beauty, or the facetiousness of her behaviour, it is hard to say.—Heylin, History of Queen Mary, Introduction.
Fact. This and ‘act’ or ‘deed’ have been usefully desynonymized. An ‘act’ or ‘deed’ implies now always a person as the actor or doer; but it is sufficient for a ‘fact’ that it exists, that it has been done, the author or doer of it falling altogether out of sight.
All the world is witnesse agaynst you, yea, and also your owne factes and deedes.—Barnes, Works, 1572, p. 251.
But, when the furious fit was overpast,
His cruel facts he often would repent.