Thursday word: enchiridion

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

enchiridion (en-kay-RID-ee-uhn, en-ki-RID-ee-uhn) - n., a handbook, a concise treatise.


Everything you need to know about a subject in a book you can hold in your hand -- so a guidebook to a place, or the instruction manual for many electronic devices these days. Not a common word these days outside of theology, where ther are many works summarizing Christian doctrine that call themselves enchiridia (or enchiridions -- either plural is acceptable), such as the Enchiridion of Augustine. Adopted around 1540 from Late Latin enchīridion, from Greek encheirídion, handbook, from en-, in + cheír, hand + -idion, a diminutive suffix.

Rebuffed by Claire, the would-be pickup artist retreated to his booth to consult his enchiridion of tactics.

---L.

Comments

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

Indeed in English before 1540: Byrhtferth of Ramsey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byrhtferth) wrote one in Latin and English during the late tenth or early eleventh century (I've forgotten the details of Lapidge's remarks on dating the text).

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

My usual dictionaries are clearly falling down on the job.

---L.

[alien-fx-fiend.livejournal.com]

This is a nice word, a great word in fact! Looking big suits my taste!