X. World English Historical Dictionary

X. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1928, rev. 2024. X (eks) pl. X’s, Xs (e·ksėz), the twenty-fourth letter of the modern and the twenty-first of the ancient Roman alphabet, corresponding in form and position to the Greek Χ. The early Greek forms + X represented the aspirated voiceless velar (kh) in the Ionian alphabet, and (ks) in the Chalcidian alphabet. (In the former, [ks] was denoted by Ξ, in the latter, [kh] was denoted by Ψ.) Χ was adopted by the Latins with the value (ks) from the Greek alphabet introduced into Italy. The ancient Roman name of the letter was ix, which is that given by Ælfric in his Grammar (c. 1000).

1   Words having initial x (pronounced as z) in English are nearly all of Greek origin; a few, as xebec, Xerez, have x representing early Sp. x (now j). In OE. x was used medially and finally as a variant spelling of cs (whether original or standing for sc), e.g., æx, eax = æcus, acus, æsc AXE, áxian = ácsian, áscian to ASK, fixas, pl. of fisc FISH, fixian = fiscian to FISH, waxan = wascan to WASH. Other variants are cx, hx, xs, cxs, hxs, as meohx, micxen MIXEN, axsan ASHES. Similar spellings occur in the Cotton MS. of Cursor Mundi, e.g., flexs(s flesh, wexs wash, fixses fishes; the same MS. has the unexplained spellings fux(o)l, foux(u)l, etc. of FOWL sb. In East Anglian texts of the 14th to the 16th century x is frequently written for initial sc, sch in xal shall, xuld should; xsal also is found in the Paston Letters; instances of other words so written are only occasional, e.g., xad shed (pa. pple.), xowyn shove, xuldrys shoulders. Initial x stands for sh (or s) in early forms of some oriental words, as xerif SHEREEF (after early Sp. xerife), xaraffe, -aff SARAF, and Xinto SHINTO. Other temporary uses of x, but with its normal value (ks), are found in the once general axes, axis ACCESS, hunx HUNKS, and the less common exelent EXCELLENT, exite EXCITE; on the other hand pox = pocks has become permanent, and sox has been adopted in the hosiery trade as a convenient shortening of socks.

2 1905.  Wells, Kipps, ii. § 1. 37. He abbreviated every word he could; he would have considered himself the laughing-stock of Wood Street if he had chanced to spell socks in any way but ‘sox.’

3   The phonetic values of x in English are three, of which the commonest is (ks), as in axis, buxom, doxology, excuse, expense, oxen, proximity, tax. The pronunciation of the prefix ex- followed by a vowel or h varies according as it bears the stress or not, the general rule being that e·x— = (eks) and ex—· (ėgz), as exile, exact, exhort; but there is considerable variety in individual words and individual usage: see EX- prefix1 1 note. The same general principle governs the pronunciation of anxious, anxiety, luxury, luxurious, Alexander, Alexandrine; but here also individual usage varies. The third value (z), arising from a reduction of (gz), is given in all cases to initial x, as Xerxes; this value is shown in many instances in the 17th and 18th centuries by the spelling with z, as Zanthian, zebeck, Zerez, and instances are not uncommon in the 19th century of zantho- and zylo- for xantho- and xylo-; early examples are Zanctus Xanthus (Lydg., Troy Bk., II. 731, rubric, 15th cent.), zyphe XIPH (1572). Cf. Santippa Xanthippe (Chaucer), Cerses Xerxes (Wyntoun, Chron., S.T.S., III. 54). A similar reduction of x took place in French:

4   x, if he be the fyrste letter of a worde, as xenotróphe, xylobalsóme, whiche they sounde but s, sayenge senotrophe, sylobalsome, for they can nat gyve x, whiche is also a greke letter, is true sownde. (1530, Palsgr., Esclarc., I. xxv.)

5   I.  1. The letter or its sound.

6 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram. (Z.), 6. x ana ongynð of þam stæfe i æfter uðwitena tæcinge.

7 1530.  Palsgr., 38. Note that x shall never be sounded in frenche lyke as he is in latyn, or as we wolde do in our tonge, in no wyse, but lyke an z.

8 c. 1620.  A. Hume, Brit. Tongue (1865), 12. 6.  The top of the tongue stryking on the inward teeth formes d, l, n, r, s, t, and z.
  7.  The midle tongue stryking on the rouf of the mouth formes the rest, c, g, k, j, q, and x, and so we have 18 consonantes borrowed of the latines.

9 1636.  B. Jonson, Engl. Gram., I. iv. X Is rather an abbreviation, or way of short writing with us, than a letter: for it hath the sound of c and s, or k and s. It begins no word with us, that I know, but ends many; as ax, fix, fox, box.

10 1735.  C. Middleton, Diss. Orig. Printing Eng., 7. I take the Date in question to have been falsified originally by the Printer, either by design or mistake, and an x to have been dropt or omitted in the Age of its Impression.

11 a. 1845.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. III. Lord of Thoulouse, xxi.            That glass of the wizard’s    Stuck much in their gizzards, His cap, and his queer cloak all ’Xs and Izzards.

12 a. 1849.  Poe, Tales, X-ing a Paragrab. When the exigency does occur, it almost always happens that x is adopted as a substitute for the letter deficient.

13 1864.  Boutell, Her. Hist. & Pop., xxi. (ed. 3), 360. Deanery of Canterbury: Az., on a cross arg. the letter X sa., surmounted by the letter I of the last.

14 1878.  W. J. Cripps, Old Engl. Plate, 110. Much of the old church and domestic plate of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that is still to be found in the counties of Devon and Cornwall bears the old Exeter mark, which was a large Roman capital letter X crowned.

15   b.  The letter considered with regard to its shape: chiefly attrib. and Comb. Hence identified with a cross. X’s and O’s: the game of noughts and crosses [tic-tac-toe].

16 1545.  Elyot, Decussis … is also a fourme in any thynge representynge the letter X, whiche parted in the myddell maketh an other figure called Quincunx, V.

17 1769.  in C. Welsh, Bookseller of Last Cent., 354. You receive some books by the bearer, of which those marked with an X were had for the general business of the Magazine, and were to be returned.

18 1798.  Hull Advertiser, 28 July, 2/1. Chairs in sets … with W tableau and X backs.

19 1837.  Hebert, Engin. & Mech. Encycl., II. 876. By the revolution of the wheel, the said pin traverses the X groove from side to side.

20 1839.  Penny Cycl., XV. 176/1. Suppose a cross like an X or V to be cut out of brass-plate and inserted in the principal focus of a telescope with the axis of the letter in a meridian.

21 1861.  Hagen, Synopsis Neuroptera N. Amer., 213. At the base of the antennæ an x-shaped spot, two lateral spots each side, and an intermediate point black.

22 1866.  Blackmore, Cradock Nowell, xii. The boy leaped the new X fence very cleverly, through the fork of the fingers, and stood before his father in a flame of indignation.

23 1893.  Selous, Trav. S. E. Africa, 402. If the words you have spoken come from your heart, I will write your name and my own on the paper which has been translated to you, and you must make an ‘x’ behind your name.

24 1894.  Crockett, Raiders, 71. It wasna playing at x’s and o’s to be steerin’ for that crossbones of a Dutchman, whether in a chase or a battle.

25 1899.  Jesse L. Williams, Stolen Story, etc. 54. Billy, reaching the end of the page, made a double X mark to show that it was the end of the story.

26 1911.  P. Bridges, Green Wave of Destiny, xiv. 211. There was just room between the humps for two narrow sacks placed X-wise.

27   c.  Used like other letters of the alphabet to denote serial order, as in the signatures of the sheets of a book, the batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery, etc.

28   II.  Symbolic uses.

29   2.  The Roman numeral symbol for ten (or † tenth); so xx = twenty (in early use also for ‘score,’ as iijxx = ‘three score,’ 60; also occas. xxti = L. viginti), xxx. occas. xxxty = thirty, etc.

30 c. 1000.  O. E. Chron., an. 409 (Parker MS.). Þæt wæs embe .xi. hund wintra & x. wintra þes þe heo ʓetimbred was.

31 a. 1400.  Wyclif’s Bible, Prol. (1850), I. 17. There weren not left to Joachas of al the peple of Israel no but v. hundrid horsmen, and x. charis, and x. thousind of footmen.

32 1426.  Audelay, Poems (Percy Soc.), 71.        Ȝour x. comawndmentis ȝe most con, And kepe hem wel evere mon.

33 c. 1450.  Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 146.        The feest of kyng Aswere was ixxx dayes duryng Bot the ffeest of Jhu crist shalle be euremore lasting.

34 1478.  W. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 237. He seythe ye be xxtis. in hys dette.

35 1481.  Howard Househ. Bks. (Roxb.), 9. For j.M. j.c iiij.xx maryners. Ibid. (1481–90), 451. The nombir of the horse ys vij.xx iij.

36 1488.  Henry’s Wallace, v. 909. Xxxty with him off nobill men at wage.

37 1489.  Marg. Paston, in P. Lett., III. 350. Wretyn at London, the x. day of Februar.

38 1535.  Bury Wills (Camden), 126. I gyf and bequeth to my valentyn Agnes Illyon x s.

39 1537.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 53. And thus hartely fare ye well Frome London the xth daye of Apryll.

40 1638.  Ford, Fancies, III. ii.        Deere beauty, if my watch keep faire decorum, Three quarters have neere past the figure X.

41 1686.  Burnet, Trav., 241. There are many Statues and Pillars, and other Antiquities of great value dug up in all the quarters of Rome these last hundred and fourscore years, since Pope Leo the Xs. time.

42   † b.  Xr: abbreviation of December. Obs.

43 1624.  Sir W. Aston, in Goodman, Court James I. (1839), II. 369. Madrid, 24 of Xr 1624.

44   c.  X: a ten-dollar note. XX: a twenty-dollar note. U. S. colloq.

45 1837.  Knickerbocker Mag., IX. Jan., 96. When distended with V’s and X’s to its utmost capacity, it [my pocket-wallet] was indeed a circumstance in my pocket, worth noticing.

46 1883.  F. M. Crawford, Dr. Claudius, xx. 346. The Custom-House officials, cheery well-fed men, who know the green side of a XX, and are seldom troubled with gloomy forebodings, chatted and chaffed merrily together.

47   3.  In Algebra and Higher Mathematics used as the symbol for an unknown or variable quantity (or for the first of such quantities, the others being denoted by y, z, etc.); spec. in analytical geometry, the sign for an abscissa, or quantity measured along the principal axis of coordinates (hence called the axis of x). Hence allusively for something unknown or undetermined (also attrib. and in Comb.). See also X RAYS.

48   The introduction of x, y, z as symbols of unknown quantities is due to Descartes (Géométrie, 1637), who, in order to provide symbols of unknowns corresponding to the symbols a, b, c of knowns, took the last letter of the alphabet, z, for the first unknown and proceeded backwards to y and x for the second and third, respectively. There is no evidence in support of the hypothesis that x is derived ultimately from the mediæval transliteration xei of shei ‘thing,’ used by the Arabs to denote the unknown quantity, or from the compendium for L. res ‘thing’ or radix ‘root’ (resembling a loosely written x), used by mediæval mathematicians.

49 1660.  J. Moore, Arith., II. i. § 19. 16. (Algebra) Note alwayes the given quantities or numbers with Consonants, and those which are sought with Vowels, or else the given quantities with the former letters in the Alphabet, and the sought with the last sort of letters, as z y x, &c. lest you make a confusion in your work.

50 1709.  J. Ward, Yng. Math. Guide, IV. iii. (1713), 380. Let y = A S the Abscissa, and z = S P; put x = A a the Distance between the two Semi-ordinates, which we suppose to be infinitely near each other.

51 1726.  E. Stone, New Math. Dict., s.v. Conoid.… If a be equal to the Transverse Axis of the Hyperbola, generating a Conoid, and x be the Heighth of the Conoid, or the Absciss of the Hyperbola, then as 6 a + 4 x is to 4 a + 3 x, so is x to the Distance of the Centre of Gravity of the Hyperbolical Conoid from the Vertex.

52 1771.  Encycl. Brit., II. 269/2. The equation of any curve, is an algebraic expression, which denotes the relation betwixt the ordinate and abscissa; the abscissa being equal to x, and the ordinate equal to y.

53 1839.  Penny Cycl., XIII. 175/2. (Kant) What is that unknown principle (= X) on which the understanding relies, when of the subject A it finds a foreign predicate B, and believes itself justified in asserting their necessary connexion?

54 1893.  F. Adams, New Egypt, 29. Everyone of these good Alexandrians, without exception, ignores entirely, or almost entirely, the x, the unknown quantity of the social equation which they enunciate—the x of the Egyptian equation being pretty obviously the Egyptian people.

55 1898.  W. T. Stead, in Daily News, 8 Nov., 5/4. What manner of man is its author? He is the X in the equation. What does X amount to? Upon the answer to that question everything depends.

56 1898.  A. Lang, Making Relig., ii. 15. Research in the X region is not a new thing under the sun.

57 1901.  Greenough & Kittredge, Words, v. 53. It would be quite as reasonable to make fun of the x’s and y’s of the algebraist.

58 1906.  Daily Chron., 12 May, 4/3. There is ‘a wholesome distrust,’ says Professor Ewing, ‘of what may be called x-chasing.’

59   b.  Hence used attrib. as an indeterminate numeral adj. = ‘an unknown number of …’ Chiefly humorous.

60 1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xi. The black porker’s killed—weighed x stone—salted the sides—pig’s pudding and leg of pork for dinner.

61 1904.  J. Beard, in Brit. Med. Jrnl., 15 Oct., 965/1. In the union of egg and sperm we witness the joining-together of but two sets of characters and not that of ‘x’ sets, derived from as many ‘ancestors.’

62   c.  Put for a person’s name when unknown or left undetermined. Also X. Y. (See also 5.)

63 1797.  in Corr. Pinckney, Marshall & Gerry (1798), 36. The nature of the above communication will evince the necessity of secrecy: and we have promised Messrs. X. and Y. that their names shall in no event be made public. Ibid. (1798), 23. The names designated by the letters W. X. Y. Z. in the following copies of letters from the Envoys of the United States to the French Republic, are, in the originals, written at full length, in ciphers.

64 1810.  Bentham, Packing (1821), 125. As to Mr. x, I borrow, on this occasion for his use, one of the names employed by mathematicians for the designation of their unknown quantities.

65 1848.  Thackeray, Ballads of Policeman X, Bow Street, ad fin., Pleaceman X 54.            Ibid., Three Christmas Waits, 1. My name is Pleaceman X;   Last night I was in bed, A dream did me perplex,   Which came into my Edd.

66 1853.  Lytton, My Novel, XII. iv. The house-steward had private dealings with Baron Levy, and was in fact the veritable X Y of the Times [newspaper], for whom Dick Avenel had been mistaken.

67 1857.  Dickens, Dorrit, II. xii. A limited right of felling and lopping in the woods of Blinkiter Doddles, lay in the son of P. Q. then past his majority, and whom we would call X. Y.

68 1873.  H. Drummond, New Evangelism, etc. (1899), 199. X won’t be preached to along with Y and Z and Q; that won’t do X any good, for he thinks it is all meant for Y, Z, and Q.

69 1899.  O. Seaman, In Cap & Bells (1900), 47.        This hour, though drinking at my Host’s expense, I fear to use a fine Incontinence,   For terror of the Law and him that waits Outside, the unknown X, to hale us hence.

70 1901.  Elinor Glyn, Visits Elizabeth, 169. You feel obliged to ask the X’s, the Y’s, and the Z’s from duty, and so you do…. This is the kind of assortment that arrives: Papa X, Mamma X, and two girl X’es; Papa Y, Mamma Y, and Master and Miss Y; Papa Z, Mamma Z, Aunt Z, and Mdlle. Z—such a party!

71   d.  In wireless telegraphy (also in comb. x-stopper): see quot.

72 1906.  J. A. Fleming, Princ. Electric Wave Telegr., ix. 611. The electric discharges due to atmospheric electricity create electromagnetic waves of an irregular type, which interfere with wireless telegraphy by causing irregular signals. These are technically termed X’s…. Means have been devised for sifting out the waves due to these irregular atmospheric disturbances, and preventing them from influencing the receiving instrument. One of these devices, due to Mr. Marconi, has received the name of an X-stopper.

73   4.  In designations of brands of ale, stout, or porter, XX or double X denotes a medium quality, XXX or treble X the strongest quality. Also in the marking of qualities of tin-plate.

74 1827.  Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 11. He is a beer-drinker, an enjoyer of ‘fat ale’; a lover of the best London porter and double XX, and discontented unless he can get ‘stout.’

75 1828.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. III. (1863), 47. Master Sims tried his best coaxing and his best double X on the recusant players; but all in vain.

76 1839.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. I. St. Dunstan.        Above all, what I’d wish to impress on both sexes Is,—Keep clear of Broomsticks, Old Nick, and three XXX’s.

77 1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, etc. 1254. The following Table shows the several sizes of tin plates [and] the marks by which they are distinguished…. Common, No. 1 … CI.… Two crosses, 1 … XXI. Three crosses, 1 … XXX. I. Four crosses, 1 … XXXX. I.

78 1843.  R. S. Surtees, Handley Cr., I. viii. 158–9. ‘And you, musicians,’ turning to the promenade band, who were hard at work with some XX, ‘be getting your instruments ready, to welcome Mr. Jorrocks with “See the conquering hero comes!”’

79 1856.  Geo. Eliot, Ess. (1884), 87. German ennui must be something as superlative as Barclay’s treble X, which, we suppose, implies an extremely unknown quantity of stupefaction.

80 1886.  A. G. Murdoch, Sc. Readings, Ser. I. (ed. 4), 98. Then the XXX stout was brought in, the cayenne pepper and the Irish whisky added, a handful of sugar thrown in.

81   5.  XYZ: used to denote some thing or person unknown or undetermined (cf. 3).

82 1808.  Coleridge, Lett. to J. P. Estlin (1884), 105. Though I believe that Redemption by Christ implies more, than what the Unitarians understand by the phrase, yet I use it rather as an X Y Z, an unknown Quantity, than as words to which I pretend to annex clear notions.

83 1813.  Byron, Lett., 23 Nov., Wks. 1832, II. 269. Junius was X. Y. Z., Esq. buried in the parish of * * *.

84 a. 1834.  Coleridge, Ess. Faith, in Lit. Rem. (1839), IV. 426. The law, both divine and human, determines whether X Y Z be a thing or a person.

85 1885.  J. K. Jerome, On the Stage, ii. 11. Among the sham agents must be classed the ‘Professors,’ or ‘X.Y.Z.’s.’

86   III.  Abbreviations.

87   6.  In writing the name CHRIST, esp. in abbreviated form, X or x represents the first letter of Gr. XPICTOC khristos, and XP or xp the first two letters. Hence in early times Xp, in modern times Xt, Xt, and X, are used as abbreviations of the syllable Christ, alone or in derivatives; thus †Xpen, Xpn = CHRISTEN, †Xpenned = CHRISTENED; †Xpian, Xtian(ity) = CHRISTIAN(ITY); XMAS (Xstmas, Xtmas) = CHRISTMAS.

88   † Xpc stands for XPC contracted form of XPICTOC; cf. IHS.

89 a. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1021. On Xpes mæsse uhtan.

90 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 337. In þis word Vix ben but þree lettris, V, and I, and X. And V bitokeneþ fyve; I bitokeneþ Jesus; and X bitokeneþ Crist.

91 1426.  Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 19951. Xpc þi sone, þat in þis world alighte, Vp-on þe cros to suffre his passioun.

92 1485.  Rolls of Parlt., VI. 280/1. The most famous, blessed and Xpen Prince. Ibid., 336/1. Any Kyng or Prynce in England Xpenned.

93 1573.  Baret, Alv., s.v. Y, The long mistaking of this woorde Xps, standing for Chrs by abbreuation which for lacke of knowledge in the greeke they tooke for x, p, and s, and so likewise Xpofer.

94 1598.  Rowlands, Betraying of Christ (Hunter. Cl.), 25. Xpian the outward, inward, not at all.

95 1634.  Documents agst. Prynne (Camden), 33. Such right … as your Xtianity, place, and function joyntly require.

96 1685–6.  MS., in Bk. Com. Pr., 1662 (Bodl.). My first child … Xstened on thursday the 28 of the same month.

97 a. 1697.  Aubrey, Lives, Milton (MS. Aubrey 8. lf. 63). He was so faire, that they called him the lady of Xts coll.

98 1711.  Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), III. 155. This Note I took out of a Book of Mr. Urry of Xt. Church.

99 1842.  Francis, Dict. Arts, etc. s.v. Xmas. for Christmas, Xpher. for Christopher, &c.

100   7.  Put for the initial syllable ex- of a word, or as an abbreviation for a word beginning with ex-. X’s (slang): expenses. Also, in Stock Exchange quotations, xd = ex dividend, etc.

101 1838.  Manning, Lett., in Purcell, Life (1896), I. xi. 230. All the ‘Xs,’ I fear,… would go out. [Note. ‘X’s and Peculiars’ were the nicknames given by the Tractarians to the Evangelicals … who called themselves Christians par excellence.] Ibid. He writes as tenderly as if he thought you a serious ‘X.’

102 a. 1849.  Poe, Tales, X-ing a Paragrab. One gentleman thought the whole an X-ellent joke.

103 1885.  Daily News, 13 March, 2/2. New York Cent[ral Railway] … 925/8 927/8 xd.

104 1894.  Louise J. Miln, Strolling Players in the East, xv. 132. ‘I think we might clear our X.’s. Leave the company in Hong-Kong, and you two give a Shakespearian recital in the hotel dining-room. What do you say?’ Perhaps I should explain that ‘X.’s’ means expenses.

105 1910.  Encycl. Brit., V. 197. Canonists have continued to refer to the decretals of Gregory IX. by the abbreviation X (Extra, i.e. extra Decretum).

106   8.  Chem. = XENON.

107   Hence X v. trans., to supply with x’s in place of types that are wanting.

108 a. 1849.  Poe, Tales, X-ing a Paragrab. ‘I shell have to x this ere paragrab,’ said he to himself, as he read it over in astonishment, ‘but it’s jest about the awfulest o-wy paragrab I ever did see’: so x it he did, unflinchingly, and to press it went x-ed.

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