Chapter Anthroposophus to Apis of A by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

ado about Nothing, ii. 1.

Fadladinda says to Tatlanthe (3 syl):

"Pity that you who've served so long and well
Should die a virgin, and lead apes in hell."
H. Carey: Chrononhotonthologos.

"Women, dying maids, lead apes in hell." - The London Prodigal, 1. 2.

To play the ape, to play practical jokes; to play silly tricks; to make facial imitations, like an ape.

To put an ape into your hood (or) cap - i.e. to make a fool of you. Apes were formely carried on the shoulders of fools and simpletons.

To say an ape's paternoster, is to chatter with fright or cold, like an ape.

Apelles A famous Grecian painter, contemporary with Alexander the Great.

"There comelier forms embroidered rose to view
Than e'er Apelles' wondrous pencil drew."
Aristo: Orlando Furioso, book xxiv.

Apemantus A churlish philosopher, in Shakespeare's Timon of Athens.

"The cynicism of Apemantus contrasted with the misanthropy of Timon." - Sir Walter Scott.

A-per-se An A 1; a person or thing of unusual merit. "A" all alone with no one who can follow, nemo proximus aut secundus.

Chaucer calls Cresseide "the floure and A-per-se of Troi and Greek."

"London, thou art of townes A-per-se." - Lansdowne MSS.

Apex the topmost height, really means the pointed olive-wood spike on the top of the cap of a Roman priest. The cap fitted close to the head and was fastened under the chin by a fillet. It was applied also to the crest or spike of a helmet. The word now means the summit or tiptop.

Aphrodite (4 syl.). The Greek Venus; so called because she sprang from the foam of the sea, (Greek, aphros , foam.)

Aphrodite's Girdle. Whoever wore Aphrodite's magic girdle, immediately became the object of love. (Greek mythology.)

Apicius A gourmand. Apicius was a Roman gourmand, whose income being reduced by his luxurious living to £80,000, put an end to his life, to avoid the misery of being obliged to live on plain diet.

A-pigga-back (See Pig-Back .)

Apis in Egyptian mythology, is the bull symbolical of the god Apis. It was not suffered to live more than twenty-five years, when it was sacrificed and buried in great pomp. The madness of Cambysës is said to have been in retribution for his killing a sacred bull.