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The word. The Greek epichairekakia means delight in another person’s misfortune. Burton describes it as a compound of joy and hatred and adds the converse response, grief at another’s prosperity.
In Burton. The term occurs in a list of mixed affections alongside anger, hatred and zeal. Burton’s explanation gives two connected movements: pleasure at another’s harm and distress at another’s success. Both are needed to reproduce his fuller description, even though the Greek name directly identifies the malicious pleasure.
The places. Malicious joy appears among the mixed emotions. (p. 25; DJR-025-29.)
In this edition. “ἐπιχαιρεκακία” → “malicious joy” (DJR-025-29); “rejoyce at other mens mischief” → “rejoice in other people’s misfortunes” (DJR-025-29). Malicious joy provides an intelligible English name. Misfortunes gives mischief its sense of harm suffered, and the subsequent grief at prosperity remains in the sentence.
See also. Jealousy.
Epicure
The word. Epicurize means to pursue or indulge pleasure in the conventional hostile use associated with the name Epicure. The verb here is a term of reproach, not a precise account of Epicurus’s philosophy.
In Burton. Burton puts epicurize in a scornful series with tyranny, oppression, luxury, conflict and waste. The catalogue culminates in the comparison with Ulysses’ companions as swine. Its force comes from the accumulated denunciation rather than a developed argument about a philosophical school.
The places. Epicurize appears in a catalogue of destructive conduct. (p. 60; DJR-015-35.)
In this edition. “epicurize” → “pursue pleasure” (DJR-015-35). Pursue pleasure conveys the verb’s local action, while the surrounding list preserves its condemnatory tone.
See also. Religion and superstition; Luxurious and riot.
Epithemes
Source forms: epithymes; epithemes
The word. Epithemes are liquid medicinal preparations applied externally, often on cloths over an affected part. Epithymes in the synopsis names these applications and is distinct from the herb epithyme.
In Burton. The synopsis lists epithymes with plasters, poultices and other external preparations. The later account specifies an application over the heart region and names the waters and ingredients proposed for it. This context distinguishes a liquid dressing from a medicine swallowed or an herb named in isolation.
The places. Epithymes are grouped with external applications. (scan p. 324; DJR-067-17.) A liquid preparation is applied over the heart. (p. 394; DJR-105-23.)
In this edition. “Epithymes” → “medicinal lotions” (DJR-067-17); “Epithemes” → “liquid dressings” (DJR-105-23); “an Epitheme for the Heart” → “a liquid dressing for the heart” (DJR-105-23). Medicinal lotions and liquid dressings convey the external use. The second description concerns application over the bodily region of the heart.
See also. Chirurgery.
Equivocation
Source forms: Æquivocations; equivocal
The word. Equivocation here concerns the different senses of a word. Equivocal can describe a loose or imprecise use, without implying that a speaker deliberately deceives or evades.
In Burton. The jealousy heading announces a survey of meanings before narrowing the subject to marital jealousy. The discussion of melancholy distinguishes passing disturbance from an established condition and calls the broader everyday application equivocal and improper. The source index directs readers to both discussions.
The places. The jealousy heading announces different meanings. (p. 591; DJR-144-04.) The source index groups the two discussions. (unnumbered Table; DJR-171-008.) The broad use of melancholy is called equivocal. (p. 11; DJR-023-02.)
In this edition. “Æquivocations” → “different meanings” (DJR-144-04); “Æquivocations of melancholy” → “Different meanings of melancholy” (DJR-171-008); “equivocal & improper sense” → “loose and imprecise sense” (DJR-023-02). Different meanings conveys the heading and index function. Loose and imprecise gives the local criticism of usage while retaining the contrast between passing state and established condition.
See also. Quiddity and quodlibet; Genus and species; Accident; Impertinent.
Essence and quintessence
Source forms: quinta essentia; quintessence; Essence
The word. Essence can mean the substance or nature of something. Quinta essentia is the fifth substance, or aether, distinguished in the Aristotelian account from the four elements. Quintessence also has a figurative sense: the concentrated essence or animating principle of something.
In Burton. The astronomical discussion asks what the heavens are made of and contrasts the fifth essence with a penetrable medium. The praise of cheerfulness uses quintessence figuratively, making mirth the life of medicine. The shared vocabulary should not obscure the difference between a cosmological substance and a claim about what makes treatment effective.
The places. The matter of the heavens is disputed. (p. 251; DJR-074-29.) Cheerfulness is called the quintessence of medicine. (p. 305; DJR-086-22.)
In this edition. “Essence and matter” → “substance and matter” (DJR-074-29); “quinta essentia” → “fifth essence” (DJR-074-29); “life and quintessence of Physick” → “life and very essence of medicine” (DJR-086-22). Substance clarifies the astronomical question. Very essence gives the figurative intensity of the medical praise.
See also. Matter; Prime mover; Air; Paracelsian; Intelligence.
Estate
Source forms: stock; estates; substance
The word. Estate can mean a person’s condition or circumstances, not only landed property. The related financial vocabulary in these examples includes stock, meaning capital, and substance, meaning wealth.
In Burton. One reported patient has spent his stock on unnecessary building. In another passage, Burton warns that even apparently healthy readers share an unstable estate, meaning their vulnerable condition. The discussion of illness describes people surrendering their substance in pursuit of health. The movement between money and human circumstances requires separate renderings.
The places. Stock is exhausted by unnecessary building. (p. 164; DJR-054-40.) Fickle estates describes shared human vulnerability. (p. 197–198; DJR-061-30.) Substance is wealth people would exchange for health. (p. 215; DJR-066-01.)
In this edition. “spent his stock” → “spent his capital” (DJR-054-40); “our own fickle estates” → “our own unstable condition” (DJR-061-30); “fortunes, substance” → “possessions and wealth” (DJR-066-01). Capital and wealth specify the financial senses. Condition preserves the wider application to the reader’s bodily and spiritual vulnerability.
See also. Commonwealth; Manure; Abdicate; Commodity.
Ex traduce
The word. Ex traduce means by propagation or transmission from the parent. The theory that the soul is transmitted in this way is called traducianism.
In Burton. Burton introduces the position as something some authorities hold: one person begets another in body and soul. The image of one candle lighting another illustrates the proposed transmission. The formulation belongs to a disputed account of the soul’s origin, rather than to an uncontested description of generation.
The places. The soul is said by some authorities to be propagated from the parent. (p. 26; DJR-026-03.)