The Whistle
Vocabulary Analysis
Indolent - 1660 meaning “painless” from latin “indolentem,”→ “living easy”1710 from French “indolent”
Mr. Franklin’s use of the word indolent, its definition is well suited for the 1710 definition of living easy, for fits in the sentence more logically as well as the fact that Franklin was an ambassador to France. The use of the verb describes the emotion of the narrator’s towards the topic of writing.
Averse mid-15c., "turned away in mind or feeling," from Old French avers and directly from Latin aversus "turned away, turned back," pp. of avertere (see avert). Originally and usually in English in the mental sense, while avert is used in a physical sense. From the mid 15th century origin, the word averse means to dislike strongly. One who would turn away from something would probably not care for the object or action. This word describes the narrator’s thoughts towards the action of writing. The verb serves as a synonym to the previous verb indolent as well as the expounding of the persona’s emotions.
Epistles-Old English Epistol, from Old French epistle, epistre (Modern French épitre), from Latin epistola "letter," from Greek epistole "message, letter, command, commission,"
Epistles can refer to the books of the bible written by many authors in the Greek format of letters. In this sense with consideration of the context, Epistle derives as a short passage or a piece of writing in the format of a letter. The persona talking desires the continuation of epistles, so they must break their lazy habit and respond to the sender.
Correspondence-early 15c., "harmony, agreement," from Modern Latin correspondentia, from correspondentem (nom. correspondens), prp. of correspondere (see correspond). Sense of "communication by letters" is first attested 1640s.
Correspondence in this sentence refers to the communication via letters, for the context states the narrator’s desire for the continuation of said letters. As seen in the etymology of the word, the origin is roughly around the early 15th century. It’s 1640 modern application was used in the form of letters. Correspondence is an archaic term with consideration of the words used today, for example, “a chat, conversation or messaging” would be the main words used to describe the social interactions of people today. One could sound advance using such an archaic word.
Namesake-1640s, "person named for the sake of someone" is probably originally (for the) name's sake.
The word namesake refers to something of the former, or the reason something was named after. Franklin uses this word to to refer to the former days of which the narrator has not replied in correspondence. 1640, the origin of the word namesake would be reasonably understandably used for a piece written by Franklin, for the dates are roughly close.
Vexation-c.1400, from Old French vexation or directly from Latin vexationem (nom. vexatio) "agitation," noun of action from from vexus, from vexare
Vexation is the emotion the narrator describes as afflicting, for the realization of purchasing an overpriced whistle was bothersome in the fact of wasting money in a time when people cared extremely and were severely froogle. With most 18th century verbose, archaic words are examined and with the modern application of such vocabulary, an advanced appearance is made. Vexation is an archaic word that can be used with advanced connotation.
Chagrin -1650s, "melancholy," from French chagrin "melancholy, anxiety, vexation" (14c.), via Angevin dialect chagraigner "sadden" from Old French graignier "grieve over, be angry," from graigne"sadness, resentment, grief, vexation," from graim "sorrowful," of unknown origin, perhaps from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. gram "angry, fierce"). Modern sense of "feeling of irritation from disappointment" is 1716. As a verb, attested from 1660s (implied in chagrined).
Chagrin is a word that means pain in a humiliating aspect. We can see the evolution of the word as it shifted definitions as time went on. The 1716 definition of the word is directly aligned to what Mr. Franklin’s connotation. With consideration of the context, the word is used to describe the pain created from the persona’s reflection of their actions.
Levees-"morning assembly held by a prince or king (upon rising from bed)," 1670s, from French lever "a raising," noun use of verb meaning "to raise"
The noun levees refers to some variation of an assembly or reception, typically the reception is used to honor someone. As the narrator elaborates his experiences with other people, he basically states the one who is sacrificing all of his time to impress someone is wasting his time like the persona wasted his money on the narrator. Levee refers to the event which the man attends to impress for “court favor.” The word Levees origin refers to getting up in the morning for an assembly. With consideration of men and how important sleep is, getting up for someone's honor show a lot of effort and potentially a desire to impress.
Repose-"put, place," early 15c., from Latin repos-, stem of reponere "put back, put away," from re- "back, away" + ponere "to put, place" (see position). Or perhaps formed in Modern English. from Old French poser, on model of disposen "dispose."The archaic use of the word repose would be the most practical form for the time period in which the essay was written would use the older meaning. In the sentence, the narrator describes a person who is investing everything in another person. The meaning of repose as a deposit would be the most logical form. To place everything into “court favor,” according to Franklin is not worth it.
Miser-1540s, "miserable person, wretch," from Latin miser (adj.) "unhappy, wretched," of unknown origin. Original sense now obsolete; main modern meaning of "money-hoarding person" recorded 1560s, from presumed unhappiness of such people
The use of the noun miser in the sentence is to establish the scenario to prove a point. Miser is typically a stingy clingy person who was to be deceptive and cunning by selling friendship for the sake earning money, would be not worth the price for people are what matter in life. One could presume miser to be directly related to unhappiness but with logical consideration of the context and the etymology of the word, the more modern interpretation of the word miser fits best for its connotation refers to a money hoarder.
Laudable-early 15c., from Old French laudable and directly from Latin laudabilis "praiseworthy," from laudare
Laudable refers to honor and in the sentence in which it is used, the narrator denotes the person who sacrifices all honor to experience substantial physical sensations. Mr. Franklin could have chose the word for its French origins because he could have heard a variation of the word while serving as the United States Ambassador to France.
Corporeal-early 15c., with adj. suffix -al (1), from Latin corporeus "of the nature of a body," from corpus "body" (living or dead), from PIE *kwrpes, from root *kwrep- "body, form, appearance," probably from a verbal root meaning "to appear"
The use of the word corporeal in the passage with consideration of the context refers to a physical body or matter which is substantial. The meaning of the narrator and essentially Benjamin Franklin, is they denounce the actions of a man who gives his life for physical pleasure, which ironically, Franklin was a founding father who found many pleasures in his experiences in France.
Equipages-1570s, from Fr. équipage (15c.), from équiper (see equip). Now largely replaced by equipment.
With context of the sentence in describing the items of a wealthy person, equipages would logically mean a horse drawn carriage for the transportation for the wealthy of the time period was a horse drawn carriage. Or with consideration of the etymology, it also could have meant a luxary item of some sort.
The Apples of King John-No Etymology - 1. A costly apple, typically ripe around the time of St. Johns holiday (May 6th)
The apples of King John is used as a subject that means something of great value. At the time fruit in the New World was expensive for it was hard to come by. The narrator uses the subject of fruit as an example to express the value of something.
Adieu-late 14c., adewe, from French adieu, from phrase a dieu (vous) commant "I commend (you) to God," from a "to" (see ad) + dieu "God," from Latin deum, accusative of deus "god," from PIE *deiwos (see Zeus). Originally said to the party left; farewell was to the party setting forth.
Adieu is used as the starter of an ending statement. The narrator is saying farewell. Obviously the word is an archaic form, and in modern interpretation it means goodbye. The word would be considered archaic for it has such an early origin with little change to the connotation.
After reviewing the etymologies of all the tricky words in Franklin’s The Whistle, a pattern became evident. The origins of all the words averaged around the 15th-16th century. After interpreting the data, the language could be considered mildly average for the time period. It could probably be easily understood by the slightly higher educated and when comparing 18th century uneducated to 21st century uneducated, 18th century commoners would have a much easier time interpreting the document based simply on the theory that they lived in a closer time period to the origins of the words and the seemingly archaic language was used more frequently than one could hear today.
Etymology Source: http://www.etymonline.com