tum - short for tummy (the stomach or intestine); an imitation of the sound made by plucking a tense string, as in a musical instrument, or by striking a drum, or the like.
defunct - having ceased to live; deceased, dead
sanders - the sandalwood tree
Lloyd's* - name of a London association of underwriters and agency for arranging insurance (formerly marine insurance only, but now nearly all kinds).
shift - to move from one place to another; esp. to change one's lodging
Schwester (d) - sister
Easter eggs* - eggs painted in bright colours, which it was (and, by a partial revival, still is) customary to present to friends at Easter.
nicely - in an attractive, agreeable, pleasing, or pretty fashion
acquire - to receive, or get as one's own (without reference to the manner), to come into possession of.
totty - a tiny tot or little child
tuk - obs. pa. tense of take
medicine* - any substance or preparation used in the treatment of disease; a medicament.
poetic - pl. Poetic composition; the writing of poems
pilgarlic* - 'poor creature'; Used by the speaker of himself as a quasi-proper name; commonly poor Pilgarlic = poor I, poor me.
P.L.M. - Paris-Lyons-Mediterranean (Railway)
muttonbroth* - a broth made from mutton
stakker = stacker - to totter, reel in one's gait, to stagger steaks
...Sir Thomas asked Crawford to join the early breakfast party.
litter - odds and ends, fragments and leavings lying about, rubbish letters
sixteens; sophy - a wise or learned man, a sage; a ruler; a great person.
devout = devote (obs.)
quid* - a sovereign; one pound sterling
maddle - to be or become crazy; to be confused in mind; to be dotingly fond of.
drought* - thirst (arch. and dial.)
white paper - blank paper, not written or printed upon
venustas (l) - charm, grace; venus - a beautiful or attractive woman.
Jonathan Swift, pseudonym ISAAC BICKERSTAFF (1667, Dublin, Ire. - 1745, Dublin), Anglo-Irish author who was the foremost prose satirist in the English language. Besides the celebrated novel Gulliver's Travels (1726), he wrote such shorter works as ''A Tale of a Tub'' (1704) and "A Modest Proposal" (1729).
go on; gone.
pursue - to continue (to do or say something); to go on (speaking)
softbodied - having a soft body
uniform* - the customary dress or mode of appearance characteristic of persons of a certain age, class, or lifestyle.
hooray - a cry expressive of triumph or exultant excitement
whomsoever - any (one) whom; no matter whom
heavenly - having the excellence, beauty, or delight that belongs to heaven; excellent, particularly enjoyable.
blank - Of paper, etc.: Left white or 'fair'; not written upon, free from written or printed characters.
paste - a hard vitreous composition (of fused silica, potash, white oxide of lead, borax, etc.), used in making imitations of precious stones.
winkle - to emit light intermittently; to twinkle
rococo* - old-fashioned, antiquated
ex voto - an offering made in pursuance of a vow
pay - money paid for labour or service; wages, hire, salary
perk - abbreviation of perquisite (any casual emolument, fee, or profit, attached to an office or position in addition to salary or wages).