A Trip Through Time: Definition Theatre September 29, 2009

This week we take a look at metals. We have our definitions, Did You Know, and also a new feature called Fill in the Blank. How much do you know about your history of metals and money? Take a journey with me through the last 120+ years.

If this is your first time visiting, Welcome! I love old books and history, especially the 1800's. I own the "American People's Dictionary of the English Language and Peoples Manual", printed in 1883 and love to read through this book and compare the definitions from the past to modern day. I collect reference books of that era, not for their monetary value, but for the educational value. (I am in the process of acquiring new 'antique' material for this project. I am hopeful about a particular book from 1831 or so...) Stick around and enjoy! We take a new journey every Tuesday.

Enough talk; let's get to the words...
*1883 pg 13
Alchemy: n. occult chemistry; the art of changing base metals into gold
** 2003 pg 15
Alchemy: n. the chemistry of the Middle Ages, the chief aim of which was to change base metals into gold

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* 1883 pg 222
Quicksilver: n. mercury; a fluid metal
** 2003 pg 528
Quicksilver: n. mercury

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* 1883 pg 193
Ore: n a native mineral; metal
** 2003 pg 454
Ore: n. a natural combination of minerals, esp. one from which a metal or metals can be profitably extracted

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*1883 pg 169
Lode: n. a vein of ore; etc
** 2003 pg 380
Lode: n. a vein, stratum, etc. of metallic ore

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*1883 pg 208
Platinum: n. a grayish-white metal
** 2003 pg 493
Platinum: n. a silvery, metallic chemical element, resistant to corrosion; used for jewelry, etc

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*1883 pg 125
German-silver: n an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc
*** (German silver) Nickel silver is a metal alloy of copper with nickel and often but not always zinc.It is named for its silvery appearance, but contains no elemental silver unless plated.

Note: German-silver is no longer in the dictionary, at least any that I have. I found it on Wikipedia and shortened it for this article. The link is in the Sources if you are interested in the entire definition.

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Did You Know

Did you know that on March 30^th, 1867, Alaska was purchased from Russia by the United States for $7,200,000?
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Did you know that mercury is called quicksilver because of its quickness? The ancient alchemists believed it actually contained silver! (It doesn't, though.)
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Did you know that as of January 1^st, 1810, the national debt was $53,173,217?
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Fill in the Blank
(Per 1883):

The origin of the ___ is not known. At this time, it was thought it was the monogram of the United States. The U for United had the bottom cut off and placed over the S for States. What am I?
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The United States' coins were regulated by _______. The Weight and purity, that is.
What am I?
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Copper was abundant in what lake? Lake _______

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Answers in order: "$", Congress, and Superior.

Sources:

* "American People's Dictionary of the English Language and Peoples Manual" , copyright 1879 & 1883, by John Marshall Wood.

** "Webster's New World Dictionary", copyright 2003 by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_silver