An Attempt To Date
the Scythians
G.D.O'Bradovich III
July 29, 2015
Courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary: What did the English know about the Scythians and when did they know it? Citations after the year 1801 are omitted.
Forms:
ME Sithe ( Schyte, Schite, ME Scite, Shite, Scytte), 16 Scythe, 18 Scyth.
Etymology: < Latin Scytha, Greek Σκύθης.
Obs. exc. Hist.
a. A Scythian.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 257
Of Egipcians in þe souþ, and of Sithes [MS. a Schytes; Caxton, Shites] in the norþ.
1480 Caxton Descr. Scotl. (1520) 1/1
Scottes ben called as it were scyttes for they came out of Scicia.
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes (1619) 707/1
The Greekes the Romaines,..the Scythes were alwayes temperat in eating and drinking.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 39
The old English also which there remayneth, have gotten up their cryes Scythian-like... And here also lyeth open an other manifest proofe, that the Irish bee Scythes or Scots.
Forms:
Also 15–16 Sythian.
Etymology:
< Latin Scythia, < Greek Σκυθία ( < Σκύθης Scyth n.) + -an suffix.
A. adj.
1. Of or relating to Scythia, an ancient region extending over a large part of European and Asiatic Russia, or to the nomadic people by whom it was inhabited.
1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xv. f. 190v,
Hypanis That springeth in the Scythian hilles.
1587–90 Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. i. i. 44
Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 35
For though it [sc. Nomadism] be an old Scythian use, yet it is very behoofefull in this Country of Ireland.
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Four Plays in One in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ffffffff2/2,
What Scythian snow so white? what crystal chaster?
1776 W. J. Mickle in tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad Introd. p. xix,
The irruptions of northern or Scythian barbarians.
2. Special collocations: Scythian antelope n. = saiga n. Scythian disease n. [for the reason for the name, compare Herodotus i. cv] atrophy of the male organs of generation, accompanied by loss of masculine attributes ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon 1898). Scythian insanity n. the mental change occurring in the Scythian disease, manifested in the assumption of female dress and habits ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon 1898).† Scythian lamb n. Obs. = barometz n. Scythian stone n. some mineral.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 147
The gall of this beast [sc. the dart] mixed with the Sythian Stone, yealdeth a very good Eye-salue.
1659 R. Lovell Παμβοτανολογια 524
Scythian Lamb Agnus Scyth.
1781 T. Pennant Hist. Quadrupeds I. 86
Scythian Antelope.
1801 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. II. ii. 339
The Saiga, or Scythian Antelope, is an inhabitant..of all the deserts from the Danube and the Dnieper to the river Irtish.
†3. Philol. Used as a designation for the Ural-Altaic family of languages. Obs.
1885 Whitney Philol. in Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 779/1
Ural-Altaic (Scythian, Turanian) Family.
B. n.
1 a. A person belonging to the race by which Scythia was inhabited; = Scyth n.
1543 T. Becon Invect. against Swearing in Wks. (1560) I. 223 b,
The law among the Scythyans was yt, if [etc.].
1590 Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. I,
Raile not proud Scythian.
1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. B4v,
That it may rayse drops in a Torters eye, And make a flynt heart Sythian pytifull.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall (1787) II. xxvi. 563 (note),
In speaking of all, or any, of the northern shepherds of Europe, or Asia, I indifferently use the appellations of Scythians, or Tartars.
2. The language of Scythia.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. i. i. §3. 3
The European Tartar, or Scythian, from which some conceive our Irish to have had its original.
3. Comb. Scythian-like adj. and adv.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 39
The old English also which there remayneth, have gotten up their cryes Scythian-like, as Crom-abo.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 40,
I thought this manner of lewd crying and howling, not impertinent to be noted as uncivill and Scythian-like.
Scythian.
1623 W. Lisle in tr. Ælfric Saxon Treat. Old & New Test. Pref. 5
But we shall hence, some to the thirsty Moore, To swift Oront of Creet, to Scythicke shore.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 20
The Arimaspi..not seldome from their Scythic holes attempting the conquest of Mammon inclos'd in the Rhyphean hills.
Befitting the Scythians, barbarous.
1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus Pref. sig. A ijv,
There is also..a heauenlye water..whiche boothe Democritus and Mercury Trimegistus knewe: callinge it sometimes a deuine water, somtimes a Scythicall liquor.
1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anat. True Physit. 20
Such Schythicall..torturing and massacring of Men.
†a. The type of paganism to which the religion of the Scythians belonged. Obs.
b. (See quot. 17931.) Obs.
1609 Bible (Douay) I. Gen. Contin. Ch. 48
The second mother of al Sectes beginning after the floud..was Scythisme.
1793 J. Hely in tr. R. O'Flaherty Ogygia I. Pref. 59
The Scythians are looked upon to be the most ancient people.
1793 J. Hely in tr. R. O'Flaherty Ogygia I. Pref. 70
Where~fore that interval of time..between the deluge and the Babylonian monarchy..is denominated a scythesm, as Epiphanius affirms.
The citations in chronological order.
1387▸a (1869) ... of Sithes [MS. a Schytes; Caxton, Shites] ...
1480 (1520) Scottes ben called as it were scyttes for they came out of Scicia.
1543 (1560) The law among the Scythyans was ...
1557 (1619) The Greekes the Romaines,..the Scythes ...
1559. A ..., somtimes a Scythicall liquor.
1567 ,... in the Scythian hilles.
1587–90 Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe.
1590 Raile not proud Scythian.
1596 ... a Torters eye, And make a flynt heart Sythian pytifull.
1599a (1633) ... cryes Scythian-like, as Crom-abo.
1599a (1633) ,... not impertinent to be noted as uncivill and Scythian-like.
1602 Such Schythicall..torturing and massacring of Men.
1608 The gall of this beast [sc. the dart] mixed with the Sythian Stone, ...
1609 The second mother of al Sectes ...was Scythisme.
1623 ...To swift Oront of Creet, to Scythicke shore.
1625a (1647) What Scythian snow so white?
1638 The Arimaspi..not seldome from their Scythic holes ...
1659 Scythian Lamb Agnus Scyth.
1668 The European Tartar, or Scythian, from which some ...
1776 ...northern or Scythian barbarians.
1781 (1787) , ... I indifferently use ... Scythians, or Tartars.
1781 Scythian Antelope.
1793 The Scythians are looked upon to be the most ancient people.
1793 ....is denominated a scythesm, as Epiphanius affirms.
1801 The Saiga, or Scythian Antelope, is an inhabitant...
Forms:
ME Sithe ( Schyte, Schite, ME Scite, Shite, Scytte), 16 Scythe, 18 Scyth.
Etymology: < Latin Scytha, Greek Σκύθης.
Obs. exc. Hist.
a. A Scythian.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 257
Of Egipcians in þe souþ, and of Sithes [MS. a Schytes; Caxton, Shites] in the norþ.
1480 Caxton Descr. Scotl. (1520) 1/1
Scottes ben called as it were scyttes for they came out of Scicia.
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes (1619) 707/1
The Greekes the Romaines,..the Scythes were alwayes temperat in eating and drinking.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 39
The old English also which there remayneth, have gotten up their cryes Scythian-like... And here also lyeth open an other manifest proofe, that the Irish bee Scythes or Scots.
Forms:
Also 15–16 Sythian.
Etymology:
< Latin Scythia, < Greek Σκυθία ( < Σκύθης Scyth n.) + -an suffix.
A. adj.
1. Of or relating to Scythia, an ancient region extending over a large part of European and Asiatic Russia, or to the nomadic people by whom it was inhabited.
1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xv. f. 190v,
Hypanis That springeth in the Scythian hilles.
1587–90 Marlowe Tamburlaine: 1st Pt. i. i. 44
Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 35
For though it [sc. Nomadism] be an old Scythian use, yet it is very behoofefull in this Country of Ireland.
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Four Plays in One in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ffffffff2/2,
What Scythian snow so white? what crystal chaster?
1776 W. J. Mickle in tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad Introd. p. xix,
The irruptions of northern or Scythian barbarians.
2. Special collocations: Scythian antelope n. = saiga n. Scythian disease n. [for the reason for the name, compare Herodotus i. cv] atrophy of the male organs of generation, accompanied by loss of masculine attributes ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon 1898). Scythian insanity n. the mental change occurring in the Scythian disease, manifested in the assumption of female dress and habits ( New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon 1898).† Scythian lamb n. Obs. = barometz n. Scythian stone n. some mineral.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 147
The gall of this beast [sc. the dart] mixed with the Sythian Stone, yealdeth a very good Eye-salue.
1659 R. Lovell Παμβοτανολογια 524
Scythian Lamb Agnus Scyth.
1781 T. Pennant Hist. Quadrupeds I. 86
Scythian Antelope.
1801 G. Shaw Gen. Zool. II. ii. 339
The Saiga, or Scythian Antelope, is an inhabitant..of all the deserts from the Danube and the Dnieper to the river Irtish.
†3. Philol. Used as a designation for the Ural-Altaic family of languages. Obs.
1885 Whitney Philol. in Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 779/1
Ural-Altaic (Scythian, Turanian) Family.
B. n.
1 a. A person belonging to the race by which Scythia was inhabited; = Scyth n.
1543 T. Becon Invect. against Swearing in Wks. (1560) I. 223 b,
The law among the Scythyans was yt, if [etc.].
1590 Marlowe Tamburlaine: 2nd Pt. sig. I,
Raile not proud Scythian.
1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. B4v,
That it may rayse drops in a Torters eye, And make a flynt heart Sythian pytifull.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall (1787) II. xxvi. 563 (note),
In speaking of all, or any, of the northern shepherds of Europe, or Asia, I indifferently use the appellations of Scythians, or Tartars.
2. The language of Scythia.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. i. i. §3. 3
The European Tartar, or Scythian, from which some conceive our Irish to have had its original.
3. Comb. Scythian-like adj. and adv.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 39
The old English also which there remayneth, have gotten up their cryes Scythian-like, as Crom-abo.
a1599 Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 40,
I thought this manner of lewd crying and howling, not impertinent to be noted as uncivill and Scythian-like.
Scythian.
1623 W. Lisle in tr. Ælfric Saxon Treat. Old & New Test. Pref. 5
But we shall hence, some to the thirsty Moore, To swift Oront of Creet, to Scythicke shore.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 20
The Arimaspi..not seldome from their Scythic holes attempting the conquest of Mammon inclos'd in the Rhyphean hills.
Befitting the Scythians, barbarous.
1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus Pref. sig. A ijv,
There is also..a heauenlye water..whiche boothe Democritus and Mercury Trimegistus knewe: callinge it sometimes a deuine water, somtimes a Scythicall liquor.
1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anat. True Physit. 20
Such Schythicall..torturing and massacring of Men.
†a. The type of paganism to which the religion of the Scythians belonged. Obs.
b. (See quot. 17931.) Obs.
1609 Bible (Douay) I. Gen. Contin. Ch. 48
The second mother of al Sectes beginning after the floud..was Scythisme.
1793 J. Hely in tr. R. O'Flaherty Ogygia I. Pref. 59
The Scythians are looked upon to be the most ancient people.
1793 J. Hely in tr. R. O'Flaherty Ogygia I. Pref. 70
Where~fore that interval of time..between the deluge and the Babylonian monarchy..is denominated a scythesm, as Epiphanius affirms.
The citations in chronological order.
1387▸a (1869) ... of Sithes [MS. a Schytes; Caxton, Shites] ...
1480 (1520) Scottes ben called as it were scyttes for they came out of Scicia.
1543 (1560) The law among the Scythyans was ...
1557 (1619) The Greekes the Romaines,..the Scythes ...
1559. A ..., somtimes a Scythicall liquor.
1567 ,... in the Scythian hilles.
1587–90 Tamburlaine, that sturdie Scythian thiefe.
1590 Raile not proud Scythian.
1596 ... a Torters eye, And make a flynt heart Sythian pytifull.
1599a (1633) ... cryes Scythian-like, as Crom-abo.
1599a (1633) ,... not impertinent to be noted as uncivill and Scythian-like.
1602 Such Schythicall..torturing and massacring of Men.
1608 The gall of this beast [sc. the dart] mixed with the Sythian Stone, ...
1609 The second mother of al Sectes ...was Scythisme.
1623 ...To swift Oront of Creet, to Scythicke shore.
1625a (1647) What Scythian snow so white?
1638 The Arimaspi..not seldome from their Scythic holes ...
1659 Scythian Lamb Agnus Scyth.
1668 The European Tartar, or Scythian, from which some ...
1776 ...northern or Scythian barbarians.
1781 (1787) , ... I indifferently use ... Scythians, or Tartars.
1781 Scythian Antelope.
1793 The Scythians are looked upon to be the most ancient people.
1793 ....is denominated a scythesm, as Epiphanius affirms.
1801 The Saiga, or Scythian Antelope, is an inhabitant...