"'Infatuation' acts so strongly, as in some measure, to take away that reason, which is the light of the mind; and thus darkening it, leads a man into the grossest errors."
— Trusler, John (1735-1820)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Dodsley
Date
1766
Metaphor
"'Infatuation' acts so strongly, as in some measure, to take away that reason, which is the light of the mind; and thus darkening it, leads a man into the grossest errors."
Metaphor in Context
214. Prepossessed, Opiniated, Obstinate, Infatuated, Headstrong.
These epithets denote a folly, which consists in being too much wedded to our own opinion; but, that, which is particularized by the word, prepossessed, seems to arise, from excess of prejudice, which seduces, and, causes us to think, what we have preconceived, the best; paying little or no regard to the opinions of others. In one opiniated, this folly seems to be, the effect of an over-fondness for his own notions, and, a contempt for those, of others. Obstinacy, seems to spring, from an affected perverseness, which renders it intractable, and, which, against the rules of good-breeding, will never give way. An infatuated person, is supposed to be folly-struck, to suffer some loss of reason, which is the occasion of that inflexibility we observe in him. As to the word, headstrong, though, often, used as synonymous with the above; it appears to me, to have a greater relation to a man's actions, intimating a blind determination, that stops his ears to every argument, and, renders him ungovernable.
Prepossessed, and, opiniated, imply, a mind, strongly, prejudiced; obstinate, and, headstrong, an unruly will; infatuated, a wandering in the dark.
Thus, to be prepossessed, opiniated, or, infatuated, is involuntary; to be obstinate, or, headstrong, voluntary.
A person prepossessed, follows his own opinions, after examining in some sort, those of others. One, who is opiniated, follows his own notions, implicitly, without ever listning to those of others. Obstinacy, pursues its own way, in spite of every opposition, and, often, through mere caprice. Infatuation acts so strongly, as in some measure, to take away that reason, which is the light of the mind; and thus darkening it, leads a man into the grossest errors. The headstrong person, often, acts through a spirit of opposition, and seldom leaves his course, till he has completed his ruin.
(II, pp. 8-9)
These epithets denote a folly, which consists in being too much wedded to our own opinion; but, that, which is particularized by the word, prepossessed, seems to arise, from excess of prejudice, which seduces, and, causes us to think, what we have preconceived, the best; paying little or no regard to the opinions of others. In one opiniated, this folly seems to be, the effect of an over-fondness for his own notions, and, a contempt for those, of others. Obstinacy, seems to spring, from an affected perverseness, which renders it intractable, and, which, against the rules of good-breeding, will never give way. An infatuated person, is supposed to be folly-struck, to suffer some loss of reason, which is the occasion of that inflexibility we observe in him. As to the word, headstrong, though, often, used as synonymous with the above; it appears to me, to have a greater relation to a man's actions, intimating a blind determination, that stops his ears to every argument, and, renders him ungovernable.
Prepossessed, and, opiniated, imply, a mind, strongly, prejudiced; obstinate, and, headstrong, an unruly will; infatuated, a wandering in the dark.
Thus, to be prepossessed, opiniated, or, infatuated, is involuntary; to be obstinate, or, headstrong, voluntary.
A person prepossessed, follows his own opinions, after examining in some sort, those of others. One, who is opiniated, follows his own notions, implicitly, without ever listning to those of others. Obstinacy, pursues its own way, in spite of every opposition, and, often, through mere caprice. Infatuation acts so strongly, as in some measure, to take away that reason, which is the light of the mind; and thus darkening it, leads a man into the grossest errors. The headstrong person, often, acts through a spirit of opposition, and seldom leaves his course, till he has completed his ruin.
(II, pp. 8-9)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Credited as being the first thesaurus in English. 4 entries in the ESTC (1766, 1776, 1783, 1795).
See John Trusler, The Difference, Between Words, Esteemed Synonymous: in the English Language; and, the Proper Choice of them Determined: Together with, so much of Abbé Girard's Treatise, on this Subject, as Would Agree, with our Mode of Expression, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1766). <Vol. I, Link to ECCO-TCP><Vol. II, Link to ECCO-TCP>
See John Trusler, The Difference, Between Words, Esteemed Synonymous: in the English Language; and, the Proper Choice of them Determined: Together with, so much of Abbé Girard's Treatise, on this Subject, as Would Agree, with our Mode of Expression, 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1766). <Vol. I, Link to ECCO-TCP><Vol. II, Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
08/15/2013
