An A-Z of English (without the X)

Reading through this article on one of England's great literary figures, Dr Johnson, I couldn't help but smile in appreciation and admiration of his wit and undeniable talent.

Here's a selection of entries from his dictionary of the english language:

Cough A convulsion of the lungs, vellicated by some sharp serosity. It is pronounced coff

Dunce A dullard; a dolt; a thickskull; a stupid indocile animal

Excise A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid

Fart Wind from behind

Strut To walk with affected dignity; to swell with stateliness

Trance An ecstasy; a state in which the soul is rapt into visions

Uxorious Submissively fond of a wife; infected with connubial dotage

Vaticide A murderer of poets

Witticism A mean attempt at wit

Yawn To gape; to oscitate; to have the mouth opened involuntarily, as in sleepiness

Zealot One passionately ardent in any cause. Generally used in dispraise