atomies

Noun (1)

atomy (plural atomy or atomies)

1. A tiny particle; an atom, a mote, a speck.
   • Thou tellſt me there is murder in mine eye, / 'Tis pretty ſure, and very probable, / That eyes, that are the frailſt and ſofteſt things, / VVho ſhut their covvard gates on atomyes, / Should be called tyrants, butchers, murtherers.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

   Synonyms:

   ace, atom, thought, aught, bissel, continental, bit, crumb, glimpse, dab

   1. A floating mote or speck of dust.
      • [T]hicker then in ſunne are Atomies, / Flew bullets, fier, and ſlaughtered dead mens cries.1595, Iruis [i.e., Gervase] Markham, The Most Honorable Tragedie of Sir Richard Grinuile, Knight, London: […] I. Roberts, for Richard Smith, →OCLC; republished in Edward Arber, editor, The Last Fight...
   2. (archaic) The smallest, indivisible constituent part or unit of something; an atom.
      • Spayne then enamour'd with the Romane trull, / Calls all her forces, more then Atomies, / And tells Ill-fortunes ſtorie to the full; […]1595, Iruis [i.e., Gervase] Markham, The Most Honorable Tragedie of Sir Richard Grinuile, Knight, London: […] I. Roberts, for Richard Smith, →OCLC; republished in Edward Arber, editor, The Last Fight...
2. (dialectal, figuratively, archaic except UK) A very small being; a mite.
   • O then I ſee Queene Mab hath bin vvith you: She is the Fairies mid-vvife, and ſhe comes in ſhape no bigger thẽ [then; i.e., than] an Agot ſtone, on the forefinger of an Alderman, dravvne vvith a teeme of little ottamie, ouer mens noſes as they lie aſleep: […]c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Iuliet. […] (Second Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby, […], published 1599, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], signature...

   Synonyms:

   titch

Noun (2)

atomy (plural atomies)

1. (archaic) A skeleton.
   • Poor Brother Tom had an Accident this time Tvvelve-month, and ſo clever a made Fellovv he vvas, that I could not ſave him from thoſe fleaing Raſcals the Surgeons; and novv, poor Man, he is among the Otamys at Surgeon's Hall.1728, [John] Gay, The Beggar’s Opera. […], London: […] John Watts, […], →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 19

   Synonyms:

   notomy

2. (UK, dialectal, figuratively) A person who is very emaciated or thin; a skeleton.
   • Hoſt[ess, i.e., Mistress Quickly]. I [aye] come, you ſtarude blood-hound. / VVhoore [Doll Tearsheet]. Goodman death, goodman bones. / Hoſt. Thou Atomy, thou. / VVhoore. Come you thinne thing, come you raſcall.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...

   Synonyms:

   bag of bones, notomy, skin and bones, thin person

See all 9 meanings of atomy