Chambers's encyclopaedia

Chambers's encyclopaedia
PA'LINDROME: 

(Gr. palin, backwards, and dromos, a running), the name given to a kind of verse very common in Latin, the peculiarity of which is that it may be read the same backwards as forwards. 

A few examples will suffice.

Si bene te tua laus taxat sua laute tenehis.

Et necat tger amor non Roma reye tacente,

Roma retjes una non anus eger amor.

A Roman lawyer gets the credit of the following :

Si nummi immunis,

which Camden translates:

„Give me my fee, and I warrant you free.“

It is said that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth a certaua lady of rank, having been compelled to retire from the court on account of some faina, the truth of which she denied, took for her motto:

Ablata at alba. 

„Retired but pure.“

The English language has few palindromes, but one at least is inimitable. 

It represents our first parent politely introducing himself to Eve in these words:

„Madam, I'm Adam.'

Compare Henry B. Wheatley's book on Anagrama (1862):

W. & R. Chambers - Chambers's encyclopaedia 1872-73

Chambers's Encyclopaedia

Chambers's Encyclopaedia was founded in 1859 by William and Robert Chambers of Edinburgh and became one of the most important English language encyclopaedias of the 19th and 20th centuries, developing a reputation for accuracy and scholarliness that was reflected in other works produced by the Chambers publishing company.

The encyclopaedia is no longer produced.

A selection of illustrations and woodblocks used to produce the first two editions of the encyclopaedia can be seen on a digital resource hosted on the National Museums Scotland website

Photo: Pixabay/GDJ 

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