atomy

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈætəmi/

Noun

atomy (plural atomies)

1. (obsolete) A floating mote or speck of dust.
   • 1595, Gervase Markham, The most Honourable Tragedy of Sir Richard Grenville

     Thicker then in sunne are Atomies,

     Flew bullets.

   • 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 3.v

     That eyes, that are the frail'st and softest things

     Who shut their coward gates on atomies

     Should be call'd tyrants, butchers, murderers!

Noun

atomy (plural atomies)

1. (now, rare) A skeleton. [from 16th c.]
   • 1728, John Gay, The Beggar's Opera, II.1:

     I could not save him from those fleaing Rascals the Surgeons; and now, poor Man, he is among the Otamys at Surgeon's Hall.

   • 1786, Dr. Smollett, The History and Adventures of an Atom, Harrison and Co., page 5,

     I was now thrown into a violent perturbation of spirit; for I never could behold an atomy without fear and trembling, even when I knew it was no more than a competition of dry bone.

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