incūs 'anvil,' formed from in- in- entry 2 + cūdere 'to beat, strike, hammer.' Alternatively, the formation of such nouns may have been a European areal feature compare Russian nakovál'nja 'anvil,' from na- 'on' and a derivative of the verb kovát' 'to hammer, forge,' Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian nâkōvanj.US4227638A - Retractable clinching anvil stapler It has been suggested that all the Germanic compounds are calques on Latin incūd. Parallel to *ana-falta-/*ana-feltja- were other Germanic compounds meaning 'anvil': *ana-bauta- (whence Middle Low German anebōt, ambōt, Old High German anabōz, present-day German Amboß), from *bautan- 'to strike, beat' (see beat entry 1) and *ana-baltja- (whence Middle Low German ānebelte, Middle Dutch aenbelt, Dutch aanbeeld, Old High German anabelzi) and *ana-bulta- (whence Middle Low German ānebolt, ambolt, Old High German anabolz), from the verbal base behind Old English bolt 'bolt, arrow,' Old High German bolz 'bolt, hot iron' (see bolt entry 1). Such a verb does exist in Old High German, though only in extended and/or specialized senses (see the note at felt entry 1). The word anvil was originally a deverbal compound meaning in effect 'the thing on which striking is done.' Already in Old English the makeup of the compound would have been less than transparent, as a verb corresponding to the deverbal second element -fealt/-filt( e) does not appear to have existed (or at least is not attested). Middle English anfeld, anefelt, anvelt, anvyll, going back to Old English anfealt and anefilt, anelfilte, going back to Germanic *ana-falta- and *ana-feltja- (whence also, from the first, Old High German anafalz 'anvil' and from the second, Middle Dutch aenvilte, anevilte), from *ana- 'on' and *-falta-, *-feltja-, nominal derivatives from *faltan-, taken to mean 'to strike, beat' - more at felt entry 1 These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anvil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2021 Night falls like an anvil at Castle Hot Springs, which limits guests to about 50. 2022 But starting in elementary school Gorman began to teach herself to grasp, form and wield words just as a blacksmith brings heat, an anvil, and a hammer to iron. 2022 That anvil of debt often weighs borrowers down for years, forcing them to postpone plans to buy a home, start a business or even have children, King said.

2020 That parks the anvil of responsibility squarely on the shoulders of those with the most money in the game who tossed locks on the gates.īryce Miller Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. Lee, Forbes, Telling the board of directors about my mental health and hearing their compassionate response lifted an anvil of anxiety off my chest and loosened the noose of shame around my neck.Īndy Dunn As Told To Marty Munson, Men's Health, The news of 2022 is like an anvil weighing down on our collective psyche. Recent Examples on the Web The two got their hands on an anvil, a mechanic’s hammer, and some pliers and watched some YouTube videos.ĭevorah Lev-tov, Robb Report, 25 July 2022 Plus, such symptoms could be the sign of other more serious problems such as a stroke, a brain hemorrhage, or an anvil falling on your head.īruce Y.

Ears anvil