phœnomenon

English

Etymology

Possibly influenced by confusion with terms such as phœnix or Phœnician.

Noun

phœnomenon (plural phœnomena)

1. (hypercorrect) Obsolete form of phenomenon.
   • 1770, “I. Earths”, “1. Calcareous”, in Gustav von Engestrom, transl., edited by Emanuel Mendes da Costa, An Essay Towards a System of Mineralogy, London: Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly, translation of original by Axel Fredric Cronstedt, “B. (Sect. XIII) United with the acid of vitriol. Gypſum”, page 22:

     When a ſmall quantity of any gypſum is melted together with borax, the glaſs becomes colourleſs and tranſparent; but I have found ſome ſorts of alabaſter and ſparry gypſa that, when melted in ſome quantity with borax, yield a fine yellow tranſparent colour, reſembling that of the beſt topaſes. This phœnomenon might probably happen with every one of the gypſeous kind.

   • 1798, Phœnomenon, (image), Portsmouth, England:

     He is a fine cheſtnut, riſing 6 years old, 16 & half hands high, got by the famous Phœnomenon, whoſe Grandſire was the noted Eclipſe, Dam Recovery by Hyder Ally, Grandam Perdita by Herod, great Grandam by Sampſon, & out of the Laſs of the Mill.

   • 1919, Theodore Schroeder, Constitutional Free Speech Defined and Defended in an Unfinished Argument in a Case of Blasphemy, page 141:

     Nay more ; that the construction employed to justify the ‘Sedition Act,’ would exhibit a phœnomenon without a parrallel in the political world.