Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	finger_n	left_a	thumb_n	6,489	5	13.9391	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69856	Digiti-lingua, or, The most compendious, copious, facil, and secret way of silent converse ever yet discovered shewing, how any two persons may be capable, in half an hours time, to discourse together by their fingers only, and as well in the dark as the light / by a person who has conversed no otherwise in above nine years.	Person who has conversed no otherwise in above nine years.	1698 (1698)	Wing D1472; ESTC R14754	6,548	33

his Hat put behind him under a Table or otherwise as conveniency best offers so that the person about to disclose stand or sit next him or can well reach his hand without notice taken by the Company Complying with this caution one Friend may discover his mind to the other with all the secrecy imaginable by making the same Figures on and about his Friends hand as he could on his own hand if his Friend saw him because this way the Person to whom spoke apprehends as well in the dark by feeling as if he saw the same Figures in the light Thus in the most private manner and by stealth can a man make assignation to meet his friend promise to renew a Visit ask Counsel give Advice c. without the least suspicion of the sharpest over-looker nay one of the two friends may look a third person earnestly in the face as seeming intent on what discourse entertains the Company and indeed minds only what his silent friend and himself are mutually conversing about on each others Fingers I believe I have by this time furnished a witty head with ways enough to disclose a secret as private as secrecy itself Furthermore any two persons may discourse Riding or Walking and so that not to be observed by any Persons meeting or passing by But as a Crown to the conveniency and pleasure in this way of Converse let me mention the facility in learning the method here delivered which is easily done in the space of half an hour ordinarily while a Pipe is smoaking or the Cloath taking away And I can most truly affirm I know some great persons who after this my manner can express any thing sooner by their Fingers than the most skilful Artist can by his Pen and Ink provided he write in words at length I forbear to relate any pleasant accidents happening by the use of these Alphabets because I make use of them Tam Necessitate Quam Diversione Since there is no word but is made up of one or more Vowels the Vowels consequently come about oftner than any five Consonants wherefore let the Thumb and Four fingers of the left hand touched by the top of the Fore-finger of the right hand represent the five Vowels aciou viz. the top of the Thumb a. the Fore-finger e. the middle-Middle-finger i. the Ring-finger o. and the little Finger u. as by the Figure The Consonants are thus decipher'd The fore-finger and thumb of the left-hand put together B The four fingers bent in towards the palm of the hand C The thumb and fore-finger of the left-hand joyned by the fore-finger of the right-hand D The fore-finger of the right hand laid on the back of the 4 fingers of the left hand F The two Fists joyned G Draw the fore-finger of the right hand quite along the middle of the left hand H Touch the Nail of the middle finger of the left hand I conson Draw the fore-finger of the right hand quite along the back of the left hand K Lay the fore-finger of the right hand on the knuckles of the left L Put 3 fingers in the palm of the hand M Put 2 fingers in the same manner N Put the fore-finger of the right hand between the fore and middle finger of the left P Turn the top of the fore finger of the left hand to the bottom of the thumb of the same hand Q Lay the fore finger of the right hand semicircularly in the palm of the left R Encircle the thumb of the left hand with the fore-finger of the right S Touch the side of the left hand with the fore finger of the right T Touch the nail of the little finger of the left hand U conson Put two fingers on the little finger of the left hand W Lay the 2 foer-foer-fingers across X Touch the bottom of the hand long ways with the fore finger of the right hand Y Make the figure of the letter in the palm of the hand Z Note for H and K let the Finger be brought from the Part where it is set to the end of the direct Line within and without the hand Place this in Page 19. Notwithstanding I have so largely and plainly described the form of every significative Figure I have that the whole Alphabet might be viewed at once caused these Figures to be here set in their Alphabetical Order as may be perceived Now nothing can be easier when any person views the whole twenty six Figures than to make such and such signs by his fingers at first sight as according to these rules represent such and such letters as make up the word he would express This I say must be as facile as for a skilful Musician to play off a Tune at sight or as if out of the twenty six letters there litterally set over their respective representative Figures I were with a Pen and Ink to take AND for and so likewise of any other word But this I think good to advise that whosoever desires to be a proficient in this silent Language ought to be able to express the whole Alphabet in their Alphabetical Order laying aside these instructions as absolutely perfect before they pretend to discourse as a Boy ought well to make his letters before he essays to write words But now it may be objected if three men buy three of these Books and make use of the same Alphabet they must undoubtedly alike apprehend which I grant to be true but to make my words good I here present the world with another Alphabet and shall anon shew the pleasure and commodity of them both together Let the top of the four fingers and the Thumb signifie the five Vowels a e i o u beginning at the little finger for a. and so backwards as by the following figure The Consonants I thus dispose The same that d is in the other Alphabet B The same that r is in the other Alphabet C Joyn the 2 thumbs and 2 fore-fore-fingers D Cross the Wrist with the fore-finger F Put the two Fists one upon another G Draw the fore-finger round the hill of the thumb H The same that f is in the other Alphabet K The fore-finger of the right hand laid within the fingers of the left I. The same as in the other Alphabet MN The fore-finger of the right hand put between the fore-finger thumb of the left P Encompass the fore-finger of the right hand with the fore-finger and thumb of the left Q The same that h is in the other Alphabet R Joyn the 2 little fingers cross ways S Lay the fore-finger of the right hand directly across the palm of the left hand T Touch the thumb najl U conson Put all the fingers overone another almost cross W Connex the knuckles X Put the fore-fore-singer thumb of the right hand to the side of the left hand Y As in the other Alphabet Z Noce for h and r let the finger be brought from one end of the Line where it is set to the other end thereofi Place this in Page 25. If the instructions given to the former Alphabet are rightly understood there needs none to this because reason dictates the same use Now I would say by this Alphabet Good Morrow Sir which is thus done The two Fists upon each other G Two fingers put upon the fore finger of the left hand oo Two thumbs and

2 fore-fore-fingers joyned Which being put together make Good d When the word is ended point directly into the middle of the hand which notation must be given at the end of every word again Three fingers in the middle of the hand m Top of the fore-finger o 2 fingers drawn along the middle of thehand rr Top of the fore-finger as before o Fingers cross ways over one another w Then again the Notation Two little fingers cross ways S Top of the middle finger i Along the inside of the left hand r Then the Notation Which being bore in memory make Good morrow Sir But if it should so happen that two persons are conversing to-together by the use of either of these Alphabets and suspect a third person to apprehend 't is but exchanging five or more Letters in an Alphabet and they can never make Head or Tayl of it of which intentions any Man may acquaint his Friend by a whisper or otherwise As for Example you would say by this Alphabet Sir your Servant which in words at length will be thus 2 little fingers cross ways S Top of the middle finger i Along the inside of the hand r The point in the middle of the hand the notation Then again Fore-finger and thumb to the side of the hand y Top of the fore finger o Top of the thumb u Along the middle of the hand r Then the Notation Again 2 fingers cross ways S Top of the ring finger c Along the middle of the hand r Thumb Nail v Top of the little finger a 2 fingers in the palm n Draw the fore-fore-singer directly down the middle of the hand t Then the Notation But now I will suppose that you have agreed to take the Vowels as in the other Alphabet and exchange r in this Alphabet for r in the other Alphabet which is c in this and for c in this Alphabet you will take k in the other alphabet You must thus begin then Two little fingers cross ways S Top of the middle finger i Fore finger semicircularly in the palm of the hand r Now any indifferent person that understood both Alphabets would think that you were about to say sick or some other word with more letters after the r which is c in this Alphabet or else when he sees the period at the end of c in this Alphabet tho to your self and friend it signifies r He concludes you speak Latin or make some mistake in the letters when the truth is he himself is in error But thus exchanging 5 or 6 letters in an Alphabet in many words they will be found so often to reiterate that a stander-by tho acquainted with the method shall apprehend but in a meer mist let him be never so expert at it However having here described 2 Alphabets every person is left to his liberty to make up one for himself and friend out of the 2 that will be as private from all the world as if they never heard of such an invention but I think the design here laid down is now made so plain it needs not further Demonstration For an affirmative point to one Eye For a negative point to the Nose But if you neither affirm nor deny put one finger upon the Eye and another upon the Nose which may very well signify I don't know or indifferent And whereas most of the letters are deliniated by the Fore-finger of the right hand if it happens that you are to express two Letters of the same sort just together it may be done either by two fingers at once as double o double e double f or any other letter except those that are deciphered by more than the fore-finger of the right hand or else at twice as best suits perticular Fancies Abbreviating the words by these Signs is the same as with a Pen and Ink because to intimate which needs no more than the representative Figures of W. C. H. That Y. T. and so of any other word as the person himself pleases The throwing out the hand from the body in way of discourse signifies and. I heartily wish all Persons may as soon discern the commodity as the use of these Fruits of a few vacant hours FINIS