Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word anvil. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word anvil, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say anvil in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word anvil you have here. The definition of the word anvil will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofanvil, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
What the anvil? what dread grasp / Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
1839, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “ w:The Village Blacksmith.”, in Ballads and Other Poems, 2nd edition, Cambridge, Mass.: John Owen, published 1842, →OCLC, stanza 8, page 102:
Thus at the flaming forge of life / Our fortunes must be wrought; / Thus on its sounding anvil shaped / Each burning deed and thought!
1648, Abraham Cowley, The Foure Ages of England, or, The Iron Age with Other Select Poems, London, Postscript:
I Have anvil’d out this Iron Age, Which I commit, not to your patronage, But skill and Art
1671, “A Third Embassy to the Emperor of China and East-Tartary”, in John Ogilby, transl., Atlas Chinensis, London, page 291:
The Family Tang caus’d an Iron Pillar to be erected there of three Rods high, and of a proportionable thickness, Anvil’d out of an intire Piece.
1748, , “Letter XCII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady:, volume VII, London: S Richardson; y Andrew Millar, over-against Catharine-street in the Strand; y J and J Rivington, in St. Paul’s Church-yard; nd by J. Leake, at Bath.">…], →OCLC, page 341:
I never started a roguery, that did not come out of thy forge in a manner ready anvilled and hammered for execution