question for safire's column

[Fred Shapiro]

On Wed, 2 Aug 2000, Frank Abate wrote:

> I still feel that the pallid idea is not part of the real signification
> of "livid", based on its etym and the examples presented in OED.  I
> would be pleased to give way to other examples that show the association
> between "livid" and paleness.

All right, here are some examples showing the association of "livid" with
paleness.  I have not been precise about editions and page numbers,
because my purpose here is not to trace a first use but rather to
illustrate a common association:

1851 Herman Melville _Moby-Dick_  Threading its way out from among his
grey hairs ... you saw a slender rod-like mark, lividly whitish.

1880 Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu _The Purcell Papers_  This announcement
wrought no apparent change in Sir Arthur, except that he became deadly,
almost lividly pale.

_Id._  Lord Glenfallen became ashy pale, almost livid.

1883 Robert Louis Stevenson _Treasure Island_  The sabre cut across one
cheek, a dirty, livid white.

1890 Arthur Conan Doyle _The White Compnay_  His swarthy features blanched
to a livid gray.

1893 Arthur Conan Doyle _The Adventure of the Yellow Face_  Its colour was
what had impressed me most.  It was of a livid chalky white.

1897 Bram Stoker _Dracula_  The last unconscious effort which imagination
made was to show me a livid white face bending over me out of the mist.

1904 Joseph Conrad _Nostromo_  Sotillo's ebony moustache contrasted
violently with the livid colouring of his cheeks.

1906 Joseph Conrad _A Set of Six_  Their passage did not disturb the
mortal silence of the plains, shining with the livid light of snows.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Public Services     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
  and Lecturer in Legal Research            Yale University Press,
Yale Law School                             forthcoming
e-mail: fred.shapiro at yale.edu