-mastix
(ˈmæstɪks)
repr. Gr. µάστιξ scourge, freq. used in the 17th c. (rarely later) in quasi-Gr. combinations formed after Homeromastix (Ὁµηροµάστιξ) ‘scourge of Homer’ (the name given to the grammarian Zoïlus on account of the severity of his censure of the Homeric poems), and designating persons violently hostile to some person or class, as Episcopo-mastix, Infanto-mastix, Puritano-mastix, etc. Also in titles of books severely attacking some person, class, institution, etc., as Atheomastix [Gr. ἄθεος atheist] (Fotherby a 1619), Histriomastix [L. histrio actor] (Prynne 1632), Satiromastix (Dekker 1602, attacking Ben Jonson).
| 1604 Bp. W. Barlow Sum Conference (1638) To Rdr., In one ranke whereof you may place our Hercules-Limbo⁓mastix. 1625 Bp. R. Montagu App Cæsar 291 Incomparable Hooker, that Puritano-mastix, might well say [etc.]. 1651 H. L'Estrange (title) Smectymnuo-mastix: or, Short Animadversions vpon Smectymnuus [etc.]. 1656 S. Holland Zara (1719) 76 It would have puzzell'd that Female Mastix Mantuan to have limm'd this she Chymera. 1656 Heylin Extraneus Vap. 234 [St. Augustine] in condemning Infants unbaptized to the pains of Hell..incurred the name of Infanto-Mastix. 1660 Gauden Serm. Funeral Brounrig Ep. Ded., Those unreasonable Episcopomastix, whose malice is as blind, as it is bold, against all Bishops. a 1662 Heylin Cypr. Anglicus (1668) 50 Humphries..got the title of a Papisto Mastyx. 1671 Glanvill Disc. M. Stubbe 100 And when the Virtuoso-Mastix hath proved that these are not Complements [etc.]. 1818 F. Hodgson (title, in Byron's Works 1901 V. 278) Latino-Mastix 1818 ― (Ibid.) Sæculo-Mastix, or the Lash of the Age we live in. |
† b. As independent n. Obs. rare.
| 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. iv. §15. 273 Hierocles, who was the Mastix of Christianity and Champion for the gods. |