handsel

Example Sentences

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Aleman, Cervantes, Lesage, Defoe and Fielding were inspired to imitation, and today Lazarillo is acclaimed as the prototype of the picaresque novel, as a handsel of the arriving era of realism in European literature.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the devil a sou the devils took; far from taking handsel, they were flouted and jeered by the country louts.

From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 4 by Motteux, Peter Anthony

The village where thou livedst was all apprised of the fact; and neighbour after neighbour kissed thy pudding-cheek, and gave thee, as handsel, silver or copper coins, on that the first gala-day of thy existence.

From Sartor Resartus, and On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History by Carlyle, Thomas

Breakfast done, the seekers made little delay, so eager as they were to behold the King, and to have handsel of their new sweet life. 

From The Story of the Glittering Plain; or, the land of Living Men by Morris, William

Then Hrut held his peace some little while, and afterwards he stood up, and said to Oswif, "Take now my hand in handsel as a token that thou lettest the suit drop."

From The Story of Burnt Njal: the great Icelandic tribune, jurist, and counsellor by Unknown