1. Excerpt fromA World of Wonders, by Henri Estienne (1607--the English translation)

[Early modern philologists occasionally constructed probable-sounding word histories. However, these fictional etymologies often reflected the beliefs of the time rather than authentic origins. The Soothsayer's claim that the Latin word "mulier," or wife, was derived from "mollis aer," or, as he defines it, a "piece of tender air," illustrates this behavior (5.4.444-446). Henri Estienne's A World of Wonders attacks this practice as ignorant, using the same example of "mulier." Although the dating of Cymbeline is uncertain, the temporal proximity of Richard Carew's 1607 English translation of Estienne's text to Cymbeline is suggestive.[

But this is not all, for they have been so curious{clever} in rendering reasons of every word they spake as that they have overskipped but very few without knowing their etymologies; nay, they have found out such subtle notations as cannot sufficiently be wondered at. . .

Now, this subtle{ingenious} and curious etymologizing is not in these names only but in all other names of the saints registered in the book called The Golden Legendor Legends. For example, "Gregory" is compounded of grex--that is, "an assembly"--and of goire--that is, "preacher." "Katherine," of katha--that is, "all"--and of ruina—"overthrow"--for the devil's fort was clean overthrown in her, "Katherine" signifying as much as "universal overthrow," he being dislodged and cast out of her. "Quintine" comes of quinque, "five," and teneo, tenes, "to hold," signifying "one which holdeth five things."

If any shall reply and say that it is not to be wondered that the ancient Latinists never mentioned these etymologies, considering the names were not then in use, I answer that they had as good dexterity in giving etymologies of ancient Latin words: witness the notation of mulier{wife}, quasi{as} "mollis aer"{soft air}.