rare. [f. WORD sb. + MAN sb.1] A man who deals with or has command of words; a master of language. So Wordmanship, skill in the use of words.
1623. Cockeram, II. A great Word man, grandiloquus.
1654. J. Webster, Acad. Examen, 68. Men that … think themselves the most skilful wordmen or Logodædalists in the world.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. betw. Charles & Clenard, Wks. 1907, II. 213. I will not shew my Anger against this Word-man.
1881. Wilson (KS) Echo, 17 March, 4/1. Like Mr. Arnold, he [Poe] introduced some tinge of French though and of French literature into the wordmanship of his countrymen.
1882. Stevenson, Men & Bks., Pref. p. xiii. The great contemporary master of wordmanship [sc. Hugo], and indeed of all literary arts and technicalities, had not unnaturally dazzled a beginner.
