v. vulgar or humorous. Also 7–9 -mografy, -mography, -mogriphy, 8 -migrafy, -mugrify. [Origin uncertain: see Note below.] trans. To alter or change in form or appearance; to transform, metamorphose (utterly, grotesquely, or strangely).
1656. S. Holland, Zara, vi. (1719), 33. So that he remained for a time as one trans-elemented. [Note] Meaning transmografide, or metarmorphosed into a Mandrake.
1671. Mrs. Behn, Amorous Prince, III. iii. I wou’d Love would transmogriphy me to a maid now.
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, III. i. 39. I know I am Transmography’d; but I am your very Brother, Ned.
1725. New Cant. Dict., Transmogrify, or rather Transmigrafy.
1728. Fielding, Love in Sev. Masques, V. iv. 68. I begin to think … that some wicked Enchanters have transmographied my Dulcinea.
1736. trans. Ruggle’s Ignoramus, III. 35. I’ll go put on my other Dress, and be transmogrify’d to Dulman.
1751. Warburton, Lett. (1809), 85. The first volume of the Divine Legation … is so transmogrified that you will hardly know it again.
1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom, xxiv. Thou art so transmographied, and bedaubed, and bedizened.
1786. Burns, Addr. Unco Guid, v. Social life and Glee sit down,… Till, quite transmugrify’d, they ’re grown Debauchery and Drinking.
1844. Blackw. Mag., LVI. 777. By proper clipping and pruning … an ingenious editor might transmogriphy these simple epistles into the philippics of Junius.
a. 1888. Mary Howitt, Autobiog. (1889), II. 278. It was transmogrified by the addition of two storeys and a flat roof.
b. To astonish utterly, confound. dial.
1887. P. M’Neill, Blawearie, 81. We … made our way here and are quite transmogrified to find everything so outrageously transformed.
1883. Berks. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Transmogrivied,… surprised, greatly astonished.
[Note. If the original form was (as suggested in quot. 1725) transmigrafy, this may have been a vulgar or uneducated formation in -fy from TRANSMIGURE, or TRANSMIGRATE vb. (cf. TRANSMIGRATION 3 b). Apparently, it was originally persons that were ‘transmografied,’ or metamorphosed.]
Hence Transmogrified, Transmogrifying ppl. adjs.; also Transmogrification, the action of transmogrifying, (strange or grotesque) transformation; Transmogrifier, one who transmogrifies.
1661. K. W., Conf. Charac., Hide-Parke Lady (1860), 53. It must march at least thrice to the botchers for *transmogrification.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, V. ii. 6. The Transmogrification of the Macrobian Children into Swans.
a. 1878. Sir G. G. Scott, Recoll. i. (1879), 47. The Tower … has undergone strange transmogrifications.
c. 1832. Mrs. Sherwood, in Life, xxx. (1847), 529. We were led … over our *transmographied terrace.
1842. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. II. St. Aloys. The transmogrified Pagan perform’d his vow.
1676. Poor Robin’s Intell., 13–20 June, 2/1. A notable fewd between a Translator of Shooes and a *Transmogrifier of Garments, that is to say betwixt a Cobler and a Botcher.
1841. Fraser’s Mag., XXIII. 338. Our modern transmogrifiers and parodists of ancient architecture.
1832. J. P. Kennedy, Swallow B., xliii. It [love] is the most *transmogrifying passion.
1904. Longm. Mag., Dec., 149. The transmogrifying process is being carried out only too rapidly.
