† Mezzofantin.

1821 Ld. Byron Lett. & Jrnls. (1979) IX. 30 I do not remember a man amongst them—whom I ever wished to see twice—except perhaps Mezzophanti..who is a Monster of languages.]

1852 Sartain's Union Mag. 2 26/2 Music is the only universal linguist, a Mezzofanti of the soul.

1872 G. M. Hopkins Further Lett. (1956) 238 We have a half-English half-Italian young sucking Mezzofanti among us who could have written in seven languages to my knowledge.

1873 T. L. K. Oliphant Sources Standard Eng. p. ix He seems to have been the nearest approach England ever made to bringing forth a Mezzofanti.

1900 Dict. National Biogr. at Wiseman, Nicholas As a linguist and scholar he was especially distinguished. He was often called the English Mezzofanti.

1939 J. Joyce Finnegans Wake ii. 260 Long Livius Lane, mid Mezzofanti Mall.]