GEORG BENEDIKT

WINER (1789-1858)  , German Protestant theologian, was born at Leipzig on the 13th of April 1789 . He studied theology at Leipzig, where eventually (1832) he became professor ordinarius . From 1824 to 1830 he edited with J . G . V . Engelhardt the Neues kritisches Journal der theologischen Literatur, and alone from 1826 to 1832 the Zeitschrift fur wissenschaftliche Theologie . He is well known as the author of a Grammatik des neutestamentlichen Sprachidioms (1821, 8th ed. revised by P . W . Schmiedel, 1894 ff.), of which several translations have appeared, the latest being by W . F . Moulton (187o, 3rd ed . 1882) .

He died on the 12th of May 1858 . His other

works include: Komparative Darstellung des Lehrbegriffes der verschiedenen christlichen Kirchenparteien (1824; 4th ed. by P . Ewald, 1882; Eng. trans . 1873), Biblisches Realworterbuch (1820; 3rd ed . 1847-1848, 2 vols.), Grammatik des biblischen and targumischen Chaldaismus (1824; 3rd ed. by B . Fischer, Chaldaische Grammatik fur Bibel and Talmud, 1882; En g. trans . 1845) and a useful Handbuch der theologischen Literatur (182o; 3rd ed . 1838-184o, 2 vols.; supplement, 1842) . Cf . W . Schmidt, " Zum Geddchtnis Dr G . B .

Winers," in the Beitrage zur sacizsischen Kirchengeschichte .

WINE-TABLE, a late 18th-century device for facilitating after-dinner drinking—the cabinetmakers called it a " Gentle-man's Social Table." It was always narrow and of semicircular or horseshoe form, and the guests sat round the outer circumference . In the earlier and simpler shapes metal wells for bottles and ice were sunk in the surface of the table; they were fitted with brass lids . In later and more elaborate examples the tables were fitted with a revolving wine-carriage, bottle-holder or tray working upon a balanced arm which enabled the bottles to be passed to any guest without shaking . The side opposite the guests was often fitted with a network bag . It has been conjectured that this bag was intended to hold biscuits, but it is much more likely that its function was to prevent glasses and bottles which might be upset from falling to the floor . That the wine-table might be drawn up to the fire in cold weather without inconvenience from the heat it was fitted with curtains hung upon a brass frame and running upon rings . Sometimes the table was accompanied by a circular bottle-stand supported on a tripod into which the bottles were deeply sunk to preserve them from the heat of the fire . Yet another form was circular with a socket in the centre for the bottle . Wine-tables followed the fashion of other tables and were often irtlaid with wood or brass . They are now exceedingly scarce .