"obstet" hidden in books

of but short time ere the

It is noted in this connection that the sexton’s spade ‘was a terror to the superstitious, for if the gravedigger would but shake his spade at anyone, it was a matter of but short time ere the sexton would be called upon to dig the grave of that person who had come under the evil influence of the spade.
— from British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt Sikes

Oakhurst but seemed to enjoy the

Tom Simson not only put all his worldly store at the disposal of Mr. Oakhurst, but seemed to enjoy the prospect of their enforced seclusion.
— from The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales With Condensed Novels, Spanish and American Legends, and Earlier Papers by Bret Harte

or but slightly to exceed this

They differ, again, in their length: for Tragedy endeavours, as far as possible, to confine itself to a single revolution of the sun, or but slightly to exceed this limit; whereas the Epic action has no limits of time.
— from The Poetics of Aristotle by Aristotle

original beauty sufficient to establish the

Yet, fallen as he is, the physiognomy of the Jew retains a share of its original beauty, sufficient to establish the claim of the people to have been the handsomest race on earth.
— from Tarry thou till I come; or, Salathiel, the wandering Jew. by George Croly

ou behold said the emperor the

ou behold," said the emperor, "the ensigns of supreme power.
— from History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 4 by Edward Gibbon

of brown sugar three eggs two

One pint of boiled dry squash, one cupful of brown sugar, three eggs, two tablespoonfuls of molasses, one tablespoonful of melted butter one tablespoonful of ginger, one teaspoonful of cinnamon, a pinch of salt and one pint of milk.
— from The Whitehouse Cookbook (1887) Cooking, Toilet and Household Recipes, Menus, Dinner-Giving, Table Etiquette, Care of the Sick, Health Suggestions, Facts Worth Knowing, Etc., Etc. The Whole Comprising a Comprehensive Cyclopedia of Information for the Home by Hugo Ziemann

or better sledge travelers ever took

I do not think that harder men or better sledge travelers ever took the trail.
— from The Voyages of Captain Scott : Retold from the Voyage of the Discovery and Scott's Last Expedition by Charles Turley

officers being such that even the

In the earlier stages of army reorganization, changes were made without much regard to personal merit, the dearth of efficient officers being such that even the most indifferent had some value.
— from The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Vol. 1 (of 4) by William Milligan Sloane

on both sides the English troops

When darkness put an end to the fire on both sides, the English troops received orders to embark in the boats, half a regiment at a time.
— from The Conquest of Canada, Vol. 1 by George Warburton

one be substituted they enter the

Lastly, Thompson says:— It is highly remarkable that they [bees] know their hive more from its locality than from its appearance, for if it be removed during their absence and a similar one be substituted, they enter the strange one.
— from Animal Intelligence The International Scientific Series, Vol. XLIV. by George John Romanes

once be sent to England the

To ensure this bridal he demanded that Mary should at once be sent to England, the four great fortresses of Scotland be placed in English hands, and a voice given to Henry himself in the administration of the Scotch Council of Regency.
— from History of the English People, Volume IV by John Richard Green

This tab, called Hiding in Plain Sight, shows you passages from notable books where your word is accidentally (or perhaps deliberately?) spelled out by the first letters of consecutive words. Why would you care to know such a thing? It's not entirely clear to us, either, but it's fun to explore! What's the longest hidden word you can find? Where is your name hiding?

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