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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
Also from the Dryden translation of Plutarch's Life of Sulla: http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_plutarch_sylla.htmAnd the very day before his end, it being told him that the magistrate Granius deferred the payment of a public debt, in expectation of his death, he sent for him to his house, and placing his attendants about him, caused him to be strangled; but through the straining of his voice and body, the imposthume breaking, he lost a great quantity of blood. Upon this, his strength failing him, after spending a troublesome night, he died, leaving behind him two young children by Metella. Valeria was afterwards delivered of a daughter, named Posthuma; for so the Romans call those who are born after the father's death. No relation between imposthume and Posthuma apparently. A more modern translation ( http://makeashorterlink.com/?A28E510C5) gives abscess. Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Bingley: sorry I missed this when it was posted. I never heard the word.
A collection of pus or purulent matter in any part of an animal body; an abscess.
Origin: A corruption of aposteme. See Aposteme.
Source: Websters Dictionary
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Definition: \Ap"os*teme\, n. [L. apostema, Gr. ? the separation of
corrupt matter into an ulcer, fr. ? to stand off: cf. F.
apost[`e]me. See {Apostasy}.] (Med.)
An abscess; a swelling filled with purulent matter. [Written
corruptly {imposthume}.]
I never heard this one before either.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
Just by-the-by. The first time I came across Postumus as a name was in 'I Claudius' by Robert Graves. Postumus (no 'h' in this case) was a cousin of Claudius and one of the few good guys in the book, so naturally he was banished following a false accusation of rape.
I now have a work colleague, from the Netherlands, named Richard Posthuma. So the name lives on.
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