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More items taken from : http://www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/data/115.htmlGrimm's Law A law discovered by Jacob L. Grimm, the German philologist, to show how the mute consonants interehange as corresponding words occur in different branches of the Aryan family of languages. Thus, what is p in Greek, Latin, or Sanskrit becomes f in Gothic, and b or f in the Old High German; what is t in Greek, Latin, or Sanskrit becomes th in Gothic, and d in Old High German; etc. Thus changing p into f, and t into th, "pater" becomes "father."
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Grog Rum and water, cold without. Admiral Vernon was called Old Grog by his sailors because he was
accustomed to walk the deck in rough weather in a grogram cloak. As he was the first to serve water in
the rum on board ship, the mixture went by the name of grog. Six-water grog is one part rum to six parts
of water. Grog, in common parlance, is any mixture of spirits and water, either hot or cold.
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Grotesque (2 syl.) means in "Grotto style." Classical ornaments so called were found in the 13th century
in grottoes, that is, excavations made in the baths of Titus and in other Roman buildings. These
ornaments abound in fanciful combinations, and hence anything outré is termed grotesque.
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Guess (I). A peculiarity of the natives of New England, U.S. America.
I guess us Yankees got lots of peculiarities.
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Grog, in common parlance, is any mixture of spirits and water
Fascinating. I'd always thought grog was the real rough stuff, whereas actually it's the watered-down stuff. I take it that "groggy" isn't from the same root, then?
Edit: a flying maverick just answered that one. Hi mav! Byee!
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Guinea Sir Robert Holmes, in 1666, captured in Schelling Bay 160 Dutch sail, containing bullion and
gold-dust from Cape Coast Castle in Guinea. This rich prize was coined into gold pieces, stamped with an
elephant, and called Guineas to memorialise the valuable capture. (See Dryden: Annus Mirabilis.)
Guinea. The legend is M. B. F. et H. Rex. F. D. B. L. D. S. R. I. A. T. et E. - Magnĉ Britainniĉ,
Franciĉ, et Hiberniĉ Rex; Fidei Defensor; Brunsvicensis, Lunenburgensis Dux; Sacri Romani Imperii
Archi Thesaurarius et Elector.
Guinea-pieces = 21s. were first coined in 1663, and discontinued in 1817. The sovereign coined by
Henry VII. in 1480 was displaced by the guinea, but recoined in 1815, soon after which it displaced the
guinea. Of course, 20s. is a better decimal coin than 21s.
I often wondered how the coin got its name.
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Halcyon Days A time of happiness and prosperity. Halcyon is the Greek for a kingfisher, compounded of hals (the sea) and kuo
(to brood on). The ancient Sicilians believed that the kingfisher laid its eggs and incubated for fourteen days, before the winter
solstice, on the surface of the sea, during which time the waves of the sea were always unruffled.
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Half Half is more than the whole.. (Pleou hmiou pantoz)This is what Hesiod said to his brother
Perseus, when he wished him to settle a dispute without going to law. He meant "half of the estate
without the expense of law will be better than the whole after the lawyers have had their pickings." The
remark, however, has a very wide signification. Thus an embarras de richesse is far less profitable than a
sufficiency. A large estate to one who cannot manage it is impoverishing. A man of small income will be
poorer with a large house and garden to keep up than if he lived in a smaller tenement. Increase of wealth,
if expenditure is more in proportion, tendeth to poverty.
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Hallelujah is the Hebrew halelu-Jah, "Praise ye Jehovah."
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Hamadryads Nymphs of trees supposed to live in forest-trees, and die when the tree dies. (Greek, hama,
together with drus, a forest-tree.)
The nymphs of fruit-trees were called "Melides" or "Hamamelids."
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Harlot is said to be derived from Harlotta, the mother of William the Conqueror, but it is more likely to
be a corruption of horlet (a little hireling), "hore" being the past participle of hyran (to hire). It was once
applied to males as well as females. Hence Chaucer speaks of "a sturdy harlot ... that was her hostes
man." The word varlet is another form of it.
"He was gentil harlot, and a kinde;
A bettre felaw shulde man no wher finde
Chaucer: Canterbury Tales, prol. 649.
"The harlot king is quite beyond mine arm."
Shakespeare: Winter's Tale, ii. 3.
My dictionary says it was originally euphemism for whore, and now means prostitute
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Harrier (3 syl.). A dog for hare-hunting, whence the name.
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Haversack Strictly speaking is a bag to carry oats in. (See Haver-Cakes.) It now means a soldier's
ration-bag slung from the shoulder; a gunner's leather-case for carrying charges.
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Hawk and Handsaw I know a hawk from a handsaw. Handsaw is a corruption of hernshaw (a heron). I
know a hawk from a heron, the bird of prey from the game flown at. The proverb means, I know one
thing from another. (See Hamlet, ii. 2.)
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Heart A variety of the word core. (Latin, cord', the heart; Greek, kard'; Sanskrit, herd'; Anglo-Saxon,
heorte.)
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Heavy Man (The), in theatrical parlance, means an actor who plays foil to the hero, such as the king in
Hamlet, the mere foil to the prince; Iago is another "heavy man's" part as foil to Othello; the "tiger" in the
Ticket of Leave Man is another part for the "heavy man." Such parts preserve a degree of importance, but
never rise into passion.
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Henchman. Henchboy The Anglo-Saxon hinc is a servant or page; or perhaps henges-man, a
horse-man; henges or hengst, a horse.
I posted elsewhere about "henchman" but this is the first time I have found confirmation of
my theory that it began with the trusted armed retainer who led a knight's horse by its
bridal in crowded streets, so the knight could have both hands free to protect against an
assassination attempt.
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Hengist and Horsa. German, hengst (a stallion), and Horsa is connected with our Anglo-Saxon word
hors (horse). If the names of two brothers, probably they were given them from the devices borne on
their arms.
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Heretic means "one who chooses," and heresy means simply "a choice." A heretic is one who chooses his
own creed, and does not adopt the creed authorised by the national church
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Heriot A right of the lord of a manor to the best jewel, beast, or chattel of a deceased copyhold tenant.
The word is compounded of the Saxon here (army), geatu (grant), because originally it was military
furniture, such as armour, arms, and horses paid to the lord of the fee. (Canute, c. 69.)
Some of the most enjoyable stories I have ever read were those written under pen name "James Herriot"
Alf Wight was a country vet and as James Herriot a best selling author. Two films and the popular television
series 'All Creatures Great And Small' were based on his books. The stories were based on his experiences as a country vet. His first book -'If only they could talk'- was published in 1970. In all he wrote eight books about his life as a vet. In 1979 his illustrated "James Herriot's Yorkshire" was published with photographs by Derry Brabbs. The book with photographs of the Yorkshire Dales, Moors and Coast and commentary by Alf went on to be another best seller
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Hibernia A variety of Ierne (Ireland). Pliny says the Irish mothers feed their babes with swords instead
of spoons.
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High Falutin or Hifaluten. Tall talk. (Dutch, verlooten, high-flown, stilted.)
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High Tea The meal called tea served with cold meats, vegetables, and pastry, in substitution of dinner.
"A well-understood `high tea' should have cold roast beef at the top of the table, a cold
Yorkshire pie at the bottom, a mighty ham in the middle. The side dishes will comprise soused
mackerel, pickled salmon (in due season), sausages and potatoes, etc., etc. Rivers of tea,
coffee, and ale, with dry and buttered toast, sally-lunns, scones, mufflins, and crumpets, jams
and marmalade." - The Daily Telegraph, May 9th, 1893.
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Hinder is to hold one behind; whereas prevent is to go before (Anglo-Saxon hinder, behind, verb
hindrian).
Beautiful.I wish I'd said that.
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Histrionic is from the Etruscan word hister (a dancer), histriones (ballet-dancers). Hence, histrio in
Latin means a stage-player, and our word histrionic, pertaining to the drama. History is quite another
word, being the Greek historia, histor, a judge, allied to histamai, to know.
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Hob and Nob together. To drink as cronies, to clink glasses, to drink tête-à-têle. In the old English
houses there was a hob at each corner of the hearth for heating the beer, or holding what one wished to
keep hot. This was from the verb habban (to hold). The little round table set at the elbow was called a
nob; hence to hob-nob was to drink snugly and cosily in the chimney-corner, with the beer hobbed, and a
little nobtable set in the snuggery. (See Hob Nob.)
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Hobby-horse A child's plaything, so called from the hobby-horse of the ancient morris-dance; a light
frame of wicker-work, appropriately draped, in which someone was placed, who performed ridiculous
gambols.
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Hogmanay', Hogmena' or Hagmen'a. Holy month.
New Year's Eve is called hogmanay'-night or hogg-night, and it is still the custom in parts of Scotland
for persons to go from door to door on that night asking in rude rhymes for cakes or money. (See Hog.)
In Galloway the chief features are "taking the cream off the water," wonderful luck being attached to a
draught thereof; and "the first foot," or giving something to drink to the first person who enters the house.
A grand bonfire and a procession, in which all persons are masked and in bizarre costume.
King Haco, of Norway, fixed the feast of Yole on Christmas Day, the eve of which used to be called
hogg-night, which in the old style is New Year's Eve.
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Homoeopathy (5 syl.). The plan of curing a disease by very minute doses of a medicine which would in
healthy persons produce the very same disease. The principle of vaccination is a sort of homoeopathy,
only it is producing in a healthy person a mitigated form of the disease guarded against. You impart a mild
form of small-pox to prevent the patient from taking the virulent disease. (Greek, homoios pathos, like
disease.)
I never heard vaccination called a form of homeopathy!
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Honeymoon The month after marriage, or so much of it as is spent away from home; so called from the
practice of the ancient Teutons of drinking honey-wine (hydromel) for thirty days after marriage. Attila,
the Hun, indulged so freely in hydromel at his wedding-feast that he died.
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Hopkins (Matthew), of Manningtree, Essex, the witch-finder of the associated counties of Essex, Suffolk,
Norfolk, and Huntingdonshire. In one year he hanged sixty reputed witches in Essex alone. Dr. Z. Grey
says that between three and four thousand persons suffered death for witchcraft between 1643 and 1661.
Nicholas Hopkins. A Carthusian friar, confessor of the Duke of Buckingham, who prophesied "that
neither the king (Henry VIII.) nor his heirs should prosper, but that the Duke of Buckingham should
govern England.
Three of four thousand makes the Salem witch executions look like small potatoes.
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Houri (pl. Houris). The large blackeyed damsels of Paradise, possessed of perpetual youth and beauty,
whose virginity is renewable at pleasure. Every believer will have seventy-two of these houris in Paradise,
and his intercourse with them will be fruitful or otherwise, according to his wish. If an offspring is desired,
it will grow to full estate in an hour. (Persian, huri; Arabic, huriya, nymphs of paradise. Compare ahivar,
black-eyed.) (The Koran.)
Oh, Death, where is thy sting? A recent copy of NEWSWEEK said a number of Muslim scholars say this
promise in the Koran is due to a calligraphic error, and should mean "a bunch of grapes".
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Huguenot (U-gue-no). First applied to the Reformed Church party in the Amboise Plot (1560). From the
German cidgenosscn (confederates)
Huguenot Pope (La pape des Huguenots). Philippe de Mornay, the great supporter of the French
Protestants. (1549-1623.)
This really surprised me!
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I work a few doors up from the Perth Ice Works - which has been in business at the same premises for decades. Not only do they sell ice, but they are licensed to sell alcohol as well.
Noticed on my Friday afternoon ("beer o'clock") pilgramage there last week that they have a new sign in front:
Perth Ice Works. Purveyors of Grog. Ice by the Bag or Block.
Jack lived there until my arrival.
stales
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Latest Smithsonian magazine has story about enterprising Bostonian who got rich shipping harvested ice around the world. So enterprising he contrived to keep a guy who had invented an ice making machine from selling a single one. http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues02/jul02/object.html
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>> he contrived to keep a guy who had invented an ice making machine from selling a single one.
That's what inventor Gorie suspected, anyway. Don't know if it was sour grapes. "Gorrie suspected that Frederic Tudor had spearheaded a smear campaign against him and his invention."
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I believe inventor Gorrie was correct. Tudor was rich enough to have crossed a lot of palms
with silver.
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In the same issue there's an article wondering if Thor Heyerdahl was a sham.
For some odd reason it's not in the online edition though. In the paper edition it's just before wwh's article, and the table of contents says
>Presence of Mind: Kon Artist?
>Thor Heyerdahl's adventures sparked interest in archaeology and anthropology - but was he more shaman than scholar?
>by Richard Conniff
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wwh, to you last, "could do wrong" doesn't equal "did do wrong"
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Dear marjorum: When a lot ofmoney was involved, good New England business men
seldom let their conscience bother them.
I used to think Thor Heyerdahl was marvelous. It appears to be well cocumented that he
was more interested in becoming famous than he was in being truthful.
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> good New England business men
From what I can find on line, Frederic Tudor sounds like the classic yankee success story of perseverence in the face of difficulties.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/scienceandnature/0,6121,650835,00.html
"If you are looking for a classic example of the most particularly American virtue - commercial ingenuity boosted by extraordinary perseverance - then Frederic Tudor is your paradigm. ... Tudor's problem was getting the stuff (ice) from here to there without meltdown in transit ... Doggedly, Tudor tried one form of insulation after another ...
The ultimate triumph came 32 years after the brainwave first struck ... until 1849 he was perpetually in debt, narrowly escaping imprisonment for unpaid bills and enduring a nervous breakdown on the way. Competitors entered the market and he could only beat them off by undercutting them, which was not an invariably successful strategy. There were other, non-commercial, forms of hostility, as well as much ridicule. Thoreau was scathing when Tudor started cutting ice from Walden Pond"
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Husband is the house farmer. Bonde is Norwegian for a "farmer," hence bondë-by (a village where
farmers dwell); and hus means "house." Hus-band-man is the man-of-the-house farmer. The husband,
therefore, is the master farmer, and the husband-man the servant or labourer. "Husbandry" is the
occupation of a farmer or husband; and a bondman or bondslave has no connection with bond = fetters,
or the verb to bind. It means simply a cultivator of the soil.
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Hussy A little hussy. A word of slight contempt, though in some counties it seems to mean simply girl, as
"Come hither, hussy." Of course, the word is a corruption of housewife or hussif. In Swedish hustru
means woman in general. It is rather remarkable that mother in Norfolk has given rise to a similar sort of
word, morther, as "Come hither, morther" - i.e. girl. Neither hussy nor morther is applied to married
women. In Norfolk they also say mor for a female, and bor for the other sex. Moer is Dutch for woman
in general, and boer for peasant, whence our boor.
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Hustings House - things or city courts. London has still its court of Hustings in Guildhall, in which are
elected the lord mayor, the aldermen, and city members. The hustings of elections are so called because,
like the court of Hustings, they are the places of elective assemblies. (Anglo-Saxon, husting, a place of
council.)
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Hyades (3 syl.). Seven nymphs placed among the stars, in the constellation Taurus, which threaten rain
when they rise with the sun. The fable is that they wept the death of their brother Hyas so bitterly, that
Zeus (1 syl.), out of compassion, took them to heaven, and placed them in the constellation Taurus.
(Greek, huein, to rain.)
A bit of trivia: The emblem of Subaru, because it is result of merger ofseven small Japanese car companies
is a representation of the Hyades
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Hyksos A tribe of Cuthites (2 syl.), driven out of Assyria by Aralius and the Shemites. They founded in
Egypt a dynasty called Hyksos (shepherd kings), a title assumed by all the Cuthite chiefs. This dynasty,
which gave Egypt six or eight kings, lasted 259 years, when the whole horde was driven from Egypt, and
retired to Palestine. It is from these refugees that the lords of the Philistines arose. The word is
compounded of hyk (king) and sos (shepherd).
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Hyssop David says (Ps. li. 7): "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean." The reference is to the
custom of someone who was ceremoniously "clean" sprinkling the unclean (when they came to present
themselves in the Temple) with a bunch of hyssop dipped in water, in which had been mixed the ashes of
a red heifer. This was done as they left the Court of the Gentiles to enter the Court of the women
(Numbers xix. 17).
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I This letter represents a finger, and is called in Hebrew yod or jod (a hand).
I wonder if "jod" is in any way related to Greek "iota".
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Ichor (I'-kor). The colourless blood of the heathen deities. (Greek, ichor, juice.)
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Ichthus for l e'sous, CH ristos, TH eou U ios, S oter. This notarica is found on many seals, rings, urns,
and tombstones, belonging to the early times of Christianity, and was supposed to be a "charm" of
mystical efficacy.
Apparently not related to "ictus"
c[tus 7ik4t!s8
n.,
pl. 3tus[es or 3tus 5L, a blow, stroke, metrical stress < pp. of icere, to strike, hit, beat < IE base *aik3, *ik3, spear, to strike with a sharp weapon > Gr aichmc, a spear6
1 rhythmic or metrical stress, or accent
2 Med. a convulsion, stroke, or sudden attack
I have been unable to find definition of "notarica"
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Iconoclasts (Greek, "image breakers"). Reformers who rose in the eighth century, especially averse to
the employment of pictures, statues, emblems, and all visible representations of sacred objects. The
crusade against these things began in 726 with the Emperor Leo III., and continued for one hundred and
twenty years. (Greek, ikon, an image; klao, I break.)
Now used principally to refer to people who try to overthrow traditional values or beliefs
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>Thor Heyerdahl's adventures sparked interest in archaeology and anthropology - but was he more shaman than scholar?Well, does it matter if he helped create such enthusiasm and inspiration? In many ways I'd say a shaman is the best teacher. In fact, by definition a shaman is the best teacher. A scholar is merely the best student.  Fisk
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Idiot meant originally a private person, one not engaged in any public office. Hence Jeremy Taylor says,
"Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots" (private persons). The Greeks have the expressions,
"a priest or an idiot" (layman), "a poet or an idiot" (prose-writer). As idiots were not employed in public
offices, the term became synonymous with incompetency to fulfil the duties thereof. (Greek, idiotes.)
(See Baron.)
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Ignis Fatuus means strictly a fatuous fire it is also called "Jack o' Lantern," "Spunkie," "Walking Fire,"
"Will o' the Wisp," and "Fair Maid of Ireland." Milton calls it Friar's Lanthern, and Sir Walter Scott
Friar Rush with a lantern. Morally speaking, a Utopian scheme, no more reducible to practice than the
meteor so called can be turned to any useful end. (Plural, Ignes fatui.)
A mystery to the ancients, it is now recognized that the tiny flames oocasionally seen above swampy
places are due to spontaneous ignition of methane produced by decomposition of cellulose and other
such things below the surface.
The word fatuus means illusory or unreal.
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Illinois U.S. America. The Delaware Indian word illini (real men) with the French termination -ois.
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Imaus (3 syl.). The Himalay'a, The word means snow hills (hima, snow).
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Imbecile (3 syl.). One mentally weak. Literally, one who leans "on a stick." (Latin, imbecillis, from
inbacillum.)
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Imbroglio (Italian). A complicated plot; a misunderstanding between nations and persons of a
complicated nature.
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Immolate (3 syl.). To sacrifice; literally, "put meal on one." The reference is to the ancient custom of
sprinkling meal and salt on the head of a victim to be offered in sacrifice. (Latin, in-molo.)
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Indiarubber A substance made from the sap of various tropical plants, and used for erasing pencil marks,
and many other purposes. Pronounce Indirubber.
This was written over a hundred years ago. Little did the author suspect the future of rubber.
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In reply to:
I have been unable to find definition of "notarica"
try here:
http://takeourword.com/TOW130/page2.html
(third one down)
formerly known as etaoin...
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Thanks, etaoin. Joke on me. I think I have seen every TOW issue except that one.
They went on vacation, and when they came back, somehow I missed that one.
That guy must have looked at the same Dictionary of Phrase and Fable that I am
taking these posts from. I am doing it mostly so board won't look so empty until
the oldtimers come back.
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Ichthus for l e'sous, CH ristos, TH eou U ios, S oterFascinating. Doesn't Christian mysticism depict Christ as a fish in any case? I remember hearing there is also an astrological connection, in that the birth of Christ marked the "Age of Pisces". As everyone knows we're in the Age of Aquarius now (maan  ).
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But not a Fish on a bike.
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addict
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hobnobs are the best biscuits in the world, i never thought about the origin of the name but i suppose for biscuits it makes sense. and who would have thought that hob nobbing is just basically being the shy/socially inept/minging one in the kitchen at a party
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I have a hazy recollection that the fish symbol for Christ was created at a time
when Christians were being persecuted, and needed a sort of secret mutual
recognition symbol.
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Innis Fodhla [Island of Destiny ], an old name of Ireland.
"Long before the westerr districts of Innis Fodhla had any settled name ... a powerful king
reigned over this part of the sacred island. [The king referred to was Connedda, who gave his
name to the province of Connacht]." - W. B. Yeats: Fairy Tales and Folk-Lore, pp. 306, 318.
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Innuendo An implied or covert hint of blame. It is a law term, meaning the person nodded to or indirectly
referred to (Latin, in-nuo).
"Implying or suggesting, instead of stating plainly, often increases the effect of what is intended
to give pain or pleasure. This is `innuendo.' " - Bain: Composition, etc. (Innuendo), part i. p.
212.
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Inoculate (4 syl.) is to put in an eye (Latin, in oculus). The allusion is to a plan adopted by gardeners
who insert the "eye" or small bud of a superior plant into the stock of an inferior one, in order to produce
flowers or fruits of better quality.
How this word has changed in a hundred years!
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Insolence (Latin, in-soleo.) Unusual conduct, that is, not according to the common courtesies of social
life.
A pretty tame definition compared to the present one.
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Instinct Something pricked or punctured into one. Distinguish is of the same root, and means to prick or
puncture separately. Extinguish means to prick or puncture out. IL all cases the allusion is to marking by
a puncture. At college the "markers" at the chapel doors still hold a pin in one hand, and prick with it the
name of each "man" who enters. The word is used to express a natural impulse to do something; an
inherent habit.
"Although reason may ... be blended with instinct the distinction between the two is sufficiently
precise. Reason only acts upon a defluite and often laboriously acquired knowledge of the
relation between means and ends." - Romanes: Encyclopĉdia Britannica, vol. xiii. p. 157
(ninth edition).
defluite - I wonder if this is a typo for "definite"?
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Insult To leap on the prostrate body of a foe. To treat with contumely.
Please do not leap on my prostrate body!
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Intaglio (Italian). A design cut in a gem, like a crest or initials in a stamp. The design does not stand out
in relief, as in cameos, but is hollowed in.
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Intellect The power of reading mentally; hence the power of understanding and quickly grasping what
requires intelligence and thought. (Latin, intus lego, I read within me.)
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Intercalary (Latin). Inserted between or amongst others. Thus, an intercalary day is a day foisted in
between two others, as the 29th February in leap-year. (See Calends.)
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Interest (Latin). Something that is between the parties concerned. The interest of money is the sum
which the borrower agrees to pay the lender for its use. To take an interest in anything is to feel there is
something between it and you which may affect your pleasure.
Interest for money. In the Tudor dynasty it was 10 per cent. (37 Henry VIII. chap. 9). In the reign of
James it was reduced to 8 per cent.; in Queen Anno's reign to 5 per cent.; in the last quarter of the
nineteenth century it was reduced to 22 per cent.
I suspect that "22 percent" should read 2.2 percent
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Interlard (French). To put lard or fat between layers of meat. Metaphorically, to mix what is the solid
part of a discourse with fulsome and irrelevant matter. Thus we say, "To interland with oaths," to
"interlard with compliments," etc.
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Interpolate (4 syl.). For two or more persons to polish up something between them. Metaphorically, to
insert spurious matter in a book or document; to gag. (Latin, inter polio, to polish.)
Apparently mathematical use not a hundred years old.
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Intoxication Pliny (xvi. 20) tells us this word is derived from taxa, a species of bay-tree used for
poisoning arrows. Hence the Greek toxon (a bow and arrows), and toxicon (rank poison).
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Intrigue (2 syl.), comes from the Greek thrix, hair, whence the Latin tricĉ, trifles or hairs, and the verb
intrico, to entangle; the Germans have the verb trugen, to deceive.
So a bald man cannot be guilty of intrigue?
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Yes, Bill, 'iota' is the Greek cognate for 'yod', both letters being the equivalent of 'i' or 'j' and written as a small single stroke. From iota, comes the English word 'jot'. In the NT, Jesus, speaking of the Jewish law, says that not a jot or a tittle of it shall pass away (King James translation). A tittle, according to MW Collegiate, is a small mark, such as a diacritical mark, from the Latin 'titulus'. So St. Jerome has it that not an iota or a titulus shall pass away.
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