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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread pro re nata #117759 12/15/2003 7:48 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 "Being now well read as well as travelled, we was soon pro re nata with the best society in Rosa, and was invited out to the most dressed-up and high-toned entertainments. It was at a piano recital and quail-eating contest in the city hall, for the benefit of the fire company, that me and Idaho first met Mrs. De Ormond Sampson, the queen of Rosa society." William H. Porter, aka O.Henry, was convicted of embezzlement (though his guilt has been questioned) and while in the penitentiary worked in the pharmacy, where he learned some of the jargon. On a prescription, PRN means "as needed". But in the above context, I think he meant that he and his buddy were in demand. Alternate interpretations solicited. I have read two of his short stories in which the protagonist has the bad judgement to dip into the till with intention to replace that which was illegally borrowed. I wonder if that was the mistake Porter made. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: pro re nata #117760 12/16/2003 4:37 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta You might be interested in "A Twist at the End", by Steven Saylor. It's set in Austin, Texas, when a series of brutal murders took place while Porter (O. Henry to be) was living there. Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,915 Posts230,263 Members9,208 Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025 Newest Members JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard 9,208 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 27 A C Bowden 7 Trusted Roofing 1 John Fox 1 Tony Hood 1 Forix Richard 1 John Flex 1 handymanhome 1 JerryC 1 Wood Delivery 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,123 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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