Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
This weeks words are not what they seem.The word 'firmament' struck me as real odd.What's firm about the firmament?
In the comic strips "Asterix and Obelix" by Goscinny the little tribe in Gaule that is invincible thanks to the magic potion of their druid has only one fear: that heaven will fall on their heads.
Looking up the word in both Webster and Etymology Dictionary I found that our ancestors understood the firmament as a solid sphere on which sun moon and stars were projected.
Did they think the flat disc that the earth was supposed to be was supporting this sphere? They must have been afraid then it might collaps one day. We use "universe" now and know the firmament is not solid at all. Yet we still use that word. Words do not outdate easy, even when thay are incorrect?

The hippopotamus, my favorite animal because of his very cute ears in is called " Nilehorse" in Dutch. Absolute nonsense because they live in many other rivers exept the Nile. Yet no one ever proposed to give him, ears and all a better name.

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Just one tweak of the above. The Gauls worried that the sky might fall on their heads tomorrow, but since tomorrow never comes there's nothing really to worry about.

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Thank you Faldage, for this kind reassurance, but one little thing still troubles my mind: How come Tomorrow Never Dies when tomorrow never comes?
( Sorry,I know there are better movies to look at but I never can resist a Bond. )

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1
stranger
stranger
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1
Maybe it is because "There is always tomorrow..." (ha,ha,ha)

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Quote:

Maybe it is because "There is always tomorrow..." (ha,ha,ha)




Well, Kuruja, no way to be sure about that and there´s two ways to look at it.
1. In order to be able to die tomorrow first has to be there.
2. Something that never comes , in this case tomorrow, can never die.

I´m still wondering what Faldages no doubt very high class philosofical remark tomorrow never comes meant.

I know, I´m sure about it , but forget where, there is a culture where people use the same word for yesterday and tomorrow. Just one word for everything that is not today.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
> tomorrow never comes

it's always now, no?


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
It is.

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557
addict
addict
Offline
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557
Quote:

>it's always now, no?




As the White Queen says:
The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday -- but never jam to-day.
...
It's jam every OTHER day: to-day isn't any OTHER day, you know.

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Quote:



As the White Queen says:
The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday -- but never jam to-day.
...
It's jam every OTHER day: to-day isn't any OTHER day, you know.




////////

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Sounds like it should mean

You misunderstand. What was intended by that remark was instead a sense of permanence and solidity


dalehileman
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Dear Dale, I´m sure there are things, a lot, that I do not totally grasp. I know
´tomorrow never comes´ was meant well and I know I responded by giving it a little twist and then it took it´s own course.
´Tomorrow never dies´ was a deviation and Etaoin´s remark that it´s always now is a fact that cannot be denied.
Then Myridon´s White Queen spoiled the fun by her decree that
there will never be jam today.
It´s fine that tomorrow never comes, but what a drag if there will never be jam today!
No, but seriously, time, space,universe are far beyond my understanding.

So , we ended up in Lewis Carrol´s Wonderland

It all came from that word ´firmament´, that did not seem to be what it really is.

Last edited by BranShea; 10/27/2006 4:36 PM.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
Quote:

No, but seriously, time, space,universe are far beyond my understanding.

So , we ended up in Lewis Carrol´s Wonderland




I find this happens to me more and more often these days... and days are muchly improved by it.

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
[I find this happens to me more and more often these days... and days are muchly improved by it.




Yes , maybe I should start looking at things this way too. OK. Tomorrow!

Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Oh yes we have no mananas,
we have no mananas today.


TEd
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Quote:

How come Tomorrow Never Dies when tomorrow never comes?




Perhaps it is the "little death" of which they speak. ;\

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Mr.T-AdRemington(you may have heard that all you life), no giggle-icon available so

Last edited by BranShea; 11/06/2006 1:42 PM.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Quote:

Oh yes we have no mananas,
we have no mananas today.




going to use this one.


formerly known as etaoin...

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0