Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
#202524 09/20/11 08:19 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Enchiridion-hand book:

From Latin enchiridion, from Greek encheiridion, from en- (in) + cheir (hand) + -idion (diminutive suffix). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ghes- (hand) that also gave us cheiromancy (palmistry), chiral (not superimposable on its mirror image), and surgeon (literally, one who works with hands). Earliest documented use: 1541.

With these examples I miss the word chiropractor. I add it because this kind of therapy once relieved me from a very painfully blocked neck nerve in three sessions. No medication, just hands.

chiropractic coined in Amer.Eng. 1898, from chiro- "hand" + praktikos "practical" (see practical), the whole of it loosely meant as "done by hand."
chiropractor
1904, agent noun in Latin form from chiropractic (q.v.).




Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
There is also a rarish word: chironomy 'the study of hand gestures' or 'using hand gestures to direct vocal performances'.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
I see, ( dictionaries ) didn't know it was a study or science, but it is an amusing and interesting field. Some hand gestures are universal as I've noticed driving in different countries.

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
As a child I was fascinated by the hand movements of the conductor. What did it all mean? We used to emulate the movements without understanding at all.

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
Some conductors convey a great deal of information with simple, subtle gestures. Others make grand and elegant flourishes that only confuse.

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Originally Posted By: Tromboniator
Some conductors convey a great deal of information with simple, subtle gestures. Others make grand and elegant flourishes that only confuse.


...and entertain.

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
just as a matter of exactitude, chironomy (in the classical sense, and it's not used much otherwise) was the use of hand gestures without an accompanying score.

link

Last edited by tsuwm; 09/21/11 03:47 PM. Reason: add link
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
Choirs, gospel or otherwise would be an example of this context

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Good link Ts

could chironomy also describe the practice of semaphore?

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
chironomy (in the classical sense, and it's not used much otherwise) was the use of hand gestures without an accompanying score

It was a branch of rhetoric. I have a reprint of a manual of chironomy from the early in the 19th century and it's a listing of gestures to be used for rhetorical effect when declaiing a speech or when acting on the stage. I ran across the book while researching traditional gestures in 18th and 19th century performances of Hamlet (as a lark, not for monetary gain).

I have never run across the word to mean what a choir director does, but I have seen some of those people use hand gestures to urge the singers along.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 442 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
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

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5