Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#83708 10/17/02 07:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Again, from "The Story of English: The Reagan-Thatcher rappport was merely the outward and
visible sign of an Anglophone self-confidence that now seem slightly triumphalist.

What in hell does that sentence mean?


#83709 10/17/02 07:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
it seems to mean that they were not only feeling English-speaking self-confidence in their agreed-to policies, but superiority as well. :-Þ


#83710 10/17/02 08:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear tsuwm: I did find a quote, but I wonder how many Americans ever heard the word used?
TRIUMPHALIST 90'S
PRELUDE TO 21ST CENTURY



By Paul Kurtz

If the 1890s were called the Gay '90s, the 1990s should be heralded as the Triumphalist Decade. For at the end of the 20th century, America
reigns supreme - not only as the major military-industrial power in the world, but also as the leading infomedia society. Its undisputed scientific
and technological superiority have made it the unchallenged leader of the new global economy.

I also found this in an official Catholic site:
Protestants, who have no wish to subject themselves to Catholic discipline, often resent Catholic teaching authority. Some have
coined the word "triumphalist," from the Latin triumphus, public rejoicing for a victory, charging in effect that the Catholic Church
thinks it is better than the Protestant churches.

But I still don't know what the original quoted sentence means. For a book about English, I think
it stinks.

#83711 10/18/02 09:06 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
F
veteran
Offline
veteran
F
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
the Triumphalist Decade
Stating the bleeding obvious, perhaps - but there's a huge difference between calling someone triumphalist and calling them triumphant isn't there? It implies singing one's own praises, blowing one's own trumpet (or just trumpeting), being a very unpleasant winner who most people would like to see taken down a peg or two.


As an aside, is triumph by any chance related to "three cheers"?


I still don't know what the original quoted sentence means. For a book about English, I think it stinks
I agree with both points.



#83712 10/18/02 09:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
is triumph by any chance related to "three cheers"?

No three in there at all. It's from Greek, thriambos, hymn to Bacchus.


#83713 10/18/02 10:14 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
F
veteran
Offline
veteran
F
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
from Greek, thriambos, hymn to Bacchus

I'll drink to that.


#83714 10/18/02 10:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
hymn to Bacchus

I'll drink to that.






Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 703 guests, and 0 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 10,539
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