<--- For Felon, and the Gods of Olympus 
GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Word of the Day for Tuesday August 9, 2005
captious \KAP-shuhs\, adjective: 1. Marked by a disposition to find fault or raise objections. 2. Calculated to entrap or confuse, as in an argument.
The most common among those are captious individuals who can find nothing wrong with their own actions but everything wrong with the actions of everybody else.
--"In-Closet Hypocrites," Atlanta Inquirer, August 15, 1998
Mr Bowman had, I think, been keeping Christmas Eve, and was a little inclined to be captious: at least, he was not on foot very early, and to judge from what I could hear, neither men nor maids could do anything to please him.
--M. R. James, The Haunted Dolls' House and Other Stories
Most authors would prefer readers such as Roiphe over captious academic critics.
--Steven Moore, "Old Flames," Washington Post, November 26, 2000
With the imperturbablest bland clearness, he, for five hours long, keeps answering the incessant volley of fiery captious questions.
--Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution
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Captious is derived from Latin captiosus, "sophistical, captious, insidious," from captio, "a taking, a fallacy, sophism," from capere, "to take, to seize."
captious \KAP-shuhs\, adjective: 1. Marked by a disposition to find fault or raise objections. 2. Calculated to entrap or confuse, as in an argument.
The most common among those are captious individuals who can find nothing wrong with their own actions but everything wrong with the actions of everybody else.
--"In-Closet Hypocrites," Atlanta Inquirer, August 15, 1998
Mr Bowman had, I think, been keeping Christmas Eve, and was a little inclined to be captious: at least, he was not on foot very early, and to judge from what I could hear, neither men nor maids could do anything to please him.
--M. R. James, The Haunted Dolls' House and Other Stories
Most authors would prefer readers such as Roiphe over captious academic critics.
--Steven Moore, "Old Flames," Washington Post, November 26, 2000
With the imperturbablest bland clearness, he, for five hours long, keeps answering the incessant volley of fiery captious questions.
--Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captious is derived from Latin captiosus, "sophistical, captious, insidious," from captio, "a taking, a fallacy, sophism," from capere, "to take, to seize."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
-
nzilla
- Scholar Adept
- Posts: 1352
- Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2003 7:17 pm
- Location: Boring Oregon (but not Boring, Oregon)
nzilla wrote:Well, the Anne [sic—heh, I sicced myself] Coulter quotation [in Ghost's old sig] is certainly inflammatory, unreasoning, partisan, and contributes nil to the debate, but at least it isn't as mind-numbingly captious as "people who use bombs aren't bombers".
Ever since I started equating correlation with causality, violent crime has fallen 58%.
Word of the Day for Wednesday August 10, 2005
sojourn \SOH-juhrn; so-JURN\, intransitive verb: To stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time.
noun: A temporary stay.
Though he has sojourned in Southwold, wandered in Walberswick, dabbled in Dunwich, ambled through Aldeburgh and blundered through Blythburgh, Smallweed has never set foot in Orford.
--Smallweed, "The trouble with hope," The Guardian, April 14, 2001
Yet he is now an accomplished student and speaker of English, a literary editor and television producer, someone who has sojourned in Paris and attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
--William H. Gass, "Family and Fable in Galilee," New York Times, April 17, 1988
As chance would have it, Degas's five-month sojourn in New Orleans coincided with an extraordinarily contentious period in the stormy political history of the city.
--Christopher Benfey, Degas in New Orleans
During that long sojourn in Sligo, from 1870 to 1874, he had lessons from a much loved nursemaid, Ellie Connolly; later he received coaching in spelling and dictation from Esther Merrick, a neighbour who lived in the Sexton's house by St John's, and who read him quantities of verse.
--R. F. Foster, W.B. Yeats: A Life
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Sojourn comes from Old French sojorner, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin subdiurnare, from Latin sub-, "under, a little over" + Late Latin diurnus, "lasting for a day," from Latin dies, "day."
sojourn \SOH-juhrn; so-JURN\, intransitive verb: To stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time.
noun: A temporary stay.
Though he has sojourned in Southwold, wandered in Walberswick, dabbled in Dunwich, ambled through Aldeburgh and blundered through Blythburgh, Smallweed has never set foot in Orford.
--Smallweed, "The trouble with hope," The Guardian, April 14, 2001
Yet he is now an accomplished student and speaker of English, a literary editor and television producer, someone who has sojourned in Paris and attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
--William H. Gass, "Family and Fable in Galilee," New York Times, April 17, 1988
As chance would have it, Degas's five-month sojourn in New Orleans coincided with an extraordinarily contentious period in the stormy political history of the city.
--Christopher Benfey, Degas in New Orleans
During that long sojourn in Sligo, from 1870 to 1874, he had lessons from a much loved nursemaid, Ellie Connolly; later he received coaching in spelling and dictation from Esther Merrick, a neighbour who lived in the Sexton's house by St John's, and who read him quantities of verse.
--R. F. Foster, W.B. Yeats: A Life
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sojourn comes from Old French sojorner, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin subdiurnare, from Latin sub-, "under, a little over" + Late Latin diurnus, "lasting for a day," from Latin dies, "day."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
Lost, empty, a disconnectedness from the world at large pervading his consciousness, Clarence knew it was time for another sojourn to the mountain retreat of Madam Sloba, his trusted spiritual advisor. She only charged $500 for the weekend, and her glass eye didn't unnerve him nearly as much as it had in the beginning.
She also cooked a mean goulash.
P.S. GHOST (regarding your current sig): If you want to make God laugh more, ask: "Are we one of your blunders, or are you one of ours?"
She also cooked a mean goulash.
P.S. GHOST (regarding your current sig): If you want to make God laugh more, ask: "Are we one of your blunders, or are you one of ours?"
Colourless green ideas sleep furiously
[Genre: Newsflash]
{Associated Press, 10-Aug-2005, Minnesota}
The ever-captious Evil Empress filed a lawsuit in Minnesota Superior Court today against Mrs Sloba Dame Milosovich (aka "Madam Sloba", a Serbian ex-pat), ostensibly for infringement on her trademarked Imperial goulash recipe.
Asked for comments, the Empress snapped an angry "Auger ... Goulash Pit ... NOW!" command to her bodyguards, and the reporter on the scene had to flee for his life. The reporter in question subsequently filed a lawsuit of his own.
{Associated Press, 10-Aug-2005, Minnesota}
The ever-captious Evil Empress filed a lawsuit in Minnesota Superior Court today against Mrs Sloba Dame Milosovich (aka "Madam Sloba", a Serbian ex-pat), ostensibly for infringement on her trademarked Imperial goulash recipe.
Asked for comments, the Empress snapped an angry "Auger ... Goulash Pit ... NOW!" command to her bodyguards, and the reporter on the scene had to flee for his life. The reporter in question subsequently filed a lawsuit of his own.
Word of the Day for Thursday August 11, 2005
nugatory \NOO-guh-tor-ee; NYOO-\, adjective: 1. Trifling; insignificant; inconsequential. 2. Having no force; inoperative; ineffectual.
Tygiel's forte as a historian is his eye for what may appear nugatory or marginal but, when focused upon, illuminates the temper of a given moment.
--Roberto Gonzlez Echevarria, "From Ruth to Rotisserie," New York Times, July 2, 2000
Jacoby's offense was no offense -- or an error so nugatory as to demand no more than a one-sentence explanation.
--Lance Morrow, "In Boston, a Foolish Consistency of Little Minds," Time, July 19, 2000
Socialism no longer restrains; trade unions do so much less than they did; moral inhibitions over the acquisition and display of wealth are nugatory.
--John Lloyd, "If not socialism, what will persuade the rich willingly to pay more taxes to help the poor and preserve a decent society?" New Statesman, August 2, 1996
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Nugatory comes from Latin nugatorius, from nugari, "to trifle," from nugae, "jests, trifles."
I wonder if "noogie" is derived from nugea.
noogie, noun: an aggressive poke or rub with the knuckles on another's head (etc.) as a gesture of affection or annoyance; also written nugie, nuggie
nugatory \NOO-guh-tor-ee; NYOO-\, adjective: 1. Trifling; insignificant; inconsequential. 2. Having no force; inoperative; ineffectual.
Tygiel's forte as a historian is his eye for what may appear nugatory or marginal but, when focused upon, illuminates the temper of a given moment.
--Roberto Gonzlez Echevarria, "From Ruth to Rotisserie," New York Times, July 2, 2000
Jacoby's offense was no offense -- or an error so nugatory as to demand no more than a one-sentence explanation.
--Lance Morrow, "In Boston, a Foolish Consistency of Little Minds," Time, July 19, 2000
Socialism no longer restrains; trade unions do so much less than they did; moral inhibitions over the acquisition and display of wealth are nugatory.
--John Lloyd, "If not socialism, what will persuade the rich willingly to pay more taxes to help the poor and preserve a decent society?" New Statesman, August 2, 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nugatory comes from Latin nugatorius, from nugari, "to trifle," from nugae, "jests, trifles."
I wonder if "noogie" is derived from nugea.
noogie, noun: an aggressive poke or rub with the knuckles on another's head (etc.) as a gesture of affection or annoyance; also written nugie, nuggie
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
In an attempt to lighten the mood, James rubbed Christine's head playfully, but stopped when she gave him a cold penetrating look.
"Nugatory noogies aren't enough to get you off the hook, buster," she said blandly.
He downed his Scotch and soda and signalled the bartender for another.
"Nugatory noogies aren't enough to get you off the hook, buster," she said blandly.
He downed his Scotch and soda and signalled the bartender for another.
Colourless green ideas sleep furiously
Word of the Day for Friday August 12, 2005
ubiquitous \yoo-BIK-wih-tuhs\, adjective: Existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at the same time.
In spite of the ubiquitous beggars, gypsies and 'naked urchins', Skopje was an attractive town in the early part of the century.
--Anne Sebba, Mother Teresa: Beyond the Image
Airborne gambling, shopping and videoconferencing may all be ubiquitous in the future.
--Peter H. Lewis, "The Cybercompanion," New York Times, February 7, 1999
Adding to my perplexity, this lack of clarity even appeared evident among the best and brightest sociologists, historians, literary scholars, art historians, those working in cultural studies, American Studies, and journalism; the problem looked to be ubiquitous.
--Michael Kammen, American Culture, American Tastes
Before Tarzan, nobody understood just how big, how ubiquitous, how marketable a star could be.
--John Taliaferro, Tarzan Forever
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Ubiquitous derives, via French, from Latin ubique, "everywhere," from ubi, "where." The noun form is ubiquity.
ubiquitous \yoo-BIK-wih-tuhs\, adjective: Existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at the same time.
In spite of the ubiquitous beggars, gypsies and 'naked urchins', Skopje was an attractive town in the early part of the century.
--Anne Sebba, Mother Teresa: Beyond the Image
Airborne gambling, shopping and videoconferencing may all be ubiquitous in the future.
--Peter H. Lewis, "The Cybercompanion," New York Times, February 7, 1999
Adding to my perplexity, this lack of clarity even appeared evident among the best and brightest sociologists, historians, literary scholars, art historians, those working in cultural studies, American Studies, and journalism; the problem looked to be ubiquitous.
--Michael Kammen, American Culture, American Tastes
Before Tarzan, nobody understood just how big, how ubiquitous, how marketable a star could be.
--John Taliaferro, Tarzan Forever
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ubiquitous derives, via French, from Latin ubique, "everywhere," from ubi, "where." The noun form is ubiquity.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
Word of the Day for Monday August 15, 2005
enmity \EN-mih-tee\, noun: Hatred; ill will; hostile or unfriendly disposition.
I learned, of course, . . . that the flames of infatuation can quickly become ashes of enmity and contempt.
--Kathleen Norris, The Virgin of Bennington
In the course of our conversation he reverted to yesterday's aphorism about it being our joint task to guide our two peoples out of their old enmity into new amity.
--Charles Kessler (editor and translator), Berlin in Lights
There were also always those I rubbed the wrong way (sometimes to the point of outright enmity) by being too brash or too arrogant or too ambitious or too precociously successful -- or by not being inhibited or tactful enough to refrain from writing about my career.
--Norman Podhoretz, Ex-Friends
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Enmity derives from Old French enemistié, ultimately from Latin inimicus, "an enemy," from in-, "not" + amicus, "friend," from amare, "to love."
enmity \EN-mih-tee\, noun: Hatred; ill will; hostile or unfriendly disposition.
I learned, of course, . . . that the flames of infatuation can quickly become ashes of enmity and contempt.
--Kathleen Norris, The Virgin of Bennington
In the course of our conversation he reverted to yesterday's aphorism about it being our joint task to guide our two peoples out of their old enmity into new amity.
--Charles Kessler (editor and translator), Berlin in Lights
There were also always those I rubbed the wrong way (sometimes to the point of outright enmity) by being too brash or too arrogant or too ambitious or too precociously successful -- or by not being inhibited or tactful enough to refrain from writing about my career.
--Norman Podhoretz, Ex-Friends
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enmity derives from Old French enemistié, ultimately from Latin inimicus, "an enemy," from in-, "not" + amicus, "friend," from amare, "to love."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
-
laurie
- Spelling Mistress
- Posts: 8164
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:52 am
- Location: The part of New York where "flurries" means 2 feet of snow to shovel
I had to recite that verse in front of our Bishop for a religious ed. program when I was nine. Never forgot it.Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; He shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." -- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"So where the hell is he?" -- Laurie
"So where the hell is he?" -- Laurie
Word of the Day for Tuesday August 16, 2005
numinous \NOO-min-uhs; NYOO-\, adjective: 1. Of or pertaining to a numen; supernatural. 2. Indicating or suggesting the presence of a god; divine; holy. 3. Inspiring awe and reverence; spiritual.
Smoking is a ritual, and it has all the numinous force of a ritual.
--Thomas W. Laqueur, The New Republic, September 18, 1995
All Quests are concerned with some numinous Object, the Waters of Life, the Grail, buried treasure, etc.
--W. H. Auden, "Secular Hobbitism" review of The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkien, New York Times
Our culture is not much concerned with the numinous, but in language we preserve many of the marks of a culture that is.
--Richard Mitchell, Less Than Words Can Say
My sense of the numinous is generally keenest upstate, in the fields and forest that surround my old schoolhouse.
--Winifred Gallagher, Working on God
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Numinous is from Latin numen, literally a "nod of the head" (as in giving a command), hence "divine power."
numinous \NOO-min-uhs; NYOO-\, adjective: 1. Of or pertaining to a numen; supernatural. 2. Indicating or suggesting the presence of a god; divine; holy. 3. Inspiring awe and reverence; spiritual.
Smoking is a ritual, and it has all the numinous force of a ritual.
--Thomas W. Laqueur, The New Republic, September 18, 1995
All Quests are concerned with some numinous Object, the Waters of Life, the Grail, buried treasure, etc.
--W. H. Auden, "Secular Hobbitism" review of The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkien, New York Times
Our culture is not much concerned with the numinous, but in language we preserve many of the marks of a culture that is.
--Richard Mitchell, Less Than Words Can Say
My sense of the numinous is generally keenest upstate, in the fields and forest that surround my old schoolhouse.
--Winifred Gallagher, Working on God
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numinous is from Latin numen, literally a "nod of the head" (as in giving a command), hence "divine power."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
YODA: Numinous beings are we...not this crude matter!
DIRECTOR: Cut!
YODA: (casting away walking stick in disgust) What the %#& is it now?
DIRECTOR: It's "luminous beings", Yo, not "numinous."
YODA: The script says "numinous", you lumbering quadrapeds!
DIRECTOR: And...from the pickup...rolling!
DIRECTOR: Cut!
YODA: (casting away walking stick in disgust) What the %#& is it now?
DIRECTOR: It's "luminous beings", Yo, not "numinous."
YODA: The script says "numinous", you lumbering quadrapeds!
DIRECTOR: And...from the pickup...rolling!
Colourless green ideas sleep furiously
Word of the Day for Wednesday August 17, 2005
dilatory \DIL-uh-tor-ee\, adjective: 1. Tending to put off what ought to be done at once; given to procrastination. 2. Marked by procrastination or delay; intended to cause delay; -- said of actions or measures.
I am inclined to be dilatory, and if I had not enjoyed extraordinary luck in life and love I might have been living with my mother at that very moment, doing nothing.
--Carroll O'Connor, I Think I'm Outta Here
And what is a slumlord? He is not a man who own expensive property in fashionable neighborhoods, but one who owns only rundown property in the slums, where the rents are lowest and the where the payment is most dilatory, erratic and undependable.
--Henry Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson
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Dilatory is from Latin dilatorius, from dilator, "a dilatory person, a loiterer," from dilatus, past participle of differre, "to delay, to put off," from dis-, "apart, in different directions" + ferre, "to carry."
dilatory \DIL-uh-tor-ee\, adjective: 1. Tending to put off what ought to be done at once; given to procrastination. 2. Marked by procrastination or delay; intended to cause delay; -- said of actions or measures.
I am inclined to be dilatory, and if I had not enjoyed extraordinary luck in life and love I might have been living with my mother at that very moment, doing nothing.
--Carroll O'Connor, I Think I'm Outta Here
And what is a slumlord? He is not a man who own expensive property in fashionable neighborhoods, but one who owns only rundown property in the slums, where the rents are lowest and the where the payment is most dilatory, erratic and undependable.
--Henry Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dilatory is from Latin dilatorius, from dilator, "a dilatory person, a loiterer," from dilatus, past participle of differre, "to delay, to put off," from dis-, "apart, in different directions" + ferre, "to carry."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
Word of the Day for Thursday August 18, 2005
parley \PAR-lee\, noun: A conference or discussion, especially with an enemy, as with regard to a truce or other matters.
The government recognized his knack for parleying with tribes, and it sent him all over the West.
--Geoffrey O'Gara, What You See in Clear Water
Whether the Indians came out to parley or, seeing that the fort was about to fall, came out to surrender is unclear.
--Willard Sterne Randall, George Washington: A Life
In case of Servia's non-compliance with the ultimatum the army will invade the kingdom without further parley.
--"Austria Ready to Invade Servia, Sends Ultimatum," New York Times, July 24, 1914
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Parley comes from Old French parlée, from parler, "to speak," from Medieval Latin parabolare, from Late Latin parabola, "a proverb, a parable, a similitude," from Greek parabole, "a comparison, a placing beside," from paraballein, "to throw beside, hence to compare," from para-, "beside" + ballein, "to throw."
parley \PAR-lee\, noun: A conference or discussion, especially with an enemy, as with regard to a truce or other matters.
The government recognized his knack for parleying with tribes, and it sent him all over the West.
--Geoffrey O'Gara, What You See in Clear Water
Whether the Indians came out to parley or, seeing that the fort was about to fall, came out to surrender is unclear.
--Willard Sterne Randall, George Washington: A Life
In case of Servia's non-compliance with the ultimatum the army will invade the kingdom without further parley.
--"Austria Ready to Invade Servia, Sends Ultimatum," New York Times, July 24, 1914
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parley comes from Old French parlée, from parler, "to speak," from Medieval Latin parabolare, from Late Latin parabola, "a proverb, a parable, a similitude," from Greek parabole, "a comparison, a placing beside," from paraballein, "to throw beside, hence to compare," from para-, "beside" + ballein, "to throw."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
Word of the Day for Friday August 19, 2005
ephemeral \ih-FEM-er-ul\, adjective: 1. Beginning and ending in a day; existing only, or no longer than, a day; as, an ephemeral flower. 2. Short-lived; existing or continuing for a short time only.
In the 1980s, Lt. Col. Oliver North unwittingly proved that e-mail, so apparently ephemeral, is harder to expunge than paper documents comfortingly run through a shredder.
--Amy Harmon, "E-Mail Is Treacherous. So Why Do We Keep Trusting It?" New York Times, March 26, 2000
In "Mississippi Mermaid," the planter character played by Belmondo, a fellow who has sought a safe, permanent love, is liberated when he chooses to follow the ephemeral.
--Vincent Canby, "Truffaut's Clear-Eyed Quest." New York Times, September 14, 1975
Rather, we must separate what is ephemeral... from the things that are of lasting importance.
--Patrick Smith, Japan: A Reinterpretation
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Ephemeral derives from Greek ephemeros, from epi, upon + hemera, day.
ephemeral \ih-FEM-er-ul\, adjective: 1. Beginning and ending in a day; existing only, or no longer than, a day; as, an ephemeral flower. 2. Short-lived; existing or continuing for a short time only.
In the 1980s, Lt. Col. Oliver North unwittingly proved that e-mail, so apparently ephemeral, is harder to expunge than paper documents comfortingly run through a shredder.
--Amy Harmon, "E-Mail Is Treacherous. So Why Do We Keep Trusting It?" New York Times, March 26, 2000
In "Mississippi Mermaid," the planter character played by Belmondo, a fellow who has sought a safe, permanent love, is liberated when he chooses to follow the ephemeral.
--Vincent Canby, "Truffaut's Clear-Eyed Quest." New York Times, September 14, 1975
Rather, we must separate what is ephemeral... from the things that are of lasting importance.
--Patrick Smith, Japan: A Reinterpretation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ephemeral derives from Greek ephemeros, from epi, upon + hemera, day.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
-
wolfspirit
- MST3K
- Posts: 3048
- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:39 pm
Word of the Day for Sunday August 21, 2005
vicissitude \vih-SIS-ih-tood; -tyood\, noun: 1. Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. 2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation. 3. A change in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another).
This man had, after many vicissitudes of fortune, sunk at last into abject and hopeless poverty.
--Thomas Macaulay
Max had rescued his father's gold watch through every vicissitude, but as it didn't go I took it to a watchmaker.
--Edith Anderson, Love in Exile: An American Writer's Memoir of Life in Divided Berlin
It has come about that this writer, who at the beginning might have appeared in unique occupation of a marginal and peripheral world, is instead writing from the center of a historical vicissitude, utterly contemporary.
--Elizabeth Hardwic, "Meeting V. S. Naipaul"
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Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim, in turn, probably from vices, changes.
vicissitude \vih-SIS-ih-tood; -tyood\, noun: 1. Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. 2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation. 3. A change in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another).
This man had, after many vicissitudes of fortune, sunk at last into abject and hopeless poverty.
--Thomas Macaulay
Max had rescued his father's gold watch through every vicissitude, but as it didn't go I took it to a watchmaker.
--Edith Anderson, Love in Exile: An American Writer's Memoir of Life in Divided Berlin
It has come about that this writer, who at the beginning might have appeared in unique occupation of a marginal and peripheral world, is instead writing from the center of a historical vicissitude, utterly contemporary.
--Elizabeth Hardwic, "Meeting V. S. Naipaul"
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Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim, in turn, probably from vices, changes.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
