|
Notices |
It's been a while, Unregistered -- Welcome back to Eratosphere! |
|
|
04-15-2017, 05:48 AM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 6,630
|
|
Robert Francis's appended definitions ("deasil: from east to west") mislead a bit, as David notes. Cf. this online Irish dictionary: "Right-handed, left-handed, screw: scriú deisil, tuathail." The OED spells it deasil.
He's closer on widdershins, which it spells withershins and which is not left-handed. This online definition will do: "in a direction contrary to the sun's course, considered as unlucky; counterclockwise."
The OED lacks cancrizans: "A musical line which is the reverse of a previously or simultaneously stated line is said to be its retrograde or cancrizans".
Brian, all I know is that Monet painted nympheas. Nenuphars I see are similar but distinct, like a mouette and a goeland.
Cheers,
John
P.S. Aaron, that is a wild ride. The word apricot has a great history as well, from the Latin praecox via the Arabic before returning to Romance.
Update: here's a brief online summary - "mid 16th century: from Portuguese albricoque or Spanish albaricoque, from Spanish Arabic al ‘the’ + barḳūḳ (from late Greek praikokion, from Latin praecoquum, variant of praecox ‘early ripe’); influenced by Latin apricus ‘ripe’ and by French abricot ."
Last edited by John Isbell; 04-15-2017 at 06:01 AM.
Reason: apricot
|
04-15-2017, 09:32 PM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,844
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Callin
Thank you for that link, Aaron. I read the poem, and enjoyed it. What depth of reading does it require to be able to reference that at will? (A rhetorical question, although you can answer it if you wish.)
And what about cancrizans, which is utterly new to me? I'll cheat. I'll Google it right now.
Cheers
David
|
Talk about serendipity! I clicked, read, scrolled, and whammo: the coolest line I've seen in years (which I've probably read twenty times but have forgotten):
God slays himself with every leaf that flies - E.A. Robinson
|
04-15-2017, 09:43 PM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,844
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Isbell
P.S. Aaron, that is a wild ride. The word apricot has a great history as well, from the Latin praecox via the Arabic before returning to Romance.
Update: here's a brief online summary - "mid 16th century: from Portuguese albricoque or Spanish albaricoque, from Spanish Arabic al ‘the’ + barḳūḳ (from late Greek praikokion, from Latin praecoquum, variant of praecox ‘early ripe’); influenced by Latin apricus ‘ripe’ and by French abricot ."
|
I just posted a verse from Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" that contained the word 'apricot'. Is that why you suddenly thunk of apricot? Or, no, that's not it. You're just a sprite and I'm the only being in the universe. No, I AM the universe...
My semi-favorite words:
Palimpsest - used it lots
Opulent - used it lots
Galumph - used it a few times
Flotilla - used it lots
Architrave - used it twice
Teraphim - used it once
Flocculent - used it once
My favorite words are ones I made up, "which I shall not utter here".
Stole that from Mithrandir, another cool word.^
|
04-16-2017, 02:00 AM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 6,630
|
|
Hi Bill,
Mithrandir also says "Speak, friend, and enter."
I have a little poem called "Apricot". My wife is fond of them. But I also noted the word's presence in "You're So Vain."
I like your list of favorite words.
Cheers,
John
|
04-16-2017, 03:32 AM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,844
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Isbell
Hi Bill,
Mithrandir also says "Speak, friend, and enter."
I have a little poem called "Apricot". My wife is fond of them. But I also noted the word's presence in "You're So Vain."
I like your list of favorite words.
Cheers,
John
|
Bliss.
Need more characters...
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Login
Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,416
Total Threads: 21,992
Total Posts: 272,491
There are 526 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum Sponsor:
|
|
|
|
|
|