I'm certainly inspired after learning that my readership is now at least three times bigger than I had originally imagined it.
Here's an excellent noun plucked straight from Latin. It means foolish boldness, or rashness. You could consider it a close synonym to "recklessness", although that word lacks the connotation of intended courage that "temerity" connotes.
Hence, it would be recklessness to attempt to rob Fort Knox, but temerity to attempt to do it if the CIA had locked your family in there.
The etymology is simple. The Latin "temeritās" means both randomness and chance, as meaning almost exactly what the English word means.
Would it be temerity to attempt to use this word three times tomorrow? You'd might as well try!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
coquicide, n.
Here's an obscure and possibly obsolete word which I love because of its vast usefulness in everyday conversation.
It means the murder of a chef or cook. Chances are, had you known this word, you would have used it already this week. Keep reading for the incredible quote.
In terms of etymology, it is actually an invention, as opposed to genuinely adopted from another language. Specifically, it arises from "New Latin", or the written use of Latin in Europe from the Renaissance onwards. From about 1500-1900, many new Latinate words were created, and then incorporated back into other languages.
For example, "suicide", was in fact created in England in the 1650s, in Latin, as "suīcīdium". Hence, it actually emerged as a Latin word and as an English word at the same time. A great example to cite when a Fracophile tries to tell you that English owes all its Latin to French, n'cest pas?
"Coquicide" is, as one might imagine, a humorous word, created in the 1800s with the intention of seeming overly pedantic. "Coq-" actually comes from "cook", and its Middle-English predecessor words, whereas "-cide" is from the Latin "-one who kills". The hybrid of languages in the word is supposed to be amusing in itself. It is pretty ridiculous, and appetizingly pretentious.
So, the quote? "...a unanimous verdict of justifiable coquicide." - Sir George Dasent, 1870.
Here's hoping you won't have chance to use it. But don't fail to leap upon the opportunity if it's served up.
It means the murder of a chef or cook. Chances are, had you known this word, you would have used it already this week. Keep reading for the incredible quote.
In terms of etymology, it is actually an invention, as opposed to genuinely adopted from another language. Specifically, it arises from "New Latin", or the written use of Latin in Europe from the Renaissance onwards. From about 1500-1900, many new Latinate words were created, and then incorporated back into other languages.
For example, "suicide", was in fact created in England in the 1650s, in Latin, as "suīcīdium". Hence, it actually emerged as a Latin word and as an English word at the same time. A great example to cite when a Fracophile tries to tell you that English owes all its Latin to French, n'cest pas?
"Coquicide" is, as one might imagine, a humorous word, created in the 1800s with the intention of seeming overly pedantic. "Coq-" actually comes from "cook", and its Middle-English predecessor words, whereas "-cide" is from the Latin "-one who kills". The hybrid of languages in the word is supposed to be amusing in itself. It is pretty ridiculous, and appetizingly pretentious.
So, the quote? "...a unanimous verdict of justifiable coquicide." - Sir George Dasent, 1870.
Here's hoping you won't have chance to use it. But don't fail to leap upon the opportunity if it's served up.
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