WoD - Deracinate

de·rac·in·ate   [dih-ras-uh-neyt]
–verb (used with object), -nat·ed, -nat·ing.
1. to pull up by the roots; uproot; extirpate; eradicate.
2. to isolate or alienate (a person) from a native or customary culture or environment.

Origin:
1590–1600; < F déracin ( er ) (equiv. to dé- dis-1 + -raciner, v. deriv. of racine root < LL rādīcīna for L rādīc-, s. of rādīx ) + -ate1

On This Day...

The 20th or 21st of July 356BC is usually taken as the birthdate of Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great.
After succeeding his father Philip II to the throne, he earned the name 'The Great' by creating one of the largest ancient empires, and leading an 'undefeated' army.

More information

WoD - quiddity

quid·di·ty [kwid-i-tee]

–noun, plural -ties.
1. the quality that makes a thing what it is; the essential nature of a thing.
2. a trifling nicety of subtle distinction, as in argument.


Origin:
1530–40; < ML quidditās, equiv. to L quid what + -itās

Spartacus: Blood and Sand - the goriest, most red-blooded series the law and human decency will allow...

Bravo has started showing a series based on an unnamed Thracian soldier, and follows his ludicrously gory battles, not to mention numerous scenes of a somewhat sexual theme.
Being a fairly squeamish viewer with an aversion to anything where "roughly every 30 seconds someone gets an axe or sword in the face", I'm going to give it a miss.
Nonetheless, Phelim O'Neill's review and Charlie Brooker's Screen Burn in the Guardian are very entertaining.

WoD - desultory

des·ul·to·ry   /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/ Show Spelled[des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

–adjective
1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.

Origin:
1575–85; < L dēsultōrius pertaining to a dēsultor (a circus rider who jumps from one horse to another), equiv. to dēsul-, var. s. of dēsilīre to jump down ( dē- de- + -silīre, comb. form of salīre to leap) + -tōrius -tory1

Quarter of A-level students will scoop A* grade in advanced maths and Latin

An interesting piece of research based on last year's Alevel results which predict that the proportion of people achieving A*s this year will vary considerably from subject to subject. It is estimated that a quarter of further maths and Latin results will be A*s, compared to only 2% for English language and media studies.

More information

WoD - atavism

at·a·vism   /ˈætəˌvɪzəm/ Show Spelled[at-uh-viz-uhm]

–noun
1. Biology .
a. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
b. an individual embodying such a reversion.
2. reversion to an earlier type; throwback.

Origin:
1825–35; < L atav ( us ) remote ancestor ( at-, akin to atta familiar name for a grandfather + avus grandfather, forefather) + -ism

WoD - attenuate

at·ten·u·ate   /v. əˈtɛnyuˌeɪt; adj. əˈtɛnyuɪt, -ˌeɪt/ Show Spelled [v. uh-ten-yoo-eyt; adj. uh-ten-yoo-it, -eyt]

–verb (used with object)
1. to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.
2. to make thin; make slender or fine.
3. Bacteriology, Immunology . to render less virulent, as a strain of pathogenic virus or bacterium.
4. Electronics . to decrease the amplitude of (an electronic signal).
–verb (used without object)
5. to become thin or fine; lessen.
–adjective
6. weakened; diminishing.
7. Botany . tapering gradually to a narrow extremity.

Origin:
1520–30; < L attenuātus (ptp. of attenuāre to thin, reduce).

WoD - acrimony

ac·ri·mo·ny   /ˈækrəˌmoʊni/ Show Spelled[ak-ruh-moh-nee]

–noun
sharpness, harshness, or bitterness of nature, speech, disposition, etc.: The speaker attacked him with great acrimony.

Origin:
1535–45; < L ācrimōnia, equiv. to ācri- (s. of ācer ) sharp, sour + -mōnia -mony

In Our Time

Melvin Bragg and guests discuss the history of ideas...

In Our Time is a long running Radio 4 programme, in which a myriad ideas are discussed. There are numerous classical themed episodes available in the archive; at the moment I'm listening to one about Virgil's Aeneid, with classics professors from UCL, Durham and Oxford.

More information

WoD - suspire

suspire\suh-SPAHY-uhr\ ,
verb;
1.To utter with long, sighing breaths.

Origin:
Suspire's origin is in the Latin suspirare, "to draw a long breath."

WoD - eristic

eristic\e-RIS-tik\ , adjective;
1.Pertaining to controversy or disputation; controversial.
2.Of argument for the sole purpose of winning, regardless of the reason.
noun:
1.Argument for the sole purpose of winning, regardless of the reason.
2.The art of disputation.
Origin:
Eristic relates both to Eris, the Greek goddess of strife, as well as what Plato called eristic dialogue, a type of discourse with no reasonable goal beyond winning the argument.

WoD - malapert

malapert\MAL-uh-purt\ , adjective;
1.Unbecomingly bold or saucy.
noun:
1.A malapert person.
Origin:
Malapert relates to the Old French mal apert, "ill-skilled," which means malapert and expert share a common ancestor.

WoD - valetudinarian

valetudinarian\val-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un; -tyoo-\ , noun;
1.A weak or sickly person, especially one morbidly concerned with his or her health.adjective:
1.Sickly; weak; infirm.
2.Morbidly concerned with one's health.
Origin:
Valetudinarian derives from Latin valetudinarius, "sickly; an invalid," from valetudo, "state of health (good or ill)," from valere, "to be strong or well."

On this day...

In 65AD, Marcus Annaeus Lucanus died aged 25, forced to commit suicide by opening a vein, after he joined the treasonous conspiracy of Gaius Calpurnius Piso against Nero. Better known as Lucan, he is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the Silver Latin period.

More information

WoD - pellucid

pellucid\puh-LOO-sid\ , adjective;
1.Transparent; clear; not opaque.
2.Easily understandable.

Origin:
Pellucid comes from Latin pellucidus, "shining, transparent," from pellucere, "to shine through," from per-, "through" + lucere, "to shine."

On this day...

The Floralia was a festival in ancient Rome dedicated to the goddess of flowers and vegetation, Flora. It was held on the IV Calends of May and symbolised the renewal of the cycle of life. Celebrated with dancing, drinking and flowers, the day was marked by colourful clothing and offerings of milk and honey.

More information

WoD - moil

moil\MOYL\ , verb;
1.To work with painful effort; to labor; to toil; to drudge.
2.To churn or swirl about continuously.
noun:
1.Toil; hard work; drudgery.
2.Confusion; turmoil.
Origin:
Moil comes from Middle English moillen, "to soak, to wet," hence "to soil, to soil one's hands, to work very hard," from Old French moillier, "to soften, especially by making wet," ultimately from Latin mollis, "soft."

WoD - tutelary

tutelary\TOO-tuh-lair-ee; TYOO-\ , adjective;
1.Having the guardianship or charge of protecting a person or a thing; guardian; protecting; as, "tutelary goddesses."

Origin:
Tutelary derives from Latin tutelaris, from tutela, protection, guardianship, from tutus, past participle of tueri, to look at, to regard, especially to look at with care or for the purpose of protection. It is related to tutor, to have the guardianship or care of; to teach; to instruct.

WoD - oneiric

oneiric\oh-NY-rik\ , noun;
1.Of, pertaining to, or suggestive of dreams; dreamy.
Origin:
Oneiric comes from Greek oneiros, "dream."

On this day...

21st April is the datetraditionally taken as the day when Rome was founded. Roman historians dated the city's foundation variously from 758 to 728 BC.
Ancestors of Aeneas and fathered by Mars or Hercules, Romulus and Remus decided to found a new city after regaining their regal birthrights. However, the brothers had differing opinions on where to situate the city (Romulus wished to build on the Palatine Hill, but Remus wanted to build on the Aventine Hill). They agreed to determine the site through augury, but, again, they disputed the results. In the consequent clashes, Remus was killed.

WoD - disport

disport\dis-PORT\ , verb;
1.To amuse oneself in light or lively manner; to frolic.
transitive verb:
1.To divert or amuse.2.To display.

Origin:
Disport derives from Old French desporter, "to divert," from des-, "apart" (from Latin dis-) + porter, "to carry" (from Latin portare) -- hence to disport is at root "to carry apart, or away" (from business or seriousness).

On this day...

April 19th marked the end of the seven day festival in ancient Rome of Cerealia, in honor of the goddess Ceres. It featured the Ludi Ceriales (Games of Ceres) in the Circus Maximus.

More information

WoD - glabrous

glabrous\GLAY-bruhs\ , adjective;
1.Smooth; having a surface without hairs, projections, or any unevenness.

Origin: Glabrous is from Latin glaber, "smooth, bald."

WoD - manumit

manumit \man-yuh-MIT\ , verb;
1.To free from slavery or servitude.

WoD - impecunious

impecunious\im-pih-KYOO-nee-uhs\ , adjective;
1.Not having money; habitually without money; poor.

WoD - portentous

portentous\por-TEN-tus\ , adjective;
1.Foreboding; foreshadowing, especially foreshadowing ill; ominous.
2.Marvelous; prodigious; wonderful; as, a beast of portentous size.
3.Pompous.

WoD - cozen

cozen\KUZ-un\ ,
transitive verb;
1.To cheat; to defraud; to deceive, usually by petty tricks.
2.To obtain by deceit.
intransitive verb:
1.To act deceitfully.

On this day...

In 45BC, Julius Caesar defeated the Pompeian forces of Titus Labenius and Pompey the Younger in the Battle of Munda. This was the last battle of Julius Caesar's civil war against the republican armies of the Optimate leaders. After this victory, Caesar was free to return to Rome and govern as dictator.
More information

On this day...

In AD39, Caligula became Roman Emperor after the death of his great uncle Tiberius. Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August AD 12 – 24 January AD 41), more commonly known by his agnomen Caligula was the third Roman Emperor, reigning until his assassination on 24 January 41. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
More information

WoD - minatory

min·a·to·ry   /ˈmɪnəˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/ Show Spelled[min-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
–adjective
1. menacing; threatening.

Happy Ides of March

The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 709 AUC or 44 B.C.

The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months.

The Ides of March is celebrated every year by the Rome Hash House Harriers with a toga run in the streets of Rome, in the same place where Julius Caesar was killed.

The Atlanta Chapter of the Dagorhir Battle Games Association hosts an annual spring event at Red Horse Stables on the weekend closest to the 15th of March. The event is appropriately named "The Ides of March".

The Temple Hill Association in New Windsor, NY holds an annual dinner in honor of the Ides of March because it is also the day that General George Washington quelled a mutiny of his Officers in 1783.

More information

WoD - diaspora

Di·as·po·ra   /daɪˈæspərə/ Show Spelled[dahy-as-per-uh] Show IPA
–noun
1.the scattering of the Jews to countries outside of Palestine after the Babylonian captivity.
2.(often lowercase) the body of Jews living in countries outside Palestine or modern Israel.
3.such countries collectively: the return of the Jews from the Diaspora.
4.(lowercase) any group migration or flight from a country or region; dispersion.
5.(lowercase) any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional homeland.
6.(lowercase) any religious group living as a minority among people of the prevailing religion.

On this day...

In 538AD, Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ended his siege of Rome and retreated to Ravenna, leaving the city in the hands of the victorious Roman general, Belisarius.

WoD- solecism

solecism\SOL-uh-siz-uhm\ , noun;
1.A nonstandard usage or grammatical construction; also, a minor blunder in speech.
2.A breach of good manners or etiquette.
3.Any inconsistency, mistake, or impropriety.

WoD - salient

salient\SAY-lee-unt; SAYL-yunt\ , adjective;
1.Shooting out or up; projecting.
2.Forcing itself on the attention; prominent; conspicuous; noticeable.
3.Leaping; springing; jumping.
noun:
1.An outwardly projecting part of a fortification, trench system, or line of defense.2.A projecting angle or part.

WoD - phantasmagoria

phantasmagoria\fan-taz-muh-GOR-ee-uh\ , noun;
1.A shifting series or succession of things seen or imagined, as in a dream.
2.Any constantly changing scene.

On This Day

In 241 BC, the Romans, led by Lutatius Catulus, sank the Carthaginian fleet at the Battle of the Aegates Islands, bringing the First Punic War to an end.

More information

WoD - inveterate

inveterate\in-VET-uhr-it\ , adjective;
1.Firmly established by long persistence; deep-rooted; of long standing.
2.Fixed in habit by long persistence; confirmed; habitual.

WoD - gregarious

gregarious\grih-GAIR-ee-us\ , adjective;
1.Tending to form a group with others of the same kind.
2.Seeking and enjoying the company of others.

This Saturday...

2010 marks the 1600th anniversary of Roman Britain in AD410, and to celebrate this, the entire 84 mile route along Hadrian's Wall is going to be illuminated at 250m intervals. This once-in-a-lifetime event is led by Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd, and is going to look simply spectacular. The first and last lights will be lit at public events in Segedunum Roman Fort at Wallsend and Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria.
More information

On this day...

In AD189, Publius Septimius Geta, Roman Emperor was born. He died in AD211, having co-ruled Rome with his father Septimius Severus and brother Caracalla from AD209.
More information

WoD : Distrait

distrait

\dis-TRAY\ , adjective;

1. Divided or withdrawn in attention, especially because of anxiety.

Welcome to the Nonsuch Classics Blog!

Well, quick to follow in the footsteps of English and History & Politics, the Classics department is now officially online!

Hopefully this blog will provide useful resources for all students of Latin and Ancient Greek, not to mention those intelligent and inquisitive minds who simply wish to be educated and entertained.

Anyone in the Year 12 Latin class will certainly not be unaware of WoD - and now everyone else can finally partake in Word of the Day as well.

So, let us begin a stimulating journey towards the acme of Classical knowledge...