Friday 30 April 2010

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.

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Wednesday 28 April 2010

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.

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Tuesday 27 April 2010

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."

Friday 23 April 2010

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.

Thursday 22 April 2010

WoD - oneiric

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

Wednesday 21 April 2010

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.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

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).

Monday 19 April 2010

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.

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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."

Monday 5 April 2010

WoD - manumit

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