by Dwane | Sep 2, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Abscond: to escape; leave hurriedly and secretly; run away; hide. From Latin abscondere (to hide; to conceal). Example: The marmot absconds in the winter. Another example, from a lousy chapter in my own life: He absconded with the funds.
by Dwane | Aug 30, 2014 | Education, English, Greek, Uncategorized
Nostalgia: a longing for home; a longing for better days. From νοσταλγία (nostalgia), which further derives from νόστος (a return home), and ἄλγος (pain, suffering).
by Dwane | Aug 30, 2014 | Education, English, Italian, Spanish, Vocabulary
A cheval: by horse; on horseback. In mountaineering, à cheval is a climbing method. The climber straddles the ridge, placing hands on the crest of the ridge. From the French phrase à cheval (on horseback). The French phrase derives from the Latin caballus (horse,...
by Dwane | Aug 29, 2014 | Education, English, Greek, Vocabulary
Onager: the wild donkey of Asia. From Greek όνος (donkey, ass) and άγριος (wild). Άγριος derives from ἀγρός (field). Onager is also the name for a Roman siege weapon, a type of ballista, which threw stones from a bag or wooden bucket. Evidently, this weapon had...
by Dwane | Aug 29, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Ab ovo: From the beginning; complete; thorough. The literal translation of this Latin phrase is “from the egg”. The Romans used a phrase, “ab ovum usque ad malum” to describe a complete process. The phrase means, “from the egg to the apple”. It describes a complete...
by Dwane | Aug 28, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Ab irato: From anger. Ab irato is a legal phrase. It describes decisions made in anger. Such decisions (based on hatred, or anger) are frequently detrimental. Fortunately, heirs have recourse. They can file a suit against rash action. The suit is an “ab irato”...
