Hippocampus

Hippocampus: a mythological creature.  The hippocampus was part dolphin, part horse.  Archaeologists have found paintings to the hippocampus in the ruins of Pompeii.  Hippocampus may also refer to a genus of fish with a neck and head that look remarkably like a...

Aphorisms and Adages

Aphorism: A maxim; a precept, or principle expressed in few words containing some important truth. “While there are loads of trite and silly statements, a good aphorism is supposed to stand the test of time and remain true and elegant — a very difficult...

Plerophory

Plerophory: full confidence; total assurance.  With a plerophory of assurance, each of the Avengers spoke into some imaginary, unseen, perfectly clear audio communications system.  I mean, seriously, how were they able to seamlessly communicate with each other in the...

Word Up!

Some time ago, my interest in Latin took a sharp turn.  Honestly, I ran of the road.  Instead of studying Latin, instead of reading books in Latin, instead of reading books about Latin… I started tracking down the English words that had come from Latin. On...

Porter

Porter: the doorkeeper, or gate keeper.  This word comes from Latin porta (door).  When the doorkeeper helps you carry the luggage, he becomes another kind of porter.  He becomes a carrier of burdens.  The second usage of the word comes from the Latin verb portare...