Ancient Word of the Day – Content Catnip

Ancient Word: Pellucid

François Schuiten’s steampunk cityscapes 'Les Cités obscures'

#Pellucid: An adjective meaning “transparent, translucent, admitting the passage of light.” Originating from the 1610s, from #Latin pellucidus #etymology #ancientwords #words #light #shine

Ancient Word of the Day: Pianissimo

“The voice that speaks in him, speaks low, but he who listens with a third ear hears also what is expressed almost noiselessly, what is said #pianissimo.” #etymology #words #storytelling #music #ancient

Ancient Word of the Day: Sansai

Sansai. n. ‘mountain vegetables’ from Japanese. Sansai grow wild in marshlands, and grasslands, or in the forest. Japanese people have been gathering wild food to cook with since ancient times. In fact, wild plants or Sansai have helped Japanese when food has been scarce because of drought or some other natural disaster. When food wasContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Sansai”

Ancient word of the day: Celandine

This pretty yellow star-like flower is from the buttercup family. It is common to see it flourishing at the beginning of spring in new grasses, hedges and in at the banks of rivers. It blankets forest floors. Commonly thought of as being a weed, it is still absolutely beautiful to behold.

Ancient Word: Dadirri according to Aunty Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr

Old ghost gums swaying in the breeze, trees, Australia

Dadirri recognises the deep spring that is inside us. We call on it and it calls to us. This is the gift that Australia is thirsting for. It is something like what you call “contemplation”. #listening #Dadirri #words #etymology #books #bookreview

A history of the world’s languages as a gnarly willow tree

The world’s mother tongues have blended and intermingled since humans first stood upright and emerged out of the primeval forests. Here’s a really awesome family tree beautifully illustrated by Minna Sundberg. Minna is an immensely talented illustrator who has been creating a wonderful tales set in northern Europe for her online web comic Stand Still,Continue reading “A history of the world’s languages as a gnarly willow tree”

Ancient Word of the Day: Stravaig

Stravaig derives from eighteenth-century Scots extravage, meaning ‘wander about; digress, ramble in speech’, in turn derived from Medieval Latin extravagari ‘wander, stray beyond limits’. Stravaig, in various forms, is found in a wide range of Scottish texts from the late eighteenth-century onwards. Read more

Ancient word of the day: Athene Noctua or Athena’s Owl

The Greek goddess Athena had as her sacred animal familiar the owl, also known as the Athene Noctua in Latin. The Romans, fond as they were of stealing from the Greek pantheon, renamed Athena to Minerva. Athena and her owl are considered to be symbols of wisdom, in both cultures. Athene Noctua Athena’s owl orContinue reading “Ancient word of the day: Athene Noctua or Athena’s Owl”

Ancient Word of the Day: Adsum

From Latin: “Adsum” – be here now

The life, in a form, that we all live. Adsum abandons hopelessness and blind hope and even rational hope.

Hope is that virtue by which we take responsibility for the future and a quality that gives our actions special urgency.

Ancient Word of the Day: Lacuna

Kindness woman psychology Olivia Laing, The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone

Ancient Word of the Day: Lacuna “lacuna”- in a manuscript denotes a ‘little lake’ or #hiatus, blank, a missing portion (OED n.1) This word is borrowed from Latin in the 17th Century. Have you ever taken a #pause from your #life or #career? what was this like? A break always gives a clear perspective in my opinion! #language #words #history