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Category Archives: words
Some Typos are Typoier Than Others
Typo of the day, possibly of the decade, is Ratlick, for an intended Tatlock (the author of an old myth textbook). If a character named Ratlick doesn’t appear in an upcoming Morlock story, my name isn’t James Enge. (Um. So … Continue reading
Posted in Morlock, Myth & Legend, sword-and-sorcery, Typo of the Day, words
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Thrush to Judgement
I’ve been rereading Petronius’ Satyricon, to take my mind off the imminent death of democracy in America. It’s not working that well, because Trimalchio (the wealthy boor who is the anti-protagonist of his own episode in the novel) keeps reminding … Continue reading
Posted in ancient art, art, books, language, politics, television, words
Tagged EverythingIsBetterWithLatin!™, Latin
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Pane/Counterpane
I’ve often wondered what was counter about counterpane—whether it was somehow the opposite of pane (e.g. “a pane of glass”). Turns out: no. In fact, says the AHD, Old French countrepointe is an eggcorn for coultepointe, derived from Medieval Latin … Continue reading
Fair or Unfair?
In the course of an ultimately frustrating and pointless conversation online today, I found myself thinking of the multiple meanings of fair in English–at once, “light-skinned/light-haired”, “beautiful”, and “just, even-handed”. The meanings are so different that I wondered if they … Continue reading
Posted in art, fantasy art, language, politics, words
Tagged EverythingIsBetterWithLatin!™, Greek, Old English
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The Shadow Nose
I’m reading Ǫrvar Odds saga at odd moments when I should be working, lately. I was looking up útnes which C&V (un)helpfully gloss as “an outer ness”. The AHD more helpfully told me that a ness is a cape or … Continue reading
I’m Somebody Now!
“The new phone book’s here! The new phone book’s here!”
My Object All Sublime
Typo of the day is snicjkered, which I take to be an especially insidious style of snickering. e.g. “He didn’t just snicker at me–he snicjkered! So I impaled him on my snickersnee.”
Posted in art, cartoon, music, Typo of the Day, words
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Not Feeling SANQUINE About This
Yet another Faceplace ad that falls between sad and funny. I’m pretty sure the Latin on this very serious “blood oath” coin is supposed to mean “what is owed in blood” (quod debitum sanguine) only they misspelled “blood” as SANQUINE, … Continue reading
Posted in language, social media, words
Tagged EverythingIsBetterWithLatin!™
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Latin Makes Your Teeth Shiny White!
I had occasion to use the word vademecum today, which doesn’t happen that often, but whenever it does I’m reminded of Vademecum toothpaste, which my mom used to use. This may be the first piece of Latin I ever learned … Continue reading
Posted in language, television, words
Tagged EverythingIsBetterWithLatin!™
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