Continuing with the French theme :)
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lais·sez–faire, noun \ˌle-ˌsā-ˈfer, ˌlā-, -ˌzā-\

1: a doctrine opposing governmental interference in economic affairs beyond the minimum necessary for the maintenance of peace and property rights

2: a philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference especially with individual freedom of choice and action

Etymology:

French laissez faire, imperative of laisser faire to let (people) do (as they choose)

First Known Use: 1825

Further historical info: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/328028/laissez-faire

prehension (pree-HEN-shuhn) - n., the act of grasping.


More often seen in another form: prehensile, as in a prehensile tail that can wrap around a branch or the elephant's load-bearing nose. Of course, human hands are also prehensile, however, we are also capable of another prehension -- in this sense, the correlate word is apprehension, which is a matter of the senses (mostly), while prehension is a matter of the understanding. A grasping with our minds. Borrowed in the physical sense in the early 16th century from Latin prehēnsiōn, a taking hold, from the past participle of prehendere, to seize, from pre-, a prefix acting as an intensivifer + hendere, to grasp. The mental metaphoric extension was introduced by philosopher Alfred North Whitehead.

His motor skills, especially prehension, are rapidly improving.

---L.

Well met, friends!

It's Wednesday again, which means another installment of Shakespearean Imagination!

As this week marks the baby shower for dear friends who are awaiting the arrival of a much-anticipated first child, I thought it only apropos that the word for today be:

blanket : blan•ket /ˈblaNGkit/ (noun) (adjective) (verb) :


noun
- A large piece of woolen or similar material used as a bed covering or other covering for warmth

adjective
- Covering all cases or instances; total and inclusive

verb
- Cover completely with a thick layer of something



Synonyms as a noun: rug - cover - wrap - coverlet

Synonyms as an adjective: general - common - broad - universal - overall

Synonyms as a verb: cover



First seen in Shakespeare's King Lear (written 1605 - 1606). The full text of the play may be found here. Interestingly, Shakespeare uses it as both a verb and a noun in the course of the play.

A stromuhr is an instrument that measures the rate of blood flow through an artery. It was invented by Carl Ludwig, a prolific German physiologist, in 1867. The word literally means "stream clock," from Strom (stream) + Uhr (clock).



Stromuhr was the winning word of 14-year-old North Royalton, Ohio resident Anamika Veeramani, the champion of the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Only 14 days and 21 minutes left until the start of the next national bee!

kebbuck (or kebbock)  \ˈke-bək\, noun.  A whole wheel or ball of cheese.

Etymology:  Middle English cabok, from Scottish Gaelic caepok, a cheese.  first known use in the 15th century.

This word does not appear to be in use in English today, except in the names of a few British cheeses (Maisie's Kebbuck, for example).  But even then the word seems to imply just "cheese", not "whole wheel of cheese".  Even in the realm of large historical cheeses, the term 'kebbuck' does not seem to come up.

mu·li·ebral (ˌmjuːlɪˈɛbrɪtɪ):
origin: (1585–95) Latin muliēbritās = womanhood

noun
1. womanly nature or qualities; of, characteristic of women; femininity
2. womanhood.

"The sheer muliebral warmth of her." — Richard Llewellyn

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mi·cro·chi·mer·ism (ˈmī-krōˌkī-ˈmir-ˌi-zəm):
origin: Greek mīkrós= small + Latin chimaera, from Greek chimaira= she-goat

noun
Two strands of DNA sharing one organ or body, one in small proportion to the other. Commonly found in bone marrow transfer, organ transplants, and most commonly from mother to child (and vice-a-versa).

That is to say that a tiny part of your mother's exact DNA is hardwired directly into your body and a tiny portion of her exact DNA (not only those inherited) float around in you. Though scientists are unsure why this is, others theorize it gives credence to the old wives tale of mothers instinctively knowing when their children are in danger.

The good (or bad) news being that a mother's bond is truly, medically, inseparable!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Picking up the French words/phrases theme I've had in a couple of previous entries. This will be the first of several.
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trompe l'oeil
noun, often attributive \(ˌ)trȯmp-ˈlə-ē, trōⁿp-ˈlœi\

Definition
1: a style of painting in which objects are depicted with photographically realistic detail; also : the use of similar technique in interior decorating
2: a trompe l'oeil painting or effect
3: something that misleads or deceives the senses : illusion

Etymology:
French trompe-l'œil, literally, deceives the eye

First Known Use: 1889

Examples of trompe l'oeil objects and paintings, and further details can be seen and read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe-l%27%C5%93il

Friends, what cheer?

It's Wednesday Thursday again, which means another installment of Shakespearean Imagination!

I apologise for missing yesterday - the day started off well, but things at work blew up around midday and the rest of the day just went downhill from there. As I posted in my twitter feed, "How can so much go so wrong so quickly?" Still, I must admit that missing my scheduled day means I am:

blushing : blush•ing /bləSHˈiNG/ (adjective) (verb) :


adjective
- Having a red face from embarrassment or shame or agitation or emotional upset.
- Modest or bashful.

verb
- Becoming red in the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame; flushing.
- Becoming red or rosy.
- Feeling embarrassed or ashamed.


Synonyms as a verb: flushing – reddening – blooming

Synonyms as an adjective: flushing – red-faced – flustered – ruddy – bashful – modest – roseate



First seen in Shakespeare's King Henry VI, Part III (written 1590 - 1591). The full text of the play may be found here.

snicket (SNI-kit) - n., (north. UK) a narrow alleyway.


Especially between two walls or buildings, or sometimes (in the countryside?) lined with trees. A sense of it being an enclosed passage, regardless, as opposed to something more open. A lemony snicket would, no doubt, be one lined with citrus trees, though of course a Lemony Snicket is another beast entirely -- and it would be best to avoid any unfortunate events by going down that road. Origin is, as all too common with this sort of old slang, entirely unknown, first recorded in the late 19th century.

Pub's down't road, first snicket on't right, pas't badger and on't left.

---L.

Laodicean means "of or related to Laodicea," an ancient city of Anatolia (or Asia Minor), or "lukewarm," in the sense of being indifferent or unenthusiastic, especially when it comes to religious or political matters. This second meaning appears to have come from Chapter 3 of the Book of Revelation, which is addressed directly to the Laodicean Christian community:

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [source]

I suppose these verses are saying that the Christians of Laodicea were indifferent to religion and unaware of their spiritual poverty due to their being content with physical comfort and material wealth..but I think I forfeited my right to even attempt to analyze scripture when I began my research by asking for confirmation that Revelation is in the back of the Bible.

The metaphor of cold, hot and lukewarm water may come from the existence of a Laodicean aqueduct which could have supplied the city with water from a nearby hot spring. By the time it reached the city, the water would have been lukewarm -- not cold enough to make for pleasant drinking water, not hot enough to be useful for anything else. [source]



Laodicean was the winning word of 13-year-old Olathe, Kansas resident Kavya Shivashankar, the champion of the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Only 21 days, 3 hours and 11 minutes left until the start of the next national bee!