language living and dying and changing
Sandra Dodd
Beholden: Back in the day (that would be about the 11th century)
when behold meant "hold by virtue of duty or obligation," this was
its past participle. It has far outlived its parent's original
meaning and we use it today as a predicate adjective meaning
"obligated."
=======================================================================
That came in the daily e-mail from Visual Thesaurus, which you can
use a few times free, but I subscribed to it because it has lots and
lots of words presented in an unusual way, and it helps me think.
$20 a year, which is a lot (considering there are dictionaries galore
online), but if I think about what it would cost to take a single
class on English and its history and depth, or to buy (another)
dictionary or thesaurus, it seems more justifiable.
My granny, who lived in Texas, used the word "beholden." She was
born in the very early 20th century. She used it two ways, and
idiomatically, which means (to me, in this context) that she always
used it in the same phrases, as part of a group of words.
One way she used it was a politer and stronger version of "thank
you." She would say "I'm much beholden to you." She'd even say it
to me when I was a little girl, four or five years old. It wasn't
just "thank you," it was "I owe you one," and "That was really nice."
The other way was a sharp kind of defensive insult that was used the
way some people now will say "she can kiss my butt." It was "I'm not
beholden' to her." It meant "I don't owe her anything."
So in both uses it had to do with a social indebtedness.
It's like having an museum-quality antique, to come across a word
that is SO OLD and yet still in use.
A newish song uses "embark." It's a Death Cab for Cutie song called
"I Will Follow Your into the Dark," and it says "If there's no one
beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark."
"Embark" came into English from French, 600 years or so ago. It
means to take ship--to step onto a boat, to leave (usually).
Nowadays it's usually in phrases like "embarking on a new journey" or
"embarking on a new phase of his life." It's from a French word for
a sailing ship, from a Latin word for a ship.
The cool thing about its use in reference to death is the whole River
Styx idea from Greek mythology, that one travels into the underworld
on a boat.
Have I mentioned, lately, my strong belief that everything is connected?
Sandra
when behold meant "hold by virtue of duty or obligation," this was
its past participle. It has far outlived its parent's original
meaning and we use it today as a predicate adjective meaning
"obligated."
=======================================================================
That came in the daily e-mail from Visual Thesaurus, which you can
use a few times free, but I subscribed to it because it has lots and
lots of words presented in an unusual way, and it helps me think.
$20 a year, which is a lot (considering there are dictionaries galore
online), but if I think about what it would cost to take a single
class on English and its history and depth, or to buy (another)
dictionary or thesaurus, it seems more justifiable.
My granny, who lived in Texas, used the word "beholden." She was
born in the very early 20th century. She used it two ways, and
idiomatically, which means (to me, in this context) that she always
used it in the same phrases, as part of a group of words.
One way she used it was a politer and stronger version of "thank
you." She would say "I'm much beholden to you." She'd even say it
to me when I was a little girl, four or five years old. It wasn't
just "thank you," it was "I owe you one," and "That was really nice."
The other way was a sharp kind of defensive insult that was used the
way some people now will say "she can kiss my butt." It was "I'm not
beholden' to her." It meant "I don't owe her anything."
So in both uses it had to do with a social indebtedness.
It's like having an museum-quality antique, to come across a word
that is SO OLD and yet still in use.
A newish song uses "embark." It's a Death Cab for Cutie song called
"I Will Follow Your into the Dark," and it says "If there's no one
beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark."
"Embark" came into English from French, 600 years or so ago. It
means to take ship--to step onto a boat, to leave (usually).
Nowadays it's usually in phrases like "embarking on a new journey" or
"embarking on a new phase of his life." It's from a French word for
a sailing ship, from a Latin word for a ship.
The cool thing about its use in reference to death is the whole River
Styx idea from Greek mythology, that one travels into the underworld
on a boat.
Have I mentioned, lately, my strong belief that everything is connected?
Sandra
Nancy Machaj
My brother and I both often refer to a conversation we had with my
dad, around 25 years ago, about a Rick Springfield song.
It was "Jessie's Girl", and we all loved the song (and the album,
though we had it on tape, and of course, we loved Rick).
There was a line, "I wanna tell her that I love her, but the point is
probably moot" (have to look up what it rhymed with in the couplet)
We both thought then, and now, that it was really a cool word to work
into a song. If either of us use the word to each other (which we
might try to do), it immediately brings up that song, and we share
our inside joke about it.
You dont hear moot very much.
And, another story to do with my brother, I once asked him if he was
'casting aspersions on my character', which sparked a debate about
the word aspersions, and if its ever used without "casting" right
next to it. Anyone know?
Nancy
*****
blogging at:
http://happychildhood.homeschooljournal.net
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
dad, around 25 years ago, about a Rick Springfield song.
It was "Jessie's Girl", and we all loved the song (and the album,
though we had it on tape, and of course, we loved Rick).
There was a line, "I wanna tell her that I love her, but the point is
probably moot" (have to look up what it rhymed with in the couplet)
We both thought then, and now, that it was really a cool word to work
into a song. If either of us use the word to each other (which we
might try to do), it immediately brings up that song, and we share
our inside joke about it.
You dont hear moot very much.
And, another story to do with my brother, I once asked him if he was
'casting aspersions on my character', which sparked a debate about
the word aspersions, and if its ever used without "casting" right
next to it. Anyone know?
Nancy
*****
blogging at:
http://happychildhood.homeschooljournal.net
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
alexandriapalonia
Usually only in the singular "aspersion" . . . it means "a sprinkling
of water."
Occasionally, aspersions are modified as in "vile aspersions" meaning
that the things one is saying (gossip one is sprinkling about town,
say), is particularly vile.
Andrea
of water."
Occasionally, aspersions are modified as in "vile aspersions" meaning
that the things one is saying (gossip one is sprinkling about town,
say), is particularly vile.
Andrea
> And, another story to do with my brother, I once asked him if he was
> 'casting aspersions on my character', which sparked a debate about
> the word aspersions, and if its ever used without "casting" right
> next to it. Anyone know?
> > Nancy
Thea LaCross
> A newish song uses "embark." It's a Death Cab for Cutie song calleddark." .....
> "I Will Follow Your into the Dark," and it says "If there's no one
> beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the
>connected?
>>
> ....Have I mentioned, lately, my strong belief that everything is
>It seems it must be. I just spent a few hours finding the lyrics and
> Sandra
at the piano working out the chords for "I Will Follow You Into The
Dark" because my BIL was playing it over and over at our holiday
bonfire last week. He heard someone sing it at a party and downloaded
an MP3 version, so I made a chart for him.
Before the 4th I'd never heard of Death Cab for Cutie - I loved
listening to this song to learn the melody, and it's been in my head
for a couple of days. Cool connections. One of my favorite metaphors
is the Buddhist concept Indra's Net, which envisions reality as a
shining web with a jewel at each intersection reflecting all the other
jewels, as in a hologram. That's such a lovely image.
Thea
Sandra Dodd
-=-One of my favorite metaphors
is the Buddhist concept Indra's Net, which envisions reality as a
shining web with a jewel at each intersection reflecting all the other
jewels, as in a hologram. That's such a lovely image. -=-
It is beautiful, and if you know of any art "out there" I'd love to
import some (or link it) to my connections page!
Thanks very, very much.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
is the Buddhist concept Indra's Net, which envisions reality as a
shining web with a jewel at each intersection reflecting all the other
jewels, as in a hologram. That's such a lovely image. -=-
It is beautiful, and if you know of any art "out there" I'd love to
import some (or link it) to my connections page!
Thanks very, very much.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jenbgosh
> There was a line, "I wanna tell her that I love her, but the pointis probably moot" (have to look up what it rhymed with in the couplet)
>Rhymes with "You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute."
>
Rick was such a hot doc on General Hospital, no?
Jennie