20 June 2017

fernweh

[fee-uhn-vee]

noun

– wanderlust, a desire to travel, a longing for far-off places

Etymology

German: fern (“far”) +‎ Weh (“pain”). Literally “farsickness” or “longing for far-off places”

Antonym

heimweh

Anagram

when ref

Today’s quote

Ego says, ‘Once everything falls into place, I’ll feel peace’. Spirit says, ‘Find your peace, and then everything will fall into place’.

– Marianne Williamson

On this day

20 June – World Refugee Day – to raise awareness of the plight of refugees across the globe. Refugee Week is held Sunday to Saturday of the week that includes 20 June.

20 June 1864 – birth of Worm Pander, sculptor. Died 6 September 1919 … … no relation to this site’s Panda Man …

20 June 1909 birth of Errol Flynn, Australian-born American actor. Died 14 October 1959.

20 June 1966 – The Beatles release their ‘Yesterday and Today’ album with the controversial ‘butcher cover’. The Beatles appeared on the cover wearing white smocks and covered with decapitated baby dolls and pieces of meat. Some people took offense to this and the cover was withdrawn and replaced with something a little more savoury.

20 June 2001 – General Pervez Musharraf establishes himself as both President and Chief Executive of Pakistan. He had come to power as Chief Executive following a coup d’état in 1999.

18 June 2017

rostrum

[ros-truh m]

noun, plural rostra [ros-truh] (Show IPA), rostrums.

1. any platform, stage, or the like, for public speaking.
2. a pulpit.
3. a beaklike projection from the prow of a ship, especially one on an ancient warship for ramming an enemy ship; beak; ram.
4. Roman Antiquity. (in the forum) the raised platform, adorned with the beaks of captured warships, from which orations, pleadings, etc., were delivered.
5. Biology. a beaklike process or extension of some part; rostellum.
6. British Theater. a raised platform or dais, especially one with hinged sides that can be folded and stored within a relatively small space.

Origin of rostrum

Latin

1570-1580; Latin rōstrum snout, bill, beak of a bird, ship’s prow (in plural, speaker’s platform), equivalent to rōd(ere) to gnaw, bite (cf. rodent ) + -trum instrumental suffix, with dt > st

Synonyms

1. stand, dais, podium, lectern.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for rostrum Expand
Contemporary Examples
It was hard not to get mixed messages from the rostrum, too.

Fear and Loathing at the Republican Leadership Conference
David Freedlander
June 2, 2014

That nominee had three challenges as he took the rostrum in Tampa.
Romney’s Lame Speech Might Have Gone Better Had He Learned From Bush 1 and Al Gore
Robert Shrum
August 31, 2012

Historical Examples

Presently they were all assembled, and the Head appeared upon his rostrum.
The Lighter Side of School Life
Ian Hay

Anagram

Mrs Tour
Mr Tours
sort rum

Today’s quote

I think I’m cool. That’s all that matters.

– Tyler, The Creator

On this day

18 June 1942 – birth of Paul McCartney, member of The Beatles and his writing partnership with John Lennon made them one of the world’s most successful song-writing duos. After the break-up of the Beatles, McCartney went on to have a successful solo career. He was knighted in 1997.

17 June 2017

paucity

[paw-si-tee]

noun

1. smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness:
a country with a paucity of resources.
2. smallness or insufficiency of number; fewness.

Origin of paucity

late Middle English Latin

1375-1425; late Middle English paucite < Latin paucitās fewness, derivative of paucus few; see -ity

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for paucity

Contemporary Examples

Poor health care, a paucity of jobs, and a sense of instability is now taking its toll.
One Year Later, Libya’s Long Road Continues
Jamie Dettmer
October 21, 2012

The paucity of women in STEM is not just a problem for New York.
Twitter Invests in Young Women with ‘Girls Who Code’
Allison Yarrow
June 25, 2012

A former studio chief agrees that the paucity of stars under 30 is a serious problem for the studios.
Is He Sabotaging His Career?
Kim Masters
March 8, 2010

Anagram

up a city
put a icy

Today’s quote

If I go without rock for too long, I feel depressed.

– Jello Biafra

On this day

17 June 1631 – Mumtaz Mahal dies in childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I undertakes to build a mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, in her honour. He takes 17 years to do it.

17 June 1958 – birth of Jello Biafra (born Eric Reed Boucher), American musician and spoken word artist, was lead singer of the San Francisco punk rock band, Dead Kennedys.

17 June 1971 – US President Richard Nixon declares a War on Drugs.

16 June 2017

withers

[with -erz]

noun, ( used with a plural verb)

1. the highest part of the back at the base of the neck of a horse, cow, sheep, etc.
Idioms
2. wring one’s withers, to cause one anxiety or trouble:
The long involved lawsuit is wringing his withers.

Origin of withers

1535-1545 First recorded in 1535-45; origin uncertain

Anagram

writhes
her wits
he wrist
whet sir

Today’s quote

But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.

– Lord Byron

On this day

16 June – International Day of the African Child, which remembers those who participated in the Soweto protests in 1976, as well as raises awareness of the need for improved education provided to African children.

16 June 1816 – Lord Byron reads his poem Fantasmagoriana to his four house guests, Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, Claire Clermont and John Polidori, challenging them to write a ghost story. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. Polidori wrote the short story, The Vampyre, which in turn influenced numerous vampire stories, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Byron himself went on to write the poem, Darkness.

16 June 1951 – birth of Roberto Duran, Panamanian boxer nicknamed ‘Manos de Piedra’ (Hands of Stone). He held world titles at four different levels; lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight. He was the second boxer to fight over five decades. He retired from professional boxing in 2002 at the age of 50. He is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time.

16 June 1961 – Soviet ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev defects to the West. Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev allegedly issued an order for Nureyev to be killed, which did not eventuate.

16 June 1967 – The Monterey Pop Festival is held over three days at Monterey, California. Over 200,000 people attended to experience performers such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, The Byrds, The Animals and The Grateful Dead.

16 June 1976 – Soweto Uprising in South Africa, when up to 20,000 students marched in a non-violent protest against poor quality education and demanding to be taught in their own language after Afrikaans was introduced as the medium of instruction. The protest turned violent when police opened fire on the crowd, killing 23 people. Violence continued for two weeks, with 176 people being killed. The day is now a public holiday in South Africa and commemorated as Youth Day. Internationally it is recognised as Day of the African Child.

15 June 2017

catharsis

[kuh-thahr-sis]

noun, plural catharses [kuh-thahr-seez] (Show IPA)

1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.
2. Medicine/Medical. purgation.
3. Psychiatry.
psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up, socially unacceptable affects.
discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition.

Origin of catharsis

Greek

1795-1805; New Latin; Greek kátharsis a cleansing, equivalent to kathar- (variant stem of kathaírein to cleanse, derivative of katharós pure) + -sis -sis

Related forms

hypercatharsis, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for catharsis

Contemporary Examples

Sharon Begley reveals why scary flicks give us a powerful feeling of catharsis and reinforce old-fashioned beliefs about morality.
Why Our Brains Love Horror Movies
Sharon Begley
October 25, 2011

Encountering such exaggerations on the page serves as a kind of catharsis, and provides a kind of perspective.
Lifetime’s ‘Flowers in the Attic’ Review: The Incest Is There, The Strange Magic Is Not
Andrew Romano
January 15, 2014

“The word ‘Katrina’ is so close to the word ‘ catharsis,'” he says.
The Katrina Divorces
Nicole LaPorte
August 21, 2010

He suggests that the appeal to teenagers also goes beyond thrill-seeking and catharsis.
Why Our Brains Love Horror Movies
Sharon Begley
October 25, 2011

But I always feel that making the film is the catharsis that stops the nightmares, if you will.
James Cameron on How to Find Flight MH370, Climate Change, Leonardo DiCaprio, and More
Marlow Stern
April 11, 2014

Historical Examples

He however refers only to the catharsis upon the spectator, but not to that of the author’s work upon himself.
The Literature of Ecstasy
Albert Mordell

Evacuations by venesection and catharsis, and then by the exhibition of opium.
Zoonomia, Vol. II
Erasmus Darwin

He had no sympathy with the poetry that had a social message and he did not understand its effect as a catharsis.
The Literature of Ecstasy
Albert Mordell

There are certainly times when catharsis is necessary but “one thing is certain, the day for routine purgation is past.”
Outwitting Our Nerves
Josephine A. Jackson and Helen M. Salisbury

It does not touch the ‘ catharsis ’ of tragedy, which is another matter.
The Comedies of William Congreve
William Congreve

Anagram

archaists
sat chairs
cash stair

Today’s quote

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

– Benjamin Franklin

On this day

15 June 1215 – King John of England seals the Magna Carta (Latin for ‘Great Charter’) which established the ‘rule of law’ that was to become fundamental to the modern legal system. It ensured that no man, no monarch, was above the law. Monarchs could no longer arbitrarily deal with or dispossess their subjects. It didn’t mean equality or liberty for all, however, as it applied only to ‘all the free men’, and not all men were free in 13th century England.

15 June 1752 – Benjamin Franklin proves that lightning is electricity by launching a kite during a storm. The kite was tied to a key and a Leyden Jar, which was used to store electrical charge. The negative ions in the thunder storm charged the kite, flowing down the wet silk string and into the jar. Franklin was holding the silk at the time and was unaffected, however when he moved his hand near the key he received an electric shock, proving that lightning was static electricity. (Traditional date, the exact date is unknown).

15 June 1920 – a 5000-strong mob in Minnesota lynches three African-American who were convicted of the rape of a 17 year old white woman.

15 June 1946 – birth of Noddy Holder, British musician and singer. Holder was the lead singer with 1970’s glam rock band, Slade, which was famous for songs such as ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’, ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’, ‘Gudbuy T’ Jane’, and ‘Skweeze Me Pleeze Me’. Their second studio album, ‘Slayed’, spent 34 weeks at Number 1 in the UK. Slade had 17 consecutive Top 20 hits, six of which reached number one. In 2000 Holder was awarded an MBE for his services to spelling.

14 June 2017

ave

[ah-vey, ey-vee]

interjection

1. hail; welcome.
2. farewell; goodbye.
noun
3. the salutation “ave.”.
4. (initial capital letter) Ave Maria.

Origin of ave

Middle English

1200-1250 Middle English < Latin: imperative 2nd singular of avēre to be well, fare well

Ave.or ave

1. avenue.

ave atque vale

[ah-we aht-kwe wah-le; English ey-vee at-kwee vey-lee, ah-vey aht-kwey vah-ley]

interjection, Latin.

1. hail and farewell.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for ave

Contemporary Examples

For all her face betrayed, the organ might have been singing an ave Maria.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 19, 2014

A soaring “ ave Maria” and a tender “Danny Boy” marked the passing of two more brothers.
Boston and New York’s Bravest Are Brothers Bonded by Tragedy
Michael Daly
April 14, 2014

June 24, 2014

ave Atque Vale I’m gonna hang out With these two smoking hotties And fly privately Around the world.
The Poetry of Charlie Sheen
Michael Solomon
February 28, 2011

Anagram

Eva

Today’s quote

The only passion that guides me is for the truth… I look at everything from this point of view.

– Che Guevara

On this day

14 June 1158 – Munich founded by Henry the Lion on the banks of the River Isar.

14 June 1789 – The Reverend Elijah Craig becomes the first person to distill whisky from maize. The new whisky is named bourbon, because that is the county in Kentucky that Reverend Craig lived in.

14 June 1928 – birth of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Argentinian Marxist revolutionary, physician, author. Executed 9 October 1967 on the order of Bolivian President Rene Barrientos.

14 June 1936 – death of Gilbert Keith Chesterton (otherwise known as G.K. Chesterton – born 29 May 1874), English writer, lay theologian, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, literary and art critic, biographer and owner of one of the world’s worst pompadours:

14 June 1937 – The USA passes the Marihuana Tax Act, which taxed the sale of cannabis.

14 June 1982 – Argentina surrenders to Great Britain after the six week Falkland’s War.

14 June 2007 – Former Ku Klux Klan member, 71 year old James Seale is found guilty of a number of charges related to the 1964 murder of two civil rights activists in Mississippi. He was sentenced to three life terms of imprisonment. His conviction was overturned the following year, before being reinstated. He died in prison in 2011.

13 June 2017

axis mundi

noun

The axis mundi (also cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar, center of the world, world tree), in certain beliefs and philosophies, is the world center, or the connection between Heaven and Earth. As the celestial pole and geographic pole, it expresses a point of connection between sky and earth where the four compass directions meet. At this point travel and correspondence is made between higher and lower realms. Communication from lower realms may ascend to higher ones and blessings from higher realms may descend to lower ones and be disseminated to all. The spot functions as the omphalos (navel), the world’s point of beginning.

Anagram

unsaid mix
Saudi minx
I mix Sudan
mix USA din

Today’s quote

If you wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything.

– Seng Ts’an

On this day

13 June 1381 – The Peasants Revolt (a brief rebellion against poll tax), led by Wat Tyler, culminates in the burning down of the Savoy Palace in London.

13 June 1525 – Martin Luther, a German monk and Catholic priest, marries a nun, Katharina von Bora, which violated the rule of celibacy decreed by the Roman Catholic church for priests and nuns. The couple went on to have six children together.

13 June 1865 – birth of William Butler Yeats (W.B. Yeats), Irish poet, Nobel Prize laureate. One of the foremost literary figures of the 20th century. He served as an Irish senator for two terms. He led the Irish Literary Revival. In 1921 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for ‘inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation‘. Died 28 January 1939.

13 June 1927 – birth of Slim Dusty AO, MBE, Australian country music singer, song-writer and producer. He was born as David Gordon Kirkpatrick and adopted the name of Slim Dusty at 11 years of age. He released his first record when he was 18. In 1957, he released ‘The Pub With No Beer‘, which became the biggest selling Australian song to that time, and the first Australian single to go gold. He won 36 Golden Guitar Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. In 2000, he recorded his 100th album, ‘Looking Forward, Looking Back‘. He is the only artist in the world to have recorded 100 albums with the same record label (EMI). Died 19 September 2003.

13 June 1944 – Germany launches 10 of its new rockets, known as the V1 (also called a doodlebug or buzz bomb). The V1s were pilot-less, pulse-jet-propelled rockets with a one ton payload with a 500km range. The Germans rained V1s over London. The V1 was an early version of the Cruise Missile.

11 June 2017

tenet

[ten-it; British also tee-nit]

noun

1. any opinion, principle, doctrine, dogma, etc., especially one held as true by members of a profession, group, or movement.

Origin of tenet

1590-1600; < Latin: he holds

Can be confused

tenant, tenet.

Synonyms

See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com

belief, position.

Examples from the Web for tenet

Contemporary Examples

Asked who would have made the order, Clarke replies, “I would think it would have been made by the director,” referring to tenet.
An Explosive New 9/11 Charge
Philip Shenon
August 10, 2011

When tenet was asked whether it was appropriate to describe Ciralsky that way, tenet answered, “No.”
Ex-Chief: CIA Investigation Could Be Construed as Anti-Semitic
Eli Lake
April 22, 2012

“Thou shalt not overspend” is rapidly becoming a tenet of the evangelical belief system, rivaling social issues like gay marriage.
Evangelicals Preach the Gospel of Getting Out of Debt
Lisa Miller
February 25, 2011

“Well, they could die,” tenet remembers telling Black about his staff.
Meet Mitt Romney’s Trusted Envoy to the Dark Side, Cofer Black
Eli Lake
April 10, 2012

By late Jan. 2003, tenet had signed the first formal guidelines for interrogation and confinement.
Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon
Tim Mak
December 8, 2014

Historical Examples

The splendid creature felt the warmth of tenet ‘s breath upon her neck, and her skin tingled under that burning contact.
Mayflower (Flor de mayo)
Vicente Blasco Ibez

He was as unconscious, almost, as he had been back there in tenet ‘s cabin after his fall.
Mayflower (Flor de mayo)
Vicente Blasco Ibez

A notable contrast is afforded by the entry: ‘In villa que vocatur Blot tenet ipse R. iiii.
Feudal England — Historical Studies On The Eleventh And Twelfth Centuries
J.H. Round

Was it something in a cast of character or a tenet of a creed, or was it what any one could emulate?
The Letter of the Contract
Basil King

Dogma, dog′ma, n. a settled opinion: a principle or tenet : a doctrine laid down with authority.
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)
Various

Today’s quote

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.

– Marilyn vos Savant

On this day

11 June 1955 – during the 24 hour Le Mans race, a Mercedes 300 crashes at high speed. Debris, including the engine block, axles and bonnet, slams through the crowd killing 83 spectators. The bonnet decapitated a number of spectators who had been tightly packed into the stand. The driver was also killed.

11 June 1962 – Three prisoners escape from the federal prison on Alcatraz Island. The three men, Frank Morris, and brothers, Clarence and John Anglin were never found. Authorities believe it is most likely that the three men did not survive the swim across San Francisco Bay, although their bodies were never recovered.

11 June 2001 – Timothy McVeigh executed for his role in the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, which killed 168 people, 19 of whom were children or babies.