23 July 2018

volte-face

[volt-fahs, vohlt-; French vawltuh-fas]

noun, plural volte-face.

1. a turnabout, especially a reversal of opinion or policy.

Origin of volte-face

French, Italian
1810-1820; < French < Italian voltafaccia, equivalent to volta turn (see volt2) + faccia face

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for volte-face

Contemporary Examples

It leaves out only the actual reason for her abrupt, 11th-hour volte-face.
How Hillary’s Feeling About Caroline
Christopher Buckley
January 24, 2009

Historical Examples

It was the same as that which he had for Hincks’s volte-face. ‘
The Tribune of Nova Scotia
W. L. (William Lawson) Grant

For if the volte-face is general, the only embarrassment arises from not executing it.
The Angel of Pain
E. F. Benson

But Russia’s betrayal is not sufficient to account for the Serbian volte-face.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin

Such a volte-face as this was not only palpably unjust, it was altogether too nimble a bit of gymnastics for Duplay to appreciate.
Tristram of Blent
Anthony Hope

What will justify such a volte-face and with what excuse can he repudiate the principles with which he justified his takeover?
The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 4 (of 6)
Hippolyte A. Taine

The volte-face sounds more abrupt than it really was if it be remembered that he never had more than one object in view at a time.
Sonia Between two Worlds
Stephen McKenna

And for all their talk of freedom, Lennan could see the volte-face his friends would be making, if they only knew.
The Dark Flower
John Galsworthy

These four factors coalesced during 1948 and led to a reassessment of policy and, finally, to a volte-face.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.

Lastly, they have, in its highest development, the capacity to make a volte-face with grace and equanimity.
A Woman’s Impression of the Philippines
Mary H. (Mary Helen) Fee

Anagram

fecal vote
feta clove
to cave elf

Today’s quote

Evil can be oppressed without being mirrored. Oppressors can be resisted without being emulated. Enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.

– Walter Wink

On this day

23 July 1892 – birthday of Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia. Although Selassie was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, Rastafarians believe that he is the Messiah returned. Died 27 August 1975.

23 July 1934 – Australian batsman, Donald Bradman, scores 304 against England at Leeds, with 43 fours and 2 sixes. He is the only batsman to ever complete two treble centuries in Test cricket.

23 July 1935 – a B-25 Mitchell bomber carrying three people, crashes into the Empire State Building, New York City, killing 14 people. The accident was caused by heavy fog.

23 July 2011 – death of Amy Winehouse. English singer-songwriter. She was 27. Born 14 September 1983.

19 July 2018

palladium

[puh-ley-dee-uh m]

noun
1.
something believed to ensure protection; safeguard

Origin Expand
< Latin Palladium < Greek Palládion, noun use of neuter of Palládios of Pallas, equivalent to Pallad- (stem of Pallás) Pallas + -ios adj. suffix
Dictionary.com

Example

He praised the Second Amendment “as the true palladium … The right of self defense is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible.
Walker, D.J., 2016. Necessary to the security of free states: the Second Amendment as the auxiliary right of federalism. American Journal of Legal History, 56(4), pp.365–391.

Anagram

mild Palau
pull a maid
a dual limp

Today’s quote

The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn.

– David Russell

On this day

19 July 64 AD – Rome’s Circus Maximus destroyed by fire, during the Great Fire of Rome.

19 July 1553 – 15 year old, Lady Jane Grey, the ‘Nine Day Queen’, deposed as Queen of England. On his deathbed, King Edward VI (also 15) named his cousin, Lady Jane, as his successor. She ‘ruled’ for 9 days before being deposed and charged with high treason, as was her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley. They were both executed in February 1554.

19 July 1799 – Rosetta Stone discovered by Napoleon’s expeditionary army in Egypt. The Rosetta Stone enabled the translation of hieroglyphs.

19 July 1940 – Adolf Hitler delivers his ‘Last Appeal to Reason’ speech, declaring his victory and appealing for Great Britain to surrender.

19 July 1947 – assassination of General Aung San, founder of modern day Burma and Burmese Army. Father of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese politician, activist and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient. Born 13 February 1915.

19 July 1976 – UK rock group, Deep Purple, breaks up.

18 July 2018

parrhesia

In rhetoric, parrhesia is a figure of speech described as: “to speak candidly or to ask forgiveness for so speaking”. This Ancient Greek word has three different forms, as related by Michel Foucault: parrhesia, is a noun, meaning “free speech”; parrhesiazomai, a verb, means “to use parrhesia”; and a parrhesiastes is one who uses parrhesia, for example “one who speaks the truth to power”.

Parrhesia is a kind of verbal activity where the speaker has a specific relation to truth through frankness, a certain relationship to his own life through danger, a certain type of relation to himself or other people through criticism (self-criticism or criticism of other people), and a specific relation to moral law through freedom and duty. More precisely, parrhesia is a verbal activity in which a speaker expresses his personal relationship to truth, and risks his life because he recognizes truth-telling as a duty to improve or help other people (as well as himself). In parrhesia, the speaker uses his freedom and chooses frankness instead of persuasion, truth instead of falsehood or silence, the risk of death instead of life and security, criticism instead of flattery, and moral duty instead of self-interest and moral apathy.[16]

Origin

The term parrhesia first appears in Greek literature in Euripides and can be found in ancient Greek texts throughout the end of the fourth century and during fifth century B.C. The term is borrowed from the Greek παρρησία parrhēsía (πᾶν “all” and ῥῆσις “utterance, speech”) meaning literally “to speak everything” and by extension “to speak freely”, “to speak boldly”, or “boldness”. It implies not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at personal risk.

Example

It is necessary to speak with parrhesia, without holding back at anything without concealing anything.
On the Embassy
Demosthenes

www.wikipedia.org

Anagram

air phrase
has repair
spare hair

Today’s quote

Education is all a matter of building bridges.

– Ralph Ellison

On this day

18 July – Mandela Day – An internationally recognised day to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. ‘Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day’. http://www.mandeladay.com/

18 July 64 AD – Great Fire of Rome.

18 July 1918 – birth of Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician. Died 5 December 2013.

18 July 1925 – Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf. He wrote the book in prison while serving a sentence for treason. Mein kampf is German for ‘My Struggle’. The book is a rambling read in which Hitler covers many concepts including what he was like as a child and the reasons for collapse of the Second Reich. At its core it expresses Hitler’s view of his plans for Germany and often blames the Jews for many of the ills that had beset Germany, including the rise of Marxism, controlling the economy, weakening the army and bastardising the white race. Throughout the book, Hitler often mentioned that his plans to combat the Jewish influence in Germany was a fulfilment of the Lord’s will.

18 July 1937 – birth of Hunter S. Thompson, American writer and gonzo journalist. Died 20 February 2005.

18 July 1950 – birth of Richard Branson, British entrepreneur.

17 July 2018

partisan(1)

[pahr-tuh-zuh n, -suh n; British pahr-tuh-zan]

noun

1. an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.
2. Military. a member of a party of light or irregular troops engaged in harassing an enemy, especially a member of a guerrilla band engaged in fighting or sabotage against an occupying army.
adjective
3. of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.:
partisan politics.
4. of, relating to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.
Expand
Also, partizan.

Origin of partisan(1)

1545-1555; < Middle French, from Upper Italian parteźan (Tuscan partigiano), equivalent to part(e) “faction, part ” + -eźan (from unattested Vulgar Latin *-ēs- -ese + Latin -iānus -ian )

Related forms

partisanship, partisanry, noun

Synonyms

3. biased, prejudiced.

Antonyms

1. opponent.

Synonym Study

1. See follower.

partisan(2)

[pahr-tuh-zuh n, -suh n]

noun

1. a shafted weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries, having as a head a long spear blade with a pair of curved lobes at the base.

Also, partizan.

Compare halberd.

Origin

1550-60; < Middle French partizane < Upper Italian parteźana, probably by ellipsis from *arma parteźana weapon borne by members of a faction; see partisan1

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for partisan

Contemporary Examples

It was a rare moment of bi partisan unity in partisan Washington.
Final Chapter for Accused Africa Bomber
Jamie Dettmer
January 4, 2015

This is a job for independent committees, like Bowles-Simpson, not a partisan slugfest.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014

The first meeting featured multiple speakers deeply rooted in a partisan agenda.
The Left’s Answer to ALEC
Ben Jacobs
December 15, 2014

And lest you be deceived, primary elections are no partisan monopoly.
Reality Check: There Are No Swing Voters
Goldie Taylor
November 13, 2014

Despite any partisan enmities, the two top politicos maintained a cordial relationship.
The McConnell Friend Obama Just Hired
Jonathan Miller
November 10, 2014

Historical Examples

In a partisan warfare this position was the best that could have been taken.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James

Your young blood feels only the partisan promptings of dislike.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic

She was the partisan on Tom’s side, the adherent on her father’s.
Southern Lights and Shadows
Various

For at this moment I am sensible that I have not the temper of a philosopher; like the vulgar, I am only a partisan.
Phaedo
Plato

The two parties in Patusan were not sure which one this partisan most desired to plunder.
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad

Anagram

I Spartan
Satan rip
sin apart
Tsar pain

Today’s quote

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

– Lao Tzu

On this day

17 July 1774 – Captain James Cook arrives in New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).

17 July 1976 – 25 African countries boycott the opening ceremony of the Montreal Olympics in protest against New Zealand’s sporting links with South Africa.

17 July 1979 – In Nicaragua, Marxist Sandinista rebels overthrow the U.S. sponsored government of President Samoza, who flees to the United States.

17 July 2013 – The Queensland Maroons rugby league team win a record 8 consecutive State of Origin series against the New South Wales Blues.

16 July 2018

dogleg

[dawg-leg, dog-]

noun

1. a route, way, or course that turns at a sharp angle.
adjective
2. dog-legged.
verb (used without object), doglegged, doglegging.
3. to proceed around a sharp angle or along an angular or zigzag course:
The road doglegged through the mountains.

Origin of dogleg

1885-1890 First recorded in 1885-90; dog + leg

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for dogleg

Historical Examples

I could just pick out the dogleg at Connors, and imagined I could see the traffic light at Chalmers.
Cue for Quiet
Thomas L. Sherred

As we rode up we could see a gunyah made out of boughs, and a longish wing of dogleg fence, made light but well put together.
Robbery Under Arms
Thomas Alexander Browne, AKA Rolf Boldrewood

Anagram

old egg

Today’s quote

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

– Dalai Lama

On this day

16 July 622 – The Prophet Mohammad escapes from Mecca and travels to Medina, marking the beginning of both Islam and the Islamic calendar.

16 July 1439 – England bans kissing in an effort to stop the spreading of germs.

13 July 2018

panegyric

[pan-i-jir-ik, -jahy-rik]

noun

1. a lofty oration or writing in praise of a person or thing; eulogy.
2. formal or elaborate praise.

Origin of panegyric

Greek

1590-1600; < Latin, noun use of panēgyricus of, belonging to a public assembly < Greek panēgyrikós, equivalent to panḗgyr(is) solemn assembly ( pan- pan- + -ēgyris, combining form of ágyris gathering; cf. category ) + -ikos -ic

Related forms

panegyrical, adjective
panegyrically, adverb
self-panegyric, adjective

Synonyms

1. homage, tribute, encomium.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for panegyric

Historical Examples

I could not endure to change my invective into panegyric all at once, and so soon.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson

The object of his discourse was a panegyric of himself and a satire on all other conjurors.
Vivian Grey
Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli

He pronounced the panegyric of Robespierre, and the apotheosis of Marat.
Memoirs of the Court of St. Cloud, Complete
Lewis Goldsmith

The Menexenus veils in panegyric the weak places of Athenian history.
Menexenus
Plato

Or again, let us suppose that both should have occasion to pronounce a panegyric.
Hiero
Xenophon

There is no need for panegyric, for sounding phrases or rounded periods.
Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence
Various

Philibert looked on his friend admiringly, at this panegyric of the woman he loved.
The Golden Dog
William Kirby

His book is neither a panegyric on clericalism nor a libel on it.
A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2
George Saintsbury

But with all this panegyric, he does not seem to have been careful to be just to the memory of his hero.
Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather
Charles W. Upham

I could not resist uttering this panegyric on our well-loved captain.
Marmaduke Merry
William H. G. Kingston

Anagram

ace prying
rip agency

Today’s quote

The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes.

– Martin Luther

On this day

13 July 1863 – the New York Draft Riots – three days of rioting by opponents of conscription. President Abraham Lincoln had enacted the draft to boost military numbers during the American Civil War. Most opponents were working-class men who resented that the rich could pay $300 to hire a substitute in their place. By the time the rioters were suppressed, there were 120 civilians dead and 2000 injured. Considered to be the worst anti-draft riots in US history.

13 July 1985 – Bob Geldof and Midge Ure organise and stage the Live Aid Concert. The concert was held simultaneously in London, UK, and Philadelphia, USA, to raise money to fight famine in Ethiopia. Similar concerts were performed across the globe in solidarity with Live Aid. The Live Aid concerts were broadcast live to an estimated audience of 1.9 billion people across 150 nations. An estimated £150 million was raised. Some of the world’s biggest musical acts participated, including Elton John, Boomtown Rats, Dire Straits, Mick Jagger, Neil Young, Sting, U2, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Joan Baez, BB King, Paul McCartney, The Who, Black Sabbath, Eric Clapton, Status Quo, Sade, ‘Crosby, Stills & Nash’, George Thorogood, Madonna, Duran Duran, Bob Dylan, and a host of others.