26 March 2013

morass

[muh-ras]

noun
1. a tract of low, soft, wet ground.
2. a marsh or bog.
3. marshy ground.
4. any confusing or troublesome situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement.

Origin:
1645–55; < Dutch moeras, alteration (by association with moer marsh; cf. moor1 ) of Middle Dutch maras < Old French mareis < Germanic. See marsh

Today’s aphorism

What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.

– Ludwig van Beethoven

On this day

26 March 1827 – death of Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer. One of the world’s most influential composers. He composed 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatos and 16 string quartets. Baptised on 17 December 1770.

26 March 1971 – The country of East Pakistan declares its independence and renames itself Bangladesh.