28 September 2013

fulminate

[fuhl-muh-neyt]

verb, ful·mi·nat·ed, ful·mi·nat·ing, noun
verb (used without object)

1. to explode with a loud noise; detonate.
2. to issue denunciations or the like (usually followed by against ): The minister fulminated against legalized vice.
verb (used with object)
3. to cause to explode.
4. to issue or pronounce with vehement denunciation, condemnation, or the like.
noun
5. one of a group of unstable, explosive compounds derived from fulminic acid, especially the mercury salt of fulminic acid, which is a powerful detonating agent.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English fulminaten < Latin fulminātus (past participle of fulmināre ) thundered, equivalent to fulmin- (stem of fulmen ) thunderbolt, lightning + -ātus -ate1

Related forms
ful·mi·na·tor, noun
ful·mi·na·to·ry [fuhl-muh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Show IPA , adjective
non·ful·mi·nat·ing, adjective
un·ful·mi·nat·ed, adjective
un·ful·mi·nat·ing, adjective

Today’s aphorism

Mountains never meet, but people do.

– Kazakh proverb

On this day

28 September 551BC – birth of Confucius, Chinese teacher and philosopher, founder of Confucianism. Died 479BC.

28 September 1330 – birth of Nicholas Flamel, French alchemist who purportedly made it his life’s work to decode a mysterious book, known as Book of Abramelin the Mage. Some believe he decoded the recipe for the Philosopher’s Stone, which could turn base metals into silver and gold, and was said to be the elixir of life. Died 22 March 1418(?) He was seen at least 3 times after his death, which led to rumour that he had produced the elixir of life and was therefore immortal. He has been immortalised in numerous books and movies, including ‘Harry Potter‘ by J.K. Rowling, and the ‘Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel‘ series by Michael Scott.

28 September 1872 – birth of David Uniapon, indigenous preacher, author and inventor. He is on the Australian $50 note. David influenced government decision making regarding aboriginal issues and invented a hand-piece for shearing sheep.

28 September 1895 – death of Louis Pasteur, French bacteriologist, one of the founders of microbiology. Invented the process for preventing milk and wine from causing sickness, known as pasteurisation. (Not entirely fool-proof, as over-imbibing wine still seems to cause sickness in some). Born 27 December 1822.

28 September 1967 – birth of Moon Unit Zappa, American musician. Son of legendary musician, Frank Zappa.