29 July 2014
privy
[priv-ee]
adjective, priv·i·er, priv·i·est.
1. participating in the knowledge of something private or secret (usually followed by to ): Many persons were privy to the plot.
2. private; assigned to private uses.
3. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, especially with reference to a sovereign.
4. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.
5. acting or done in secret.
noun, plural priv·ies.
6. outhouse ( def 1 ) .
7. Law. a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English prive < Old French: private (adj.), close friend, private place (noun) < Latin prīvātus private
Today’s aphorism
It is better to be high-spirited even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow-minded and all too prudent.
– Vincent Van Gogh
On this day
29 July 1565 – marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to her cousin, Lord Darnley.
29 July 1836 – the Arc de Triomphe is inaugurated in Paris.
29 July 1848 – the failed nationalist Tipperary Revolt against English rule, which occurred during the Great Potato Famine in Ireland.
29 July 1860 – birth of Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901 and Governor of Bombay from 1903 to 1907. Lamington is credited with commissioning the creation of one of Australia’s most iconic desserts, the lamington. Numerous stories abound regarding the origin of the lamington, but generally Lamington’s chef (French-born Armand Gallad) is believed to have created it when he was ordered to prepare a morning tea for Federation celebrations being held by Lady Lamington. Rumour has it that Gallad cut up some left-over sponge cake, dipped it in chocolate and covered it in coconut. It should be noted that coconut was not a well-known or popular ingredient at that time, but Gallad was aware of it as his wife was from Tahiti, where coconut was a staple ingredient.
29 July 1890 – death of Vincent Van Gogh, dutch painter.
29 July 1907 – the Boy Scouts formed in England by Sir Robert Baden-Powell.
29 July 1948 – the XIV Olympiad is opened in London by King George VI. This is the first Olympiad since the XI Olympiad in Berlin in 1936. The XII and XIII Olympiads for 1940 and 1944 respectively, were not held because of World War II.
29 July 1949 – first broadcast by BBC radio.
29 July 1981 – Prince Charles and Lady Dianna Spencer wed in London.
29 July 1989 – Burmese authorities imprison Aung Sun Suu Kyi even though her political party won 59% of votes in the election. She rose to prominence following her role in the ’8888′ Uprising on 8 August 1988.