Today in History (March 21st):
Quotes
“A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author. ” – G. K. Chesterton
“The strongest natures, when they are influenced, submit the most unreservedly; it is perhaps a sign of their strength.” – Virginia Woolf, writer (1882-1941)
bailiwick
PRONUNCIATION: (BAY-luh-wik)
http://wordsmith.org/words/bailiwick.mp3
MEANING: (noun), A person’s area of expertise or interest.
ETYMOLOGY: From Middle English bailliwik, from bailie (bailiff), from bail (custody), from Latin baiulare (to serve as porter) + Middle English wick (dairy farm or village), from Old English wic (house or village), from Latin vicus (neighborhood). Ultimately from the Indo-European root weik- (clan), which is also the forebear of vicinity, village, villa, and villain (originally, a villain was a farm servant, one who lived in a villa or a country house), ecumenical, and ecesis. Earliest documented use: 1460.
USAGE: “Ms. Sarah Palin took the extraordinary step Tuesday of filing an ethics complaint against herself, making the matter fall within the bailiwick of the personnel board. Her lawyer Mr. Van Flein then asked the Legislature to drop its inquiry.” – Peter S. Goodman and Michael Moss; Alaska Lawmakers to Seek Subpoenas in Palin Inquiry; The New York Times; Sep 6, 2008.
Explore “bailiwick” in the Visual Thesaurus.
http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=bailiwick
cant
PRONUNCIATION: (kant)
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MEANING:
(noun)
1. Hypocritically pious talk.
2. The private language of an underworld group.
3. Whining speech, especially of beggars.
4. A slope or tilt.
5. A motion that tilts something.
6. An outer corner.
7. A log slabbed on one or more sides.
(verb tr.), To set at an oblique angle; tilt.
(adj.), Oblique.
ETYMOLOGY: For 1-3: From Latin cantus (song). Earliest documented use: variously 1640-1706. For the rest: From Latin cantus (corner). Earliest documented use: 1542.
USAGE:
“It is such a huge relief that even Dr. Emmah Isong recognised the fact that his cant and humbug are not known to the Nigerian constitution and we will not be delayed any further by it.” – Muyiwa Apara; Jonathan, Democracy, and 2011; Sunday Tribune (Nigeria); May 16, 2010.
“Once again she’s the village girl who can’t comprehend the cant of the black-clad men who surround that platform.” – Benedict Nightingale; This is a Joan That Stirs the Soul; The Times (London, UK); Jul 12, 2007.
“Mitchell not only must follow the contours of the letter or design but also must adjust for the depth of the cut and the cant of the groove.” – Art Carey; Doylestown Woman Brings Passion to Artful Engraving; The Philadelphia Inquirer; Aug 6, 2009.
Explore “cant” in the Visual Thesaurus.
http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=cant