Posted on 04/09/2008 5:54:57 AM PDT by VRWCmember
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
stygian • \STIJ-ee-un\ • adjective, (often capitalized)
1. of or relating to the river Styx
2. extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding *
Example sentence:
When the power went out in the building, the halls and stairwells were plunged into stygian darkness.
Did you know?
"Stygian" comes to us (by way of Latin "stygius" and Greek "stygios") from "Styx," the name of the principal river in Hades, the underworld of the dead in Greek mythology. This is the river over which Charon the boatman was said to ferry the spirits of the dead; the Greeks and Romans would place a coin in the mouth or hand of the deceased to serve as fare. It is also the river by which the gods swore their most binding oaths, according to the epics of Homer. English speakers have been using "stygian" to mean "of or relating to the river Styx" since the early 16th century. From there the meaning broadened to describe things that are as dark, dreary, and menacing as one might imagine Hades and the river Styx to be.
Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.
The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Threads:
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
Review Thread Four: Word For the Day, Friday 7/25/03: Potation
Review Thread Five: Word For the Day, Monday 8/19/03: Stolid
Review Thread Six: Word for the Day, Tuesday 11/09/2004: Peripatetic (Post #125 may be my best anagram post ever)
Here is my example with today's WFTD.
Michelle Obama wants to make sure her audience doesn't appear too stygian in televised recordings of her campaign appearances.
Obama advance: 'Get me more white people'
No pushing at the door please!
Happy Humpday Everybody!
Hey Michelle, here's a white person for you. Oh, nevermind.
I won't see much of anyone in class today as I have way too much of the four-letter word staring me in the face this morning.
I won't see much of anyone in class today as I have way too much of the four-letter word staring me in the face this morning.
I won't see much of anyone in class today as I have way too much of the four-letter word staring me in the face this morning.
That was quick.
i’m good that way : )
and if i am not quick, i know either mik or marteen will beat me out!
Domo arigato
The stygian lineup of candidates in this years Presidential elections would depress Norman Vincent Peale.
Your word has given me an earworm.
..Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me....
My first thought when I saw this word was that there might be a lot of earworms inspired by Styx lyrics on this thread today. Here are a few that I can hear in my head right now:
Oh mama I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law.
Lawman has put an end to my running and I’m so far from my home.
Oh mama I can hear you a crying, your so scared and all alone.
Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don’t have very long.
Here’s another good one:
Too much time on my hands, it’s ticking away with my sanity
I’ve got too much time on my hands, it’s hard to believe such a calamity
I’ve got too much time on my hands and it’s ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands, too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands
Oh, and here’s another good one:
You see the world through your cynical eyes
You’re a troubled young man I can tell
You’ve got it all in the palm of your hand
But your hand’s wet with sweat
And your head needs a rest
And you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it
Why must you be such an angry young man
When your future looks quite bright to me
And how can there be such a sinister plan
That could hide such a lamb
Such a caring young man
And you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it
You’re killing yourself if you don’t believe it
Get up, get back on your feet
You’re the one they can’t beat and you know it
Come on let’s see what you’ve got
Just take your best shot and don’t blow it.
Welcome to the grand illusion
Come on in and see what’s happenin’
Pay the price get your tickets for the show
The stage is set, the band starts playin’
Suddenly your heart is pounding
You’re wishing secretly you were a star
i am awash in earworms here now.
You’ve got to start with the beginning of the song as only Dennis DeYoung could sing it:
I’m sailing away
Set an open course for the virgin sea
For I’ve got to be free
Free to face the life that’s ahead of me
On board I’m the captain
So climb aboard
We’ll search for tomorrow
On every shore
And I’ll try, oh Lord, I’ll try
To carry on
Glad I could help.
Oh mama I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law. Lawman has put an end to my running and I’m so far from my home. Oh mama I can hear you a crying, your so scared and all alone. Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don’t have very long
Yes. In fact my "Come Sail Away" earworm is being sung by Eric Cartman.
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