Word For The Day, Monday, 10/28/02

The Verbivores | 10/28/02 | The Teachers!

[RikaStrom]

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”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of 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....

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substantive \sub-stan-tive\, adjective:
substantively; adverb
substantiveness; noun
substantivize; transitive verb

1. Substantial; considerable.
2. Independent in existence or function; not subordinate.
3. Not imaginary; actual; real
4. Of or relating to the essence or substance; essential: substantive information.
5. Having a solid basis; firm
6. Grammar. Expressing or designating existence; for example, the verb to be
7. Grammar. Designating a noun or noun equivalent
8. A word or group of words functioning as a noun
9. being the essence or essential element of a thing; "substantial equivalents"; "substantive information"
10. Law. Applying to essential legal principles and rules of right; "substantive law"

Strength and magnitude are qualities which impress the imagination in a powerful and substantive manner.
--Hazlitt.

Etymology: Middle English substantif, from Middle French, from substantif, adjective, having or expressing substance, from Late Latin substantives. Date: 14th century

[Slip18]

"We won't have a result on Tuesday night," he (Simmons) said.

Wednesday morning, perhaps?

[Argh]

Psst, Doc, I've got a medical (sort of) question. I'm reading Gibbon, who refers to an Armenian woman as having had no "os patulum", which expression Gibbon then says he doesn't understand. I can't find this anywhere, and the nearest I can get to a translation is "spreading bone", or some such. She had no hip bone, maybe? Yikes! Would you know what this is? Thanks!

[Eala]

the molasses-like consistency of FR is aggravating me no end today.

Count your blessings, xsmommy.

Last night the power was out 4+ hours (one of the joys of a rural locale), most of the day my "free" ISP was down so I had to use my US$6 @ 9hr/mo personally-paid travel account (Scottish blood, remember? but the access is world-wide), and all that rain on the miles of copper wiring (rural locale again) turned my normally slow dial-up access into abnormally slow dial-up access.

(Yes, we can afford DSL, or cable, or whatever, but I perceive the rates as being too high still.)

[xsmommy]

i hear ye squeaking, ye ole skin flint, ye!

[Slip18]

I don't know if this will help, but if you read this, go down about 12 paragraphs and you'll see:

"Horrendus canis est tenebrosum victus ad antrum . . . os patulum, et cunctis . . . "

It's right here."

[Slip18]

Well, lookit who we have here! Eala, how are ye, lassie?

[Slip18]

"Patulum" means spreading in botanical lingo.

[Eala]

Well, lookit who we have here! Eala, how are ye, lassie?

Och aye, Slippie, but it would be "laddie" tae ye -- didna ye kent the gender o' the graphic a'hint?

A wee taich o' th' illness yet, but rrrecoverin' -- and glad it is I am tae be drappin' intae the class! How gaes it wi' ye, lass?

[Eala]

i hear ye squeaking, ye ole skin flint, ye!

'Tisna me a'squeaking, lass, 'tis Lincoln on the penny!

[Eala]

"Horrendus canis est tenebrosum victus ad antrum . . . os patulum, et cunctis . . . "

Reading this I am sorely tempted (after a decade's absence) to resume Latin class.

[Slip18]

I knew you were a Croq, Eala. I just plain arse forgot.

It's been errr, busy, around here with the flooding of the home, fighting with insurance people, just the usual . . . LOL!

[Slip18]

Arghie can't figure out what "os patulum" means. I think he thought it was a medical condition, but I'm not so sure now. I've been searching all over the web for the meaning of those two little words.

Taking a break from every day things, I suppose.

We know from our Latin that "Horrendus canis" means one nasty dog. We know "et" means and. I have forgotten what "est" means.

[Slip18]

Found it, Arghie. It means a "big mouth." That could be a cool WFTD.

"... patula ADJ 1 1 ABL SF POS. common > patulus, patula, patulum. wide open, gaping ... common > os, oris. mouth, speech, expression; face; pronunciation. serpens N 3 3 NOM ..."

You're so welcome.

[Argh]

Thanks, Miss Slip! "Est" means "is" (talk about what the meaning of "is" is...)

I did a search in Google, but all I could find besides Gibbon's original footnote where he mentions this woman having this thing (I suspect it's a medical condition form the "os" [bone] part) was a bunch of Latin things like yours that didn't solve the mystery. Oh, well.

[Argh]

Big mouth!! Way to go, Miss Slip!!! Thank you!!!!

[Eala]

I have forgotten what "est" means.

"Is", but with decade-old Latin overlaid with more-recent Scots Gaelic I don't get much further.

In any event, the goodwife is now home (in "Seumas Ruaraidh" -- Gaelic for "Red Jimmy") with dinner, so I must bid y'all adieu, Good Night and "Oichdhe Mhath"!

[Argh]

Huh! I just checked an online Latin-English dictionary. "Os" meant both "mouth" and "bone". With the confusion and lamebrain dirty puns that must have made available, no wonder the Empire fell!

Thanks again, Miss Slipperest, you're a treasure!

[Argh]

(Doc, see the last few posts). Er, it has occurred to me that it may not have been a reference to a "big mouth". It may have been a reference to her having an oversized part of her nether female anatomy, if you get my drift. And therefore, may have been a periphrastic way of calling her a slut. Or the original author Gibbon was quoting may have intended all three meanings, who knows?

I hope the football game starts soon before I get into even more trouble...

[Slip18]

"Er, it has occurred to me that it may not have been a reference to a "big mouth".

I thought of that, but didn't know the book you were reading . . .

What book was that again?

I love researching.

[Robert A Cook PE]

"Horrendus canis est tenebrosum victus ad antrum . . . os patulum, et cunctis . . . Lettuce sea what I can translate there ....

Horrible bitch is vicious and has trantrums who eats horse patties and c**ts ...

But why was he writing about Hillary way back then?