Posted on 11/24/2005 5:06:28 AM PST by secret garden
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".
solidus • \SAH-luh-dus\ • noun
1 : an ancient Roman gold coin introduced by Constantine and used to the fall of the Byzantine Empire
2 : a mark / used typically to denote "or" (as in and/or), "and or" (as in straggler/deserter), or "per" (as in feet/second)
Example sentence:
In her latest thriller, the author manipulates her readers into believing there are two killers until the final page, where she connects their two names with a solidus.
Etymology: Call it a solidus, or call it a slash/diagonal/slant/virgule—whatever you call it, you are bound to run into this useful mark with some regularity. These days, one place the mark is commonly seen is in Internet addresses (http://www.merriam-webster.com, for example), but the history of the word "solidus" takes us back to a time well before computers. The ancient Roman emperor Constantine the Great borrowed the Latin term for "solid" ("solidus") for the gold coin that was the successor to the aureus. And in Medieval Latin, "solidus" designated the shilling. Before the introduction of decimal coinage, abbreviations of the shilling ("s," "sh," or "shil") were used. Eventually, the abbreviations were replaced with the simple symbol "/," which became known as a solidus.
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 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
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
dubs do you have your miniature turkey all prepped and ready to go? we had snow showers last night and there is a faint dusting this AM, just a perfect amt for the first snow of the year. i recall it snowing around Thanksgiving the year i moved to DC, which was 1978.
I thought this was an excellent letter in this mornings paper.
Feeling of Christmas ties many customs together
Christmas is on the way, along with the politically correct debate about how it should be acknowledged -- or not -- by government buildings, organizations and institutions. It troubles me that a holiday that brings so much joy is reduced to this conflict. Perhaps we should revisit how this nation celebrates Thanksgiving, the holiday that recognizes how a group of Christians gathered to thank God for surviving a harsh winter, and Halloween, a holiday that has its origins in the Christian celebration of the eve of All Saints Day.
Christmas is a holy day because Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Christ on Dec. 25. Many nations have designated it a holiday, in part because of the universal spirit of peace and goodwill the holiday season generates.
Christmas can be celebrated in three ways. At one end of the spectrum, we have those celebrants who adhere strictly to a religious theme. At the other end of the spectrum, secular celebrants enjoy the feeling of joy, brotherhood and peace that permeates the community. And somewhere in the middle are the celebrants who blend the two -- those who will sing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" followed by "Silent Night."
Since Christmas has been celebrated for almost 2,000 years now, identifying all ethnic traditions, customs and their origins, religious and non-religious ones, would be an impossible task. In addition, each succeeding generation of every nation leaves its own mark and contribution so the celebration is in a constant state of change.
The symbols of Christmas do not establish or support a religion. They are a universal collection intended to bring out the best in all of us, a feeling to last throughout the new year.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Coolbreeze has all the ambition in this house this morning - he's been to the store - the kitchen is all prepared for me to make a mess of it and now he's in there shucking oysters :)
well i will lay claim to all the ambition in this house since xshub is still sawing logs upstairs, along with the two teens. i have a cake in the oven, sweet potatoes boiling and the turkey sitting in a nice bath in the sink. i will not chase xsbrownie around the kitchen with it gobbling at her, like i did last year, bc now she claims she can't eat turkey and i bought her a small piece of ham for today. i have scarred my child for life.... : )
give my best Tgiving wishes to the ambitious Coolbreeze : )
After a night in the fridge my bird is still frozen so I am defrosting it in the microwave now. I'm going to get this thing prepped, make my football picks, then go to the gym.
We have the potential for the most snowfall on thanksgiving since 1950. The weatherguy says that by Monday it should all melt and the temperature could reach 50.
I'm staying out of the kitchen right now.....too much going on in there and the sink is full of oysters....
i think the little birdie might have liked a warm bath in the sink instead, but i have never made a cornish hen so i can't really speak for him.
The sun is shining, it's already over 50 - but the wind is wicked.
Learned something new today.
And here I thought "solidus" ("solid us") was going to be related somehow to 
Thank you - Happy Thanksgiving to you as well
Woman backs over, kills best friend in garage( Another elderly Florida Gasser strikes again )
Because you were discussing old drivers the other day.
I am jealous of the snow though -
By Friday, I'll have so much snow I can send you a rail car or two of it if you like.
Yes please!
No problem, I'll have atleast a foot to spare :)
I have no interest in snow
Well I never turn down snow........ gotta hit the shower - see ya! Happy Thanksgiving!
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