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/virgulewhatever 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!
Thanks Ti! Enjoy your freedom from cooking day.
Let's hope so!
If I have to go run, you have to at least respond to a ping! Now cowboy up and get ready for some football.
A+!
A+!
Long time, no see! Welcome back and A+ for you!
Happy Thanksgiving, All!
If you don't regularly clean out your pots and pans, you get a grimy, contaminated solidust residue clining to the bottom of the pot.
Same thing happens with Congress.
Probably right: We usually need three days in the fridge to thaw.
Yuppers.
(Chores in the morning though.)
During the testing phase of Viagra, 100 men in an old-age home were given a blue pill each day. Half were given a placebo, and the other half got the real thing. The first group became known as the "Flaccid Fifty." The second group called itself "Solidus." (In John Grisham's book, they were known as "The Firm.")
Sure, ya can serve turkey to your guests, but is anybody serving cats this holiday?
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/111864.html
What a treat/gift/great idea!
Absolutely! I don't believe in term limits. I believe in voting them out when they are no longer effective.
Good old Grisham. Always predictable, always readable. A+
oh yuck, yuck, it reminded you of me bc of my driveway mishaps, you jagoff! don't try to disguise it!
make sure you order enough food so you have leftovers to bring home! what good is Tgiving meal without leftovers? you are nice to Mrs. Mik, i am sure she appreciates it.
i am picturing you with a santa hat on, and christmas carols blaring, cutting the Tgiving turkey, Vast. have a great day!
:D
And Pitt is going to get crushed tonight by West Virginia. No couch in Morgantown is safe tonight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.