Posted on 03/01/2006 6:08:32 AM PST 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".
quintessence • \kwin-TESS-unss\ • noun
1. the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies
2. the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form *
3. the most typical example or representative
* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
Other forms:
quin·tes·sen·tial /"kwin-t&-'sen(t)-sh&l/ adjective
quin·tes·sen·tial·ly adverb
Example sentence:
"Do not shorten the morning by getting up late; look upon it as the quintessence of life, as to a certain extent sacred." (Arthur Schopenhauer, Counsels and Maxims)
Did you know?
Long ago, when people believed that the earth was made up of four elements -— earth, air, fire, and water —- they thought the stars and planets were made up of yet another element. In the Middle Ages, people called this element by its Medieval Latin name, "quinta essentia," literally, "fifth essence." Our forebears believed the quinta essentia was essential to all kinds of matter, and if they could somehow isolate it, it would cure all disease. We have since given up on that idea, but we kept "quintessence," the offspring of "quinta essentia," as a word for the purest essence of a thing. Modern physicists have given "quintessence" a new twist—they use it for a form of so-called "dark energy," which is believed to make up 70 percent of the universe.
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)
i did think of you when i saw that! more likely to be held in the Burgh though!
When I go out in the bright sun I find a squintessential so I don't burn my eyeballs.
The mere mention of your screen name is cause for celebration in Brew Town!
Did we forget to invite you again? Wah Jeez . . .
We haven't had a refund in I don't remember when how long. We believe in keeping our money instead of giving it to Uncle Sam for an interest-free loan. Paying income taxes quarterly is an eye-opener. I wish they would get rid of payroll taxes so people could see how much they are really paying by writing the big fat checks.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A white house source stated that Congress is
considering awarding Vice-President Dick Cheney the Medal of Freedom, the
nation's highest civilian commendation, for his act of bravery in shooting
an attorney.
The source was quoted to say " All Americans have wanted to shoot a
lawyer at one time or another and Cheney actually had the guts to do it."
In a related story, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which issues
hunting licenses, said that it will start requiring hunters, wishing to bag
a lawyer, to have the new "lawyer's stamp" on their hunting license.
Currently, Texas hunters are required to carry stamps for hunting birds,
deer, and bear, at a cost of $7 annually. The new "lawyers stamp"
will cost $100, but open season will be all year long.
The department further stated that although the "lawyers stamp" comes at a
hefty price, sales have been brisk and it is believed it will generate
annual revenues in excess of $3 billion dollars the first year.
Other states are considering similar hunting license stamps.
I know what you are saying about payroll taxes - but I sure do admit I do not miss filing those quarterly tax payments and forms...........
OTOH, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be back to diong them again by next year.
:^)
explains the swimmer's continual reelection
oh yuck yuck yuck : )
that is a buncha crap as my dearly departed dad would say.
Nothing but a big ole bag of crap.
A friend of mine called me the other day and announced that James Woods — the actor — was his new hero. Why? Because Woods had declared he was sick of making "douchebag feminist movies" in which he played "a bad guy in a nice suit."
Well, I think that qualifies him for some kind of heroism, don't you?
he was even a bad guy in the cartoon Hercules!
He was? If it was a Disney movie, the "douchebag feminist" part probably still applied.
he was the voice of Hades, lord of the Underworld.
Ooo, a plum of a role! Did he sound like he was chewing on Brutus, Cassius, and Judas Iscariot all at the same time? (see Dante).
Hi, Miss Feather, I'm glad you liked it!
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