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Word For The Day, Thursday, January 29, 2009 - cynosure
dictionaries ad nauseum, internet | 29 January 2009 | secret garden

Posted on 01/29/2009 4:23:25 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".

cynosure • \SYE-nuh-shur\ • noun
1 : the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also : North Star
2 : one that serves to direct or guide
3 : a center of attraction or attention

Example sentence:
The young actress's natural beauty and graceful charm made her a cynosure wherever she went.

Etymology:
Ancient mariners noted that all the stars in the heavens seem to revolve around a particular star, and they relied on it to guide their navigation. The constellation that this bright star appears in is known to English speakers today as Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, but the Ancient Greeks called it Kynosoura, a term that comes from a phrase meaning "dog's tail." "Kynosoura" passed into Latin and Middle French, becoming "cynosure." When English speakers adopted the term in the mid-16th century, they used it as a name for the constellation and the star (which is also known as the North Star) and also to identify a guide of any kind. By the early 17th century, "cynosure" was also being used figuratively for anything or anyone that, like the North Star, was the focus of attention or observation.

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

WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!


TOPICS: Word For The Day
KEYWORDS:
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To: secret garden

oh sorry, i did misunderstand. and that is grossly unfair. how does it happen that the libs are so much more lawyered up?


61 posted on 01/29/2009 7:14:20 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: secret garden

After hearing that President Obama held a cocktail party last night to celebrate the passage of the “even an idiot can understand that there is no stimulus in the supposed stimulus except pork barrel politics and tossing good money after the bad” package. Washington politicos has once again proven that they are the cynosure of the “I’ll tell you anything if you elect me” politics.

Change hasn’t come to DC.


62 posted on 01/29/2009 7:18:20 AM PST by dixie sass
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To: xsmommy

My big pet peeve happened again recently when Jesus called them to be fishers of men but our gospel said He called them to “fish for people”. That is so ridiculous it even sounds stupid. I am guilty of saying OFCOL out loud every time I hear that gospel and then muttering ‘what is so intimidating about fishers of men?’


63 posted on 01/29/2009 7:18:57 AM PST by secret garden (Dubiety reigns here)
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To: secret garden

that is so funny and so something xshub would do! he will exclaim aloud over stupidity like that as well.


64 posted on 01/29/2009 7:20:01 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy

They have moved a majority of like thinkers into positions of authority in the past 20 years. Take a look at who they chose for Presiding Bishop. She’s awful, to say the least.


65 posted on 01/29/2009 7:20:47 AM PST by secret garden (Dubiety reigns here)
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To: xsmommy

He and I are sympatico on that. And veggies. ;)


66 posted on 01/29/2009 7:21:54 AM PST by secret garden (Dubiety reigns here)
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To: dixie sass

Dixie, when are y’all going to get rid of Lindsay Graham? That RINO is bound to vote for the pork disguised as stimulus. A for you.


67 posted on 01/29/2009 7:23:35 AM PST by secret garden (Dubiety reigns here)
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To: xsmommy

We don’t have those kinds of people here. Just the hand-holding types for the Our Father and the fleets of Extraordinary Ministers. Which, I can accept, especially when Fr. Doug rambles on in his homily.

And altar girls.

(In Ireland they said “became incarnate” which is a better translation of the Latin anyway.)


68 posted on 01/29/2009 7:24:08 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave

i know what you mean and i am sure you don’t have them where you are, but i imagine there are some even in the Burgh somewhere. i don’t go for the hand-holding and am not wild about the extraordinary ministers and prefer some latin to the virtual hootenany they have at the 5:30 pm Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel, but often with xsboy’s hockey games that is what we are left with.


69 posted on 01/29/2009 7:29:20 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: SoothingDave

and OLGC has altar girls. St James and St Mary’s do not. There are still some holdouts in the diocese of Arlington, which itself held out longer than most, on the altar girl score.


70 posted on 01/29/2009 7:30:18 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: secret garden
Hi. I'm Bert, and I'm your pedant for the day.

The Alaska state flag.

To find Polaris, go to the constellation formerly known as Churl's Wain, and draw a line from the star Merak, through Dubhe.

To find cynosure, go to Wasilla.

71 posted on 01/29/2009 7:32:18 AM PST by Bertram3 (Maybe if we don't feed him...)
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To: secret garden

With the Obama administration the new cynosure for graft and patronage, there are many Lib lackeys looking for their sinecure...


72 posted on 01/29/2009 7:36:30 AM PST by mikrofon (Thatfo'sure)
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To: Bertram3

A+ for you, Bertie!


73 posted on 01/29/2009 7:36:58 AM PST by secret garden (Dubiety reigns here)
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To: xsmommy

Speaking of such things, my little girl has her first confession this Saturday. Then she will be confirmed and get communion in April.


74 posted on 01/29/2009 7:37:53 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave

confirmed and then get communion? isn’t confirmation given in 8th grade? because 8th grader xsbrownie gets confirmed on March 14th, and all of mine got confirmed in 8th. It is very exciting that sarah has her first confession and communion! it is a very special time for them!


75 posted on 01/29/2009 7:39:57 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy

I was confirmed in 10th grade, but our diocese switched a while ago to “restore the order” of the sacraments. If you think about it, adult converts are confirmed before they are admitted to communion. The Eastern churches confirm right after baptism.


76 posted on 01/29/2009 7:42:46 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave
Eastern Rite Catholics are confirmed AT baptism, i was confirmed and baptized simultaneously in the church in Braddock that my grandmother was buried from. I had to go through the charade in 6th grade, when my peers in Catholic school got confirmed, but wasn't present for their actual ceremony. There were 4 of us who were baptized/confirmed in the eastern rite, in my grade school class.

I don't know, i like 8th grade for Confirmation. it's about the gifts of the Holy Spirit; 8th grade is a good time to talk about that, chastity being a good topic of conversation as they are ready to head off to HS etc. it is a nice way to strengthen them, at a time when kids really seem to need it.

77 posted on 01/29/2009 7:51:01 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: NeoCaveman

I just love Bush the First.......that was funny.


78 posted on 01/29/2009 7:53:37 AM PST by tioga
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To: xsmommy

Yeah, right after baptism.

When I was confirmed, most people took it as an end. OK, you’re an “adult” in the faith now. No more need for CCD.

Now, they want it to be viewed as a beginning.


79 posted on 01/29/2009 7:53:48 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: xsmommy

I have NEVER heard anyone alter a prayer IN church like that.....or even out of church.


80 posted on 01/29/2009 7:57:42 AM PST by tioga
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