Definition:

•an expression of praise, approval, esteem, or honor

From the common Latin accollare & the Italian accolata “to hug or embrace around the neck”

History:•In Medieval England, the accolade was the embrace about the neck or the tapping of a sword on the shoulders to confer knighthood.

accolade

Definition:

•A private gathering of a select group of people where discussion is kept secret

From Latin conclave, “a room which may be locked”; com = together + clavis = key

conclave

History:

•In church history, dignitaries would meet in secret for the purpose of selecting the next pope; the gathering was surrounded with secrecy and known as a papal conclave

Definition:•A somber song expressing mourning or grief, especially at a funeral

Contraction of the Latin word dirige, meaning “direct”

History: Dirige was the first word of a Roman Catholic service called “The Office of the Dead.” The Latin phrase, “dirige, dominus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam,” comes from Psalm 5:8, “Direct, O Lord my God, my way in Thy sight.”

dirge

Definition:•Extremely harsh or severe, especially in regards to rules or punishment

From the name of the Greek statesman Draco whose name meant “sharp-sighted” and from which we also get the word “dragon.”

History:•Draco, the Greek statesman, laid down a code of laws for Athens around 621 B.C. His laws mandated death as punishment for minor crimes. They were known as the Draconian Laws.

draconian

Definition:•Devoted to sensual pleasure and luxury, good food especially; the philosophy of “eat, drink, and be merry”

Named for the Greek philosopher Epicurus

History:Ironically, the Greek philosopher Epicurus taught “moderation in all things.” He taught that pleasure was the highest good but at the cost of some pain and, therefore, moderation was the key. When the English began to use the word, they focused on the single idea of pleasure.

epicurean

Definition:•Fine cobwebs often seen floating in the air or covered with dew on the ground•any delicate gauze-like fabric

From Old English gos, meaning “goose” and sumer, “summer”

History:In the early days of England the season starting in November was called gossamer, or “goose summer.” This was the time when the geese were plucked and eaten. This time of the year is when silver cobwebs are often found floating in the air or in the grass.

gossamer

Definition:•To kill an animal or person in ritual sacrifice or to commit suicide as an act of protest, usually by fire

From the Latin immolatus, “sprinkled with meal”

History:In ancient days, lambs were often led to slaughter as animal sacrifices for the sins of the people. Just before making the sacrifice, the Romans would sprinkle mola, “meal” on the lamb. The original meaning was often used in reference to the sacrifice of Christ.

immolate

Definition:•A relentless, crushing force that is destructive and insensitive•Anything to which someone is blindly enslaved

From Hindi Jagannath, meaning "lord of the world“

History:In Hinduism, Krishna was the chief Hindu deity and

“lord of the world” (Jagannath). Each year,

when the idol of Krishna was dragged through the streets of Puri, India, worshippers

threw themselves beneath the wheels of the cart and were

crushed in frenzies of devotion.

juggernaut

Definitions:•An expense-paid trip, or excursion, especially one made by a politician•A dessert made with milk and rennet (curds & whey)

From the Latin juncus, meaning “rush,”; Middle Latin juncata, and later French jonquette, meaning “rush basket”

History:In early France, custard was often made and taken to market in a basket of rushes, causing the custard to eventually take on the name of the basket. These baskets suggested a picnic, which is probably why the word became associated with the hoity-toity excursions of congressmen.

junket

Definition:•Banishment; exclusion from society by general consent

From Greek “ostrakon,” meaning tile or potsherd

History:When the ancient Athenians

felt a public figure was dangerous, the citizens would assemble in the market place

and vote whether he should be banished. They cast their

votes on ostrakon; if 6000 were cast, the victim was kept

out of state for 5-10 years.

ostracism

Definition:

•The working class; those who earn their living by manual labor.

From the Latin proletarius “citizen of the lowest class” and the Latin proles, “offspring, progeny.”

History:

In ancient Rome, those who owned no property were exempt from taxes and military service. They served the state by having children. Marxism popularized this term.

proletariat

Definition:•A ridiculously complicated procedure; an irritating, tedious, or confusing sequence of tasks; a task or statement that seems unnecessary or absurd.

From Old English ragman roll, “a long list or catalog”

History:The English king Edward I wanted Scotland as a vassal kingdom. Since the Scottish kings and nobles were in no position to argue the matter, they agreed and presented Edward with documents of allegiance called ragman roll (1291). The documents were composed of mixed and various papers and signatures; thus the transference of meaning to “confusion.”

rigmarole

Definition:•A printed title or heading•A set of printed rules or instructions

From Old French rubrique, and from Latin rubrica, “red ochre, red coloring matter.”

History:In medieval religious services, directions for the order of service were often written in red writing and found as headings in the book of prayer or liturgy.

rubric

Definition:•Of or relating to Socrates, his philosophy, or his method of arriving at the truth.

From the name of the Greek philosopher Sokrates, “having safe might.”

History:The Greek philosopher

Socrates (469-399 B.C.) used a method of eliciting

truth by question and answer, inquiry and debate.

His teaching methods are still used today and often

referred to as “Socratic seminars.”

Socratic

Definition:•One who flatters someone in power for personal gain; a self-seeking flatterer

From from Latin sӯcophanta, “informer, talebearer” and Greek sukophantēs, “the person showing a fig.”

History:“Showing the fig” in ancient Greece was a vulgar gesture made by sticking the thumb

between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a

fig. Prominent politicians in ancient Greece refrained from

such vulgar gestures, but privately urged their followers

to taunt their opponents. The idea of a “mean, servile

flatterer” was first recorded in Medieval England.

sycophant