Word of the Day

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

Deucalion

With his wife, the survivors of a great flood sent by Jupiter.


The Tragedy of Coriolanus http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Tragedy...riolanus1.html
Menenius
. . . Yet you must
be saying, Marcius is proud; who, in a cheap estimation, is worth
all your predecessors since Deucalion; though peradventure some
of the best of 'em were hereditary hangmen.


Modern use:
My guess is that the Deucalion myth is a reworking of Noah’s story, but it could spring more directly from the time of the Great Flood, if you’d pardon the pun.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

diapason

[According to my glossary, a diapason is a bass accompaniment to a melody. I’m afraid, however, that definition may be incorrect. My dictionary defines the word as, range or scope or a swelling burst of harmonious sound. There are some technical meanings that you should look up yourself if you’re interested.]

The Rape of Lucrece http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Rape-of-Lucrece.html
[sonnet, I think]
. . . So I at each sad strain will strain a tear,
And with deep groans the diapason bear:
For burthen-wise I'll hum on Tarquin still,
While thou on Tereus descant'st better skill.


Modern use:
Before Dizzle began to upbraid Augustine, the diapason from Pogo Pogo’s magnificent piano concert sidetracked her.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

diffidence

[Glossary]
adjective.
doubt; mistrust.
[Dictionary, modern]
lacking self-confidence; timid; not self-assertive


King John http://www.fullbooks.com/King-John1.html
Elinor
Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother,
And wound her honour with this diffidence.


Modern use:
Augustine thought to mention that one of his aunts was named Eleanor, but his diffidence silenced him.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

difference

[Glossary]
adjective.
In heraldry, a distinguishing mark.
[The modern meaning is too familiar to repeat here]

[My apologies, but there does not seem to be any obvious use of the heraldic meaning that I could discover. Any one of you know?]

Heraldic meaning:
Augustine’s difference is the Maltese falcon.

[Augustine2004]

I made a boo-boo. I said that the glossary meaning of 'difference' was adjectival. Nay, nay, 'tis subjuctival.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

Dis

[We are now embarked on the great sea of Dis, the body of words starting with dis]

Dis is another name for Pluto.

The Tempest http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Tempestx30192.html
Ceres
Tell me, heavenly bow,
If Venus or her son, as thou dost know,
Do now attend the queen? Since they did plot
The means that dusky Dis my daughter got,
Her and her blind boy's scandal'd company
I have forsworn.



Modern use:
As you know, to dis (something) is now slang.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

disable

[Our next Dis port call has this glossary meaning:]
disqualify; disparage.
[Dictionary meanings]
to weaken or destroy the normal abilities of; to render legally disqualified.

King Henry VI, first part http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Complet...rex897021.html
[I couldn’t find any good example of the glossary meanings.]
Suffolk
. . .
Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;
Hast not a tongue? Is she not here thy prisoner?x



Modern uses:
People used to say ‘disabled’; now they say, ‘differently abled.’

The judge said in a stern manner, ‘Augustine is hereby disabled. Bailiff, take him to prison forthwith!’

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

disanimate

[Glossary meaning:]
dishearten.
[The dictionary meaning includes the definition of, to deprive of life]

[I couldn’t find any good example of the glossary meaning.]


Modern use:
Dizzle’s swordplay disanimated poor Augustine. [Of course I’m still alive–I typed this.]

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

disappointed

[Glossary meaning:]
unprepared.
[Dictionary meanings]
to disappoint is to frustrate/thwart hope or expectation

The Tragedy of Hamlet http://www.fullbooks.com/Hamlet-Prince-of-Denmark1.html
Ghost [That reminds me, Halloween in a few weeks! Brr!]
. . .
Unhous'led, disappointed, unanel'd;
No reckoning made, but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head:
O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!
If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not;
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest.
. . .


Modern use:
Do you suppose Dizzle is disappointed with Augustine’s words?

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

disaster

[Glossary meaning:]
sign of ill omen, as seen in the stars.
[Dictionary meanings:]
a grave misfortune; (informal) total failure; (obsolete) an unfavorable influence of a celestial body.


Antony and Cleopatra http://www.fullbooks.com/Antony-and-Cleopatra2.html
First Servant
To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in't,
are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the
cheeks.


Modern use:
Elizabeth Burton thought that the remake of Cleopatra was a disaster. She wondered what conjunction of which planet could have caused it. She consulted her astrologer. He replied, Richard was now residing on Mars. Ah! She thought. Perhaps she ought to persuade him to come back. Such are the lives of stars.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

disbranch

[Glossary meaning:]
break off, as from a tree.
[Dictionary meanings:]
[yeah, that (above)].


The Tragedy of King Lear http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Tragedy-of-King-Lear3.html
Albany
O Goneril!
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face! I fear your disposition:
That nature which contemns it origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself;
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap, perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.



Modern use:
‘”Disbranch!”’ Dizzle exclaimed. ‘Me thinks thou hast read too much Shakespeare! Break off, break off, I say!’

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

discandy


Glossary meaning:
melt, thaw.
Dictionary meanings:
[The word does not appear in the dictionary.]


Antony and Cleopatra http://www.fullbooks.com/Antony-and-Cleopatra3.html
Cleopatra
. . .
Together with my brave Egyptians all,
By the discandying of this pelleted storm,
Lie graveless,--till the flies and gnats of Nile
Have buried them for prey!


Modern use:
Blofeld nodded to Number 100 to begin the discandying. Billions of children would become disconsolate. Bond’s face hardened granite-like. Not to be discandied so easily, would he!

[Augustine2004]

Do you want me to do anything or stop it? Please don't PM me--post your suggestion in the thread.

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

discase


Glossary meaning:
undress. [It’s not clear if it’s noun or verb.]
Dictionary meanings:
[The military now uses ‘undress’ as ‘informal wear’ as opposed to ‘formal wear’.]
To take one’s clothes off [the meaning for ‘to undress’; ‘discase’ is not in the dictionary].


The Tempest http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Tempest2.html
Prospero
. . .
Ariell,
Fetch me the Hat, and Rapier in my Cell,
I will discase me, and my selfe present
As I was sometime Millaine: quickly Spirit,
Thou shalt ere long be free.



Modern use:
The little girl who opened the front door was clearly embarrassed. She spoke haltingly, ‘Sh-sh-she is discase.’ The gentleman caller asked, ‘Oh, she is not ready to present herself?’ Yes was the reply. [Never mind how the girl came to learn such a word. You don’t know the depths to which I’ve sunk to find modern usage.]

[Augustine2004]

Theme: Shakespearian words

discernings


Glossary meaning:
intellect.
Dictionary meanings:
[Not listed.]


The Tragedy of King Lear http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Tragedy-of-King-Lear1.html
Lear
Doth any here know me?--This is not Lear;
Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied.--Ha! waking? 'Tis not so!--
Who is it that can tell me who I am?



Modern use:
[Aw, must I? My discernings have atrophied to the point that I can no longer distinguish between a good sentence and a blenchful jumble of words.]