Wednesday, April 25, 2012

~ Wondrous Words Wednesday ~

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Bermudaonion's Weblog where we share words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun (please do!) Be sure to leave a link to your post over at Bermudaonion's Weblog.

The following words are from Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman :

" The Jacobean house, which had been in his late mother‘s family for over four generations, was called Equanimity, probably due to its serene panoramic views of green on all sides, including acres of tranquil gardens with bright variegated flower beds, unspoiled grounds with mature trees, and large areas of open grazing.”

1. Equanimity
: mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium.


"Akin to a bimah in a synagogue, altar in a church, or the central dome of a mosque, the very inside of the toilet bowl was the site of her most sacred worship."

2. Bimah
: a platform in a synagogue holding the reading table used when chanting or reading portions of the Torah and the Prophets.


" In my dissertation, I want to argue that this actually inspired his whole career and can be encapsulated by what I am calling Van Morrison‘s fatalistic optimism. ”

3. Fatalistic
 : the acceptance of all things and events as inevitable; submission to fate
 : In Philosophy, the doctrine that all events are subject to fate or inevitable predetermination.

7 comments:

  1. Fatalistic is the only one I knew.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/04/wondrous-words-wednesday_25.html

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  2. Bimah is such a great word, and evokes such noble connotations. Great words today! I really need to brush up on my vocabulary!

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  3. I knew them all except Bimah. That's a good one :)

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  4. I didn't know Bimah. But what a great use of it in talking about her relationship to the toilet bowl! Is the book as interesting as it sounds?

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  5. Those are all great words! I don't know much about the synagogue so bimah was totally new to me.

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  6. I didn't know bimah -- great word. I only kind of knew equanimity, so I'm glad to have a better understanding.

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  7. Equanimity is a great name for a house! I didn't know bimah either.

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