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R
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 277
Location: United Kingdom
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 Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 1:36 pm Post subject: On the subject of dictionaries... |
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... has anybody read the original version of Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable? It's totally archaic and useless for teaching, but it's the best browse I've ever had. Here's a sample of its balanced, informative, unbiased definitions, which never feature entirely random comments.  All are complete:
Don Giovanni: Mozart's best opera.
Gay: (g hard). Gay as the king's candle. A French phrase, alluding to an ancient custom observed on the 6th of January, called the "Eve or Vigil of the Kings," when a candle of divers colours was burnt. The expression is used to denote a woman who is more showily dressed than is consistent with good taste.
Duchess: The wife or widow of a duke; but an old woman is often jocosely termed an old duchess or a regular old duchess. The longevity of the peers and peeresses is certainly very striking.
Book-keeper: One who borrows books, but does not return them. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 3:59 pm Post subject: All things in moderation |
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Dear Sunaru,
Ah here it is - moderators:
" Blessed saintly men and women ( which raises a point - do we HAVE any women moderators and, if not, is Dave's ESL Cafe a sexist joint? ) who, with their infinite patience, keen discernment and extraordinary tact ( try to ) keep clients from tearing each other apart. "
Whoops, no - I'm sorry. That was the definition of " bouncers ".
Regards,
John |
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Shaman
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Posts: 446
Location: Hammertown
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: All things in moderation |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear Sunaru,
Ah here it is - moderators:
" Blessed saintly men and women ( which raises a point - do we HAVE any women moderators and, if not, is Dave's ESL Cafe a sexist joint? ) who, with their infinite patience, keen discernment and extraordinary tact ( try to ) keep clients from tearing each other apart. "
Whoops, no - I'm sorry. That was the definition of " bouncers ".
Regards,
John |
Blessed? Saintly? I was a bouncer, albeit many moons ago. I don't recall hearing these glowing terms from the patrons. Usually I was showered with epithets ranging from my possession of a questionable lineage, to my sexual orientation (and preference to animals), to simple ad hominem attack (various private body parts).  I wish there had been more patrons with your keen perception, John.
Shaman |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 4:34 pm Post subject: Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde |
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Dear Sharman,
Well, most of those patrons might have had " keen perception " when they walked in, but one thing I noticed back in my drinking days was that booze - like The Shadow - does tend to " cloud men's ( and women's ) minds ". Why even a wise, judicious and congenial guy such as myself was known, on more than one occasion, to become more belligerent than Attila the Hun on a bad hair day after imbibing a few. ( I still marvel that I somehow survived myself ).
Regards,
John |
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Irish
Joined: 13 Jan 2003
Posts: 371
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 5:46 pm Post subject: No job for a lady |
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johnslat wrote:
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| ... ( which raises a point - do we HAVE any women moderators and, if not, is Dave's ESL Cafe a sexist joint? ) ... |
Nope, the cafe isn't sexist. The women simply know better than to take on such a dirty, thankless role. (We've got motherhood instead.) Moderating, like taking out the trash, is a man's job.
But, then again, I'm a bit of a sexist. |
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R
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 277
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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Nope, no 'moderator' in Brewer's. The closest is 'Modish', defined thus:
Modish: (Lady Betty) in the Carelss Husband by Cibber. The name explains the character. This was Mrs. Oldfield's favourite character, and The Tattler (no. 10) accordingly calls this charming actress "Lady Betty Modish." (See NARCISSA).
(The defnition of 'Narcissa' turns out to mention nothing related to the above.)
What's wonderful about Brewer's is that you can learn a great deal while simultaneously learning nothing at all...
Rob. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2003 3:12 am Post subject: A Familiar Ring to It |
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Dear R,
" What's wonderful about Brewer's is that you can learn a great deal while simultaneously learning nothing at all... "
Thereby demonstating a very close resemblance to what students experience in ESL/EFL classrooms ( well, except those classrooms in which all the posters on Dave's teach, that is ).
Regards,
John |
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ESL Guru
Joined: 18 May 2003
Posts: 462
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2003 4:16 am Post subject: |
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"Motherhood"???
Before any woman can become a mother in the conventional manner (male with female) doesn't the woman have to "take out some trash?" Just asking guys. |
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R
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 277
Location: United Kingdom
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| Posted: Sat May 24, 2003 11:03 am Post subject: This one's just plain odd... |
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Kissing the Pope's Toe: Matthew of Westminster says, it was customary formerly to kiss the hand of his Holiness; but that a certain woman, in the eighth century, not only kissed the Pope's hand but "squeezed it." The Church magnate, seeinng the danger to which he was exposed, cut off his hand, and was compelled in future to offer his foot, a custom which has continued to the present hour.
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