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Words of the day

Every Friday I’m going to post about the etymology (origins) of a few choice words or phrases.

  • “for ever and a day” – meaning indefinitely. This comes from Shakespeare. He used it in two of his plays…1. The Taming of the Shrew (1596):

    BIONDELLO: I cannot tell; expect they are busied about a
    counterfeit assurance: take you assurance of her,
    ‘cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum:’ to the
    church; take the priest, clerk, and some sufficient
    honest witnesses: If this be not that you look for,
    I have no more to say, But bid Bianca farewell for
    ever and a day
    .

    and 2. As You Like It (1599):

    ROSALIND: Now tell me how long you would have her after you have possessed her.
    ORLANDO: For ever and a day.

  • Waldorf salad – coined in 1911 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. It was first created and served there.

I’m also going to post some useful and/or interesting vocab words.

  • abnegation – renunciation, rejection
  • hubristic – having excessive pride
  • scurrilous – making bad claims about someone to damage their reputation; slanderous, offensive (sometimes humorous)

Have a great weekend.


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