Here's to New Beginnings

Primordia cuncta pavida sunt

This was the Latin phrase that came up on my blog this morning.

In English: All beginnings are frightening.

It comes from a longer line that translates into English as: "All beginnings are frightening, and fear is not dislodged by any other means except when the novelty is removed by unavoidable tasks."

This is the perfect quote as I switch where I'm working in a couple weeks.

The link above relates an Aesop Fable that supposedly demonstrates this idea and ends with:

"Every thing that is unexpected powerfully shakes the mind, but when it is seen again and again it usually causes little disturbance."

Reminds me of the saying: A lie told over and over again becomes the truth. I'll spare you that rant.

Back to the fable. . .

I was waiting for the lion to eat the fox. The fox was getting too bold for its own good. So I guess for me, the fable wasn't relating to the other Latin phrase quite the same. I saw the fable as "getting used to something that is dangerous isn't a good idea". Not that it was rendered that way in the end. I perhaps took it to that level all on my own being the timid creature that I am. Or I've read too much C.S. Lewis.

I had other thoughts on this but unfortunately was distracted by a cake complication. But it is solved. My sister to the rescue.

Latin Proverbs

Sorry....here's another Latin proverb I'd like to remember...... and I know my blog can handle that job better than my brain!

Vigilo et spero.

This saying should be fairly easy to figure out even without any Latin classes. For the first word...think Mad Eye Moody's favorite phrase. My personal favorite! I always liked to shout that out when I was reading The Goblet of Fire aloud to the kids. They loved that...yeah, right. But I also explained to them the continued importance "in real life" of what Moody demands. Am I being cryptic enough!?! Okay...if you want to cheat and NOT read the book click here. Personally, I'd read the book! All seven!

The last word I connected with Spanish classes in the late 70's. If I'm remembering correctly (and it is VERY possible that I'm not!), this last word was part of my sister's name in her Spanish class.

A Latin Riddle

Hey..... A Hobbit-type riddle in Latin!

Hic mortui vivunt, hic muti loquuntur.

Plus Laura Gibbs offers great encouragement for reading out loud....in Latin....but I'd include any language!

Words and Where We Get Them

One of the Latin Proverbs that came up yesterday was:

Plures necat crapula quam gladius

In English: The hangover kills more than the sword.


Here's a blurb from that link in case you don't go there:

The Latin word crapula, like the words for so many of the finer things in life, is borrowed from Greek, "kraipale," meaning a headache, and in particular, a drunken headache. By extension, the word then comes to refer not just to the effects to drinking to excess, but to the drinking itself. Today's proverb could thus be translated as "Excessive drinking kills more than the sword does." But it sounds more fun to just say hangover!

And yes, if you are looking to improve your English vocabulary, "crapulous" is indeed an English word, along with a whole long list: crapulence, crapulency, crapulental, crapulosity, and crapulousness. Eegad, I love the Oxford English dictionary!


Do you ever feel "crappy"?

I say that all the time when I'm not feeling that great. I'll have to watch out....some may think I'm nursing a hangover! ; )