“You really should write a book about your experiences,” Grant joked. “You could call it Adventures on Hadrian’s Wall or something like that.”My friend was an assistant archeologist working for Northumberland County Council. He and I had visited some Roman sites together, each in pursuit of his particular assignment. The most recent had been to a particularly rugged place called Hardknott Pass (shown above). High in the Cumbrian hills, it was the site of a remote Roman base called Mediodunum. It had taken a long drive along twisting mountain roads, my heart in my mouth most of the way, followed by a hard climb up to a plateau which looked like the surface of the moon.
On this occasion, however, we were having dinner in the high-ceilinged dining room of the Beaumont Hotel in Hexham, close by the magnificent Hexham Abbey, founded by St. Wilfred in the 7th century. I was describing to Grant, much to his amusement, my experience of the previous day when I had visited the remote village of Bowness-on-Solway (shown below) on the Cumbrian coast. In Roman times, it was the site of Maia, a fort which was the western terminus of Hadrian’s Wall. A cohors millaria of one thousand men, the first cohort of Asturians, was stationed there. In the third century, the unit was commanded by a tribune, Sulpicius Secundianus. His name was inscribed on an altar dedicated to Jupiter by the tribune in 251–253. The altar is part of the wall of a farmhouse, but the inscription is mostly illegible. Of the fort or its vicus (civilian village), there is nothing visible. The modern village has obscured them.
I had been sent to examine some artifacts recently found outside the village by a metal detectorist. Having travelled by train from Hexham to the city of Carlisle, I then boarded a small, rickety old bus for the ride down the Cumbrian coast. Only a few other passengers, rural types, were on the bus. My destination was the last stop on the route and I was alone when the driver pulled into the village. Giving me a rather strange look, he said, “This is Bowness-on-Solway, sir, if this is where you want to be.” As I disembarked, he warned me that he would return at 5:00 p.m., and that there would be no transportation out of the village after that hour. I assured him that I would be waiting for him.
In the bright sunlight, unusual for that locale, the scene that met my eyes was flat, dusty, and silent. It reminded me of the “spaghetti westerns” popular during the 1950s. I saw no one and heard nothing. A narrow dirt road wound through the village. Set back from it were open fields and some farm buildings, but nothing else. Looking at a hand-drawn map I had been given, I proceeded toward a shed where the artifacts had been secured. On my right was the watery expanse of the Solway Firth, which empties into the Irish Sea. In the clear air, I could see the 0 Comments on Antiquity and the Dark Side as of 2/24/2010 6:17:00 AM
By: Henry the Elder,
on 8/20/2009
Blog: Amsco Extra! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: History, Social Studies, Archeology, Latin, Add a tag
Housesteads, called Vercovicium by its Roman garrison, is the most spectacular archeological site on Hadrian’s Wall, the 73-mile-long military complex built across northern England by order of the Emperor Hadrian, who visited the area in 122 A.D. Consisting of forts, mile castles, signal towers, a military road, outpost forts, and a great vallum, or ditch, to its south, the Wall has fascinated scholars since excavations began in the early 19th century. Many have spent their lives studying the Wall and its many mysteries. Whenever in the area, I tried to get a bit of time to visit Housesteads and the neighboring Vindolanda, the permanent research and excavation center owned by the remarkable Birley family.
Visiting Housesteads requires one to be in reasonably good physical condition. Built on the Whin Sill ridge, a crop of volcanic rock that crosses Northumberland, the fort is reached by a hard climb up a steep, winding path dotted by clusters of sheep. Most often, the climb must be made in the face of the wind and rain already mentioned. Once on the ridge, however, the view of the surrounding countryside is spectacular. Consolidation of excavation has resulted in the fort being seen as it was in the third century. The garrison at that time was the First Cohort of Tungrians, an auxiliary unit originally recruited in Belgium. It was a cohors equitata millaria, meaning a unit of 1,000 men (more likely 800), two-thirds infantry and one-third cavalry. While the troops were barracked inside the fort, sprawling vicus, or civilian settlement, lay outside the walls, as did the bathhouse. Roman troops were very keen on sanitation.
As I have mentioned, the Wall is full of mysteries and Housesteads is no exception. One of the things that has long intrigued me has been the possibility of a Roman military presence before the building of the Wall. The strategic advantage of the site cannot have been overlooked by the Romans until the second century. Finding evidence to prove this is another matter. The only thing I have ever had to go on is a discovery made by Eric Birley in 1933 of the remains of a revetted roadway. Birley compared it to the type of road used as a vallum crossing and wrote that “the existence of such a crossing at Housesteads shows that there must have been a vallum fort there, but no traces of such a fort have yet been found: it was probably much smaller than the present structure (5 acres), with an earth and timber rampart and wooden buildings.” Interesting, but no cigar.
The more popular mystery of Housesteads is, of course, the murder house. In the civilian settlement was a house that was the scene of a Roman crime. Built around 300 A.D. and abandoned around 367 A.D., the house was rectangular and fronted on the main street of the settlement. It was divided into two rooms. The front room was a shop and the rear was a large living room. And here the murder took place. The victims were a middle-aged man and woman. Their skeletons were discovered beneath a new clay floor when the house was excavated in 1932. The man had a broken sword embedded in his ribs. Since burial within a settlement was forbidden by Roman law, the burial must have taken place secretly and the double grave carefully hidden. Whoever the killers were, they escaped punishment for their crime. Don’t worry, though. I doubt they are still at large.
Finally, what happened to Housesteads? How did its long history as a military base end? The historical artist Ronald Embleton, whose superb work I have always admired, painted a lurid scene called “The Destruction of Housesteads.” It shows the troops fighting to the death against attackers with a background of leaping flames and ruined buildings.
Not everyone agrees with Embleton’s dramatic depiction, however. It is more likely that as the Western Roman Empire declined and its troops were gradually withdrawn from Britain, Housestead’s vicus disappeared. The civilian dependents were brought into the fort, in which buildings had been redesigned to house them. Behind the defensive walls remained a reduced garrison of perhaps 300 men and their families. When the military pay no longer came, the soldiers would have become subsistence farmers. Eventually, the area would have become too dangerous for any but the hardiest of small farmers.
In response to a question from a fellow New Yorker, I once gave a brief description of Housesteads. After listening quietly, the man replied, “Well, if I’m ever in the neighborhood…”
For more information, read J. Collingwood Bruce’s Handbook to the Roman Wall, Fourteenth Edition.
Blog: Time Machine, Three Trips: Where Would You Go? (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Jeopardy, learn medical words, medical game, Medical terminology, Medical words, Physician, Sanskrit, Understanding Medficine, Quizzes, doctor, greek, medicine, latin, indo-European, Add a tag
Image via Wikipedia
What do a wheel rut, a flash of lightning and a dining table have in common?
Medical Terminology. Ever think about how a doctor in New York can speak to a doctor in Japan about medical matters. They use the same medical words. I found this fascinating, and hope you will, as well.
I’m also a Jeopardy fan. For those of you unfamiliar with this TV format, a contestant is presented with the answer, and must deliver the definition to win a prize.
So…..here it is. It’s a medical jeopardy. Here are 127 questions.
If you’re in the medical or health care field, chances are you’ll have no trouble with most of these, The object here is to present to you the oddities of linguistic evolution.
WARNING: DO NOT USE THE MATIERIAL IN THIS ARTICLE AS PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL (although you might be tempted). This is simply because much of what is known about language derivatives is assumed - not fact.*
Answers are presented on the last page.
1. FINE POWDER: from the Arabic “al” (the) and koh l “fine impalpable powder.”
2. RUT MADE BY A WHEEL: From the Latin, “orbita.”
3. TO MAKE STICKY: From the Latin, “viscare.”
4. PERTAINING TO THE FORUM: From the Latin “forum.”
5. CAUSE OF DWARFISM: Long bones do not grow. From Greek “a” absence, “chondrus” (cartilage) and “plassein” (to form).
6. BULK OR MASS; From the Greek, “ongkos.”
7. TO INCREASE: From the Indo-European, “aweg.”
8. INSENSITIVITY TO PAIN: from the Greek “an” (without) and algesis (sense of
pain).
9. KNOT or KNOB: From the Latin, “nodus.”
10. AN AIR DUCT: From the Greek “aer” (air) and “tereo” (I keep).
11. NOSE or SNOUT: From the Greek, “mukter.”
12. A SHEPHERD’S PIPE: From the Greek, “syringx.”
13. DULL TO PERCEPTION: from the Indo-European root, “dheubh,”
14. ONE-HALF OF THE SKULL: From the Latin, “hemicrania.”
15. LIKE A STRAIGHT SWORD: From the Greek, “xiphos.”
16. TO BLOCK or PLUG: From the Latin, “obsterix.”
17. TO BOIL OUT: From the Greek, “ek-“ (out) and “zeein” (to boil).
18. CRECENT-SHAPED: From the Greek, “meniskos.”
19. A PRICK OR PUNCTURE BY A NEEDLE: from the Latin “acus” (needle) and
“punctum” puncture.
20. FLASH OF LIGHTNING: From the Latin, “fulgor.”
21. BREAST-LIKE: From the Greek, “mastos” and “eidos.”
22. THORN or PRICKLY BUSH: From the Latin, “spina.”
23. PRODUCE OR BRING FORTH: From the Greek, “gennao.”
24. ONE WHO HEALS: From the Anglo-Saxon, “laece.”
25. DRY, ACRID: From the Indo-European, “ters.”
26. TRANSPARANT STONE or CRYSTAL: From the Greek, “hyalos.”
27. CHEW: From the Anglos-Saxon, “ceowan.” (noun)
28. LIGHT GREENISH-YELLOW: From the Latin, “galbinus.”
29. WITHOUT WEIGHT or LIGHT: From the Sanskrit, “ laghu.:”
30. A CUTTING UP: from the Greek “ana” (up or through) and “tome” (a cutting).
31. GATEKEEPER: From the Greek, pyle.”
32. A COVERLET or CLOAK: From the Latin, “pallium.”
33. MINT: From the Latin, “menthe.”
34. WITHOUT A NAME: From the Latin, “innominatus.”
35. A DINING TABLE: From the Greek, “trapeze.”
36. CENTER OF WHEEL HUB: From the Anglo-Saxon, “ nafe.”
37. A TRENCH OR ABYSS: From the Old English, “grynde.”
38. AN OFFSHOOT: from the Greek “apo” (from) and “physis” (growth).
39. ATTACK or INJURY: From the Latin, “laesia.”
40. SERVICE or ATTENDANCE: From the Greek, “therapeia.”
41. BELONGING TO A WALL: From the Latin, “parietalis.”
42. SEEING FOR ONESELF: from the Greek “auto” and “opsis” (seeing).
43. JUICE, SAP, RESIN OR GUM OF A TREE: From the Greek, “opos.”
44. SILVERY SWELLING: From the Greek, “glaukos” and “oma.”
45. TO STRETCH: From the Greek , “teinein.”
46. TO DISGRACE, TO FALL SHORT OF: from the Latin “degenerare.”
47. PIMPLE: From the Greek, “pomphos.”
48. A NUT OR ACORN: From the Latin. “glandulus.”
49. TO SCRAPE OR SCRATCH: From the Latin, “radere.”
50. LARGE STONE IN FRONT OF DOOR TO KEEP IT SHUT:
From the Greek, “thyreos.”
51. FLAME OR HEAT: From the Greek, “phlegma.”
52. PAUNCH or BELLY: From the Greek, “gaster.”
53. FUNNEL: From the Latin, “infundere.”
54. YOKE CONNECTING TWO ANIMALS: From the Greek, “zygon.”
55. TO PLEASE: From the Latin, “placere.”
56. TO BEND OR TURN: From the Latin, “flectere.”
57. EARTH OR LAND: From the Latin, “humus.”
58. HEALING OINTMENT: From the Anglo-Saxon, “sealf.”
59. TO SEND FLUID IN: From the Greek, “en” (in) and “ienai” (to send).
60. TO DYE, STAIN, CORRUPT or BOIL: From the Latin, “inficere.”
61. A PRUNING: from the Latin “amputatio.”
62. WORKING WITH THE HANDS: From the Greek, “ cheirourgia.”
63. A FLOWING SEED: From the Greek, :”gone” and “rheos.”
64. RELATING TO THE SPHINX
65. HOLY or CONSECRATED: From the Latin, “Sacer.”
66. TWELVE FINGERS: from the Greek, “dodek-daktulon.
67. STIFF or STRONG: From the Anglo-Saxon, “stark.”
68. A COCK’S SPUR: From the old French, “argot” (rye plant infected by fungus.”
69. AFFLICTED WITH SPOTS: From the Old High German, “masa” and
Middle English, “mesel.”
70. TO BE ASHAMED: From the Latin, “pudere.”
71. TO WIND OR CURVE: From the Latin, “sinuare.”
72. A CIRCULAR OR FLAT STONE: From the Greek, “discos.”
73. PAIR OF FOLDING or DOUBLE DOORS: From the Latin, “valvae.”
74. A TURBAN: From the Latin, “mitra.”
75. LACK OF NOURISHMENT: from the Greek “a-“ (without) and trophe
(nourishment).
76. FORTY: From the Latin, “quadraginta.”
77. MASS OF MOLTEN IRON: From the Latin, “strictura.”
78. A STING OR ITCH: From the Latin, “urtica.”
79. TO TEACH: from the Latin, “docere.”
80. TO SWELL or RIPEN: From the Greek, “ orgainein.”
81. TO TAKE AWAY COLOR: From the Old French, “desteindre.”
82. WITHOUT PULSE: from the Greek “a” (without) and “sphyxis” (pulse).
83. CORRUPT MATTER: From the Greek, “Pyon.”
84. LIE ON OR BROOD: From the Latin, “incubare.”
85. LOVE, HONOR, DESIRE: From the Sanskrit, “wan” and “van.”
86. MORE, SHIFT, CHANGE or ALTER: From the Latin, “mutare.”
87. TO APPRAISE: From the Latin, “taxare.”
88. OPEN SPACE, COURTYARD OR PARK: From the Latin “area.”
89. POUCH: From the Norman French, “poque.”
90. A TAILOR: From the Latin, “sartor.”
91. WALKING HOSPITAL: from the French “hopital ambulant.”
92. BARK OF A TREE: From the Peruvian Indian, “kina.”
93. LITTLE BEAK: From the Anglo-Saxon, “nib.”
94. TO WEAVE: From the Latin,”textere.”
95. BOWL or SHELL: From the Nordic, “Skal.”
96. RUPTURE or HERNIA: From the Greek, “kele.”
97. TO ROLL OR TURN AROUND: From the Latin, “volvere.”
98. A BLOW OR STROKE: From the Latin, “ plege.”
99. SORE THROAT: from the Latin “angere” (to choke or throttle).
100. LITTLE BALL: From the Latin, “pilula.”
101. POUCH OF LEATHER: From the Latin, “scorteus.”
102. WHORL, EDDY or TORNADO: From the Latin, “Turbo.”
103. CLEAR WATER: From the Latin, “lympha.”
104. LITTLE NET: From the Latin, “rete.”
105 ANYTHING SCOOPED OUT: From the Greek, “skaphe.”
106. ROUGH: From the Greek, “traxus.”
107. LOSS OF MEMORY: from the Greek “a” (without) and “mensis” (memory).
108. A SQUEAKING: From the Greek, “trismos.”
109. A COOKING: From the Latin, “pepsis.”
110. UNCUT or INDIVISIBLE: from the Greek “a-“ (without) and “temnein” (to cut).
111. PEAR-SHAPED: From the Latin, “pirum” and “forma.”
112. A HOOK: From the Latin,”uncus.”
113. DIFFERENT WORK: from the Greek “allo” (other or different) and “ergon (work).
114. SEAT OF REASON OR PASSION: From the Greek, “phren.”
115. TO WRING OUT: From the Old French,”expraindre.”
116. A FOOTPRINT: From the Latin, “vestigium.”
117. BLADDER or BAG: From the Latin, “vesiculum.”
118. SMALL ENDOCRINE GLANDS ON KIDNEYS: from the Latin “ad” (toward) and
“renes” kidneys.
119. A POUNDER: From the Latin, “pistillum.”
120. TO ACCUSTOM: From the Anglo-Saxon, “wenian.”
121. TUB or TROUGH: From the Greek, “pyelos.”
122. ARTICULATION OF ULNA AND HUMERUS: A punster’s definition.
123. PERTAINING TO NATURAL LAW: From the Greek, “physikos.”
124. THE TASTE OF ACID: from the Latin “acidus” (sour, tart).
125: A PUSH OR IMPULSE: From the Greek, “osmos.”
126. SPROUT, BUD or OFFSHOOT: From the Latin, “germen.”
127. A COW: From the Latin, “vacca.”
*Thanks to:
Stedman’s Medical Dictionary , 26th Edition
Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 24th Edition
Gray’s Anatomy (any library edition).
The Language of Medicine, 4th edition, Davi-Ellen Chabner
Medical Meanings, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1984
—————————————————————————————————————-
1. Alcohol2. Orbit
3. Viscus
4. Forensic
5. Achondroplasia
6. Oncology
7. Waist
8. Analgesia
9. Node
10. Artery
11. Mucus
12. Syringe
13. Deaf
14. Migraine
15. Xyphoid
16. Obstetrics
17. Eczema
18. Meniscus
19. Acupuncture
20. Fulguration
21. Mastoid
22. Spine
23. Gene
24. Leech
25. Thirst
26. Hyaline
27. Jaw.
28. Jaundice
29. Lung
30. Anatomy
31. Pylorus
32. Palliate
33. Menthol
34. Innominate
35. Trapezius
36. Navel
37. Gum
38. Apophysis
39. Lesion
40. Therapy
41. Parietal
42. Autopsy
43. Opium
44. Glaucoma
45. Tendon
46. Degenerate
47. Papule
48. Gland
49. Rash
50. Thyroid
51.Phlegm
52. Gastric
53. Infindibulum.
54. Zygomatic
55. Placebo
56. Flex
57.. Human
58. Salve
59. Enema
60. Inflammation.
61. Amputation
62. Surgery
63. Gonorrhea
64. Sphincter (interesting story)
65. Sacrum
66. Duodenum
67. Starch
68. Ergot
69. Measles
70. Pudenda
71. Sinus
72. Disc
73. Valve
74. Mitral
75. Atrophy
76. Quarantine
77. Stricture
78. Urticaria.
79. Doctor
80. Orgasm
81. Stain
82. Asphyxia
83. Pus
84. Incubate
85. Venereal/Venus
86. Mutate
87. Taste
88. Areola
89. Pox
90. Sartorius
97. Ambulance
92. Quinine
93. Nipple
94. Tissue
95. Skull.
96. Keloid.
97. Vulva
98. Plague
99. Angina
100. Pill
101. Scrotum
102. Turbinate.
103. Lymph
104. Reticulum
105. Scaphoid
106. Trachea
107. Amnesia
108. Trismus
109. Pepsin
110. Atom
111. Piriform
112. Uncinate/unciform
113. Allergy
114. Phrenic
115. Sprain
116. Vestige
117. Vesicle
118. Adrenal
119. Pestle
120. Wean
121. Pelvis
122. Funny Bone (gotcha!)
123. Physician/physics
124. Acrid
125. Osmosis
126. Germ
127. Vaccine
Blog: Time Machine, Three Trips: Where Would You Go? (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Jeopardy, learn medical words, medical game, Medical terminology, Medical words, Physician, Sanskrit, Understanding Medficine, Quizzes, doctor, greek, medicine, latin, indo-European, Add a tag
Image via Wikipedia
What do a wheel rut, a flash of lightning and a dining table have in common?
Medical Terminology. Ever think about how a doctor in New York can speak to a doctor in Japan about medical matters. They use the same medical words. I found this fascinating, and hope you will, as well.
I’m also a Jeopardy fan. For those of you unfamiliar with this TV format, a contestant is presented with the answer, and must deliver the definition to win a prize.
So…..here it is. It’s a medical jeopardy. Here are 127 questions.
If you’re in the medical or health care field, chances are you’ll have no trouble with most of these, The object here is to present to you the oddities of linguistic evolution.
WARNING: DO NOT USE THE MATIERIAL IN THIS ARTICLE AS PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL (although you might be tempted). This is simply because much of what is known about language derivatives is assumed - not fact.*
Answers are presented on the last page.
1. FINE POWDER: from the Arabic “al” (the) and koh l “fine impalpable powder.”
2. RUT MADE BY A WHEEL: From the Latin, “orbita.”
3. TO MAKE STICKY: From the Latin, “viscare.”
4. PERTAINING TO THE FORUM: From the Latin “forum.”
5. CAUSE OF DWARFISM: Long bones do not grow. From Greek “a” absence, “chondrus” (cartilage) and “plassein” (to form).
6. BULK OR MASS; From the Greek, “ongkos.”
7. TO INCREASE: From the Indo-European, “aweg.”
8. INSENSITIVITY TO PAIN: from the Greek “an” (without) and algesis (sense of
pain).
9. KNOT or KNOB: From the Latin, “nodus.”
10. AN AIR DUCT: From the Greek “aer” (air) and “tereo” (I keep).
11. NOSE or SNOUT: From the Greek, “mukter.”
12. A SHEPHERD’S PIPE: From the Greek, “syringx.”
13. DULL TO PERCEPTION: from the Indo-European root, “dheubh,”
14. ONE-HALF OF THE SKULL: From the Latin, “hemicrania.”
15. LIKE A STRAIGHT SWORD: From the Greek, “xiphos.”
16. TO BLOCK or PLUG: From the Latin, “obsterix.”
17. TO BOIL OUT: From the Greek, “ek-“ (out) and “zeein” (to boil).
18. CRECENT-SHAPED: From the Greek, “meniskos.”
19. A PRICK OR PUNCTURE BY A NEEDLE: from the Latin “acus” (needle) and
“punctum” puncture.
20. FLASH OF LIGHTNING: From the Latin, “fulgor.”
21. BREAST-LIKE: From the Greek, “mastos” and “eidos.”
22. THORN or PRICKLY BUSH: From the Latin, “spina.”
23. PRODUCE OR BRING FORTH: From the Greek, “gennao.”
24. ONE WHO HEALS: From the Anglo-Saxon, “laece.”
25. DRY, ACRID: From the Indo-European, “ters.”
26. TRANSPARANT STONE or CRYSTAL: From the Greek, “hyalos.”
27. CHEW: From the Anglos-Saxon, “ceowan.” (noun)
28. LIGHT GREENISH-YELLOW: From the Latin, “galbinus.”
29. WITHOUT WEIGHT or LIGHT: From the Sanskrit, “ laghu.:”
30. A CUTTING UP: from the Greek “ana” (up or through) and “tome” (a cutting).
31. GATEKEEPER: From the Greek, pyle.”
32. A COVERLET or CLOAK: From the Latin, “pallium.”
33. MINT: From the Latin, “menthe.”
34. WITHOUT A NAME: From the Latin, “innominatus.”
35. A DINING TABLE: From the Greek, “trapeze.”
36. CENTER OF WHEEL HUB: From the Anglo-Saxon, “ nafe.”
37. A TRENCH OR ABYSS: From the Old English, “grynde.”
38. AN OFFSHOOT: from the Greek “apo” (from) and “physis” (growth).
39. ATTACK or INJURY: From the Latin, “laesia.”
40. SERVICE or ATTENDANCE: From the Greek, “therapeia.”
41. BELONGING TO A WALL: From the Latin, “parietalis.”
42. SEEING FOR ONESELF: from the Greek “auto” and “opsis” (seeing).
43. JUICE, SAP, RESIN OR GUM OF A TREE: From the Greek, “opos.”
44. SILVERY SWELLING: From the Greek, “glaukos” and “oma.”
45. TO STRETCH: From the Greek , “teinein.”
46. TO DISGRACE, TO FALL SHORT OF: from the Latin “degenerare.”
47. PIMPLE: From the Greek, “pomphos.”
48. A NUT OR ACORN: From the Latin. “glandulus.”
49. TO SCRAPE OR SCRATCH: From the Latin, “radere.”
50. LARGE STONE IN FRONT OF DOOR TO KEEP IT SHUT:
From the Greek, “thyreos.”
51. FLAME OR HEAT: From the Greek, “phlegma.”
52. PAUNCH or BELLY: From the Greek, “gaster.”
53. FUNNEL: From the Latin, “infundere.”
54. YOKE CONNECTING TWO ANIMALS: From the Greek, “zygon.”
55. TO PLEASE: From the Latin, “placere.”
56. TO BEND OR TURN: From the Latin, “flectere.”
57. EARTH OR LAND: From the Latin, “humus.”
58. HEALING OINTMENT: From the Anglo-Saxon, “sealf.”
59. TO SEND FLUID IN: From the Greek, “en” (in) and “ienai” (to send).
60. TO DYE, STAIN, CORRUPT or BOIL: From the Latin, “inficere.”
61. A PRUNING: from the Latin “amputatio.”
62. WORKING WITH THE HANDS: From the Greek, “ cheirourgia.”
63. A FLOWING SEED: From the Greek, :”gone” and “rheos.”
64. RELATING TO THE SPHINX
65. HOLY or CONSECRATED: From the Latin, “Sacer.”
66. TWELVE FINGERS: from the Greek, “dodek-daktulon.
67. STIFF or STRONG: From the Anglo-Saxon, “stark.”
68. A COCK’S SPUR: From the old French, “argot” (rye plant infected by fungus.”
69. AFFLICTED WITH SPOTS: From the Old High German, “masa” and
Middle English, “mesel.”
70. TO BE ASHAMED: From the Latin, “pudere.”
71. TO WIND OR CURVE: From the Latin, “sinuare.”
72. A CIRCULAR OR FLAT STONE: From the Greek, “discos.”
73. PAIR OF FOLDING or DOUBLE DOORS: From the Latin, “valvae.”
74. A TURBAN: From the Latin, “mitra.”
75. LACK OF NOURISHMENT: from the Greek “a-“ (without) and trophe
(nourishment).
76. FORTY: From the Latin, “quadraginta.”
77. MASS OF MOLTEN IRON: From the Latin, “strictura.”
78. A STING OR ITCH: From the Latin, “urtica.”
79. TO TEACH: from the Latin, “docere.”
80. TO SWELL or RIPEN: From the Greek, “ orgainein.”
81. TO TAKE AWAY COLOR: From the Old French, “desteindre.”
82. WITHOUT PULSE: from the Greek “a” (without) and “sphyxis” (pulse).
83. CORRUPT MATTER: From the Greek, “Pyon.”
84. LIE ON OR BROOD: From the Latin, “incubare.”
85. LOVE, HONOR, DESIRE: From the Sanskrit, “wan” and “van.”
86. MORE, SHIFT, CHANGE or ALTER: From the Latin, “mutare.”
87. TO APPRAISE: From the Latin, “taxare.”
88. OPEN SPACE, COURTYARD OR PARK: From the Latin “area.”
89. POUCH: From the Norman French, “poque.”
90. A TAILOR: From the Latin, “sartor.”
91. WALKING HOSPITAL: from the French “hopital ambulant.”
92. BARK OF A TREE: From the Peruvian Indian, “kina.”
93. LITTLE BEAK: From the Anglo-Saxon, “nib.”
94. TO WEAVE: From the Latin,”textere.”
95. BOWL or SHELL: From the Nordic, “Skal.”
96. RUPTURE or HERNIA: From the Greek, “kele.”
97. TO ROLL OR TURN AROUND: From the Latin, “volvere.”
98. A BLOW OR STROKE: From the Latin, “ plege.”
99. SORE THROAT: from the Latin “angere” (to choke or throttle).
100. LITTLE BALL: From the Latin, “pilula.”
101. POUCH OF LEATHER: From the Latin, “scorteus.”
102. WHORL, EDDY or TORNADO: From the Latin, “Turbo.”
103. CLEAR WATER: From the Latin, “lympha.”
104. LITTLE NET: From the Latin, “rete.”
105 ANYTHING SCOOPED OUT: From the Greek, “skaphe.”
106. ROUGH: From the Greek, “traxus.”
107. LOSS OF MEMORY: from the Greek “a” (without) and “mensis” (memory).
108. A SQUEAKING: From the Greek, “trismos.”
109. A COOKING: From the Latin, “pepsis.”
110. UNCUT or INDIVISIBLE: from the Greek “a-“ (without) and “temnein” (to cut).
111. PEAR-SHAPED: From the Latin, “pirum” and “forma.”
112. A HOOK: From the Latin,”uncus.”
113. DIFFERENT WORK: from the Greek “allo” (other or different) and “ergon (work).
114. SEAT OF REASON OR PASSION: From the Greek, “phren.”
115. TO WRING OUT: From the Old French,”expraindre.”
116. A FOOTPRINT: From the Latin, “vestigium.”
117. BLADDER or BAG: From the Latin, “vesiculum.”
118. SMALL ENDOCRINE GLANDS ON KIDNEYS: from the Latin “ad” (toward) and
“renes” kidneys.
119. A POUNDER: From the Latin, “pistillum.”
120. TO ACCUSTOM: From the Anglo-Saxon, “wenian.”
121. TUB or TROUGH: From the Greek, “pyelos.”
122. ARTICULATION OF ULNA AND HUMERUS: A punster’s definition.
123. PERTAINING TO NATURAL LAW: From the Greek, “physikos.”
124. THE TASTE OF ACID: from the Latin “acidus” (sour, tart).
125: A PUSH OR IMPULSE: From the Greek, “osmos.”
126. SPROUT, BUD or OFFSHOOT: From the Latin, “germen.”
127. A COW: From the Latin, “vacca.”
*Thanks to:
Stedman’s Medical Dictionary , 26th Edition
Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 24th Edition
Gray’s Anatomy (any library edition).
The Language of Medicine, 4th edition, Davi-Ellen Chabner
Medical Meanings, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1984
—————————————————————————————————————-
1. Alcohol2. Orbit
3. Viscus
4. Forensic
5. Achondroplasia
6. Oncology
7. Waist
8. Analgesia
9. Node
10. Artery
11. Mucus
12. Syringe
13. Deaf
14. Migraine
15. Xyphoid
16. Obstetrics
17. Eczema
18. Meniscus
19. Acupuncture
20. Fulguration
21. Mastoid
22. Spine
23. Gene
24. Leech
25. Thirst
26. Hyaline
27. Jaw.
28. Jaundice
29. Lung
30. Anatomy
31. Pylorus
32. Palliate
33. Menthol
34. Innominate
35. Trapezius
36. Navel
37. Gum
38. Apophysis
39. Lesion
40. Therapy
41. Parietal
42. Autopsy
43. Opium
44. Glaucoma
45. Tendon
46. Degenerate
47. Papule
48. Gland
49. Rash
50. Thyroid
51.Phlegm
52. Gastric
53. Infindibulum.
54. Zygomatic
55. Placebo
56. Flex
57.. Human
58. Salve
59. Enema
60. Inflammation.
61. Amputation
62. Surgery
63. Gonorrhea
64. Sphincter (interesting story)
65. Sacrum
66. Duodenum
67. Starch
68. Ergot
69. Measles
70. Pudenda
71. Sinus
72. Disc
73. Valve
74. Mitral
75. Atrophy
76. Quarantine
77. Stricture
78. Urticaria.
79. Doctor
80. Orgasm
81. Stain
82. Asphyxia
83. Pus
84. Incubate
85. Venereal/Venus
86. Mutate
87. Taste
88. Areola
89. Pox
90. Sartorius
97. Ambulance
92. Quinine
93. Nipple
94. Tissue
95. Skull.
96. Keloid.
97. Vulva
98. Plague
99. Angina
100. Pill
101. Scrotum
102. Turbinate.
103. Lymph
104. Reticulum
105. Scaphoid
106. Trachea
107. Amnesia
108. Trismus
109. Pepsin
110. Atom
111. Piriform
112. Uncinate/unciform
113. Allergy
114. Phrenic
115. Sprain
116. Vestige
117. Vesicle
118. Adrenal
119. Pestle
120. Wean
121. Pelvis
122. Funny Bone (gotcha!)
123. Physician/physics
124. Acrid
125. Osmosis
126. Germ
127. Vaccine
Add a Comment
Blog: Time Machine, Three Trips: Where Would You Go? (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: fun, humour, Satire, procrastination, lazy, latin, Offbeat, Laziness, Add a tag
Procrastination. We’ve all done it: we’ve come across a challenge and thought “fantastic. I can do that. You know what? I WILL do it. Tomorrow.” Or “Ah… I hate studying. I’m going to start tomorrow though.”
Procrastination is one of the most human characteristics on mother earth and can be directly attributed to the part of the brain called the Procrastinal lobe**. This lobe is only found in humans and indeed in some cases has grown vastly out of proportion. Swelling of this lobe, Procastinitis, leads to a condition that we again derive from Latin: lazinus muchus. This of course translates to modern day English as “bloody laziness”.
However, procrastination is not as easy as you might think. It takes perseverance, sustained effort and a certain diligence to execute it properly.
Firstly, procrastination creates a vacuum in a daily timetable. As any physicist or engineer knows, a vacuum is an area of zero pressure, which sucks things towards it. In order to maintain this time vacuum, you need to be exceptional at building a spacesuit of laziness. In order to do so, you need to be able to perform a talent perfected only by a select few literary genii- talking out of your rear end. For example: “I am going to start studying tomorrow. However, today I am going to start planning to study tomorrow, which is in itself studying.”
As you can see, it takes a truly formidable lattice of bulls**t in order to keep your time vacuum from sucking tasks towards the present moment. If you’ve done nothing by midnight, you know that you’ll have been successful.
The most important thing about being a procrastinator is not to convince others that ‘today’ will be worthwhile: it is to convince yourself. Your average procrastinator will have constructed a veritable matrix of lies and mistruths, culminating in the denial of the unfruitfulness of his or her daily inactivity. This is essential to maintain morale, optimism and any semblance of self-worth.
Finally, for any of you who have studied time-travel, you’ll know all about paradoxes. The procrastinator is no stranger to the paradox, too. He lives every day risking ending the universe by saying “Procrastination? Nah… I’ll leave that till tomorrow”…
And on that grim joke, I’ll finish writing. But I hope you’ll read this and leave a comment. Today.
** - not actually true.
Add a Comment
By: Marc,
on 4/22/2009
Blog: OUPblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Reference, romance, A-Featured, Oxford Etymologist, Lexicography, Dictionaries, race, French, etymology, Latin, Add a tag
By Anatoly Liberman
For a long time, I have been meaning to join the mainstream and address, if not the importance of race in our life (and is there anything more important?), then at least the derivation of race. Why I am doing it now will become clear from my April “Gleanings.” (This is said to keep the readers of my blog in awful suspense for a whole week.) The English word was borrowed from French, and the speakers of many other European languages also added race to their vocabulary through French mediation, but its distant origin has been a matter of debate for more than a century. Only one fact seemed to be certain, namely that despite the success of race the story began with Italian razza. The debate raged only over whether, in Italian, razza was native (that is, going back to some Latin noun) or whether the Italians had taken it over from somewhere else. As a rule, the etymology of such intractable words remains unsolved forever, but in this case sufficient clarity seems to have been achieved for language historians to be able to give a satisfactory answer. A list of conflicting hypotheses is typical of the state of the art.
There was an old German noun reiza “straight line, stroke, mark” that Eugen Diez, the founder of comparative Romance philology, took for the etymon of razza ~ race. The semantic fit is good (compare the inner form of the noun lineage and phrases like line of descent; Diez also adduced a good parallel from French and Walloon), and even the vowels can perhaps be made to match, but the chronology militates against this reconstruction, for the German word went out of use rather early, while razza, with this spelling, surfaced in Italian only in the 13th century. The non-attested Langobardian raiza, meaning the same as reiza, can be dismissed as a lame attempt to save the situation, though it was offered by an outstanding specialist in Romance etymology (Langobardian is a Germanic language at one time spoken in the north of Italy; hence the name of the province Lombardy). Incidentally, all the conjectures being surveyed here stem from specialists, so that none of them is silly.
Another candidate for the etymon of razza was Latin radix “root.” Once again the semantic match is excellent. The phonetic difficulties are not insurmountable, as evidenced by the English noun race “root,” (compare Shakespeare’s a race of ginger) that does go back to radix or rather to radicem, its accusative (stress on the second syllable). Besides, Old and Middle French had racine “race,” obviously from radix. According to perhaps the most ingenious suggestion, razza is a clipped form of Latin generatio “generation” through naraccia (allegedly, from naraccia to una narazza and una razza). Clipped forms have always existed, and in English, which favors monosyllables, they play an outstanding role, but this method of producing words was little used in the past.
A rather bizarre derivation of race from Slavic raz “a blow” (a blow leaves its mark or imprint) died almost without issue, though Skeat’s predecessor Hensleigh Wedgwood, who used to string look-alikes from many languages, looked on this connection as possible. Arabic ra’s “head,” Basque arraca ~ arraza “male pedigree animal,” and Romance (unattested) raptiare “to breed falcons” (from raptiare to the verb racer and further to the noun), have also been tried. The Arabic etymon became well-known to the German readership thanks to the efforts of Eugen Oberhummer. The obsession with race in the Nazi time needs no explanation, but Oberhummer’s three articles (one was published in Austria, and two appeared in Germany) had no evil overtones, except that a reference to a Jewish scholar was withheld; however, one of them graced the infamous journal for Rassenkunde, literally “race-lore, the study of race.”
All the suggestions mentioned above share an important weakness. They are, to a varying degree, plausible from a linguistic point of view but have no foundation in the history of the concept. To decide how a word for “lineage, pedigree” originated, we should know who needed it, that is, in what circumstances it was coined and how it spread from one layer of speakers to another. An abstract reconstruction, based only on the interplay of sound and meaning, is bound to remain a shot in the dark. Only two hypotheses go beyond intelligent guessing. Latin ratio “account, calculation; reason” also meant “order, law, system, way,” and already in the early Middle Ages it could designate “type, kind, species.” Italian razza developed, as it seemed, from ratio and, with phonetic variants, became a household word in the rest of Europe. This etymology ran into several chronological difficulties, but, on the whole, it made sense. Leo Spitzer, whose name turns up every time I touch on a Romance subject, did not invent it, but he was its main proponent, and the most influential scholars, with few exceptions, agreed with him. (Those who disagreed defended much less attractive derivations.) It did not escape the proponents of this theory that the French word race was often applied to horses, and Spitzer accounted for the popularity of the word by referring to the role of horsemanship.
The most significant breakthrough happened in 1959, when Gianfranco Contini published an article in which he showed that an old Italian author had used razza while translating the French noun haras “stud” (to anticipate the natural question: most probably, haras has nothing to do with the English verb harass). He concluded that the etymon of race was French haras, which lost its initial h (as always), and that Italian razza, far from being the etymon of race, was an adaptation of the French noun. I’ll skip the morphological complications that have been dealt with rather well and mention only one fact. A chance gloss in a translated text would not have gone far enough to explain a swift adoption of race by the French (after all, it could have been a case of folk etymology, almost a pun, with the French author being seduced by the similarity of the two forms), but subsequent research showed how race ~ razza progressed in Italian and French, and there is no reason to doubt its results. All the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fell into place. It could have been expected that race would emerge not as a bookish creation but as a term of cattle or horse breeding (whatever the etymology of haras may be) and that it would be applied to humans later. Indeed, in Dante’s Italy razza was used only about animals; for people the word schiatta existed. Both Italian schiatta “stock, descent, lineage” (to say nothing of razza) and French haras “stud” have continued into the present (compare di nobile schiatta “of noble descent”). As we have seen, the true connection had been suspected early enough: Arabic ra’s, Basque arraza, and Spitzer’s reference to chivalry and horsemanship should not be overlooked, but in all those theories horses, falcons, and so forth played an accidental role, whereas they should have been the focus of the investigation.
So now we know how race came into being, but a short addition may not be out of place. New words, whether native coinages or borrowings, have a better chance of survival if, once they surface, they find support from other words. Perhaps ratio would not have yielded race on its own, but race, from haras, met a powerful ally, for ratio, which became its homonym, also meant “species” (among other things). Even generatio, a more distant ally, may have helped race to stay. Accidental and folk etymological ties play a significant role in the life of words. (Engl. race “a rush forward” is not related to race “pedigree,” horse races notwithstanding.)
Class and sex were also promised in the title. They were used as a lure, I am sorry to say. Like race, both are Romance words. Sexus, from Latin via French, is probably akin to the verb secare “to cut” (compare section). Class is a direct borrowing of Latin classis. The sense “division of persons or things” goes back to the 17th century. In the 16th century, class “division of the Romans; a group in a university” occurred in Scots. Latin classis meant “fleet; muster of citizens.” Its origin is obscure, and the explanations in older dictionaries and compendia should be treated with great caution.
The race may be to the swiftest, but in etymological studies the hedgehog has every advantage over the hare, if reference to the famous tale from the Grimms is allowed.
Anatoly Liberman is the author of Word Origins…And How We Know Them as well as An Analytic Dictionary of English Etymology: An Introduction. His column on word origins, The Oxford Etymologist, appears here, each Wednesday. Send your etymology question to [email protected]; he’ll do his best to avoid responding with “origin unknown.”
By: Lori O'Dea,
on 4/14/2009
Blog: Amsco Extra! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Reading, Teaching, Writing, Grammar, English Language Arts, Latin, Add a tag
Today's guest blogger is long-time Amsco author, Henry I. Christ.
Good teachers have always understood the place of grammar in helping students improve communication skills. Except to students of linguistics, however, grammar should not be taught for its own sake. We’re not training students to become grammarians. Grammar is a resource for teaching writing and speaking. Traditional grammar provides endless opportunities for enlarging students’ understanding of language.
In the 1960s, a formidable newcomer arrived on the scene to stimulate a new look at the ways we construct English sentences. The scope and reach of the feisty stranger threatened traditional ways of teaching grammar in the schools.
Structural linguistics originated in the mid-twentieth century as a creative tool for studying Native-American languages, whose word structure is completely alien to the structure of Indo-European languages. Structural linguistics suggested new ways of looking at the structure of English and of identifying parts of speech. Its emphasis upon structure, signal words, suffixes, and inflections was refreshing.
Publishers of English textbooks were worried. Since grammar was an integral part of every English composition series, the wrong decision could impact sales or even threaten the survival of a grammar series.
Authors and editors debated the strategy of the coming revisions. Should we adopt the new program wholesale and demonstrate how up-to-date we are? Or should we dismiss structural linguistics as just another fad and go on as usual? My own series, Modern English in Action, was caught up in the struggle. “The best of the old and the best of the new” was always a useful slogan. Although I had worked with traditional grammar throughout my professional career as teacher and writer, the status quo was not the answer. Combining usable materials from both programs proved a rewarding challenge
One aspect of structural linguistics is the special attention to the way that words are used as different parts of speech. “Aren’t parts of speech labeled in dictionaries?” Yes, but the labels apply to the sense in which a word is used. A word becomes a part of speech when it is used.
Shakespeare understood this. “The dark backward and abysm of time” from The Tempest, demonstrates the flexibility of English. Ordinarily, “backward” is used as an adverb or adjective, but Shakespeare uses it as a striking noun. “The” and “dark” signal that a noun is coming. The slot filled by “backward” in the structure of the sentence also helps identify it as a noun.
Structural linguistics would have fun with the following manufactured sentence that uses “but” as six different parts of speech: preposition, verb, noun, conjunction, adverb, and adjective.
Everyone but Frank appreciated the expression “But me no buts,” but even Frank said, “I can but hope that some day I’ll enjoy the weird uses of the but-word.”
The 1960s seem like ancient history. Back then, we thought we were technologically sophisticated, but the years since have brought new challenges and possibilities for the teaching of English. The instant communication of cell phones, text messages, and e-mails has changed everything. “MBF” is a symbol of the new text speak. Extended, sustained communication gives way to fragmented coded messages that have developed their own syntax. The anxieties of the Sixties seem almost quaint, but the teacher’s responsibility to teach logical thought and intelligent communication is still critical, perhaps even more challenging than ever.
by Henry I. Christ
By: Henry the Elder,
on 1/20/2009
Blog: Amsco Extra! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: History, Culture, Archeology, Latin, Add a tag
Many historians regard 43 A.D. as one of the most important dates in British history. It marked significant changes in the way many Britons lived—new architectural forms, roads, bridg
es, aqueducts, styles of dress, language, etc. Yet the invasion almost did not happen. The troops camped on the northern coast of Gaul looked at the rough waters of the Channel and the transport ships they were to board and decided they did not wish to go. Nor could General Plautius or his tribunes persuade them. The mood of the men turned ugly and mutiny threatened. 
What changed history was the invocation of the Roman feast of Saturnalia, which began each year on December 17 and continued for seven days until December 23. It was during this time that all sorts of interesting things happened. The most remarkable was the removal of all restrictions on the behavior of slaves. Slaves could insult their masters, sit down at the dining table with them, become intoxicated, or do anything else they wished without fear of beatings, imprisonment, or death, all things which might occur if the slaves engaged in such activities at any other time. Some masters actually changed places with their slaves, serving them food and drink. During the Saturnalia, each household became an imitation republic in which the high offices of state were held by slaves who acted as if they had the powers of consuls, praetors, and tribunes.
The festival was intended to commemorate the rule of Saturn, the god of sowing and livestock raising. It was believed that Saturn had been a long ago king of Italy whose rule was righteous and beneficial. Saturn was credited with teaching early Romans to farm and make laws. His reign was a Golden Age, untouched by war, slavery, or the holding of private property. All things were held in common by happy, healthy, peaceful people. The great king vanished suddenly and the world changed. Feasting and the public pursuit of pleasure for seven days celebrated Saturn’s rule. The liberty given to slaves at this time was intended to be an imitation of the state of society in Saturn’s time. Saturn was sometimes represented by a mock king who presided over the revels.
At the end of the third century, Roman troops stationed on the Danube celebrated the Saturnalia in an interesting way. Thirty days before the festival, a young and handsome soldier was selected by lot to represent Saturn. He was dressed in rich clothes and he was allowed to publically indulge every pleasure. When the thirty days had concluded and the Saturnalia had begun, the soldier was expected to cut his own throat on the alter of the god.
In 303 A.D., the lot fell to a Christian soldier named Dasius. He refused to play the part of the pagan god, even when ordered to do so by his commanding officer. As a result, Dasius was beheaded and came to be regarded as a Christian martyr. This placed the Saturnalia in a grimmer light and raised the possibility that the origins of the festival involved blood sacrifices. This aspect of the Saturnalia became muted as Roman civilization became more urbanized. In the more rural areas, however, such as a military fortification on the Danube, the ancient rites were continued.
The Saturnalia is regarded by some historians as the origin of the carnivals held in modern Italy and other Latin countries. A friend working on an excavation of a Roman fort once sent me Christmas greetings by writing “Io Saturnalia.” The ancient festival and its modern versions are one of the things which link the present with antiquity as the year ends and another begins.
By: Ashley,
on 10/1/2008
Blog: OUPblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Film, Sociology, hollywood, American History, A-Featured, Latino, Lover, Latin, Clara Rodríguez, Latin Lover, Add a tag
Ashley- Intern
Heroes, Lovers, and Others: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood by Clara E. Rodríguez recounts the stories of Latino actors and actresses from the era of silent film to the present day. Rodríguez, a Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Fordham University, examines the social conditions and assumptions that influenced the portrayal of Latinos in American film and their reception by the public. In the following excerpt from Rodríguez’ book, we learn about the typecasting of Latino actors, and specifically, about the role of the “Latin Lover.”
Options for Latinos
With a few important exceptions, many of the films that featured Latino characters during this [cold war] era focused on social problems and were steeped in historical myths, machismo, or stereotypes of Latin lovers and Latina bombshells. (Indeed, strong female stars of all backgrounds were also shunted aside during this era.) The choices for Latino actors were generally limited: They could either Europeanize their images (by 
discarding any ethnic references) or play up the stereotypes. Consequently, in this period, the distinction between visible and invisible Latino actors became stronger, and invisibility became a more clear-cut strategy for navigating identity and careers. The absence of middle-ground positions in film reflected the intolerance for ambiguity characteristic of this era. The roles available often called for proverbial characters: victims incapable of defending themselves, vixens, alien invaders, and young punks. In essence, fewer roles were open to Latino actors, and of the few that were available many were mere clichés. Some actors also became victims of the McCarthyism that was emblematic of the times.
Latin Lovers, Bombshells, Spitfires, and Sultry Latinas
Some might wonder why being seen as a Latin lover, or a Latina bombshell, is problematic. What is so wrong with this? First, it should be made clear that in Hollywood movies at the time there was not much distinction (other than the obvious) between Latin lovers, bombshells, spitfires, and sultry Latinas; the difference was often merely a matter of degree or gender. It should also be made clear that Latin lover and Latina bombshell characterizations were in many ways desirable. They were the men and women that audiences yearned to touch, lusted after, the ones their mothers had warned them about; they made their viewers’ hearts skip a beat and promised rapture and full surrender. What was wrong with being projected as sexually desirable? Don’t most of us strive for this in one way or another or at one time or another?
The problem was that, in the case of Latinos, the characters were erotic and exotic, and little else. The dark, forbidden, dream lovers generally had no other role; they were not lucky in love, and they frequently preferred non-Latinos as partners. The characters were often morally inferior and ended up reinforcing the comfortable American status quo that relegated people like them to the back seat. True, the Latino characters inspired unspeakable desire and desirability, especially at this time, when non-Latin men and women were often portrayed as prim, clumsy, restrained sexual partners. In the end, however, once the escapist fantasy had subsided, it was the non-Latinos who had the good morals, sense, and intelligence and were “the real thing”—the ones to be taken seriously in marriage, as well as in other areas of life.
By: Henry the Elder,
on 8/25/2008
Blog: Amsco Extra! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Latin, History, Social Studies, Add a tag
Hadrian’s reign (A.D. 117–138) was a turning point in the history of the Roman Empire. Under his predecessor, Trajan, the empire’s highest point of expansion was reached. Choosing to reduce the size of the empire to more manageable and defendable limits, Hadrian abandoned Trajan’s eastern conquests—Mesopotamia (Iraq), Assyria, and Armenia—reduced Roman territory beyond the lower Danube River, and constructed new frontier lines in Germany, North Africa, and Britain. He also traveled extensively, visiting almost every part of his empire on provincial tours, two of which lasted more than four years each. Wherever hewent, Hadrian carried out military reforms and architectural programs.
I loved reading the story of Hadrian. Today's leaders can learn something!