Footnotes to Plato from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains

Category: Vocabulary

  • Word of the Day: Fainéant

    n. irresponsible idler. adj. idle and ineffective: indolent.

  • A Guide to Eighteenth Century English Vocabulary

    Fascinating.

  • Word of the Day: Thalassocracy

    A thalassocracy (from Greek language θάλασσα (thalassa), meaning "sea", and κρατεῖν (kratein), meaning "to rule", giving θαλασσοκρατία(thalassokratia), "rule of the sea") is a state with primarily maritime realms—an empire at sea (such as the Phoenician network of merchant cities) or a sea-borne empire. (Wikipedia) Example: Putin is now massing troops near Ukraine. Iran is absorbing…

  • Word of the Day: Razzia

    Definition:  A hostile raid for purposes of conquest, plunder, and capture of slaves, especially one carried out by Moors in North Africa. Origin:  Mid 19th century: via French from Algerian Arabic ġāziya 'raid'. Example:  "So by way of repetition, and in the face of paralyzing ennui, we affirm that this act of despicable treachery, this razzia in…