Pylimitics

In software development the word “deprecate” has come to mean “no longer to be used.” This is actually jargon; “deprecate” isn’t used that way in any other context. It originally comes from the Latin word “deprecari,” which means to “pray against.” “Deprecate,” when it appeared in the 1600s, meant a prayer — specifically a prayer… Continue reading

“Agony” is, today, severe discomfort or acute pain. But it wasn’t always that way. Agony comes from Ancient Greek — an “agon” was just a contest. They had loads of contests. There were hundreds of “gymnasiums” where athletes and others would train and practice various skills, and there were constant competitions in everything from wrestling… Continue reading

It’s not really roasted turkey season, but who cares; it’s time to discuss “drumsticks”, or legs. They only look a little bit like drumsticks, of course, so why did that name arise?  It was because not all that long ago, it was quite impolite to say the word “leg” out loud, particularly at the dinner… Continue reading

The 19th Century was something of a golden age for English oratory; audiences would listen attentively to speeches that today would seem absurdly long. Not only that, they were accustomed to listening to sentence structures considerably more complex than we generally cope with now — arguably, more complex than many of us are able to… Continue reading