This expression, well visible on a wall, makes me feel uncomfortable, as I go by, because I sense that it may be warning me that I am the one who is «under fire», reason why I should be careful. Or, it may be that the author of that writing is the one who is in […]
Is Latin alive after all? I have not long ago discovered that the Latin expression “quid pro quo” (more commonly used in English) or “qui pro quo” (more commonly used in Portuguese) could have diverse meanings in different cultures. Never ever could I have imagined that Latin was not a dead language. This is at […]
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice.” T.S. Eliot (Four Quartets) How do words come to exist? We know they name objects or abstract concepts, and, most of the time, they do a very good job at helping us express our ideas. But are there enough […]
“If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.” Doug Larson “Alack a day” or “alack the day” had its first written occurrence in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in the cry of a heartbroken Romeo who mistakenly believes Juliet has died: Shee’s dead, deceast, shee’s dead: […]
