Tag: Dictionary

Con·done
1. From the Latin condōnāre. To remit a debt. From com-(intensive) + dōnāre to donate.
2. To disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like).
3. To give tacit approval to. By his silence. He seemed to condone their behaviour.
4. To pardon or forgive (an offense). Excuse.

Working on Carrion. I have been thinking about the war on drugs as a tyranny.

Tyr·an·ny
1. From Old French tyrannie. From Medieval Latin tyrannia. From Latin tyrannus.
2. Arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power. Despotic abuse of authority.
3. The government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.
4. A state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.
5. Oppressive or unjustly severe government on the part of any ruler.
6. Undue severity or harshness.

It seems to me the war on drugs is an “arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power” exhibiting an “undue severity or harshness”.

I want to label Adam Leigh as reactionary. I’m not sure the label fits. But was interested by the words meaning and etymology.

Re·ac·tion·ar·y
1. Based on the model of French réactionnaire. Circa 1840. From réaction.
2. Of. Relating to. Or characterized by reaction. Especially against radical political or social change.
3. A person opposed to radical change.
Re·ac·tion
1. From re- “again, anew” +action. Modeled on French réaction. Older Italian reattione. From Medieval Latin reactionem.
2. A reverse movement or tendency.
3. An action in a reverse direction or manner.

I have to admit. When I first heard the word reactionary. I had it in my head that it meant the exact opposite. I am not the only one. I have come across several people since who have made the same mistake.

Carrion is the title of the screenplay I am currently reworking. I used it specifically because of it’s meaning and etymology.

Car·ri·on.
1. From the Anglo-French caroine. Ultimately from the Latin carō. Meaning flesh.
2. Dead and rotting flesh.
3. Something rotten or repulsive.

I am specifically drawn to the word as something rotten or repulsive. It has an ambiguity that can be attached to either side of the war on drugs.

Came across Pareidolia Pics. A twitter feed that specialises in these phantom pictures.

Pareidolia.
1. The imagined perception of a pattern or meaning where it does not actually exist. As in considering the moon to have human features.
2. From the words para. And eidolon.
Pa·ra.
1. From the Persian pāra. Literally. Piece.
2. A prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek. Most often attached to verbs and verbal derivatives. With the meanings “at or to one side of. Beside. Side by side.”
Ei·do·lon.
1. An unsubstantial image. Apparition. Phantom.
2. An ideal. Or idealized figure.

: )

Another interesting word to consider.

Ni·hil·ism
1. From the Latin. Nihil. Meaning nothing.
2. A complete denial of all established authority and institutions.
3. An extreme form of scepticism that systematically rejects all values. Belief in existence. The possibility of communication.
4. A revolutionary doctrine of destruction for its own sake.
5. The practice or promulgation of terrorism.

The first rule of fight club is… you do not talk about fight club!

Been thinking about the word rebellion today. Was interested by it’s meaning and etymology.

Re·bel·lion
1. From the Latin. Rebelliō. Revolt of those conquered.
2. Organized resistance or opposition to a government or other authority.
3. Dissent from an accepted moral code or convention of behaviour.

Interestingly an armed but limited rebellion is defined as an insurrection. If the established government does not recognize the rebels as belligerents then they are insurgents. In a larger conflict the rebels may be recognised as belligerents without their government being recognised by the established government. In which case the conflict becomes a civil war.