Tag: Language

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.

I have heard this word used ad infinitum without truly understanding it.

In·sur·gent
1. From the Latin insurgēns. Rising upon or against. From insurgere. To rise up. From surgere. To rise.
2. Rebellious or in revolt. As against a government in power or the civil authorities.
3. A person who takes part in an uprising or rebellion. Insurrectionist.
4. In international law. A person or group that rises in revolt against an established government or authority but whose conduct does not amount to belligerency.

It is interesting to me that the insurgent does not amount to belligerency. That is. The insurgent is not engaged in a legally recognised war.

Came across the word paramour today. Knew it. But never really understood it. Was interested by it’s meaning and etymology.

Par·a·mour.
1. An archaic word for beloved. Circa 1300. From the Old French. Literally. Through love.
2. A lover. Especially one in an adulterous relationship.
3. Now usually derogatory. A lover. Especially an adulterous woman.
4. A woman’s lover. Fancy man. Lover. A significant other to whom you are not related by marriage.
5. A woman who cohabits with an important man. Kept woman. Mistress. Fancy woman. An adulterous woman. A woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man. Odalisque. A woman slave in a harem. Concubine. Courtesan. Doxy.

Interesting how it goes from the Old French. Through love. To doxy. A word I associate with the hard talking dialogue of Film Noir. That turns out is slang for a sexually promiscuous woman.