Abundance, plenty, and well supplied are global desires
Here are interesting word units dealing with abundance, abounding, etc.; starting with this word family of undu- words plus links to related links.
There are many in this old world of ours who hold that things break about even for all of us. I have observed for example, that we all get the same amount of ice. The rich get it in the summertime and the poor get it in the winter.
-Bat Masterson
Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to others.
-Ambrose Bierce
If we all said to people's faces what we say behind one another's backs, society would be impossible.
-Honore de Balzac (1799-1850)
Abyss and related words
There is so much to learn about the oceans and seas and this link will take you to several sections dealing with abyss words and their applications to the oceans and other applications.
In human relations, a little language goes further than a little of almost anything else. Whereas one language now often makes a wall, two can make a gate.
—Walter V. Kaulfers
Achilles and his heel
Here is some interesting information about Achilles, the Heel which you might have missed.
When you talk, you repeat what you already know; when you listen, you often learn something.
—Jared Sparks
Addictions from the past to the present
The subject of addicts & addiction have been discussed for decades. In this segment, a 1932 article from Reader's Digest is presented so you can compare what was being discussed then with what you know about the situation now. Has the problem of addictions changed from that time to our current conditions?
No mortal has a right to wag his tongue, much less to wag his pen without saying something.
-Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)
Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution.
Aesculepius, god of medicine
Have you heard of the man, then god, Aesculepius, Asculapius (Latin); or Asclepius, Asklepios (Greek)?
This story about a medical man from classical times and the currently used emblem for medicine is something everyone should know and it will be easy to learn about them by connecting to and reading the contents of the Aesculepius link shown above.
There was a time when an apple a day kept the doctor away, but now it's malpractice insurance.
-Laurence J. Peter
Alcohol and its original meaning
If you don't know the origin of the word alcohol, then you might be surprised when you read the story of its source.
As presented in the preceding link, "Alcohol Isn’t What It Used To Be" will certainly give you a better insight into where it came from.
People who insist on drinking before driving, are putting the quart before the hearse.
-Laurence J. Peter
Alcoholism is spending one's life committing suicide on the installment plan.
-Evan Esar
America's early utilization of Greek and Roman cultural aspects
The revolutionaries who went to Philadelphia in 1776, perceived Greece and Rome as the noblest achievement of freemen aspiring to govern themselves.
In this conviction, the Founding Fathers of the new republic called the upper chamber of its legislature the Senate, named new communities Athens and Sparta, organized the Society of the Cincinnati, assigned Latin texts to the young, carved its heroes in togas, and copied Greek temples when erecting new buildings.
—Wendell Garrett in "Antiques"
as seen in Forbes, August 10, 1987.
American spoken in the U.S.
Radio is a word which is an American citizen by birth.
There may not be many people now living who are older than when the term radio was born. When the Italian physicist Marconi, the Italian electrical engineer known as the father of radio (1874-1937), showed the world the way to wireless communications, inventors and interested students every where started to put up sending stations.
No license was required because everyone could do as he pleased in this newly developed field and as a result, many new expressions came into use; such as, radiotelegraph, radiotelegraphy, radiotelegram, and radiotelephony.
Although the term wireless had at first been widely used in the U.S., as it still is in England, it was not very long before these longer expression led to the adoption in the United States of the much shorter term radio for all kinds of wireless communications.
In fact, several other countries have also adopted radio into their languages and even England has made some gains on the older term wireless and are at least aware of the applications of the term radio.
—"American Spoken Here" as seen in Practical English, February 7, 1962.
See a group of many more radio- words at this link.
Around, round, surrounding, etc. with another approach
Do you like "getting around" and "going around in circles"? Well, you can start with this cyclo- unit of words plus those shown in the related links that are indicated at the bottom of the unit pages.
Circumspection is believing only half of what you hear, but being sure it's the right half.
-Evan Esar
Ambition is the drive to succeed where push will get you far, but pull will get you further.
-Evan Esar
Bad, evil, and wrong are all well known to just about everyone
It is easily believed that all of us have had some experience with something which has been bad or wrong; however, are you aware of how many words exist in English which have these meanings? You can get a better idea about "bad, evil" and other related meanings when you see these caco-, dys-; mal-; mis-; pessim-; and sceler- links that are located at the bottoms of each word group.
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.
-Mae West (1892-1980), U.S. film actress
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
-Edmund Burke (1729-1797), English statesman
famous for his oratory
The first idea that the child must acquire, in order to be actively disciplined, is that of the difference between good and evil; and the task of the educator lies in seeing that the child does not confound good with immobility, and evil with activity.
-Maria Montessori (1870–1952), an Italian physician,
educator, philosopher, humanitarian and devout Catholic.
Maria Montessori is best known for her philosophy and the Montessori method of education of children from birth to adolescence. Her educational method is in use today in a number of public as well as private schools throughout the world.
Bastille Day in France, July 14, 1789, a National Holiday or Fête Nationale
This is about a special word, the guillotine, that came into existence as a result the storming of the Bastille (a prison fortress) and which was a significant element during the French Revolution as one of the major methods of executing royalty and other people. An explanation may be seen at this guillotine topical page.
Bathing or ablutions from historical perspectives
Even historical presentations about bathing can be interesting. See for yourself.
If money is your hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
—Henry Ford
Beard styles past and present
The various illustrations of beard styles as seen from past years are often examples of present styles, too.
A beard is a facial growth that forces many a man to talk above a whisker.
-Evan Esar
Bending, curving, and turning; actions for all of us
It it amazing how many words are based on the concept of bending or turning as shown in this divers-, divert- or changing family unit of words plus all of the linked sections that are shown with this group.
Change is the only thing that's constant and which is the unchangeable law of the universe.
-Evan Esar
Many people hate any change that doesn't jingle in their pockets.
-E.C. McKenzie
Most people are willing to change, not because they see the light, but because they feel the heat.
-E.C. McKenzie
Benjamin Franklin and his wisdom
One of the greatest men of our past is Benjamin Franklin, "A Genius of Many Gifts" which you will see if you visit this page.
Work as if you were going to live 100 years.
Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
-Benjamin Franklin
