Word Of The Day - Page 3

Seashore · 02-08-2010, 04:24 PM

agape

1. adv. & adj. a·gape (pronunciation)

In a state of wonder or amazement, as with the mouth wide open.

2. n. a·ga·pe (pronunciation)

Love that is spiritual, not sexual, in its nature.

[c.1600, from Gk. agapan "greet with affection, love" (used by early Christians for their "love feast" held in connection with the Lord's Supper), from agapan "to love," of unknown origin. In modern use, often in simpler sense of "Christian love" (1856, frequently opposed to eros as "carnal or sensual love").]

Seashore · 02-23-2010, 01:25 AM

quintessence

quin·tes·sence

The pure, highly concentrated essence of a thing.

[early 15c., in ancient and medieval philosophy, "pure essence, substance of which the heavenly bodies are composed," lit. "fifth essence," from M.Fr. quinte essence (14c.), from M.L. quinta essentia, from L. quinta, fem. of quintus "fifth" + essentia (see essence). Loan-translation of Gk. pempte ousia, the "ether" added by Aristotle to the four known elements (water, earth, fire, air) and said to permeate all things. Its extraction was one of the chief goals of alchemy. Sense of "purest essence" (of a situation, character, etc.) is first recorded 1580s.]

02-08-2010, 04:24 PM	#1
Seashore Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,564	Re: Word Of The Day agape 1. adv. & adj. a·gape (pronunciation) In a state of wonder or amazement, as with the mouth wide open. 2. n. a·ga·pe (pronunciation) Love that is spiritual, not sexual, in its nature. [c.1600, from Gk. agapan "greet with affection, love" (used by early Christians for their "love feast" held in connection with the Lord's Supper), from agapan "to love," of unknown origin. In modern use, often in simpler sense of "Christian love" (1856, frequently opposed to eros as "carnal or sensual love").]

02-23-2010, 01:25 AM	#2
Seashore Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,564	Re: Word Of The Day quintessence quin·tes·sence The pure, highly concentrated essence of a thing. [early 15c., in ancient and medieval philosophy, "pure essence, substance of which the heavenly bodies are composed," lit. "fifth essence," from M.Fr. quinte essence (14c.), from M.L. quinta essentia, from L. quinta, fem. of quintus "fifth" + essentia (see essence). Loan-translation of Gk. pempte ousia, the "ether" added by Aristotle to the four known elements (water, earth, fire, air) and said to permeate all things. Its extraction was one of the chief goals of alchemy. Sense of "purest essence" (of a situation, character, etc.) is first recorded 1580s.]