"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Thuribles and Thurifers
A thurible is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. The bearer of the Thurible is called the Thurifer.
I certainly didn't know until I came across it a few weeks ago and looked it up for this post, Shabby Girl. Then, having posted this a few days ago in my pre-scheduling I have since come across Thuribles in two separate historical novels - how is that for coincidence!
How absolutely weird. It must be all the RC friends I have and my times spent in RC churches. I have just come to this posting (not looked for a while) and I actually had heard of the Thurifer.
My daughter Helen commented in November 2008 in her Blog that she was now keeping a notebook of new words that she came across during her reading. "This week I bought a lovely little leather bound book to write new words in as I read them . I've added a few from "1984", but my favourite has to be persiflage (from the French persifler) which means banter." I later discovered that my older daughter, Bryony, also kept a similar notebook.
This inspired me to create a Word blog. This will include both new words, favourite words and the origins of phrases that we commonly use. A definition and some comment, perhaps even a relevant quotation, will acompany the word or phrase.
“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.” - Winnie the Pooh
Huh! And all this time I just called him "Incense Boy".
ReplyDeleteWho knew? Okay, probably many people, but not me. :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI certainly didn't know until I came across it a few weeks ago and looked it up for this post, Shabby Girl. Then, having posted this a few days ago in my pre-scheduling I have since come across Thuribles in two separate historical novels - how is that for coincidence!
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely weird. It must be all the RC friends I have and my times spent in RC churches. I have just come to this posting (not looked for a while) and I actually had heard of the Thurifer.
ReplyDelete