Thursday, September 6, 2012

Sciatherically

Meaning: of or like a sun-dial, or other instrument that cast shadows; in 1677 one could practice sciatherics, or the Art of Dialling.

Usefulness: 2 (it's rather adaptable: it could apply to speed - he moves sciatherically - or motion - progress has been sciatherical - or antiquity - my phone is sciatherically out of date)

Logofascination: 1 (for sheer obscurity)

In the wild: not exactly, but it does have the honour of appearing in Mrs Byrne's Dictionary of Unusual, Obscure and Preposterous Words.

Degrees: 2

Connections: sciatheric (from the Greek for shadow-catcher) - shadow

Which is used in: G&P, First Book, XLV: How the Monk carried along with him the Pilgrims, and of the good words that Grangousier gave them. A monk admonishes some pilgrims for leaving their wives with other monks while they gad about on pilgrimage:
"Let me be peppered with the pox, if you find not all your wives with child at your return; for the very shadow of the steeple of an abbey is fruitful." 
Monks were known to get up to mischief in those days.

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