Dawn Felagund (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dawn_felagund) wrote2005-09-23 09:40 am
dawn_felagund) wrote2005-09-23 09:40 am
Entry tags:
Two Drabbles
Because yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, I decided to do autumn drabbles instead of the Word of the Day. That leaves me with two words to do today.
As usual, you are welcome to add your drabbles to mine, if the inspiration strikes you. Personally, I find neither word highly inspiring, but one Elf's chalk is another Elf's Silmaril. Okay, I'm not going to try to write any more proverbs anytime soon.
And so ::drumroll:: the words:
adventitious \ad-ven-TISH-uhs\, adjective:
1. Added extrinsically; not essentially inherent.
2. (Biology) Out of the proper or usual place; as, "adventitious buds or roots."
Examples
"The snag is that the play's inflamed and adventitious topicality may distract people from the timelessness of its deepest concerns."
-Paul Taylor, "Afghanistan mon amour," Independent, December 15, 2001
"I want first to argue that Nietzsche's contempt for democracy was an adventitious extra, inessential to his overall philosophical outlook."
-Richard Rorty, "Pragmatism as Romantic Polytheism"
"But his posing was mostly harmless,--as superficial as the swagger and millinery of the soldier--merely adventitious to the genuine strength and gallantry underneath."
-J. F. A. Pyre, "Byron in Our Day," The Atlantic, April 1907
"The trunk spores are actually adventitious roots that have erupted from the trunk in response to some stress or injury to the inner bark and are probably no reason for concern."
-Scott Aker, "Expect More Dogwood Blossoms Next Year," Washington Post, August 24, 2000
Etymology
Adventitious comes from Latin adventicius, "coming from without, from outside sources," from the past participle of advenire, "to come towards or to; (of events) to happen," from ad- "to" + venire, "to come."
modicum \MOD-ih-kum\, noun:
A small or moderate or token amount.
Examples
"Abraham Lincoln's childhood education, conducted almost entirely by himself, with only a modicum of schooling, is one of the most familiar stories in American history."
-Douglas L. Wilson, Honor's Voice
"Ruth worked in the sociology department which had a garden in an internal courtyard that gave the place a modicum of charm."
-Gillian Slovo, Every Secret Thing
"While he derived a modicum of pleasure from his son's rambunctiousness, he was also disturbed by it."
-Jonah Raskin, For the Hell of It
Etymology
Modicum is from Latin modicus, "moderate," from modus, "measure."
Synonyms
small quantity, trace, hint, speck, jot, iota.
And ::extra-loud drumroll:: the drabbles:
The Mask
I.
I fooled myself for many years. For seven sons.
I saw how you were in Tirion, with your brothers: your voice lashing the air, your eyes smoldering with pride. Your face would twist, and you were nearly unrecognizable. Had this man laid beside me just last night? Had he touched me just last night?
I fooled myself into faith that your wicked pride was adventitious to the tender man I married.
To my father, I said: Trust him. He is my husband. I know him.
But you did not wear the mask in Tirion.
You wore the mask with me.
II.
“Why her?”
That is what they said to me, Nerdanel, when they saw my eyes conflagrate at the sight of you.
“She is common!”
You held me and did not chastise me for the vituperative things I said about those whom I was supposed to cherish. You did not see it as a portend, as did others, who shrunk from me and gasped, “Fëanaro! Do not say such things!”
Your wisdom was to accept what you knew you could not understand.
“She has not a modicum of beauty!”
I cannot recall when you removed your mask and proved them right.
As usual, you are welcome to add your drabbles to mine, if the inspiration strikes you. Personally, I find neither word highly inspiring, but one Elf's chalk is another Elf's Silmaril. Okay, I'm not going to try to write any more proverbs anytime soon.
And so ::drumroll:: the words:
adventitious \ad-ven-TISH-uhs\, adjective:
1. Added extrinsically; not essentially inherent.
2. (Biology) Out of the proper or usual place; as, "adventitious buds or roots."
Examples
"The snag is that the play's inflamed and adventitious topicality may distract people from the timelessness of its deepest concerns."
-Paul Taylor, "Afghanistan mon amour," Independent, December 15, 2001
"I want first to argue that Nietzsche's contempt for democracy was an adventitious extra, inessential to his overall philosophical outlook."
-Richard Rorty, "Pragmatism as Romantic Polytheism"
"But his posing was mostly harmless,--as superficial as the swagger and millinery of the soldier--merely adventitious to the genuine strength and gallantry underneath."
-J. F. A. Pyre, "Byron in Our Day," The Atlantic, April 1907
"The trunk spores are actually adventitious roots that have erupted from the trunk in response to some stress or injury to the inner bark and are probably no reason for concern."
-Scott Aker, "Expect More Dogwood Blossoms Next Year," Washington Post, August 24, 2000
Etymology
Adventitious comes from Latin adventicius, "coming from without, from outside sources," from the past participle of advenire, "to come towards or to; (of events) to happen," from ad- "to" + venire, "to come."
modicum \MOD-ih-kum\, noun:
A small or moderate or token amount.
Examples
"Abraham Lincoln's childhood education, conducted almost entirely by himself, with only a modicum of schooling, is one of the most familiar stories in American history."
-Douglas L. Wilson, Honor's Voice
"Ruth worked in the sociology department which had a garden in an internal courtyard that gave the place a modicum of charm."
-Gillian Slovo, Every Secret Thing
"While he derived a modicum of pleasure from his son's rambunctiousness, he was also disturbed by it."
-Jonah Raskin, For the Hell of It
Etymology
Modicum is from Latin modicus, "moderate," from modus, "measure."
Synonyms
small quantity, trace, hint, speck, jot, iota.
And ::extra-loud drumroll:: the drabbles:
The Mask
I.
I fooled myself for many years. For seven sons.
I saw how you were in Tirion, with your brothers: your voice lashing the air, your eyes smoldering with pride. Your face would twist, and you were nearly unrecognizable. Had this man laid beside me just last night? Had he touched me just last night?
I fooled myself into faith that your wicked pride was adventitious to the tender man I married.
To my father, I said: Trust him. He is my husband. I know him.
But you did not wear the mask in Tirion.
You wore the mask with me.
II.
“Why her?”
That is what they said to me, Nerdanel, when they saw my eyes conflagrate at the sight of you.
“She is common!”
You held me and did not chastise me for the vituperative things I said about those whom I was supposed to cherish. You did not see it as a portend, as did others, who shrunk from me and gasped, “Fëanaro! Do not say such things!”
Your wisdom was to accept what you knew you could not understand.
“She has not a modicum of beauty!”
I cannot recall when you removed your mask and proved them right.