Polemic

1. A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.

2. A person engaged in or inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation.


adj. also po·lem·i·cal (--kl)
Of or relating to a controversy, argument, or refutation.


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[French polémique, from Greek polemikos, hostile, from polemos, war.]
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po·lemi·cal·ly adv.

chatelaine

n.

1 The mistress of a castle.
2 The mistress of a large, fashionable household.
3 A clasp or chain worn at the waist for holding keys, a purse, or a watch.

Femanine of chatelain

The master of a castle; a castellan.

Serendipity...is a word we are all formiliar with, but did we know that it was originally coined by the English politician Horace Walpole, from Serendip (a former name for Sri Lanka)?

I did know that; but only sinse recently; must have heard it on a quiz show or something. We are indebted to the English author Horace Walpole for the word serendipity, which he coined in one of the 3,000 or more letters on which his literary reputation primarily rests. In a letter of January 28, 1754, Walpole says that “this discovery, indeed, is almost of that kind which I call Serendipity, a very expressive word.” Walpole formed the word on an old name for Sri Lanka, Serendip. He explained that this name was part of the title of “a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of....”

Traduce

tr.v. tra·duced, tra·duc·ing, tra·duc·es
To cause humiliation or disgrace to by making malicious and false statements.

Latin trdcere, to lead as a spectacle, dishonor : tr-, trns-, trans- + dcere, to lead; see deuk- in Indo-European Roots.]

tra·ducement n.
tra·ducer n.
tra·ducing·ly adv.

Sinecure

1. A position or office that requires little or no work but provides a salary.
2. Archaic. An ecclesiastical benefice not attached to the spiritual duties of a parish.


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[From Medieval Latin (beneficium) sine cr, (benefice) without cure (of souls) : Latin sine, without + Latin cr, ablative of cra, care; see cure.]
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sine·cur·ism n.
sine·curist n.

Why have I never come across this word before, when it suits my ideal way of life exactly?

Wampum

1. Small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts, formerly used by certain Native American peoples as currency and jewelry or for ceremonial exchanges between groups. Also called peag.
2. Informal. Money.


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[Short for wampumpeag.]

How many beads to the quid?

A bracelet.

Lol n1

Cicerone (siseroni)

n. pl. cic·e·ro·nes or cic·e·ro·ni (-n)
A guide for sightseers.

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[Italian, from Latin Cicer, Cicern-, Marcus Tullius Cicero.]

Cicerone

\Ci`ce*ro"ne\, n.; pl. It. Ciceroni, E. Cicerones. [It., fr. L. Cicero, the Roman orator. So called from the ordinary talkativeness of such a guide.] One who shows strangers the curiosities of a place; a guide.