The word of the day is amanuensis:
Latin (in Suetonius) adj. used subst., < a manu a secretary, short for servus a manu + -ensis belonging to.
One who copies or writes from the dictation of another. (OED)
"As the curtains billow in the wind and waves crash on the rocks below, time is marked by the tides, and this carnal-minded, avaricious grande dame composes her memoirs. Her not so inventive Boswell is her companion and amanuensis, Frances Black (Maggie Lacey), whom Flora calls Blackie."
- Hilton Als, "Ladies of the Night: Tennessee Williams and Anton Chekhov on troubled women", February 14 & 21, 2011, The New Yorker
1 comment:
Do you know what this "in Suetonius" reference is about? Do they mean that Suetonius coined the word? Cause the OED doesn't usually just list a random ancient author that used the original word before it was adopted.
Post a Comment