word of the day: breviary

The word of the day is breviary:

Etymology:  < Latin breviārium ‘summary, abridgement’, from neuter of breviārius adj. ‘abridged’, < brevi-s short. 

1.a. A brief statement, summary, epitome. ? Obs. 

b. transf. and fig.; cf. epitome n. 2.

2.a. In the Roman Catholic Church, the book containing the ‘Divine Office’ for each day, which those who are in orders are bound to recite.  The Office consists of psalms, collects and ‘lections’ or readings from the Scripture and the lives of the Saints. Those who are only in ‘Minor Orders’, i.e. below the grade of sub-deacon, are not required to say Office.

 b. fig. 

c. fig. phr. matter of breviary (= matiere de breviaire, Rabelais, Pantagruel IV. viii): a thing that admits of no question or doubt. (OED)

"One medieval source records his response to a novice who asked for a psalter: “When you have a psalter, you will want a breviary; and when you will have a breviary, you will install yourself in a throne like a great prelate, and you will command your brother: ‘Bring me my breviary!’ ” He then took some ashes from the hearth and rubbed them into his body, all the while repeating, “I’m a breviary, I’m a breviary!”"

 - Joan Acocella,  "Rich man, poor man: The radical visions of St. Francis", 14 January 2013 The New Yorker

No, I don't get it.  I guess this is evidence that St. Francis was a strange guy?

word of the day: psalter

The word of the day is psalter:

Etymology:  Originally < classical Latin psaltērium (see below); subsequently reinforced by Old French saltier, sauter, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French sautier, psautier, psaltier (Middle French psaultier , French psautier ) book containing psalms (c1119), Book of Psalms (c1130), stringed instrument, psaltery (first half of the 12th cent.), the rosary (c1349 in ton sautier ‘your psalter’, addressed to the Virgin Mary), set of psalms for recital (1377) < classical Latin psaltērium (see psalterium n.).
I. A collection of psalms. 
1.a. The Book of Psalms of the Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures.
b. A particular translation or arrangement (prose or metrical) of the Book of Psalms. Now usu. with distinguishing word, as Latin, English, metrical, etc.    
Roman Psalter n. St. Jerome's first version of the Psalter, a slight revision of the Old Latin text based on the Septuagint.   
Gallican Psalter n. a more thorough revision, based on Origen's Hexaplar text of the Septuagint, prepared by St. Jerome c392.   
Hebraic Psalter n. a new translation from the Hebrew, prepared by St. Jerome c400.
 c. A copy of, or a volume containing, the Psalms, esp. as arranged for liturgical or devotional use. 
2. A set of the Psalms, recited or sung at a particular service or for a particular purpose, esp. in the Office of the Dead. Obs. 
3. R.C. Church. With modifying word or clause, as Lady psalter, Marian psalter, etc.
4. Any of several Irish chronicles chiefly written in verse, dating from around the 10th cent., and now no longer extant. Usu. with distinguishing word, as Psalter of Cashel, Psalter of Tara, etc. 
II. An instrument.  
5.a. A stringed musical instrument; = psaltery n. 1. Now arch. or hist. 
b. Heraldry. A kind of wind instrument, used as a device. Obs. rare. (OED)



"One medieval source records his response to a novice who asked for a psalter: “When you have a psalter, you will want a breviary; and when you will have a breviary, you will install yourself in a throne like a great prelate, and you will command your brother: ‘Bring me my breviary!’ ” He then took some ashes from the hearth and rubbed them into his body, all the while repeating, “I’m a breviary, I’m a breviary!”"

 - Joan Acocella,  "Rich man, poor man: The radical visions of St. Francis", 14 January 2013 The New Yorker

word of the day: wattle-and-daub

The word of the day is wattle-and-daub:

n. interwoven twigs plastered with clay or mud, as a building material for huts, cottages, etc.; chiefly attrib. (OED)



"Then, in a district called the Portiuncula, they found a ruined church, Santa Maria degli Angeli, and they built wattle-and-daub cells around it."

 - Joan Acocella, "Rich man, poor man: The radical visions of St. Francis", 14 January 2013 The New Yorker