http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/comment-page-1/#comment-53071 Craig Salvay Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:53:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4168#comment-53071 Consider using the word "tautology" in your explanation of the connection between "pomp" (Greek origin) and "circumstance" (Latin origin). Though pomp came to Latin from Greek ("pompein" = to send), I observe that literature and dictionaries of the 14th through 17th centuries seem often to use or cite the Latin (often French) and Greek words, perhaps to make the linguistic scholars of those centuries pleased that all then-modern forms of a meaning were being preserved and carried into English. Regardless of the origin of the practice of dual citation/usage (Latin & Greek), this practice among English linguists provided a language that is the richest repository of words in the modern world. Consider using the word “tautology” in your explanation of the connection between “pomp” (Greek origin) and “circumstance” (Latin origin). Though pomp came to Latin from Greek (“pompein” = to send), I observe that literature and dictionaries of the 14th through 17th centuries seem often to use or cite the Latin (often French) and Greek words, perhaps to make the linguistic scholars of those centuries pleased that all then-modern forms of a meaning were being preserved and carried into English. Regardless of the origin of the practice of dual citation/usage (Latin & Greek), this practice among English linguists provided a language that is the richest repository of words in the modern world.

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/comment-page-1/#comment-43343 Eleanor Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:12:42 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4168#comment-43343 Excellent answer! not only informative, and exact but thorough, enough information was given to assist the learner/requestor so if it is said or given in the wrong content you supplied multiple scenerios and information to use as resources to pull from. Excellent answer! not only informative, and exact but thorough, enough information was given to assist the learner/requestor so if it is said or given in the wrong content you supplied multiple scenerios and information to use as resources to pull from.

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/comment-page-1/#comment-42331 mododavid Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:00:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4168#comment-42331 Thank you so much for the explanation. This is the ONLY place I've found that has explained this phrase and has done it so well. I've been curious about this phrase since the first time I read the Odessey (about ten years ago in college), and I wondered why these ancient characters would use such a presumably modern phrase. Bad translation I guess. Thank you. Also, you're right. Everyone explains the obvious "pomp" well enough, but there's never a good explanation of "circumstance." Thank you so much for the explanation. This is the ONLY place I’ve found that has explained this phrase and has done it so well. I’ve been curious about this phrase since the first time I read the Odessey (about ten years ago in college), and I wondered why these ancient characters would use such a presumably modern phrase. Bad translation I guess. Thank you. Also, you’re right. Everyone explains the obvious “pomp” well enough, but there’s never a good explanation of “circumstance.”

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/comment-page-1/#comment-36231 Steve Aspenson Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:12:30 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4168#comment-36231 Why not just acknowledge the etymology of circumstance a bit more to understand the phrase? There's a pompous display, and some others standing around staring at it? Why not just acknowledge the etymology of circumstance a bit more to understand the phrase? There’s a pompous display, and some others standing around staring at it?

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/comment-page-1/#comment-35025 Chris Way Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:25:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4168#comment-35025 Nice to know: The term "Pomp and Circumstace" is also used by the character of Danny Dravott in Kiplings "The man who would be king", describing his upcoming marriage. Nice to know: The term “Pomp and Circumstace” is also used by the character of Danny Dravott in Kiplings “The man who would be king”, describing his upcoming marriage.

]]> http://www.word-detective.com/2010/11/pomp-and-circumstance/comment-page-1/#comment-34164 Christian Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:56:42 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4168#comment-34164 A brilliant explanation. Thank you. A brilliant explanation. Thank you.

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