All that glitters is not gold...

By Vichara


There are times that we can feel like one of those greyhound dogs racing around a track trying to catch that elusive artificial rabbit. In the mind of the greyhound the rabbit is real, the object of desire and fulfillment. But because of the short-term memory and repetitive nature of these attempts of fulfillment the greyhound forgets that the rabbit is not real in much the same way we as humans fall prey to the smoke and mirrors of desire. We see the glitter and perceived charm of something desirable that has been dangles in front of us but once acquired it tends to hold little emotional value. The attachment to things keeps us prisoners of our own desire. Like the old adage, all the glitters is not gold, holds true as those things that have great value are things that can’t be acquired by monetary means, but by the heart.

decimate • \DESS-uh-mayt\ • verb
1 : to take or destroy the tenth part of
*2 : to cause great destruction or harm to

Example Sentence:
Farmers struggled to feed their families after their crops were decimated by blight.

Did you know?
The connection between "decimate" and the number ten harks back to a brutal practice of the army of ancient Rome. A unit that was guilty of a severe crime (such as mutiny) was punished by selecting and executing one-tenth of its soldiers, thereby scaring the remaining nine-tenths into obedience. It's no surprise that the word for this practice came from Latin "decem," meaning "ten." From this root we also get our word "decimal" and the name of the month of December, originally the tenth month of the calendar before the second king of Rome decided to add January and February. In its extended uses "decimate" strayed from its "tenth" meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers.

By Vichara


You are not expected to carry the entire load in life but you will need to carry your share. Of course what is determined to be your share is subjective and I’m sure it will and has drawn ill feeling over each of our lives. But I do believe when drawn into being more cognizant with our cause and effect, action and re-action of each day the level or personal responsibility does come apparent and you gain an intuitive level of what that “load” is…and to stand by it. We each have a responsibility to each other and maintain a compassionate heart. But remember a compassionate heart is more effective when it is respected by all and when each person carries their own “load”.

euphuism • \YOO-fyuh-wiz-um\ • noun
1 : an elegant Elizabethan literary style marked by excessive use of balance, antithesis, and alliteration and by frequent use of similes drawn from mythology and nature
*2 : artificial elegance of language

Example Sentence:
Cora, given to euphuism, exclaimed, "Oh, glorious auroral orb!" and Paul agreed, "Yeah, nice sunrise."

Did you know?
Nowadays, someone who uses euphuism might be accused of linguistic excess and affectation, but "euphuism" hasn't always had a negative connotation. When John Lyly employed this verbose form of rhetoric in his prose works Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578) and Euphues and His England (1580), it was a style that appealed to many of his contemporaries. "Euphuism" comes from the name of the character Euphues, whom Lyly described as a "young gallante, of more wit then wealth, and yet of more wealth then wisdome." The name was probably inspired by a Greek word meaning "witty." The term "euphuism" came into being to refer to Lyly's (and other writers') style a dozen or so years after his works appeared.

How the parrot got his colors...

By Vichara


There was once this dull-grey colored parrot. One day a fire broke out in the forest he lived in. Of course for his own safety he flew away. As he made his escape he saw animals below that were trapped as well as trees being destroyed. Sensing the need and his duty he flew down to the river, scooped water up with his wings and shook the drops onto the flames below. He did this over and over with out making too much difference to stop the fire. High above several gods sat watching his futile efforts, some making fun of him, except one. This one turned himself into an eagle and flew down and asked him to give up the fight to save the forest and save himself. When the grey parrot refused the eagle was moved and shed tears of compassion. These abundant tears fell in such a torrent that it put out the fire below and even more amazing some of these tears fell on the parrot’s feathers and turned them into a rainbow of colors.

bespoke • \bih-SPOHK\ • adjective
*1 : custom-made
2 : dealing in or producing custom-made articles

Example Sentence:
The shop employs renowned tailors who create the finest bespoke suits from luxurious cloths.

Did you know?
In the English language of yore, the verb "bespeak" had various meanings, including "to speak," "to accuse," and "to complain." In the 16th century, "bespeak" acquired another meaning -- "to order or arrange in advance." It is from that sense that we get the adjective "bespoke," referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. You are most likely to encounter this adjective in British contexts, such as the recent Reuters news story about a young pig in Northern England who was fitted with "bespoke miniature footwear" (custom-made Wellington boots) to help it overcome a phobia of mud.

By Vichara


Trying to find your place in the world is yes very difficult. We believe that when we find that “one thing” that all will settle down and be all right. The thing is however everything is in a constant change and never remains the same. Impermanence underscores every movement of everything and there is no way to escape this fact. Given that you may ask then even when I find that “one thing” it will be gone. No, the one thing that you have reached for is still there but it will be evolving with each moment. The key is to wrap your heart around it and with openness celebrate, learn and explore this ever evolving one thing that makes you happy. And from this one “seed” another “thing” will grow and the garden that is your lfe will be abundant and fulfilling.

atoll • \AT-tawl\ • noun
: a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon

Example Sentence:
The Marshall Islands, in the central Pacific Ocean, consist of five islands and 29 atolls, which are each made up of many islets.

Did you know?
If you are lucky enough to sail south and west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, you'll find the Maldives, a group of about 1,200 coral islands and sandbanks that form the Republic of Maldives. Many islands in that independent nation demonstrate the archetypal atoll, and geographers often use them to point out the characteristic features of such coral islands. Given how prevalent atolls are there, it isn't surprising that "atoll" comes from the name for that kind of island in Divehi, the official language of the Maldives

By Vichara


Before I sit down to write the “thought” to you all I always end my meditation by saying to myself…allow me to use my hands, heart and mind with Love, Compassion and Patience. It’s like putting on an overcoat that guides and protects. Sometimes there are moments of course where situations will try to tear the coat but if at these times we remind ourselves the overcoat is there it will help re-enforce and remind us that it is there and guide our actions throughout the day.

procrustean • \pruh-KRUSS-tee-un\ • adjective
1 : of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes
*2 : marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances

Example Sentence:
The company abandoned its procrustean scheduling policy and began allowing single mothers and other employees to work more flexible hours.

Did you know?
Procrustes was one of many villains defeated by the Greek hero Theseus. According to Greek mythology, Procrustes was a robber who killed his victims in a most cruel and unusual way. He made them lie on an iron bed and would force them to fit the bed by cutting off the parts that hung off the ends or by stretching those people who were too short. Something "Procrustean," therefore, takes no account of individual differences but cruelly and mercilessly makes everything the same. And a "procrustean bed" is a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced.

Flowing right in front of us...

By Vichara


There is an old Chinese proverb that states when you are friendly, humble and polite, the divine spirit will come to you as naturally as the water flowing down into the valley. I believe that this stream is always present, in whatever label you call it, and that it is merely diverted from our attention by daily distractions. Sometimes we just need to be reminded by example that this divine spirit that connects us all does exist and all you and I need to do is one simple act of Love, Compassion & Patience during the day and that stream will be flowing right in front of you.

nocebo • \noh-SEE-boh\ • noun
: a harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient

Example Sentence:
Patients given the nocebo reported mild to severe headaches.

Did you know?
"Nocent" has been in the English language as a word for "harmful" since the 15th century. It comes from Latin "nocēre," meaning "to harm." Latin "nocebo" is a close relative that means "I will be harmful" and that contrasts with "placebo," meaning "I shall please." People in medicine began using "placebo" for inert preparations prescribed solely for a patient's mental relief, and not for relieving a disorder, in the late 18th century. As doctors began to observe the effects of placebos, some noticed that the harmless preparations actually sometimes caused detrimental effects on the patient's health. English speakers began using the word "nocebo" for substances causing such adverse reactions in patients in 1961.

Such stuff as dreams are made of…

By Vichara


The #1 ingredient in the cosmos is hydrogen, next is oxygen. We learn from school that our bodies are mostly water and is what is water? Oxygen and hydrogen. We are not simply in this universe; the universe is in us all. No matter how we feel, separate from others, alone or isolated, even on the basic level there is an interconnection that links us all. It is this primal element that acts as a base to begin the process to bring us together. We are not only such stuff as dreams are made of, as Shakespeare once said, but are a part of everyone’s dream to make the world we live in better.

sacrilegious • \sak-ruh-LIJ-us\ • adjective
1 : committing or characterized by a technical and not necessarily intrinsically outrageous violation (as improper reception of a sacrament) of what is sacred because consecrated to God
*2 : grossly irreverent toward a hallowed person, place, or thing

Example Sentence:
My great-grandfather was a die-hard New Dealer who considered any criticism of Franklin D. Roosevelt to be sacrilegious.

Did you know?
It may seem that "sacrilegious" should be spelled as "sacreligious," since the word sometimes describes an irreverent treatment of religious objects or places. However, "sacrilegious" comes to us from "sacrilege," which is ultimately derived from a combination of the Latin words "sacer" ("sacred") and "legere" ("to gather" or "to steal"). Its antecedent in Latin, "sacrilegus," meant "one who steals sacred things." There is no direct relation to "religious" (which is derived from the Latin word "religiosus," itself from "religio," meaning "supernatural constraint or religious practice"). The apparent resemblance between "sacrilegious" and "religious" is just a coincidence.

Release

By Vichara


When we are familiar with our "self" we can see the obvious attachments that are perceived by our ego to posses value. When the attachment is scrutinized and recognized as it is, the attachment dissipates and there is a wonderful element of freedom that permeates your life.

litotes • \LYE-tuh-teez\ • noun
understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

Example Sentence:
Jamie blushingly acknowledged her victory by litotes, saying that her scores were "not bad" and that she was "not displeased" with her performance.

Did you know?
Even if you've never heard the word "litotes," chances are you've encountered this figure of speech. If you've ever approved of a job well done by exclaiming "Not bad!" or told someone that you are "not unhappy" when you are ecstatic, you've even used it yourself. In fact, you might say that it would be "no mean feat" to avoid this common feature of our language! And litotes isn't only common; it's also "simple" -- etymologically speaking, that is. "Litotes" evolved from a Greek word meaning "simple," and perhaps ultimately from another Greek word meaning "linen cloth."

now broadcasting...the Divine Spirit Radio station

By Vichara


The words I write are not my own, everyone has them. It is only by listening with an open heart that you will hear them. The Divine Spirit Radio station is available to all of us no matter who we are. There is no special cable hook up but there is a simple agreement plan. By using Love, Compassion and Patience the signal will be stronger and translate in any language to any part of the world.

deter • \di-TER\ • verb
1 : to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting
2 : inhibit

Example Sentence:
To deter shoplifters, the store posted signs listing the legal penalties for the crime.

Did you know?
The word "deter" is rooted in fear. It was borrowed into English around the mid-16th century from the Latin verb "deterrēre," which in turn was formed by combining "de-," meaning "from" or "away," with "terrēre," meaning "to frighten." "Terrēre" is also the source of "terror," "terrible," and even "terrific," which originally meant "very bad" or "frightful." These days, you may be deterred by something that frightens you or by something that simply causes you to think about the difficult or unpleasant consequences of continuing. The word can also mean "to inhibit," as in "painting to deter rust."

By Vichara


Without failure you cannot have achievement. No one likes to fail at something but it is in failure that you find the necessary steps to resolve the situation(s) that come our way and work constructively to better solutions. The key is not to allow the failure to taint any further progress in any area of your life but realize what they are…lessons in building a more resourceful and compassionate person.

mansuetude • \MAN-swih-tood\ • noun
: the quality or state of being gentle : meekness, tameness

Example Sentence:
"While her voice may have an air of mansuetude, she proved that she could easily cut above the din of the boys in her band. . .." (Christopher Muther, The Boston Globe, June 24, 2004)

Did you know?
"Mansuetude" was first used in English in the 14th century, and it derives from the Latin verb "mansuescere," which means "to tame." "Mansuescere" itself comes from the noun "manus" (meaning "hand") and the verb "suescere" ("to accustom" or "to become accustomed"). Unlike "manus," which has many English descendants (including "manner," "emancipate," and "manicure," among others), "suescere" has only a few English progeny. One of them is a word we featured in December -- "desuetude" -- which means "disuse" and comes to us by way of Latin "desuescere" ("to become unaccustomed"). Two others are "custom" and "accustom," which derive via Anglo-French from Latin "consuescere," meaning "to accustom."

Change from within...

By Vichara


In order to change the nature of things, either within yourself or in others, one should change not the events, but those thoughts which create those events.

obeisance • \oh-BEE-sunss\ • noun
1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow
*2 : acknowledgment of another's superiority or importance : homage

Example Sentence:
The people paid obeisance to their god by kneeling at the shrine.

Did you know?
When it first appeared in English in the late 14th century, "obeisance" shared the same meaning as "obedience." This makes sense given that "obeisance" can be traced back to the Anglo-French verb "obeir," which means "to obey" and is also an ancestor of our word "obey." The other senses of "obeisance" also date from the 14th century, but they have stood the test of time whereas the obedience sense is now obsolete.

By Vichara


We can judge a person for their past, but they are already different in the present. Like a river ever moving forward, individuals meld and change according to circumstances. Some of these changes can be profound that dramatically alter a person’s life. So by having preconceived judgments of others only keeps yourself back. Instead approach each situation and each individual in the moment. Listen with new ears and base the outcome with love, compassion and patience.

impuissant • \im-PWISS-unt\ • adjective
: weak, powerless

Example Sentence:
Jonah was a relentless bully who sought to intimidate any impuissant student that he could find in the schoolyard.

Did you know?
Both the adjective "impuissant" and the noun "impuissance" came to English from Middle French. They are derived from the prefix "in-" (meaning "not") and the noun "puissance," which means "power" and is a word in English in its own right. "Puissance" derives from the verb "poer," meaning "to be able" or "to be powerful," and is ultimately related to the same Latin roots that gave us words such as "power" and "potent." While both "puissant" and "impuissance" first appeared in English during the 15th century, "impuissant" did not make its first appearance in our language until 1629.

By Vichara


We come into this world like a child who enters a room where a great speaker is sharing wonderful secrets. We did not hear the beginning and we will leave before the finish and only hear and understand fragments of what is being said. We may never fully understand all that is being said but we should take the good that we have heard and empower our lives with it to make a difference in not only our lives, but also the lives of others.

exclave • \EKS-kleiv\ • noun
: a portion of a country separated from the main part and constituting an enclave in respect to the surrounding territory

Example Sentence:
Technically, the state of Alaska is an exclave of the United States: it borders only Canadian territory.

Did you know?
You probably won't be surprised to learn that the key to "exclave" is found in "enclave." "Enclave" itself ultimately derives from the Latin word for "key," which is "clavis." It was adopted in the mid-19th century from Middle French "enclaver" ("to enclose"), which in turn derives (through Vulgar Latin) from "in-" and "clavis." "Exclave" was formed about twenty years later by combining the prefix "ex-" and the "-clave" of "enclave." Other "clavis" descendants in English include "autoclave," "clavicle," "conclave," and "clavichord" ("an early keyboard instrument in use before the piano").

By Vichara


I think that each one of us holds a piece of gigantic puzzles that everybody is trying to put together. The trouble lies in that we don’t recognize the others that hold a piece that we are looking for and they with us. For whatever reasons, prejudice, indifference, self-involvement or fear, some of the puzzles will be left unresolved. We need to realize that we are in the same “boat” and try to help each other. That is the biggest reason we are here. Next time you are drawn to someone for some strange reason that helps you with that missing piece, you will understand.

corvée • \KOR-vay\ • noun
*1 : unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord
2 : labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair

Example Sentence:
"He was also entitled to . . . district corvées which helped to maintain, repair, and defend royal property. . .." (Bernard F. Reilly, The Medieval Spains)

Did you know?
Under the Roman Empire, certain classes of people owed personal services to the state or to private proprietors. For example, labor might be requisitioned for the maintenance of the postal systems of various regions, or landed proprietors might require tenant farmers and persons freed from slavery to perform unpaid labor on their estates. The feudal system of corvée -- regular work that vassals owed their lords -- developed from this Roman tradition. We borrowed the word "corvée" from French in the 14th century, and it ultimately traces back to the Latin word "corrogata," meaning "to collect" or "to requisition." By the 18th century, "corvée" was also being used for the unpaid or partially paid labor public authorities exacted in lieu of taxes for the construction or repair of highways, bridges, or canals.

A new you...everyday

By Vichara


The body regenerates 50 trillion cells every day. Your body therefore, in this process, has changed into virtually a new person. Given this fact we have an opportunity to use this same process in our minds to shed those things unimportant and trivial just as our bodies shed the unnecessary cells in it’s natural process of change. By letting go we create an opportunity for new growth to happen not only in our bodies but in our hearts as well.

bird-dog • \BURD-dog\ • verb
1 : to watch closely
*2 : to seek out : follow, detect
Example Sentence:
Scores of college recruiters bird-dogged the 7-foot high school senior for their basketball programs.
Did you know?
People began using "bird-dog" as a verb meaning "to closely watch someone or something" or "to doggedly seek out someone or something" in the early 20th century. Both meanings reflect skills likely to be possessed by a well-trained bird dog. By the 1940s, "bird-dogging" was being used specifically as a term for stealing someone else's date. And, not long after that, it began to be used for the scouting out of customers or prospective talent. The noun "bird dog" is also used as a name for the date stealers and scouts who do the bird-dogging.

As a _______?

By Vichara


As a (________) I believe, being a (_______) we would feel, for me being a (_______) the answer would be. Insert identification here. The compulsion to be identified can be both a blessing and a curse. While having perhaps a visible and recognizable identity for others, would have ways for people around to afford you some considerations, it is still the superficial they will respond to. Being respectful of anyone’s social and religious foundation I believe by answering the questions above, not as group, but as a (person) I believe, being a (person) one would feel, for me being a (person) the answer would be…stripped of the identifications compels your heart to be identified as apposed to the obvious.

morass • \muh-RASS\ • noun
1 : marsh, swamp
2 a : a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes *b : an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture
Example Sentence:
For Diane and Oscar, trying to adopt a baby meant getting lost in a morass of paperwork, but they knew it would be worth it.
Did you know?
We won't swamp you with details: "morass" comes from the Dutch word "moeras," which itself derives from an Old French word, "maresc," meaning "marsh." "Morass" has been part of English for centuries, and in its earliest uses it was a synonym of "swamp" or "marsh." (That was the sense Robert Louis Stevenson used when he described Long John Silver emerging from "a low white vapour that had crawled during the night out of the morass" in Treasure Island.) Imagine walking through a thick, muddy swamp -- it's easy to compare such slogging to trying to disentangle yourself from a sticky situation. By the mid-19th century, "morass" had gained a figurative sense referring to any predicament as murky, confusing, or difficult to navigate as a literal swamp or quagmire.

Our spirit grows...

By Vichara


Leo Tolstoy wrote “Flower petals fall when the tree’s fruit starts to grow. All your weaknesses fall away in the same fashion, when your spirit begins to grow inside you.” In my backyard right now the beginnings of plums, apricots, peaches, grapes and figs are starting to form. For most their flowers have already fallen. In the same way, as all of us that share these thoughts and share them with others, have the fruit of our “heart” forming every day. As I spoke about yesterday, being a life gardener, we have this daily task to nourish our garden with compassion, love and patience but we as a group also have this responsibility with each person we met to help each other’s garden as well.

gelid • \JELL-id\ • adjective
: extremely cold : icy

Example Sentence:
The rescue team braved gelid conditions as they searched the mountain for the lost climber.

Did you know?
"Gelid" first appeared in English late in the 16th century, coming to our language from Latin "gelidus," which ultimately derives from the noun "gelu," meaning "frost" or "cold." (Our noun "gelatin," which can refer to an edible jelly that undergoes a cooling process as part of its formation, comes from a related Latin word: "gelare," meaning "to freeze.") "Gelid" is used in English to describe anything of extremely cold temperature (as in "the gelid waters of the Arctic Ocean"), but the word can also be used figuratively to describe a person with a cold demeanor (as in "the criminal's gelid stare").

Life gardener

By Vichara


We may have several gardens to tend but each one is as important as the other because all is interconnected and interdependent. Decisions need to be ever day and every moment…what needs to be nourished, what needs to be pulled but all of this needs to be done with clarity of thought unencumbered by extraneous distractions. Start by enlisting walking established in a rooting confidence meditation. Breathe slowly with each step and from this the path you walk gains more perspective and your ability as a life gardener gains more confidence.

feuilleton • \fuh-yuh-TOHNG (the "ng" is not pronounced, but the preceding vowel is nasalized)\ • noun
1 : a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader
2 : a work of fiction printed in installments
*3 : a short literary composition often having a familiar tone and reminiscent content
Example Sentence:
The magazine's June issue includes feuilletons from famous writers on the subject of fathers.
Did you know?
The feuilleton originated in French newspapers as a supplement sectioned out from the main news stories. Although found in the political section of the newspaper, the feuilleton typically included material on non-political subjects, such as art, literature, or fashion. Fiction was sometimes included as well. The word is a diminutive of the French "feuillet," meaning "sheet of paper," and ultimately derives from Latin "folium," meaning "leaf." From this source English acquired "folio" (which can refer to a page, or leaf, of a book or manuscript) and "foliage" (meaning "a mass of leaves").

By Vichara


How do you convince a mind buried in emotional unreason to see the obvious logical truth? Is it by repeating the truth? No because in repetition the words become meaningless. How then? By silent example. Live your life within the context of Love, Patience and Compassion and you will show by example to others a clearer path to the Truth.

tawdry • \TAW-dree\ • adjective
: cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality; also : ignoble

Example Sentence:
Tom and Pam found themselves in an unfamiliar section of the city, walking by tawdry storefronts and shady bars.

Did you know?
In the 7th century, Etheldreda, the queen of Northumbria, renounced her husband and her royal position for the veil of a nun. She was renowned for her saintliness and is traditionally said to have died of a swelling in her throat, which she took as a judgment upon her fondness for wearing necklaces in her youth. Her shrine became a principal site of pilgrimage in England. An annual fair was held in her honor on October 17th, and her name became simplified to St. Audrey. At these fairs various kinds of cheap knickknacks were sold, along with a type of necklace called "St. Audrey's lace," which by the 17th century had become altered to "tawdry lace." Eventually, "tawdry" came to be used to describe anything cheap and gaudy that might be found at these fairs or anywhere else.

Healing

By Vichara

We reach out in prayer, meditation and reflection for help from however we describe it, the universe, god, divine presence, etc.  While it is definitely good to reach out we must also reach within and release ourselves from the trouble that has been inside of us.  As a good friend of mine has told me, “we must forgive ourselves” and in this, both sides of this troubled coin can be exposed to the healing powers that exist.

malaise • \muh-LAYZ\  • noun

1 : an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness

*2 : a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being

Example Sentence:

Though she has worked at the same company for 30 years, Jeannie shows few signs of the professional malaise common among her coworkers.

Did you know?

"Malaise," which ultimately traces back to Old French, has been part of English since the mid-18th century. One of its most notable uses, however, came in 1979 -- well, sort of. President Jimmy Carter never actually used the word in his July 15 televised address, but it became known as the "malaise speech" all the same. In the speech, Carter described the U.S. as a nation facing a "crisis of confidence" and rife with "paralysis and stagnation and drift." He spoke of a "national malaise" a few days later, and it's not hard to see why the "malaise" name stuck. The speech was praised by some and criticized by many others, but whatever your politics, it remains a vivid illustration of the meaning of "malaise."

Never give up...

By Vichara


There are things that will obscure our vision in seeing what to do next.  Sometimes it feels like you are trying to find a way out of a massive carnival grounds and every which way another barker is trying to entice you with every step.  Our determination to leave is so distracted the things become blurry and chaotic.  We need to remember that these distractions are representations of the attachments that try to bind us to the delusional things that keep us from leaving the carnival grounds.  You can leave, the exit is right there in front of you.

hors de combat • \or-duh-kohng-BAH (the "ng" is not pronounced, but the preceding vowel is nasalized)\  • adjective or adverb

: out of combat : disabled

Example Sentence:

With their best pitcher hors de combat with a shoulder injury, the team faced a bleak season.

Did you know?

We picked up "hors de combat" directly from French back in the mid-18th century. Benjamin Franklin put the term to use in a 1776 letter, observing that an "arrow sticking in any part of a man puts him hors du [sic] combat till it is extracted." But you don't have to use the word as literally as Franklin did. "Combat" can refer to any fight or contest, not just fighting in a war. A politician who's out of the running in a political race could be declared "hors de combat," for example. But the adjective (or adverb) need not refer only to humans or animals: if you own a car, chances are your vehicle has been hors de combat at least once.