Posted on 01/19/2016 6:33:36 PM PST by Louis Foxwell
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
ASCESIS [uh SEE sis]
noun
ASCESIS is self discipline, and can be used as a synonym of asceticism. ASCESIS is one of those cases of an unfamiliar word that underles a familiar one, here ascetic. An ascetic is one who practices ASCESIS, i.e., gives up the normal pleasures of life, preferring the rigors of self denial to the satisfactions flowing from material gain.
As an adjective, ascetic describes such a person, one who pledges himself to rigorous abstinence.
ASCESIS is from Greek askesis (exercise, training) ascetic from Greek asketikos (hardworking), and they both fo back to the Greek verb askeein (to work hard, discipline oneself.
ASCESIS is good for the body, good for the mind, good for society, and all too rare.
For those among you looking for a positive and uplifting word, here’s one. How many notables are ASCESIS? Is this even an attribute we seek in a leader? Have at it wordsmiths.
I have not gone on a luxury cruise since I got ascesis.
And I see your ASCESIST, and raise you two aseacists. Just to help out.
I have zero, but as always am intrigued by the comment removed.
“AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH” is the theme song for every Aecesis. (If I don’t uppercase Aecesis it self corrects to abscess ;)
I so screwed up the spelling. What a maroon....... I now go in peace.
Bill Clinton never practiced ascesis
Better lock up your daughters and nieces
His wife makes him nervous
So he made Secret Service
Alert him as to where the old beast is
My life right now is in pieces.
So I am practicing ascesis.
But, according to my thesis,
When all my struggle ceases,
And I’ve put out all my fleeces,
And paid off all my leases,
I’ll pack up my valises,
Say goodbye to the nephews and nieces,
Anbd retire, rich as Croesus.
You are hereby awarded our highest honor, The Mighty Pen award -
If you had written the word “peace” as either “pieces” or “paesce” you might have won an award as a literary muse. As things stand, you get bupkis.
Skipping your neat word selection for right now, I’m posting a word exercise that was sent to me in email yesterday that WFTD participants might find fun.
Araprosdokians “Harveyisms”
Winston Churchill loved araprosdokians, figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected.
1. Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it’s still on my list.
3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
5. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
6. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
7. They begin the evening news with ‘Good Evening,’ then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
8. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
9. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out, I just wanted pay checks.
10. In filling out an application, where it says, ‘In case of emergency, notify:’ I put “DOCTOR.”
11. I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
12. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street...with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
13. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
14. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.
15. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
16. Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
17. There’s a fine line between cuddling and... holding someone down so they can’t get away.
18. I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.
19. You’re never too old to learn something stupid.
20. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
21. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
22. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
23. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
Finally:
24. I’m supposed to respect my elders, but now it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one.
Sometimes the reference is so obtuse (or obvious, whatever) I miss it entirely. This is one such time. No need for explanation. I will wallow in my own personal obtusity.
Nice. Worth pasting to my wall for that much needed punch line.
Good Christians practice ascesis
They could write a Lenten thesis
They seek mercy and repent
on a life poorly spent
So that they can achieve metamorphosis.
D*mn........
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