Assuage – definition: 1. to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate; 2. to appease; satisfy; allay; relieve; 3. to soothe, calm, or mollify
Just remember its the taking part that counts. You will have a body of work to revise, edit and re-work for the next year, so don’t panic. NaNo is the starting point not the finish line.
If you make the magical 50,000 words – well done but if not know you have succeeded in challenging yourself and winning anyway. It is the journey of your story that is important.
I will be extra busy today at a local event with my publisher, Dream Write Publishing. If you are local come and grab early Xmas gifts and visit #14 booth – books for all ages. Xmas wrap available. Special children’s books packages prewrapped.
Noon – 7 pm – Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 84 ST, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta T8L 4P5
Colossal – definition: extraordinary great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic; huge
As some of you may know, I studied Greek and Roman mythology. This word brought to mind one of the lost wonders of the world. One I learnt about back in the day.
The word colossal comes from the Latin – colossus , which in turn comes from the ancient Greek word kolossos, which meant large statue. In particular it referred to firstly the colossus of Rhodes. This statue was gigantic and stood at the entrance to the port of Rhodes. And also the The Colossus Neronis in Rome, which stood beside the Coliseum as a tribute to the emperor, Nero.
The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was constructed to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I Monophthalmus. He was unsuccessful in besieging Rhodes in 305 BC. It was an impressive 30 meters (98.4 ft) high, which made it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world. The statue stood until its destruction by an earthquake in 226 BC.
Another large statue was the Colossus Neronis in Rome. This bronze statue was 30 meters high and represented the Emperor Nero. It stood in the vestibule of his Domus Aurea, an imerial villa complex spanning a large area from the north side of the Palatine Hill, across the Velian ridge and to the Esquiline Hill. Nero’s successors modified the statue into a representation of the sun god Sol Invictus. It is last mentioned in the 4th century AD. The statue was eventually moved to a spot outside the Flavian Amphitheatre, which (according to one of the more popular theories) became known, by its proximity to the Colossus, as the Colosseum.
Which colossal structure has your vote in the modern world?
Eleemosynary – definition: 1. of or for charity; charitable; 2. given in charity; having the nature of alms; 3. supported by or dependent on charity.
Don’t you just love this word? I do.
When I lived in England I used to travel the country visiting castles, historic houses and ancient archaeological sites. Among the many places I saw were Alms houses. These buildings were built to house the poor, old and distressed people and were often funded by Christian institutions. The first Almshouses were established in the tenth century in Britain. King Athelstan (a personal favorite) founded the first recorded Almshouse in York, England. The Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester is the oldest still in existence, dating from about 1132.
There are Almshouses in other countries. One was established in Stavanger, Norway in 1269 or 1270. Almshouses were introduced to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by it’s founder William Penn. In Maryland the legislature created almshouses in Anne Arundel County, which were financed by property taxes on landowners. Another state with a long tradition of almshouses is Massachusetts. The aid was available in the United States mainly for the elderly and disabled, and for children that had to sleep in the same rooms as adults. Non-governmental organizations provided this care due to the scandalous limited care available. This system began in the eighteenth century.
The photo above is Almshouses in Stratford upon Avon, England and the ones below are Trowbridge and Chipping Norton, England.
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 