A New Dictionary of Eponyms

By Morton S. Freeman

Do you approve of censoring the works of serious writers? a few may possibly contend that to bowdlerize an excellent writer's paintings will be to decrease its total caliber. Others, like Thomas Bowdler, whose eraser danced over each Shakespeare play, could argue that every one modest humans could be capable of learn an excellent paintings with out blushing. For attacking the classics, Mr. Bowdler has been immortalized because the world's best-known, self-appointed literary censor. and thanks to his efforts the time period bowdlerize has turn into eponymous together with his identify. however, the observe bikini--defined as a two-piece bathing go well with for women--has been a linguistic secret when you consider that 1947 whilst those matches have been first noticeable at the shorelines of the French Riviera, a 12 months after the us begun trying out atom bombs at the Bikini atoll of the Marshall Islands. a few surprised humans acknowledged that the effect of the scanty go well with on male seashore loungers used to be just like the devastating influence of the atomic bomb. Whoosh! an easier and extra credible proposal is that the bold swimsuits resembled the apparel worn by means of girls at the Bikini atoll.
Created a few century in the past, the time period eponym is itself a coinage from Greek phrases, epi, "on" or "upon," and onama, "a name." yet its broadened that means, as dictionaries set it out, refers to a observe derived from a formal identify. for example, Salisbury steak--a renowned diner menu merchandise made from universal hamburger and dressed up with brown gravy to make it extra appealing--is named for James H. Salisbury, an English medical professional who promoted a vitamin of floor pork.
A Dictionary of Eponyms explores the origins of hundreds and hundreds of those daily phrases from Argyle socks to zeppelins. Written in an interesting and anecdotal kind, and with a foreword via Edwin Newman, the e-book incorporates a short biography of the person whose identify grew to become linked to an merchandise or suggestion in addition to info on how and whilst the identify entered the language.
If you have ever puzzled simply the place phrases like cardigan sweater, pamphlet, and robot come from, Morton Freeman does greater than easily outline them--he brings them to life.

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Via Henry's meteorological paintings, a weather-reporting procedure used to be created. Henry grew to become the 1st climate forecaster to begin medical climate reporting, a convention that ended in the construction of the U. S. climate Bureau. He additionally used to be a first-rate organizer of the nationwide Academy of technology and its moment president. HERCULEAN initiatives Hercules, a Greek mythological hero, was once the son of Zeus and Alcmene, a mortal lady. Hera, Zeus's spouse, was once wrathful due to his infidelity and desired to do away with his bastard offspring. She attempted to kill Hercules in his cradle, yet used to be foiled. She then despatched serpents to do him in, yet Hercules, robust even then, strangled them. In his manhood, Hercules used to be brawny and muscular, yet used to be no fit for Hera, who troubled him with insanity. In a healthy of madness he slew his spouse and kids. To punish him for this grievous act, Apollo sentenced him to serve penance for twelve years less than the Argive king, Eurystheus, who imposed upon him twelve initiatives of significant hassle and risk. the 1st job used to be the killing of the monster lion Nemea. Hercules strangled it along with his naked fingers. the second one was once the killing of a nineheaded beast referred to as Hydra. each time a head was once bring to an end, seemed. He burned off all of the heads other than one, which can no longer be killed. This one he buried less than a rock and dipped his arrow into the Hyda's blood to poison it. The 3rd was once the taking pictures of an Arcadian stag with golden horns and ft of brass. Hercules stuck it after a protracted weary chase, drove 131 it right into a snow flow, after which carried it domestic on his shoulders. The fourth was once the taking pictures of the wild undergo of Erymanthus. This he did together with his naked palms. The 5th used to be the cleansing of the stables of King Augeas of Elis. The stables housed 3 thousand oxen and hadn't been wiped clean for thirty years. Hercules grew to become rivers into the stables and wiped clean them in an afternoon. The 6th was once the destruction of the birds of Stympphalus. that they had brass claws and ate human flesh. After scary them with Athena'a rattle, which was once jam-packed with dried dragons' eyes, he shot them with poisoned arrows. The 7th used to be the trap of the mad bull of Crete. Hercules overcame it and carried it away on his shoulders. The 8 was once the seize of the wild horses of Diomedes. those horses ate human flesh. Hercules stuck them and fed them the flesh of Diomedes, whom he had killed. Then he carried the horses on his again to Eurysteus. The 9th exertions was once acquiring the girdle (sash) of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Hercules fought and defeated the Amazons, killed Hippolyta, and took her girdle. The 10th used to be the seize of the ox of Geryon, a creature with 3 our bodies. Hercules killed the large Eurytion who was once guarding the ox, destroyed the giant's twoheaded puppy, after which drove the ox domestic. The 11th hard work used to be the robbery of the apples of Hesperides. Hercules requested Atlas to get them. Atlas agreed and positioned the area on Hercules's shoulders. Hercules acknowledged he might hold the area without end yet he may first want a pad for his shoulders.

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