What does eon mean?
It is a noun that means an eternity, or an infinite amount of time; forever.
How do you pronounce it?
ē′ən
OR
e·on
Where does it come from?
Eon is a variation of Aeon. It is from the Greek aiōn ‘age’.
How do you use it?
It’s been aeons since I saw a movie at the multiplex.
Glaciers formed eons ago.
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“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
What does it mean?
If someone’s paying you or helping you out, you have to be careful not to make them angry or say bad things about them. Don’t turn on someone who has supported you spiritually or physically.
Where does it come from?
It was used about 600 b.c. by the Greek poet Sappho, this metaphor of a dog biting its master was first recorded in English in 1711.
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What does eclectic mean?
It is an adjective and a noun and is deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
How do you pronounce it?
ɪˈklɛktɪk/
or
[ih-klek-tik]
Where does it come from?
The term comes from the Greek ἐκλεκτικός (eklektikos), literally “choosing the best”, and that from ἐκλεκτός (eklektos), “picked out, select”. Well known eclectics in Greek philosophy were the Stoics Panaetius and Posidonius, and the New Academics Carneades and Philo of Larissa. Among the Romans, Cicero was thoroughly eclectic, as he united the Peripatetic, Stoic, and New Academic doctrines. Other eclectics included Varro and Seneca.
How do you use it?
I want to go to a university that offers an eclectic mix of classes.
I like her eclectic taste in clothes. She’s a mix of hip-hop, bohemian and hipster.
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“Fortune favors the bold”
What does it mean?
The phrase means that Fortuna, the Goddess of luck, is more likely to help people who bravely go after what they want. These people will most likely be more successful than people who try to live safely.
Where does it come from?
Its earliest recorded use is in latin as ‘Audaces fortuna iuvat’ by the second century BC playwright Terence, Phormio.
The Roman dictator and consul Lucius Cornelius Sulla was said to believe in the influence of the goddess Fortuna in his life. He was a consummate risk-taker, achieving martial distinction by taking risks on the battlefield such as wearing disguises and living among the enemy. He was also the first of the great Republican Romans to march upon Rome — a great taboo, but one which cemented his power and influence. Sulla so believed in his favor with Fortuna that he took the agnomen Felix which means “lucky” and gave his twin son and daughter the antiquated praenomina Faustus and Fausta because those names were also associated with luck.
Julius Caesar also transformed his fortunes when he marched on Rome, declaring alea jacta est (the die is cast) as he crossed the Rubicon river. The utterance was a commitment of his fate to Fortune. While Caesar was a professional soldier, many of his victories were achieved by taking bold risks which exposed him and his troops to significant danger, but resulted in memorable victories.
Origin: Phobia is used both independently and as a suffix to describe an irrational fear of something, and has had increasingly productive use as a suffix in recent years – it seems possible to create an English term for being frightened of almost anything. For instance, many of us have heard of claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) and agoraphobia(fear of open spaces) but what about e.g. nostophobia (a fear of returning home), or even coulrophobia (fear of clowns)? We also have bibliophobia (an irrational fear of books). Abibliophobia is most likely a made-up form of the latter, using morpheme ‘a’ from the Greek meaning not.
a- “not” + bibli-(on) “book” + o + phob(os) “fear” + ia, a nominal suffix.
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Origin: Named after the Greek hero Achilles. When he was a sall child, his mother held him below the surface of the river Styx to protect him against any injury. She held him by his heel, which therefore was not touched by the water. Achilles died by being wounded by an arrow in the heel.
