Publication: Word A Day
Weekly Word Match | |
Subscribe FREE to Word A Day by clicking here.
* WORD A DAY *
Friday, June 8, 2007
------------------------------------------------------------
View Thousands of Viral Videos on the Net at: www.EVTV1.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Good Morning!
Happy Friday! To start off your weekend, let's learn the
origin of the phrase third degree.
The third degree, thanks to old Hollywood cops and robbers
movies, is now synonymous with police interrogation with
bright lights and rubber hoses and without the benefits of
counsel. But where did this phrase come from? And what are
the first two degrees?
The phrase comes from freemasonry. To become a Third-Degree
or Master Mason, the highest rank, one must submit to
questioning. The questioning associated with a Third-Degree
Mason dates to at least 1772. Some sources say the
questioning is long and intense, others that it is a mere
formality, but whichever is true, the idea that the Masons'
testing was an ordeal became fixed in the public mind.
So, by 1880 the term became used for any long an arduous
questioning or interrogation. Around the turn of the 20th
century, the term began to be applied, outside of Masonic
rituals, exclusively to police interrogations. The idea of
a brutal interrogation being called the third degree was no
doubt helped along by association with third-degree burn.
So, there really are no first or second degrees of police
brutality.
Good Luck!
Carly
P.S. You can discuss this issue or any other topic in the
new Word A Day forum. Check it out here... Word A Day Forum
*
WEEKLY WORD-MATCH
******** ARE YOU READY TO TEST YOUR WORD KNOWLEDGE? ********
Match the words in the left-hand column with the correct
definition in the right-hand column. The answer key is
listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
1. inculcate A. A governmental council or committee
2. confrere B. To urge on the mind
3. toper C. Fundamentally different or distinct in
quality or kind
4. disparate D. Exaggerated or overly flattering praise
5. trice E. A fellow member of a fraternity or
profession
6. junta F. Stubbornly disobedient or contrary
7. explicate G. A clue in deciphering
8. clavis H. A very short time
9. puffery I. To explain
10. froward J. One who drinks frequently or to excess
*
DISC REPAIR SYSTEM
Bring your damaged media discs back to life...
Retail Price: $14.99
Deal Price: $5.99
Plain and simple you will love this item. It will save
you hundreds of dollars and also give you peace of mind.
The Disc Repair System cleans surface scratches on CD's,
DVD's, Gaming Discs, Data Discs and more... It also
prevents audio discs from skipping. Plus, you can save
vital data from damaged discs. This hand-powered carousel
cleans and polishes discs without any batteries. Plus
you can get this system for less than cost. Want to save
even more? Grab two systems for $8.98. Visit:
DISC REPAIR SYSTEM
*
OBSCURE AND UNUSUAL WORDS
*************************
1) chrestomathy kres-TOM-uh-thee (noun)
: a volume of selected literary passages, usually by one
author.
: a selection of literary passages from a foreign
language, especially one assembled for studying a
language.
From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) +
manthanein (to learn) These two parts of the word
ultimately derive from Indo-European gher- (to like or
want) which gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, exhort; and
mendh- (to learn) that resulted in the terms mathematics
and polymath.
2) mammon MAM-uhn (noun)
: wealth; money.
: the personification of wealth and of inordinate desire
for it; the material wealth considered having an evil
influence.
From Middle English, from Late Latin mammona, from Greek
mammonas, from Aramaic mamona (riches). Mammon was
personified as a false god in the New Testament.
*
ROBOTIC LED BOOK LIGHT
Store Price: $7.99
DEAL PRICE: $2.49 or two for $3.98
This is so cool... You can light up your book papers, lap-
top and more anywhere you go... on the plane, in a meeting
or in bed. Plus the LED light better for your eyes, reduces
eye strain.
DETAILS:
* Super bright LED light
* Light opens with touch of a button
* Adjustable light angle
* Portable Take with you anywhere
Get one of these for just $2.49. BONUS: Save even more when
you buy two or more, get them for just $1.99 each. This makes
a wonderful gift... and College Kids especially love it.
Robotic Book Light
*
WEEKLY WORD-MATCH
ANSWER KEY
1. inculcate B. To urge on the mind
2. confrere E. A fellow member of a fraternity or
profession
3. toper J. One who drinks frequently or to excess
4. disparate C. Fundamentally different or distinct in
quality or kind
5. trice H. A very short time
6. junta A. A governmental council or committee
7. explicate I. To explain
8. clavis G. A clue in deciphering
9. puffery D. Exaggerated or overly flattering praise
10. froward F. Stubbornly disobedient or contrary
*
GopherCentral's Question of the Week:
Do you think Rosie O'Donnell was fired for her political views?
Please share your opinion, visit: The Question of the Week
------------------------------------------------------------
Questions? Comments? email: word@gophercentral.com
************************************************************
To see more issues like this visit: Word A Day Archives
Want some Fun and Amusements sent by email? Visit:
www.gophercentral.com
____________________________________________________________
END OF WORD A DAY - Another F-R-E-E GopherCentral publication
Copyright 2007 by NextEra Media. All rights reserved.
 E-Mail this issue
Subscribe FREE to Word A Day by clicking here.
|