The Word Spy | Books & magazines
The Word Spy
Phone: +61 425 237 894
Reviews
to load big map
25.01.2022 Well this was fascinating - thank you Penny Wheeler, as always. The month we know as April might well have been "Neronius" ! https://www.nonfictionminute.org//july-august-and-neronius When Julius Caesar took control of the Roman government, he decided to reform the calendar. After lengthy consultations with the Egyptian astronomer Sosigenes, Caesar established a calendar that is virtually the same one we use today. The lengths of the months alternated between 30 and 31 d...ays, except February which had 29. The new calendar came into effect on January 1, 45 BCE. A grateful Roman Senate immediately changed the name of the month of QuintilisJulius Caesar’s birth monthto July in his honor. As is the case today, it had 31 days. Caesar had only one year to enjoy his month, as he was assassinated the following March. His successor was his grand-nephew Octavian, who took the name of Augustus Caesar when he officially became the first Roman emperor. In 8 BCE the Senate decided that he also deserved a month. Because several noteworthy events during Augustus’s reign had occurred in Sextilis, the month following July, they chose it. Big problem. Sextillis had only 30 days. No way would the Senate allow Augustus to be inferior to his great-uncle in any way. So it took a day from February and tacked it on at the end of August. That created another problem. Three consecutive monthsJuly, August, and Septemberwere now 31 days long. The fix was simple: the Senate simply flipped the lengths of the remaining four months. September and November went from 31 days to 30, while October and December bulked up to 31. The Senate wasn’t finished with its tinkering. Nearly 70 years later, it honored the notorious emperor Nero by changing Aprilis to Neronius. The new name never gained traction. Nero. who had murdered his brother, mother, and wife, committed suicide in 68 CE (Common Era). The Senateundoubtedly relieved at his demisehastily returned Neronius to its original name
20.01.2022 Now this is a GREAT word - kukkahattutäti - Finnish for "flower-hat aunt" https://www.economist.com//finnish-feminists-turn-an-old-i
11.01.2022 This is a very charming and moving short film about the loved cryptic crossword puzzle creator, code name Araucaria (Monkey Puzzle). Recommended. Thanks Dover Dubosarsky (code name Zplig!) https://www.youtube.com/watch
09.01.2022 Never odd or even!!
06.01.2022 An impressive monument to Mother Languages in Ashfield Park, with beautiful lettering in gold and silver by @Ianmarr graven on slate from South Australia. The monument was erected by Sydney's Bangladeshi community, who celebrate the UN International Mother Language Day, February 21, annually at the monument.
