Jump to content

Learned a new word today


silverfox

Recommended Posts

comport


As in '... But Judge Jed Rakoff refused to sign off the settlement, which he said ?does not comport with the most elementary notions of justice and morality? ...'


Verb

Formal

1. comport oneself - to behave in a specified way

2. comport with - to suit or be appropriate to [Latin comportare to collect]


Noun

A large, covered glass bowl on a stem, which can be used as a serving piece for compotes

(see http://www.replacements.com/thismonth/images/deans_corner_comport_x.jpg and updated post on page 4)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There seems to be quite a wide band of definitions for it.


com?port (km-p?rt, -prt)

v. com?port?ed, com?port?ing, com?ports

v.tr.

To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: Comport yourself with dignity.

v.intr.

To agree, correspond, or harmonize: a foreign policy that comports with the principles of democracy.


[Middle English comporten, from Old French comporter, to conduct, from Latin comportre, to bring together : com-, com- + portre, to carry; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]


The American Heritage? Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ?2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like the word comport: it'll be added to my vocab. henceforth.


I came accross another new word recently. Take a look at this report of Serena William's recent outburst:


According to the Grand Slam Rule Book, unsportsmanlike conduct when referred to the Grand Slam committee can be treated as "aggravated behaviour", which "is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a Grand Slam, or is singularly egregious".


"egregious" in a set of sporting rules; now that is class.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just came across another word today that is new to me (but maybe not to the erudite and French speaking members of the Forum).


Rou?


As in: "Alan Clark, the notorious parliamentarian and rou?, left behind a cache of explosive material for his biographer, Ion Trewin"



rou?? [ roo ?y ] (plural rou??s)


noun


Definition:


debauched man: a man who regularly engages in drinking, gambling, and womanizing ( literary )



[Early 19th century. < French< past participle of rouer "break on the wheel" (a medieval instrument of torture) < Latin rotare (see rotate)]


Word History


The term rou? is thought to stem from Philip, duke of Orl?ans and regent of France (1715-1723), who humorously designated his debauched companions as rou?s, either to suggest that they deserved to be broken upon the wheel or because their behaviour was so exhausting that they felt they had undergone this torture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Who?


First I've heard of it.


Anyway I always wanted to be infamous, it's always sounded much more exciting than being chivalrous Sean.


It's rather like a woman you fancy telling her best friend that you're 'nice'.


You will never get under the covers with her with that unfavourable description.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • I think insurance scams do happen but I thought there had been a crackdown on them recently. In the past insurance companies seemed to just pay out and everyone's premium goes up to cover it. My partner was a victim a few years ago, she was parking and touched a bumper of the next car. There was no mark and the other driver just waved my partner away. A month later we received a letter claiming there were four people in the other car and two of them were so badly injured they could not work. Our insurer was a rare one that actually fought the case and pretty much on the steps of the court the scammers "dropped hands" and case was closed. i thought at the time that was a good result but I later saw that my insurer had run up a £2000 legal bill and didn't get to ask for costs as there was no court case – we didn't have to pay it but again, it's this sort of thing that pushes all premiums up. And no action was taken against the other party despite them clearly being scammers who were revealed to have done this before and had effectively admitted their own statements were a pack of lies. Sorry to hijack your thread, just getting this off my chest as your post brought it all flooding back!  
    • Can't help you with the introduction to Joey, but just a random word of thanks to you @Herbie Russell Southwark News! Your name is on a lot of the Southwark News articles that get posted on here. There's no local democracy or local community without local media, so thank you for what you do! 👍   
    • Our child is in their last term at Goose Green, and after 7 wonderful years we are very sad to be leaving such a wonderful school and it’s special community. Being 2 form entry, It’s one of the smaller schools in the area and it’s also very diverse with an amazing spirit. Brilliant Art and Music departments, staff and a new library. 
    • Send me your address and I’ll attend tomorrow.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...