A.W.A.D. -

with Anu Garg

My iPod, their condominium, her computer... In a typical day we talk a lot about possessions: having things. The word possess is from Latin possidere, from potis (having the power) + sedere (to sit). So when you possess something, say a patch of earth, you have the power to sit upon it, literally speaking.

The English language has many terms about who has what. Enjoy this week's words that answer "Whose what?" but it's important to remember that the best things in life are not possessed: they are free. We don't say, my ocean, his stars, or their sun.
fool's gold
PRONUNCIATION: (foolz gold)
MEANING: noun: Something that appears valuable but is worthless

ETYMOLOGY: Shakespeare wrote in The Merchant of Venice, "All that glisters is not gold." Fool's gold is another name for pyrite, also known as iron pyrite or iron sulfide. Its shiny yellow luster has many fooled into believing they have struck gold while holding a mineral of little value.The name pyrite is from Greek pyrites (of fire), from pyr (fire) because it produces sparks when struck against a hard surface. Some related words are fire, pyre, pyrosis (heartburn), pyromania (an irresistible impulse to set things on fire), and empyreal (relating to the sky or heaven, believed to contain pure light or fire).

sword of Damocles
PRONUNCIATION: (sord uhv DAM-uh-kleez)
MEANING: noun: An ever-present threat; an impending disaster

ETYMOLOGY: After Damocles of Greek legend. Damocles was a courtier who flattered the ruler Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, to excess. The fulsome praise so annoyed the king that he decided to teach him a lesson. He held a banquet in honor of Damocles but when Damocles saw the sword hanging by a single horse-hair over his head, he lost all taste for the lavish feast. He realized that even those who appear to enjoy great fortune face fears and worries. By the way, the word impending literally means hanging over.

mug's game
PRONUNCIATION: (mugz gaym)
MEANING: noun: A foolish or futile activity

ETYMOLOGY: From mug (slang for a fool), from Scandinavian word mugg/mugge (drinking cup). In earlier times drinking cups were adorned with grotesque faces, which resulted in the various senses of the word, nouns (face, dupe, thug) and verbs (to assault, to make faces, to photograph).

dog's age
PRONUNCIATION: (dogz ayj)
MEANING: noun: A long time

ETYMOLOGY: Referring to the typical age of a dog: 10-15 years. Also see donkey's years

God's acre
PRONUNCIATION: (godz AY-kuhr)
MEANING: noun: A cemetery, especially one next to a church

ETYMOLOGY: Loan translation of German Gottesacker, from Gott (god) + Acker (field). The allusion is that the bodies of the dead are sown in the field in hope of resurrection.

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