Thursday, August 14, 2014

Whit

Whit sounds like wit and according to dictionary.com, it means

a particle; bit; jot (used especially in negative phrases).


I have changed not a whit. I don't feel a whit better than I felt yesterday; in fact, I feel worse.


Whence as from what place

Since I have mighty difficulties using my brain, I decided to browse through more famous quotes and learn some more archaic English words.

The new word I learn today is whence. Although I could have guess it to be associated "when," it's actually related to "where."

For instance

Whence comest though?

Means

Where do you come from?

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Whither as to what place, whereever

I fancy archaic words.

Just came across this word whither these two days.

But I still wonder how it was possible, in those graceless years of transition, long ago, that men did not see whither they were going, and went on, in blindness and cowardice , to their fate.
Rand, Ayn (2012-05-12). Anthem (p. 80).  . Kindle Edition. 

Old Testamen,t Ruth i. 16. For whither thou goest, I will go.
Various (2009-10-04). Familiar Quotations (Kindle Locations 101-102). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition. 

 Wonder whether it's a legit way of using the word whither:

When starting to work on my book, I didin't see whither I was going?


I especially like the part "whither though goest"--feels mighty kimoji...

Monday, August 11, 2014

Save is except?

Found an interesting usage of Save in Ayn Rand's Anthem. Save means except.
Nothing moves in this tunnel save our hand on the paper.
Rand, Ayn (2012-05-12). Anthem (Kindle Locations 21-22).  . Kindle Edition.
And now there is nothing here save our one body , and it is strange to see only two legs stretched on the ground, and on the wall before us the shadow of our one head.
Rand, Ayn (2012-05-12). Anthem (Kindle Locations 23-24).  . Kindle Edition. 

save 2 prep. & conj. FORMAL or POETIC/LITERARY except; other than: no one needed to know save herself; the kitchen was empty save for Boris. <ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French sauf, sauve, from Latin salvo, salva (ablative singular of salvus 'safe'), used in phrases such as salvo jure, salva innocentia 'with no violation of right or innocence'.

 (2010-04-01). The New Oxford American Dictionary (Kindle Locations 731421-731426). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.

Example: No one need to know what I write in the Ratology Heal Blog save myself.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Schizophrenia as 精神分裂症 or 思覺失調症

Just learned it from a friend of mine that Schizophrenia, formerly known as 精神分裂症, has been renamed to 思覺失調症, with de-stigmatization as the purpose.

http://www.mohw.gov.tw/cht/Ministry/DM2_P.aspx?f_list_no=7&fod_list_no=4558&doc_no=45300