Emma Hitchings Professor of Family Law University of Bristol Gillian Douglas Professor Emerita of Law King’s College London It’s no wonder many people think divorce involves going to court, huge legal fees and decades of spousal payments, considering these are the cases that dominate our headlines. However, the
The word for today is… portend (verb): 1: to give an omen or anticipatory sign of 2: indicate, signify Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : It may seem like a stretch to say that portend, beloved verb of seers, soothsayers, and meteorologists alike, is related to tendon—the word we use to
The word for today is… eleemosynary (adjective): : of, relating to, or supported by charity Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : A word today I had never heard of – what a little bonus. A grammarian once asserted in reference to eleemosynary that “a long and learned word like this should only be used
Nicola Jones Q&A — Clinical Psychologist Peggy Kleinplatz The unhappiest time in a sex therapist’s office is around Valentine’s Day, says Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz, a professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa. “It’s the day where I see the most miserable couples,
Alex Berenson alexberenson.substack.com Alex Berenson is a former New York Times reporter and the author of 13 novels, three non-fiction books, and the Unreported Truths booklets. His newest book, PANDEMIA, on the coronavirus and our response to it, was published on Nov. 30. On Friday I was
The word for today is… aphorism (noun): 1: a concise statement of a principle 2: a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment : adage 3: an ingeniously terse style of expression : aphoristic language Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Aphorism was originally used in the world of medicine. Credit Hippocrates, the Greek
Animals have long featured in philosophical discussion. Xenophones wrote that, if horses or oxen could draw, they would draw their gods as horses or oxen. Plato likened humans to cattle: fit only to be slaves. Thomas Nagel explored consciousness by asking, “What is it like to be a bat?” More
The word for today is… savant (noun): 1: a person of learning 2: a person affected with a developmental disorder (such as autism or intellectual disability) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music) Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Word-loving Homo sapiens will
The word for today is… adapt (verb): : to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : “Nothing in this world is as reliable as change” is a common aphorism and one we can certainly attest to as lexicographers. English speakers adapted adapt, for example,
The word for today is… doctrinaire (adjective, noun): adjective : stubbornly or excessively devoted to a doctrine or theory without regard to practical considerations noun : one who attempts to put into effect an abstract doctrine or theory with little or no regard for practical difficulties Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The noun
The word for today is… carnival (noun, adjective): noun 1: a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent 2a: an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading b: an instance of riotous excess 3a: a traveling enterprise offering amusements b: an organized program of entertainment or exhibition adjective : suggestive of or
The word for today is… imminent (adjective): : ready to take place : happening soon – often used of something bad or dangerous seen as menacingly near Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology :Imminent bears a close resemblance to eminent, and native English-speakers can be excused if they sometimes have to check their spelling.
The word for today is… plagiarism (noun): 1: an act or instance of plagiarizing 2: something plagiarized Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology :Plagiarize (and plagiarism) comes from the Latin plagiarius “kidnapper.” This word, derived from the Latin plaga (“a net used by hunters to catch game”), extended its meaning in Latin
Family First familyfirst.org.nz A prolific sperm donor from the Netherlands who allegedly fathered over 500 children worldwide now faces a lawsuit over the potential increased risk of accidental incest. “If I had known that he had already fathered more than a hundred children, I would never have chosen
The word for today is… wangle (verb): 1: to adjust or manipulate for personal or fraudulent ends 2: to make or get by devious means Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology :You may have noticed a striking resemblance between wangle and wrangle, both of which have a sense meaning “to obtain or
Lawrence W Reed fee.org Lawrence W Reed is FEE’s President Emeritus, Humphreys Family Senior Fellow and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty, having served for nearly 11 years as FEE’s president (2008-2019). He is author of the 2020 book, Was Jesus a Socialist? as well as
