Classics Retold

Haeuteur is a formal noun referring to display of arrogance, superiority, or overbearing pride.  It describes an unfriendly, distant manner where someone acts as though they are better than others, often associated with a sense of entitlement or snobbishness.  It is often used to criticize cold or condescending behaviour.  The word stems from the French word haut meaning high or high in one's own estimation.  Synonyms: Arrogance, superiority, disdain, conceit, snobbishness.  Antonyms: Humility, modesty.

The perception that people of England prior to Industrial Revolution often stems from the historical conflict between traditional agrarian lifestyle and the emerging modern work ethic.  Before Industrial Revolution life followed natural cycles rather than clock.  Farming involved intensive labour in times of ploughing, sowing seeds and during harvest, followed by long periods of low activity. It was common for work folks to take Mondays off - a tradition known as Saint Monday - to recover from Sunday drinking, creating a three-day weekend.  Philosophers like David Hume noted that without cheap luxury goods to buy people had no reason to work beyond what they need to survive, naturally falling into a habit of indolence.  Leisure was primary status symbol of aristocracy and emerging middle class.  The aristocracy lived on rents and fortunes. They indulged in scandals, gossips, and social intrigue.  From the 17th century coffee houses became hubs where busines...

Vapid is something or someone that is dull, uninspiring, tedious or lacking intelligence, spirit, and flavour.  It is commonly used to describe boring conversation, lifeless art, or shallow personalities.  Synonyms: Dull, insipid, flat, boring, tiresome, lifeless.  Antonyms: Lively, interesting, stimulating, spirited, sharp, pungent.  It came from the Latin word vapidus, which originally described drinks that had become stale or tasteless. 

The Victorian Workhouse was an institution that was intended to provide work and shelter for poor people who had no means to support themselves.  With the advent of Poor Law system, Victorian workhouses, designed to deal with the issue of pauperism, in fact became prison system detaining the most vulnerable in the society.  The harsh system of the workhouses became synonymous with the Victorian Era. It was known for its terrible conditions, forced child labour, long periods of working, malnutrition, beatings and neglect. It became a blight on the  social conscience of a generation leading to opposition from the likes of Charles Dickens. Dickens Oliver Twist illustrates the grim realities of a child's life in the Workhouse.  The exact origin of the system started with the Poor Law Act of 1388. In the event of Black Death labour shortage was a major problem.  The movement of workers to other parishes in search of higher paid jobs was restricted. At the same time h...

Eventide is an archaic word, which means the end of the day, or twilight or dusk. It is a poetic expression of evening, dusk, or sun set; the time just before nightfall. Eventide is a compound of two Old English  terms evening-time.  It has been part of English language since before 12th century. Even is derived from Old English word aefen meaning evening.  This is the same root that gave us the modern word eve. Tide is derived from the Old English tīd which originally meant "time", "period" or "season".  It has nothing to do with ocean tides. In the Middle English, after the Norman conquest it was spelled eventyde  "Evening" became the standard term in Modern English.  Similar compound words using the suffix "tide" include noontide, morrowtide and nighttide.

Budmouth is the fictional name. Thomas Hardy gave to Weymouth, a seaside town in Dorset, southern England.  Hardy's Wessex is a semi fictional version of southwest England where real places are given literary alter-egos.  The connection is so strong that the local secondary school is named Budmouth Academy after Hardy's fictional town.  In the Trumpet Major Hardy uses the name Budmouth Regis to reflect Weymouth's history as a favourite holiday spot for King George III.  The description of Budmouth's seaside features --- like Esplanade, the harbour dividing the town, and the view of Isle of Portland (Isle of Slingers) align exactly with Weymouth.  Budmouth races in Far From The Madding Crowd were inspired by the real horse races held at Lodmoor, just outside Weymouth. 

In most contexts bought discharge means discharge by purchase. It is a practice where a soldier pays a fee to be legally released from a contract or service before their agreed term is over.  While the term is primarily historical, it is still used in certain specific modern or legal contexts.  In military service buying your discharge colloquially means paying a fine to leave military service. This right is suspended during war time.  Buying discharge was a corner stone of how professional military, particularly British Army managed their manpower and society heirarchy.  They were separate for ordinary soldier and for officers. For enlisted men, discharge by purchase was often the only legal way to leave the service before their long term contract. It was a safety valve to recruits who later realise that they were not suited for military life.  In the absence of it they should desert or self-mutilate to get a discharge on medical ground. In mid 19th century Off...