Classics Retold

Plural of penumbra. The lighter outer regions of a shadow where the light source is only partially obscured, surrounding the darker central umbra. The word is commonly used in astronomy. In art it is rarely used as blending of light and shade. It is the play of light and shade. Synonyms: Partial shadow, fringe region, shades region.  Derived from Latin paene (almost) and umbra (shadow)

On the turn-pike road, between Casterbridge and Weatherbury, there was a long steep ascent. In returning from market it is usual for the farmers and other gig users to alight at the bottom and walk up.  The month of October. A Saturday evening.  Bathsheba's vehicle was creeping up the ascent. She was sitting listlessly in the second seat, while sergeant Troy was walking beside the gig in a farmer's marketing suit of unusually fashionable cut.  Though on foot he held the reins and whip, and occasionally aimed light cuts at the horse's ear with the end of lash as a pastime.  Sergeant Troy had  bought his discharge with Bathsheba's money, and was transforming himself to a farmer of spirited and very modern school.  People still called him sergeant and he retained his well shaped moustache of his military days. "Yes, if it hadn't been for that wretched rain I should have cleared two hundred as easy as looking, my love," he was saying. "Don't you see,...

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.