Diction

[ellery]

srsly lotza big words 2 luk up srsly

This site helps me a lot. But there are some words that have been hidden in history, and I can't find them even there. I can get most of the meaning from the context, but I'm one of those nerds that likes to look up definitions to be sure of their meaning. Even if you know the word, if you think it's interesting, then go ahead and post it. That's what this post is about, helping each other with the big words.

When posting a word from Lawhead, please include the book it's from and the chapter. Then quote the sentence it was used in so we have a little context.

Book:
Chapter:
Sentence:

[ellery]

secnab

Book: Byzantium
Chapter: 3
Sentence: So, after the service I sought out Ruadh, our secnab, and requested the night vigil.

help

edit ~ 'Secnab' is the title of the position just below abbot.

I found the definition a few pages later. Go figure.

double edit ~ the bishop also had a secnab, so maybe a secnab just means the #2 religious guy... or something.

[ellery]

anamcara

Book: Byzantium
Chapter: 3
Sentence: He was also my confessor and guide--my anamcara, my soul friend, responsible for my spiritual health and progress.

The definition is in the sentence, but I liked the word - a fancy way of saying 'disciple.'

[dinadan]

An anam cara actually is much deeper than that. For the ancient Celts, it was a type of deep and abiding friendship of the soul, that could transcend death. The Greeks had a notion of this as well; by the time that Christianity comes to Ireland, the anam cara relationship was understood to be a type of spiritual brotherhood within the context of Christianity as well; it got re-interpreted through the lens of monastic spirituality coming from the Egyptian desert fathers, and the institution of the "Elder" or geronda (in Greek)/starets (Slavonic), being one's Spiritual Father and guide to the spiritual life in Christ.

Byzantium is a great book--I need to read it again.

[ellery]

Daily Cycle

Vespers - sunset
Compline - bedtime
Midnight office - midnight
Matins - dawn
Prime - about 7am
Terce - about 9 am
Sext - noon
None - about 3 pm

Book: Byzantium
Chapter: throughout
Sentence: not applicable
Source: Wikipedia

[ellery]

Thanks Dinadam. =)

dysart

Book: Byzantium
Chapter: 8
Sentence: I saw no settlements or holdings, not even so much as a single farm or the dysart cell of a recluse monk.

help!