Cats and Words

Until about 100 years ago, it was assumed (if not required) that students of theology would be fluent in German and French, as well as Latin and Greek, so that they could read leading scholarship in the original languages.

Extremely relatable, Haha. #introvertsunite

Does the name Ilona Massey ring a bell? I grew up five minutes away from her home in Maryland.

Fluffy lynx point cat holding human’s hand

Black cat sitting in front of bag

#InternationalCatDay? Pfft. They know that’s every day, thank you very much.

As far as they’re concerned, EVERY day is International Cat Day!

Fluffy cat in profile

Pensive girl at dusk. #fluffycat

Extra boops incoming in 3…2…1… 💙

This pupper requires all the attentions. 😁

Ooh! Preordered! #wordnerd

Ordered!!

“I am The Cat. Everything here is Mine.” 😻

Current weather conditions in Malden, Massachusetts

😳

A fine, handsome, fluffy gentlecat!

Dukes is the right and proper mayonnaise. 😁

"Vicissitude" and "vicar" share the same Latin root, "vicis", meaning "change" or "succession", ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "to bend". So be nice to your clergy. They don't have an easy job. #etymology #wordnerd

While they both refer to something reclining, they are not interchangeable.

The cat is lying on the table (cats don’t care about your silly rules) on which you laid the book you want to read.

You lie down on the couch; your chickens lay eggs.

The Scots definitely understood the assignment.

Outstanding!

Seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce a resolution to add Willis Haviland Carrier, inventor of the modern air-conditioner, to the calendar of saints.

No haggis?

It’s Jonny. He’s a different sort of person. 🤣

He’s also the @timeteam.bsky.social podcast cohost! Worlds collide…

Etymological beauty: “anemone” literally means “daughter of the wind” in Greek. (Hat tip to @robwords.bsky.social and @jesszafarris.bsky.social in their fantastic podcast “Words Unravelled”.)

A friend of mine maintains that “short-sleeved dress shirt” is an oxymoron.

I loved the origin of “anemone”!

Sleepy black cat

Closeup of black cat’s paw

Black cats are hard to photograph, they said. You need all sorts of lighting and filters, they said.

Phone camera, natural (indoor) light. Bonus pic of toe beans, because he displayed them so nicely. 😻 #blackcats

And I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it. 🤣 #somanybooks

Black cat at top of stairs

You shall not pass. Unless you have treats. #churchcat #stairgnome

I am no fan of Murdoch, but I imagine he is also laughing hysterically, for other reasons.

There is a Rascally Rabbit Road on Cape Cod. Truth.