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Looking for a new kind of feeding frenzy? Feast on colorful references in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Allusions. http://www.m-w.com/book/writref/allusion.htm *************************************************************** The Word of the Day for January 9 is: pittance \PIH-tunss\ (noun) : a small portion, amount, or allowance; also : a meager wage or remuneration Example sentence: "She procured plain work; she plaited straw; and by various means contrived to earn a pittance scarcely sufficient to support life." (Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, _Frankenstein_) Did you know? It's a pity when you haven't anything but a pittance. And in fact, "pity" and "pittance" share etymological roots. The Middle English "pitance" came from the Old French "pitance," meaning "pity" or "piety." Originally, a "pittance" was a gift or bequest to a religious community, or a small charitable gift. Ultimately, the word comes from the Latin "pietas," meaning "piety" or "compassion." Our words "pity" and "piety" come from "pietas" as well. ---------------- Brought to you by Merriam-Webster, Inc. http://www.Merriam-Webster.com ---------------- Subscribe or unsubscribe to Word of the Day via the Web at: http://www.Merriam-Webster.com/service/subinst.htm To join the list via e-mail, send a blank e-mail to: mw-wod-subscribe-request@listserv.webster.m-w.com To leave the list via e-mail, send a blank e-mail to: mw-wod-signoff-request@listserv.webster.m-w.com Questions about your subscription? Write to: mw-wod-request@listserv.webster.m-w.com Questions or comments about the Word of the Day? Write to: word@Merriam-Webster.com © 2002 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
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