[Cynnabar] Fw: Chatelaine: she held the keys

[Shoshana Jackson]

Thought you guys might be interested in today's Word of the Day from Merriam-Webster!

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  Simcha

 
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The pure righteous people do not complain against wickedness but add righteousness. They do not complain against disbelief but add faith. They do not complain against ignorance but add wisdom.

-Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook 



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Subject: Chatelaine: she held the keys

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day 
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Merriam-Webster’s
Word of the Day  
June 23
 
chatelaine
 
\SHAT-uh-layn\    
noun
 
Meaning 
1 a : the wife of a castellan : the mistress of a château *b : the mistress of a household or of a large establishment
2 : a clasp or hook for a watch, purse, or bunch of keys
 
Example Sentence 
"Leah sets aside her artistic career to become the perfect Swiss wife, mother and chatelaine of a massive estate." (Publisher’s Weekly, September 22, 2008)
 
      
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Did you know? 
The original chatelaine's domain was a castle or fort, and the chatelaine's duties were many. To complete them, she certainly needed keys. In the 18th century, the word "chatelaine" (borrowed from the French "châtelaine") took on an additional meaning in English that alluded to this: the word came to be used for a decorative clasp or hook from which chains holding a watch, purse, keys, etc. were suspended. These popular accessories evoked the bunch of keys the original chatelaine had worn of necessity.
 
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence. 
 
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