Phrontistery

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
Flaminius
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Phrontistery

Postby Flaminius » Wed Mar 01, 2006 6:01 am

Phrontistery --a word my pompous nature prompts me to use more often than simpler words such as school, college, university and institute-- is where one studies. While checking its etymology, I was surprised by American Heritage, my sure etymological compendium on the Web, not listing the word as an entry.

Apoclima
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Postby Apoclima » Wed Mar 01, 2006 7:07 am

Wow! Never hear that before! Does it come anywhere close to Phreno- ?

Apo
'Experiments are the only means of knowledge at our disposal. The rest is poetry, imagination.' -Max Planck

Andrew Dalby
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Re: Phrontistery

Postby Andrew Dalby » Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:05 am

Phrontistery --a word my pompous nature prompts me to use more often than simpler words such as school, college, university and institute-- is where one studies. While checking its etymology, I was surprised by American Heritage, my sure etymological compendium on the Web, not listing the word as an entry.
Straight from ancient Greek phrontisterion, a 'thinking shop'. This was a joke-word invented by the playwright Aristophanes to ridicule the philosopher Socrates and his pupils. 'Hence applied to modern educational institutions', says the OED, with tongue in cheek.

Apoclima
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Postby Apoclima » Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:32 pm

Thanks, Andrew, for pointing me in the right direction on this word!
Phrontisterion

phrontisterion: fron'tis-te-rion, n. a Think-tank [Gr. from phrontes a thinker; called by Aristophanes to school of Socrates]

PHRONTISTERION
Apo
'Experiments are the only means of knowledge at our disposal. The rest is poetry, imagination.' -Max Planck

tcward
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Postby tcward » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:11 pm

Phrontistery reminds me of this site.

-Tim

Apoclima
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Postby Apoclima » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:35 pm

'Experiments are the only means of knowledge at our disposal. The rest is poetry, imagination.' -Max Planck

Flaminius
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Postby Flaminius » Wed Mar 01, 2006 9:44 pm

Schizophenia, hebephrenia, phrase and frenzy too.

They are ultimately come from PIE gwhren.

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gailr
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Postby gailr » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:34 pm

Apo, the link you provided reminded me of the current disconsolate thread (and other past discussions):

"Doctor, I am plagued with chronic sorrows and exhausted from my worries. Is there anything that can help?"

"After reviewing your medical history, and--most importantly--your insurance coverage, I am afraid that the phronosis is poor."

-gailr

Thank you, folks, I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waiters.


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