Bask

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
Modi
Junior Lexiterian
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Bask

Postby Modi » Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:12 pm

From online Etymology:
bask
1393, basken "to wallow (in blood)," from O.N. baðask reflex. of baða "bathe" (see bathe). Modern meaning "soak up a flood of warmth" is apparently due to Shakespeare's use of the word in reference to sunshine in "As You Like It" (1600).

I think it's interesting how this word's meaning changed from one that gave the feeling of distress to that of content.

I left him basked between the dead.
"Do you want to know hell, it's depths; hell is the company of the ignorant." My translation for a verse by Omar Al-Khayyam.

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Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
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Postby Slava » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:35 pm

I've been wondering why bask is to wallow in blood. It took me a while, but I think I've figured it out.

Our usual use of bask is for enjoying the warmth of the sun's rays, or the warm feeling of being "tight" with a lord and master type. Well, blood is rather warm when it first comes out, so there you go.

For wallow, see this post.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


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