FASCES

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Slava
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FASCES

Postby Slava » Tue May 04, 2010 12:07 am

This word, between brio and bruxism this month, seems to have been left out of the Agora. May I be permitted to add it?
FASCES

Pronunciation: FÆS-eez

Hear it! http://www.alphadictionary.com/sounds/fasces.mp3

Part of Speech: Noun, plural

Meaning: (1) A fagot or bundle of sticks surrounding an ax with the head exposed, carried before magistrates as the symbol of Roman authority. (2) The symbols and trappings of authority.

Notes: [Image 1] In Late Latin the sense of "bundle" transitioned to "group, organization", which tempted Mussolini to name his ghastly organization the Fascist Party and its platform, Fascism.
A small bundle is a fascicle, of course, a word used to refer to the small bundle of pages sewn together and bound in a book.
Don't forget that 'fasces' is a plural noun today: fasces are.

In Play: Although this word began with a rather focused meaning, today it is used metaphorically, however occasionally, to refer to authority and the trappings thereof: "I see that Throckmorton has abandoned the dean's office and taken up the fasces of the presidency at another college." Fasces in this sense are usually taken up or abandoned: "Sarah Palin surprised the world when she gave up the fasces of the governorship of Alaska mid-term."

Word History: Today's Good Word is the Latin word 'fasces', the plural of 'fascis'. The original root started on a [bh] ( with a puff of air) for it appears in Greek baskioi "bundle of wood". It would seem to be related to English bast "the inner bark of the linden tree", strips of which were formerly used by Eastern European peasants to make bast shoes. Apparently, the original root referred to the strip tying a bundle together for it also turns up in 'fascia', a strip of decorative wood, another word borrowed from Latin, and in English 'basket'. (We thank Mark J. Schulte for the addition of this very Good Word to the May fascicle of the Good Word series.)

-Dr. Goodword, alphaDictionary

Links and Images:
1: Image http://www.alphadictionary.com/images/fasces.gif

Links and Images:
1: Link http://www.alphadictionary.com/bb/
2: Image http://www.alphadictionary.com/images/agora.gif
3: Link http://www.alphadictionary.com/bb/
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

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Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 8042
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
Location: Finger Lakes, NY

Postby Slava » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:11 pm

Rather obviously related to Fascism, but, did you know the US uses fasces in officialdom?

Check out the back of your standard dime. That 10c thing that might buy a gumball.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:00 pm

There is an image of a fasces on the reverse side
of the US dime, 10 cent piece.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----


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