Lexicon:Lucus a non lucendo
From WikiPOBia
| Citation: | lucus a non lucendo |
|---|---|
| Language: | Latin |
| References: | The Reverse of the Medal, page 180 |
| Meaning: | [called] a grove for being unlit |
Notes:
More or less impossible to translate, but meaning 'a contradiction in terms, often with facetious intent'; often attributed to Quintilian, who quotes the phrase as already well-known. The word lucus, 'a grove' — i.e., that part of a wood where dappled sunlight breaks dimly through — is derived from the verb lucere, 'to light', from which lucendo is also derived. The force of the phrase is "it is called 'a bright place', though usually pretty dark", or in the O'Brian, "it is called a rose garden though it usually has no roses.".
Additional information
Guide for the Perplexed — This article is based on information from the Guide for the Perplexed, edited by Anthony Gary Brown and based on the work of many contributors. As an aid to readers, the translations offered in Guide for the Perplexed are intended to be a literal as possible, and to follow as closely as possible the original word order.
All contributions to this article are considered to be dual licensed under the terms of the WikiPOBia License and for use in future editions of the Guide for the Perplexed under its terms of inclusion (contact Anthony Gary Brown for details).
All contributions to this article are considered to be dual licensed under the terms of the WikiPOBia License and for use in future editions of the Guide for the Perplexed under its terms of inclusion (contact Anthony Gary Brown for details).
Categories: Guide for the Perplexed:-L- | Guide for the Perplexed:Latin | Guide for the Perplexed:Latin:Aubrey-Maturin | Guide for the Perplexed:Latin:The Reverse of the Medal | Guide for the Perplexed:Latin:The Reverse of the Medal (chapter 06) | Guide for the Perplexed:The Reverse of the Medal | Guide for the Perplexed:The Reverse of the Medal (chapter 06) | Guide for the Perplexed:All Articles
