Monday, June 13, 2011

lucubrate


lucubrate [ˈlukyʊˌbreɪt] v. i.

1.) Literally, To work by artificial light. In mod. use, to produce ‘lucubrations’, discourse learnedly in writing.

lucubrate v. t.

1.) To produce (literary compositions) by laborious study (O.E.D. 2nd Ed.).

Etymology: From Late lūcubrāt-, participial stem of lūcubrāre, from lūc-, lūx light.

"'England! with all thy faults I love thee still,'
I said at Calais, and have not forgot it;
I like to speak and lucubrate my fill;
I like the government (but that is not it);
I like the freedom of the press and quill;
I like the Hapeas Corpus (when we've got it);
I like a parliamentary debate,
Particularly when 'tis not too late;

I like the taxes, when they're not too many;
I like a seacoal fire, when not too dear;
I like a beef-steak, too, as well as any;
Have no objection to a pot of beer;
I like the weather, when it is not rainy,
That is, I like two months of every year,
And so God save the Regent, Church, and King!
Which means that I like all and everything" (Beppo, George Byron, 1817).

(Two Scholars Debating, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1628)

41 comments:

themajessty said...

Lucubrate...

interesting.

Also, I'm not even sure either. I read an article and it claimed that you can get that from wearing flip flops made from recycled condoms.

lol.

Bibi said...

Thanks for the comment! I actually thought it was common knowledge. Guess I was wrong.

Wow, fascinating project you've got here. I'm terrified of making mistakes now. Thanks a lot :p (j/k, very impressed)

Z said...

This sounds like lubricate (Lubricant).
I'm so into old paintings and painters. The light is the first thing I always look for in paintings.
VERY GOOD word!

Trisha said...

Yeah, what Z said - I thought the same thing. hehe

JayPower said...

Awesome word, will try to use this today somehow; D

T. Banacek said...

I just added this to my vocab. Time to annoy people!

Lydia Kang said...

Ok, this is definitely a new one for me!

Can you do lugubrious?

Xenototh said...

Lucubrate.. this one almost sounds too dirty to use. lol.

Mercurio said...

it sounds like lubricate haha whole different meaning tough

Moobeat said...

interesting

Sick by Trend said...

I like this word.. also the picture is fabulous.

xx

www.sickbytrend.com

Fang said...

Don't think I quite understand. It's producing by studying, right?

jaykaydee said...

at first i thought it said lubricate.

Endless said...

i heard that one before!

Melanie said...

Me too...every time I look at the word I see lubricate. I can't get around it!!

PeaceLoveandSharpies said...

A tad bit confushed...

Nom de Plume said...

protip: roll the R

MRanthrope said...

Jamiesaur beat me to it! Lubricate all day.

AllenTesch said...

Hmmm, I'll have to practice a bit before I try to use it in front of learned people.

Dejch said...

that's a weird word

M Pax said...

Very good word.

Unknown said...

I feel as if I should use this today no one will know what I am on about...mission accepted. I seriously love expanding my vocab. Thanks.

Dave said...

Sounds like a word to be used sparingly.

shari said...

Yes, I used a filter (one of Instagram's filters) on the sunset photo. But it was actually quite pretty... my camera (3GS iPhone) wasn't getting it. No HDR on it.

I've never even HEARD of this word. Usually I've at least heard of the words you've had on here. Since I'm not an academic, that's probably why....

Jiffy Lube said...

I put this on everything I love...I thought it said Lubricate! I think I seriosly either need to seek help or get laid. Either way, I think I'll have fun wiith both...

Drake Sigar said...

I'll never be able to use that one with a straight face.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm going to use that in my next book!

Astronomy Pirate said...

Pervs.

DEZMOND said...

For a second I thought it was something mildly naughty :))

Unknown said...

Well, in that case I lucubrate every day (and night) for hours.

Bart said...

i covered her in man lucubrate...

A Beer for the Shower said...

I want to say this word. I really do. But when the spotlight's on me and I try to say it in regular conversation, I know I'm just gonna say 'lubricate.' This will take practice.

Biff Tanner said...

I love this site!

Duhniel S. said...

someone said lubricate :O?

Anonymous said...

Haha. That's all, just haha.

RedHeadRob said...

That's a pretty sweet word.

Anonymous said...

Hm, I used this word with a totally different intention :O

Jesse Crows said...

couldnt stop saying lubricate in my head while reading this haha

Unknown said...

Well, well...that's a new one for me...never been here before, but I like the idea....i'm so coming back!
Best, x

HiFi said...

This word is very popular within the philosopher's crowd. Lucubrate! I'm actually a fan of this word. :D

Intraman said...

I really want to make a dirty pun on that "lucubrate my fill" quote, but i'm going to try to stay classy for once

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