Wednesday, September 14, 2011

panegyric



panegyric [ˌpænɪˈdʒɪrɪk] n.

1.) A public speech or writing in praise of some person, thing, or achievement; a laudatory discourse, a formal or elaborate encomium or eulogy. Construed with on, upon, formerly of.
2.) Elaborate praise; eulogy; laudation (O.E.D. 2nd Ed.).

Etymology: Latin panegyricus, from Greek panegurikos (logos), (speech) at a public assembly, panegyric, from paneguris, public assembly: pan-, + aguris, assembly, marketplace.

"'I cannot agree, Phaedrus, with the condition laid down for our speeches, that they should be a simple and unqualified panegyric of Love. If Love had a single nature, it would be all very well, but not as it is, since Love is not single; and that being so the better course would be to declare in advance which Love it is that we have to praise'" (The Symposium by Plato, Walter Hamilton (trans.), 1951).

(Das Gastmahl des Platon, Anselm Feuerbach, 1869)

17 comments:

Bibi said...

May I just say: I love this quote, for some obscure reason.
and ryc: Ah, so it does exist... I just thought: oh whatever, in Dutch it's "degustatie", let's anglicise it. Let's build some English words, why not?

Jennifer Fabulous said...

This words sounds like it should be dirty. Especially when that woman says it.

D4 said...

This one's just easy to slip in and seem sophisticated. There are times for words like these.

ivy said...

It would take me a bit to get the hang of saying it. But then, just think what I could do with that word.

Unknown said...

Found my way over here from D4's excellent blog, and I'm glad I did because this is a brilliant blog concept!

Melanie said...

Ah yes....something I do not get enough of in my life...for me...

DEZMOND said...

I wouldn't mind if you write me a panegyric, dear Edmund :PP

themajessty said...

OH MY.

I'm on a roll.

I knew the last two words you posted.

P.S I've had a lot of shit to deal with in the past two days but I'll cease to neglect our email chain soon. PROMISE.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Are you receiving many panegyrics for completing your degree?

A Beer for the Shower said...

"When am I going to get some panegyric?" While this statement is true, to the average idiot I interact with on a day to day basis, they'd probably assume I was asking about contracting an STD.

Shutterbug said...

it sounds like a medical term to me...

PeaceLoveandSharpies said...

Laughing by butt off at ABFTS's comment. XD

Unknown said...

Personally, I feel that 'of' sounds much better with this word than saying "panegyric ON" something.

bb said...

Oh hey, you never leave me comments anymore. What's going on?

mamtc said...

I think I know this word. Any I prefer to use Eulogy :)

Michael Westside said...

Another great word i'll probably never use ;)

Unknown said...

I pushed play once and the woman's voice keeps echoing in my mind.

I recall this word from my days of studying History. Why this word stuck when many others didn't I shall never know.

Post a Comment