Types of Swords – 20+C+M+B _ _
Commonplace Book – Pages 10-13
Types of Swords
Bastard sword: Long, straight blade, 70-100 cm
Claymore: Swords used by Scottish highlanders in the medieval ages.
Cutlass: Curved blade sharpened on the convex side. Upper hand in slicing.
Dao: A category of single-edged Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping. Recent use was in WWI.
Espada Ropera: ‘Sword of the robe’. A Spanish sword that was lighter, thinner and more ornate. Forerunner to the French rapier or ‘epee rapiere’
Estoc: ‘ Tuck ‘ in English. Long, straight blade, very rigid and could be thrust with one hand. Could split the rings of chainmail and go through a plate of armor.
Falchion: 11th – 16th c. Lower average quality and status. Used more as tools than weapons. Fairly short, one-edged sword of European origin.
Foil: A light, thin, blunt-edged sword with a button on its point to prevent injury.
Gladius: Used by Roman legionaries and gladiators. Straight, double-edged, with V-shaped tip and made for thrusting. Also the cross-section provides good stability for stabbing.
Greatsword: Largest version of slashing, straight-bladed Euro-swords. Very heavy, needs two hands to wield.
Jian: Double-edged straight sword used during the last 1000 years in China.
Katana: Japanese longsword. Curved, single-edged sword traditionally used by samurai. The scabbard is called “saya”. The art of practice of this sword originally was “kenjutsu”, but now is “gendai budo”. The art of drawing a katana is “iaido” and the art of fencing with a bamboo katana is “shinai”
Katar: “Bundi dagger”. Short punching sword used in Persia and northern India. Blade often folded and effective in armor piercing.
Long-sword: 14th c. Larger size than sword meant for single-hand use. Can use for off-hand for punches, grabs, and throws.
Machete: A long, heavy, broad-bladed knife used especially in Central and South America and West Indies as a tool and weapon.
Rapier: Slender, sharply pointed sword. Can be double-edged or single-edged with a sharp triangle blade or edgeless. Capable of cutting and thrusting. Mostly associated with sword duels.
Sabre: European backsword with distinctive curvature and large hand guard. Made to be worn in a scabbard.
Scimitar: Deeply curved blade with single cutting edge. Middle-East origin.
Scramsax: Blade is gently curving, usually tapering to a point, with a false edge on back up to a 1/3 of the whole length. Customarily worn by Lombard warriors and sign of rank from 4th-9th c. A.D.
Spadone: Two-handed sword used by knights. But could be held as a spear.
Spatha: Straight slashing sword and usually worn by Roman cavalry.
Swallsword: European dueling sword. Faster and lighter.
Tachi: Japanese sword. More curved and slightly longer than a katana. Usually used by cavalry.
Tanto: Japanese small sword. Smaller version of katana. Can stab or slash.
Tsurugi: Japanese straight, double-edged sword, no longer in use.
Wakizashi: Traditional Japanese blade. Usually worn with katana. Together they are “daisho”.
Zweihander: Brutish, German, two-handed sword.
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20 + C + M + B _ _
Epiphany is traditionally a time for blessing homes by marking the front door of the house with the year and 3 letters said to stand for the names of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, introduced by the 3 crosses (for ‘holy’). These letters are otherwise understood to stand for ‘Cristus mansionem benedict’ (May Christ bless this home). You can mark the door frame with chalk. Holy water may be sprinkled throughout the house or at the front door. All make the sign of the cross and the leader begins: “Lord our God, bless this household. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of Your law. We give thanks to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Let us bless the Lord.” All respond, making the sign of the cross.
Divination
Commonplace Book – Pages 7-10
Aeromancy: Foretelling future events by observing atmospheric phenomena
Aleuromancy: Divination by means of flour
Alomancy: The diviner analyzes the patterns in which grains of salt fall or travel through the air when thrown
Amniomancy: From inspecting a child’s caul, wise women would foretell the baby’s future. Red is happy days and good fortune while lead-colored is misfortune.
Apantomancy: divination of any object which presents itself by chance
Aspidomancy: the diviner draws a circle in which he positions himself on a shield and recites certain incantations. He enters a trance and upon returning, tells things which the devil revealed to him.
Austromancy: Divination concerned with observance and interpretation of winds
Batanomancy: Method of scattering or burning of vervein and heather leaves in a high wind
Belomancy: To throw a certain number of arrows and interpret the incline as they fall
Capriomancy: Method of divination by observing the fumes rising from poppies on live coals
Cartomancy: A method of telling on individual’s fortune with a deck of playing cards
Causimomancy: It was thought to be a good omen whenever combustible objects didn’t burn
Ceremancy: The divination through the shapes of molten wax dipped into water
Chaomancy: Divination concerning divining clouds or visions in air
Chiromancy: Palmistry
Cleromancy: A system practiced by throwing black and white beans, small bones, dice or stones to be used as lots
Critomancy: The paste of cakes that are offered in sacrifices is closely examined and from the flour that’s spread upon them, omens are drawn
Daphaomancy: During the burning of a laurel branch in a fire if there is cackling, this is a sign of good luck. But if there is none, then the prognostication is false.
Gastromancy: The voice of the seer seems to come from the stomach
Geomancy: A system of divination that employs the scattering of pebbles, grains of sand, or seeds on earth and then the interpretation of their shape and direction
Hydromancy and Crystalomancy: a mode of divination practiced with the help of a crystal lobe, or pool of water.
Icthyomancy: Divination that studies the entrails of fish
Lampodomancy: Divination that studies the form, color and movements of a flame from an oil lamp or torch. A single point was good luck while two was bad. A flame that was bent indicated illness. Sparks were thought to indicate forthcoming news. Sudden extinguishing of flames meant disaster.
Lecanomancy: One method was to interpret the image formed or the sounds that the object’s made when thrown into a container of water
Libanomancy: Incense is thrown into a fire, and the smoke carries the prayers to heaven. If it is consumed, prayers will be answered.
Margaritomancy: The pearl is covered with a vase and placed near a fire while names of subjects were read aloud. When the name of the guilty person was announced, the pearl would pierce the bottom of the vase.
Molybdomancy: Interpretation of the meaning of shapes that have been produced by dripping molten lead or tin into water.
Necromancy: The practice of communicating with the dead to predict the future
Oneiromancy: Form of divination by which the symbolic and/or prophetic properties of dreams are interpreted.
Onychomancy: Divination by use of human fingernails. It’s the observation of the shapes which the sun produces when shining on the fingers of a young boy.
Ophlomancy: Divination based on the color and movements of serpents
Phyllorhodomancy: Practiced by Greeks who clasped a rose leaf in the hand and judged by the sound the success or failure of their desires
Rhasomancy: Divination by which a work of the great poets is read. A verse or passage, or word is interpreted relating to an inquirer’s questions.
Scapulomancy: Interpretation of the cracks in shoulder blades of animals burned in sacrificial fires
Stolisomancy: Divination by the way a person dresses himself
Syncomancy: Divination by use of fig tree leaves. The diviner’s question is written on the leaf. If a leaf died slowly, then the prophecy is good, but if it died quickly, the omen was bad.
Tasseomancy: divination by reading tea leaves. Tea is poured into a cup without use of a strainer. The inquirer consumes all the tea, the leaves remaining are observed. The snake means emnity or falsehood, spade is good fortune, mountain means journey and a house is change and success.
Taphramancy: the ashes remaining from the fire that has burned victims in sacrifice are used for interpretation.
Words
“I cannot live without books” – Thomas Jefferson
Commonplace Book – Pages 2-7
Acedia: (n) Extreme mental or spiritual sloth
Ad hoc: (adj) (Latin) “This purpose”; special; impromtu
Aeolian: (adj) Pertained to or caused by winds
Affatus: (n) Any creative inspiration or impulse
Agnus Dei: (n) (Latin) The figure of a lamb, as an emblem of Christ
Agog: (adj) In a state of eager curiosity
Algid: (adj) Cold
Ambrosia: (n) In Greek mythology, the food of the gods, giving immortality
Ampersand: (n) The character ”&” meaning “and”
Ancephalon: (n) The brain
Antediluvian: (n) An old-fashioned person
Ante meridiem: (adj) (Latin) Before noon
Apiary: (n) A place where bees are kept
Arbalest: (n) A medieval crossbow requiring a mechanical appliance to bent it
Arspoetica: (n) The art of poetry
Aught: (n) A cipher; zero
Barbate: (adj) Bearded
Berceuse: (n) A lullaby
Bibelot: (n) A small, decorative, and often rare object or trinket
Braggadocio: (n) One who boasts
Brakes: (n) An area of thick undergrowth; a thicket
Breakneck: (adj) Likely to cause an accident
Cachinate: (v) To laugh immoderately or noisily
Cacography: (n) Bad handwriting or spelling
Caledonia: (n) (poetically) Scotland
Cathay: (n) (poetically) China
Chancel: (n) The space around the altar enclosed by a railing
Cipango: (n) (poetically) Japan
Coppice: (n) A grove of small trees
Covert: (n) Woodland
Crags: (n) A steep, rugged mass of rock projecting upward
Cynthia: (n) (poetically) The moon
Diaphonous: (adj) Translucent
Erin: (n) (poetically) Ireland
Fells: (n) A barren or stony hill
Fraticide: (v) To kill one’s brother
Frump: (n) A dowdy, often ill-tempered woman
Fogyish: (adj) Old-fashioned
Genocide: (n) The extermination of a race of people
Girt: (n) A sarcastic remark
Gorget: (n) A piece of armor for the throat
Guile: (n) A trick or stratagem
Gusto: (n) An individual’s particular taste
Haberdasher: (n) A shopkeeper who deals in men’s clothing
Habitant: (n) A farmer in Canada or Louisiana
Hagiography: (n) The study of the lives of saints
Harikiri: (v) To commit suicide by disembowelment
Harangue: (n) A lengthy, loud, and vehement speech
Hauberk: (n) A long, defensive shirt of chain mail, to the knees
Heath: (n) A tract of uncultivated land, covered in low shrubs
Hemidemisemiquaver: (n) A 64th note in music
Hew: (v) To cut down with an ax
Hibernia: (n) (poetically) Ireland
Hidalgo: (n) A Spanish nobleman of lower rank than a grandee
Hispania: (n) (Latin) The region comprised of Spain and Portugal
Hoarfrost: (n) Frozen dew
Hyson: (n) A green tea from China
Idiosyncrasy: (n) A habit, mannerism, expression, etc peculiar to an individual
Idyl: (n) A poem, usually short depicting simple scenes of pastoral, domestic, or country life
Illyria: (n) An ancient country bordering the East coast of the Adriatic
Imago: (n) An infantile, unconscious concept of a parent or loved one persisting in the adult
Impecunious: (adj) Having no money
Inamorata: (n) A woman who is loved or in love
Introit: (n) The opening of Mass worship, consisting of a psalm excerpt followed by Gloria Patri
Izzard: (n) The letter “z”
Lissomly: (adj) Nimble
Lorry: (n) (Brit.) A truck
Mantic: (adj) Having the power of divination
Marten: (adj) Carnivorous
Matins: (n) First canonical hour; daybreak
Matricide: (v) To kill one’s mother
Miasma: (n) The poisonous effluvium once supposed to rise from swamps
Mirth: (n) Gladness & gaiety, esp. laughter
Misogamy: (n) Hatred of marriage
Misogamy: (n) Hatred of women
Myriad: (adj) Countless
Necropolis: (n) A cemetery
Nolime: (n) A warning against touching or meddling
Nonagenarian: (n) A person between 90-100 years old
Nonperson: (n) A person whose existence is entirely ignored
Octodemo: (n) The page size of a book made up of printer’s sheets folded into 18 leaves
Octogenarian: being between 80-90 years of age
Olio: (n) A miscellaneous collection of musical pieces
Olympiad: (n) The interval of 4 years between 2 successive Olympic games
Pabulum: Any substance giving nourishment
Paginate: (v) To number the pages of a book
Palate: (n) Sense of taste
Panacea: (n) A cure-all
Patricide: (v) To kill one’s father
Phosphor: (n) (poetically) The morning star
Pollex: (n) The thumb
Pollyanna: (n) One who persistently finds good in everything
Poltroon: (n) A coward
Potation: (n) The act of drinking
Prosaic: (adj) Dull
Pukka: (adj) Genuine
Regicide: (v) To kill a monarch
Shaw: (n) Thicket
Spate: (n) A sudden almost overwhelming outpouring of emotion
Stalwart: (adj) Firm and resolute
Subtlest: (adj) Crafty or sly
Sunder: (v) To sever
Surcoat: (n) A tunic worn by a knight over his armor
Surmise: (n) An idea based on insufficient evidence
Swarthy: (adj) Having a dark complexion or color
Unchancy: (adj) Dangerous
Virtual literacy: (n) The capacity to understand the world
Wight: (adj) Valorous (n) A living being
Small Poems – Japanese Superstitions
Commonplace Book – Pages 1-2
Married in blue, your lover is true
Married in pink, your fortunes will sink
Married in green, you will not long be seen
Married in yellow, ashamed of a fellow
Married in brown, you’ll live out of town
Married in grey, you’ll live far away
Married in black, you’ll wish you were back
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday the best of all
Thursday brings crosses
Friday losses
Saturday no luck at all
February Bride – affectionate, tender mother
March Bride – frivolous, chatterbox, quarreling
April Bride – inconsistent or forceful, well-meaning
May Bride – handsome, agreeable, practical
June Bride – impetuous, generous
July Bride – handsome, slightly quick-tempered
August Bride – agreeable and practical
September Bride – discreet, affable, well-liked
October Bride – pretty, coquettish, loving but jealous
November Bride – liberal, kind but sometimes cold
December Bride – entertaining but extravagant
Japanese Superstitions
~ The number 4
~ Sticking chopsticks vertically into rice
~ Passing food from chopstick to chopstick
~ Sleeping facing North
~ If a funeral car passes, bite your thumb
~ You will turn into a cow if you lie down immediately after eating
~ A snake will come if you whistle at night
~ A black cat crossing your path
