Profligate

Ancient Forest Logged in Finland

The U.S. Forest Service is mostly seen as a champion of forest conservation. However, in A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson recounts how they once made the profligate decision of selling hundred-year-old pines for about $2 each—only after spending $4 per tree surveying the land and building roads.

He continues to explain, “a great deal of Forest Service land is designated “multiple-use,” which is generously interpreted to allow any number of boisterous activities—mining, oil, and gas extraction; ski resorts (137 of them); condominium developments; snowmobiling; off-road vehicle scrambling; and lots and lots and lots of logging.”

Profligate

1. Given over to dissipation; dissolute.
2. *Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant.

Etymology

From Latin profligare, meaning “to strike down, defeat, ruin”.  Profligare further breaks down into pro — “down, forth” and fligere — “to strike”. Profligate came from the notion of being ruined by vice. Fligere also brings us “conflict”, “inflict”, and “affliction”.

Synonyms

prodigal, spendthrift, extravagant

Photo by: Greenpeace Finland

Exorbitant

The Dutch developed an obsession with tulips in the 17th century in what has come to be named “tulip mania”. At its height, tulips reached exorbitant prices, selling for the equivalent of 10 to 15 million of today’s dollars for a single bulb. An impressive tulip garden represented the pinnacle of success — until the craze suddenly ended and the economy crashed.

Exorbitant (pronounced “ig-ZOR-bih-tənt”)

Exceeding all bounds, as of custom or fairness: exorbitant prices.

Etymology

Appeared mid-15th century. From Latin exorbitare meaning “to deviate, go out of track”. Exorbitare is a combination of ex, meaning “out of” + orbita, “wheel track”.

Synonyms

outrageous, inordinate, extortionate, unconscionable, undue

Source

Botany of Desire (PDF File) |   Photo by: Delphine

Affluence

Rather than the destitute times for which they are reputed, the “Dark Ages” may actually have been an era of great affluence. NPR correspondent Adam Davidson remarks, “These early Medieval folks who we’ve all pitied all these years, so broke and alone — they were rich”. Media Theorist Douglas Rushkoff asserts that “population and wealth went up, work hours went down. Height and health went up, death and taxes went down”. Even the bubonic plague did not arrive until the Renaissance began.

Affluence (pronounced “AF-loo-əns”)

1. *A plentiful supply of material goods; wealth.
2. A great quantity; an abundance.
3. A flowing to or toward a point; afflux.

Etymology

From Old French affluence, which came from Latin affluere, meaning “to flow”. The usage towards wealth came from the notion of “a plentiful flow”.  Affluere also brings us “confluent“.

Synonyms

prosperity, abundance, opulence, copiousness, plenitude

Sources

NPR: In Dark Ages… |   Douglas Rushkoff: In Defense of the Dark Ages

Moribund

Latin-inscribed headstone

There are somewhere near 6,800 living languages according to an analyses under the Summer Institute of Linguistics. However, even the most optimistic estimates predict that about half of these are moribund, meaning, they will die with their current generation of speakers. A quarter of the world’s spoken languages currently have fewer than 1,000 speakers.

Moribund (pronounced “MOR-ih-bund”)

1. Approaching death; about to die.
2. *On the verge of becoming obsolete: moribund customs; a moribund way of life.

Synonyms

waning, stagnant, obsolescent

Source

The Politics of English as a World Language (pg. 32)   |  Photo by: diffendale

Secede

Principality of Hutt River

The Principality of Hutt River is another interesting micro-nation. This small nation of farmland seceded from Australia when its founder, Leonard George Casley, decided to fight against Australia’s harsh wheat production quotas. When Australia threatened him with prosecution, he styled himself “His Royal Highness Prince Leonard of Hutt”, noting that monarchs were immune to all charges under Australian law . When the Australia Post stopped handling Hutt River mail, this nation of about 20 residents officially declared war. Australia soon resumed delivering their mail and ceased demanding an income tax.

Secede (sih-SEED)

To formally withdraw from an organization, association, or alliance.

Synonyms

disaffiliate

Source

Wikipedia: Principality of Hutt River |   Photo Credit