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RECENT POSTSunberufen
uhn-bur-OO-fen
interjection
uttered after boasting to avoid any bad lucky that might arise as a result of the boast; the verbal equivalent of knocking on wood
1872Their Silver Wedding Journey'I don't suppose,' Burnamy said, 'that life ever does much better than this, do you? I feel like knocking on a piece of wood and saying 'Unberufen.' I might knock on your bouquet; that's wood.'1911Zuleika DobsonWhile Mr. Druce put the finishing touches to his shin, 'I am utterly purposed,' he said to himself, 'that for this death of mine I will choose my own manner and my own—well, not 'time' exactly, but whatever moment within my brief span of life shall seem aptest to me. Unberufen,' he added, lightly tapping Mr. Druce's counter.1912Mark Twain, A BiographyI think the hen ought to have a name; she must be called Unberufen. That is a German word which is equivalent to it 'sh! hush' don't let the spirits hear you!' The superstition is that if you happen to let fall any grateful jubilation over good luck that you've had or are hoping to have you must shut square off and say 'Unberufen!' and knock wood. The word drives the evil spirits away; otherwise they would divine your joy or your hopes and go to work and spoil your game. Set her again—do!Labels: Albert Bigelow Paine, Max Beerbohm, William Dean Howells
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