The Death of Fissiparous and Other Words: A Dictionary of Words & Phrases on the Verge of Extinction

pari passu

PAR-ee PAW-soo

adjective, adverb

at equal rates; at equal speed; in lock step with

1827James Fenimore CooperThe PrairieUnless, indeed, a man may be so called, whose fortune is made, whose fame may be said to be established for ever, whose name will go down to posterity with that of Buffon—Buffon! a mere compiler: one who flourishes on the foundation of other men's labours. No; pari passu with Solander, who bought his knowledge with pain and privations!'1899Charles Dudley WarnerThat FortunePhilip's estimation of himself rose 'pari passu' with his recognition of the discernment and intellectual quality of the frank and fascinating girl who seemed to believe in him.

Labels: Charles Dudley Warner, James Fenimore Cooper

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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Malthusian

mal-THOO-zhuhn

adjective

relating to or conforming to the theory of Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) which holds: populations increase faster than the resources needed to support the increase, and, if unchecked, will result in all-pervasive poverty, disease, and starvation

1832Various The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction (29 Sept 1832)We have besides safety for danger—accelerated speed without inhumanity—gain of time—of accommodation—of money—and over and above all, as a non-consumer of food, we have by the substitution what will remove the host of Malthusian ills to a period of almost indefinite duration. 1899Charles Dudley Warner That Fortune Everybody knows that it is full of the most gamy and beautiful fish in the world—namely, the speckled trout, whose honest occupation it is to devour whatever is thrown into the pool—a body governed by the strictest laws of political economy in guarding against over-population, by carrying out the Malthusian idea, in the habit the big ones have of eating the little ones. 1988Robert Ludlum The Icarus AgendaIf it were otherwise, you'd be talking about another system of government that doesn't permit the Malthusian law of economic failure.1996Joyce Carol OatesWe Were the MulvaneysAs a Harvard Ph.D. I became a neo-Malthusian but I consider myself a revisionist neo-Malthusian.

Labels: Charles Dudley Warner, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Ludlum, Various

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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sorrel

SOR-uhl

noun

shades of color between light brown and orange or between red and yellow

1888Charles Dudley WarnerOn HorsebackAt the top he encountered a stranger, on a sorrel horse…1995Larry McMurtryDead Man's WalkCall and Gus left the Major to finish cinching his saddle on his big sorrel…

Labels: Charles Dudley Warner, Larry McMurtry

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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