[BITList] Fwd: A.Word.A.Day--Gordon Bennett

[John Feltham]

So now you know....

john f.


Begin forwarded message:

From: "Wordsmith" <wsmith at wordsmith.org>
Date: 17 September 2009 4:34:24 PM AEST
To: wulguru.wantok at Gmail.com
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--Gordon Bennett

  Wordsmith.org	The Magic of Words

This week's theme
Eponyms

This week's words
Beau Brummell
termagant
pleiad
Gordon Bennett

Gordon Bennett

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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

Gordon Bennett


PRONUNCIATION:
(GOR-dn BEN-it)

MEANING:
interjection: Expressing surprise, puzzlement, incredulity, annoyance,  
etc.

ETYMOLOGY:
The expression is primarily used in the UK even though Gordon Bennett  
was an American. It comes from the name of newspaperman James Gordon  
Bennett, Jr. (1841-1918). He was known as Gordon Bennett to  
distinguish him from his father, James Gordon Bennett, Sr., a Scottish  
immigrant to the US and founder of the New York Herald. The son  
inherited the paper and wealth, and was known for his extravagant and  
shocking life. The term Gordon Bennett alludes to his wild ways, and  
perhaps originated as a euphemism for gorblimey. Gordon Bennett  
escaped to France and became famous in Europe for establishing awards  
in sports such as yachting, auto and airplane racing, ballooning, etc.

USAGE:
"Gordon Bennett, have they nothing better to do than gawp*?"
Robert McNeil; A Date For Your Diary; The Scotsman (Edinburgh,  
Scotland); Jun 19, 2009.
[* to gawk]

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted  
was once eccentric. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician,  
author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)

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