The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-08


Definitions 9ei7lg oga
fCANoNIeAL.4-A term used to denote arule
and standard by which all other things are
regulated. The various books gathered to-
gether in our Scriptures, being accepted as
written by divinely inspired men, are called
canonical, to distinguish them from the books
of the Apocryphia.. Origin: The word harnon,
iu Greek, signifies the tongue of balance, or
that small part of a scale which, by its per-
pendicular situation, determines the even poise
or weight: or by its inclination either way, the
uneven poise of the things that are weighed
thus, as each book of the Scriptures, when
written in Greek, appeared, it was called kan
on, as containing the most important rules and
regulations of life The term cannon was al
so used in. the Latin tongue to denote the, ,ac-
knowledged books of the Bible collectively.
and hence each book was called canonical,
PHGN1x LISE.-A term often used for any,
thing that, after having been destroyed, has
sprung up again. For example, a building IS
burned to the ground bat in very short
time, there appears in its place an edifiee equal,
if not superior, to the one destroyed. The
new building is then frequently said to have
risen, like phoenix, from its own ashes. Or
igin. In the hrathen mythology, the phoenix
was large bird, regarded as the emblem of
immortality. 1t was said to live FIVE or six
hundred years, and then to build itself fune-
raj pile, which it kindled with the tanning of
its wings; thus apparently consuming itself,
but not really; the bird becoming endowed
with renewed vitality by the process.
lens FATUUs.-Ap Applied metaphorically to
denote anything which, while it affects to en-
tighten, tends only to confound and mislead.
Origin: This is the Latin name for the phe-
nomenon known among us as the /" "Will o.
the wisp." It signifies literally q foolish fre;;'
for It is. in fact mere lighted vacuum, caIcu-
lated to lead astray benighted wayfarers, who
imagine their steps are being guided by an
ordinary light. The appearance is occasioned
by an ascent from the ground of a gas decom-
posed from animal and vegetable remains
which becomes ignited in the air by its own
motion.
NEMEsIs.-This term is applied to that ret
ribution which often Furnishes person for
particular .misdeeds. II, for instance, a house
owner were harshly to eject tenant, and af-
forwards, beng Introduced circumstances,
should be elected from his home in like man.
ner, this might be appropriately spoken of as
being brought about by the Nemesis Origin: 5
In, mythology, Nemesis was the Goddess of
Vengeance. s4I q 85=9H sk eaaa
FETIsH.-The name by which an idol is
designated among the negroes of Africa whose
worship is called Fetishism The negroes
believe that the family Fetish narrowly in
spects the conduct of every individual in the
house, and rewards or Furnishes each according
to his deserts. Hence, we sometimes hear it
iguratively said, when a person has become
plunged in misery through drunkenness, that
his punishment has been brought about by
" the Fetish of the bottle.p' See,
A ROLAND FOR AN oLIvER-Eq to .
the ordinary saying of q tit for tat;'' giving a,
person as good as he sends, &c, Origin: Ro- I
land and Oliver were the names of two pages
attached to the court of Charlemagne. Their
qualities were so excellent, and SO equally
matched, that Roland was considered ar good
as Oliver, and Oliver as good as Roland. 5dT
Fr FA:-The name of a judicial writ issu-
ed when judgment has been obtained against
the defendant in an action for debt, and COM
nanding the sheriffs to seize his goods forthe'
purpose of realizing by their sale the amount
due to the plaintiff. Origin: Fl. ia. is an
abreviation of two Latin words-.ferf Jacias
which mean, cause it to be done.' s1t-
PANAcEA.-A word signifying universal
cure. Origin: Panacea was the name given
to the daughter of Esculapius, the god ~
medicine. who was considered tenn arkable for
her skill in the healing art