I'd be interested in an explanation of the use of "venery" in this context. My dictionary defines venery as "sexual indulgence" or, archaic, as "hunting." What is the missing link from there to gatherations?
In the early oughts, I submitted a group noun to a call-out for such and ended up being mentioned in the follow-up. My contribution -- a dump of spam -- is apparently buried beneath that dump, which has since become both an avalanche of spam and a bankruptcy of spam.
Dump of spam is perfect! I love it! My understanding is that "venery," now obsolete for hunting, ultimately comes from the same root as "venery," sexual desire, through the shared sense of "pursuit."
A very similar comment appears in the early fourteenth century Smithfield Decretals (British Library, Decretals of Gregory IX, Royal MS 10 E iv, f. 314r)
The Latin is:
Explicit hic totum qui scripsit da sibi potum,
or, roughly, ‘It’s all done, give the scribe a drink.’
(I tried to include a screenshot, but Substack isn’t letting me.)
Although the magnificent program of illuminations in this ms was added in England c. 1340-42, the text was written in southern France sometime around 1300, so presumably the scribe was located there.
This is an enormous volume in two senses: it contains more than 300 folios, nearly all of which have wonderful bas-de-page illuminations, and the pages are enormous, so the illuminations are easy to see. Unfortunately, although it was available online, it isn’t up right now thanks to the recent cyberattack on the BL. They are putting mss back online slowly and hope to be done in 2025.
I would like to add to the list with “a lot of car salesmen.” Or saleswomen.
I'd be interested in an explanation of the use of "venery" in this context. My dictionary defines venery as "sexual indulgence" or, archaic, as "hunting." What is the missing link from there to gatherations?
In the early oughts, I submitted a group noun to a call-out for such and ended up being mentioned in the follow-up. My contribution -- a dump of spam -- is apparently buried beneath that dump, which has since become both an avalanche of spam and a bankruptcy of spam.
Love your substack.
Dump of spam is perfect! I love it! My understanding is that "venery," now obsolete for hunting, ultimately comes from the same root as "venery," sexual desire, through the shared sense of "pursuit."
Yes - the OED gives: Old French venerie < Latin venārī to hunt.
My favourite recent addition, attributed to comedian Simon Evans, is 'A failure of hermits'.
A very similar comment appears in the early fourteenth century Smithfield Decretals (British Library, Decretals of Gregory IX, Royal MS 10 E iv, f. 314r)
The Latin is:
Explicit hic totum qui scripsit da sibi potum,
or, roughly, ‘It’s all done, give the scribe a drink.’
(I tried to include a screenshot, but Substack isn’t letting me.)
Although the magnificent program of illuminations in this ms was added in England c. 1340-42, the text was written in southern France sometime around 1300, so presumably the scribe was located there.
This is an enormous volume in two senses: it contains more than 300 folios, nearly all of which have wonderful bas-de-page illuminations, and the pages are enormous, so the illuminations are easy to see. Unfortunately, although it was available online, it isn’t up right now thanks to the recent cyberattack on the BL. They are putting mss back online slowly and hope to be done in 2025.