Siderismsid·er·ism Noun1. a phenomenon similar to animal magnetism formerly supposed to result from the bringing of iron or other inorganic bodies into connection with the human body2. belief that the stars influence human affairsMary was so desperate that she turned to love spells, siderism, and even astrology. Let’s just say it came from Latin and…
States Well Stated
Jousting! Crabs! Lions! Oh My!
by Betsey Ellis •
Maryland’s interest to Europeans goes back to 1498, when the shoreline was mapped by the Venetian John Cabot for the English. In 1632 George Calvert (later also known as Baron Baltimore) came to the shores in hopes of establishing a place where he could practice his Roman Catholicism in peace. He founded a settlement and…
Word of the Week
My Word! October 4
by Betsey Ellis •
FLEERFlirVerbTo laugh or grimace in a coarse derisive mannerThe ogre expressed his contempt when he fleered at the one-legged knight challenging him.This one was appropriated from an old Scandinavian word flire (meaning to giggle) by the English, who transmuted it into the Middle English fleryen. By the 15th century it further devolved into the verb…
States Well Stated
Remember the What?
by Betsey Ellis •
Maine used to be a lot of things. It used to be the northernmost State. It used to have the most coastline (it has more than 3500 miles of coastline). It was even included in the original United States, as part of Massachusetts until 1820. Not wanting to be dominated by the megalopolis of Boston,…
States Well Stated
More Bourbon than Babies
by Betsey Ellis •
I know this will probably come as a complete surprise to many of you, but I actually spend days researching for each of these articles. Or at least the better part of an afternoon (extra points here if you can identify the Game of Thrones reference. Yes, Covid has given me the opportunity to re-watch…