Impedimenta
(im-ped-uh-MEN-tuh) Baggage, supplies,
or equipment related to an activity or expedition, especially when regarded as
slowing one's progress. From Latin, plural of impedimentum, from impedire (to
impede), from im-/in- (in) + ped- (foot). Ultimately from the Indo-European
root ped- (foot) which also gave us pedal, podium, octopus, impeach, antipodal,
expediency, peccadillo (alluding to a stumble or fall), impeccable, and
peccavi.
Spleen 1. An
abdominal organ serving to clean blood. 2. Bad temper. From French esplen, from
Latin splen, from Greek splen. Earliest documented use: 1300. In earlier times
it was believed that four humors controlled human behavior and an imbalance
resulted in disease. According to this thinking, an excess of black bile
secreted by the spleen resulted in melancholy or ill humor. Also, spleen was
considered to be the seat of emotions. To vent one's spleen was to vent one's
ange
Mansuetude
(MAN-swi-tood, -tyood) Gentleness;
meekness. From Latin mansuescere (to make tame: to accustom to handling), from
manus (hand) + suescere (to become accustomed). Ultimately from the
Indo-European root man- (hand), which is also the source of manual, manage,
maintain, manicure, maneuver, manufacture, manuscript, command, manque,
amanuensis, legerdemain, and mortmain. Earliest documented use: 1390.
