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Apr 15, 2014
This week's theme
Words coined after Shakespearean characters

This week's words
dogberry
portia
timon
romeo
prospero

Portia
Portia
Art: Henry Woods, 1888
Photo: Wikimedia

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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

Portia

PRONUNCIATION:
(POR-shuh, -shee-uh)

MEANING:
noun: A female lawyer.

ETYMOLOGY:
After Portia, the heroine of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Portia is a rich heiress who disguises herself as a lawyer to save Antonio's life. Earliest documented use: 1869.

USAGE:
"'Listen sister...law isn't the only subject I've mastered!' snaps Betty, ... 'I may be a Portia, but my middle name's Dempsey!'"
Mike Madrid; Divas, Dames & Daredevils; Exterminating Angel Press; 2013.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death. -Leonardo da Vinci, painter, engineer, musician, and scientist (1452-1519)

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