Fighting Words and Peaceful Words

Lecture 5

T

hink back to a time when you had a disagreement with someone. Was
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words to describe different types of disagreements and disturbances, and in
this lecture, we’ll focus on such words. As a bonus, we’ll also learn a few
words that take us in the opposite direction—toward peaceful situations.
As usual, we’ll delve into the morphology and etymology of many of the
words we encounter, including two high-utility Latin roots that relate to war
and peace.

Donnybrook (noun)

A free-for-all; a brawl; a scene of disorder and uproar.

z 'RQQ\EURRN’s etymological narrative is a gem: Donnybrook is a

suburb of Dublin that was known for an annual fair that incited a

number of no-holds-barred, drunken, riotous brawls. The situation

became so bad that the fair was banned in 1855.

z 'RQQ\EURRN also brings to mind a quote about the Irish people’s

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“The great Gaels of Ireland / Are the men that God made mad, / For

all their wars are merry, / And all their songs are sad.”

z Synonyms for GRQQ\EURRN that usually imply more serious, possibly

violent physical disagreements include the following:

ż MeleeDFRQIXVHGURZG\¿JKW

ż Fracas: a noisy disturbance, a quarrel, an uproar, perhaps even

a physical confrontation.