[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: ? for Shaun Hately

[Shaun Hately]

On 23 Aug 2003 at 6:51, Catlady (Rita Prince Winston) wrote:

> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "terryljames76" 
> <terryljames at h...> wrote:
> > 
> > Now, a question for Shaun that I've wondered about every time I read 
> > your sig.  WHY are you without wax?  
> 
> I know you asked Shaun, but I happen to know the answer. But I'm 
> going to lead you to it via dictionaries.

Yep, Rita has given the same answer I would have :)
 
> One-look dictionary http://www.onelook.com/index.html offers 2 
> Websters: 1828 and 1913. 
> 
> This answer is in 1828: 
> http://65.66.134.201/cgi-bin/webster/webster.exe?search_for_d:/inetpub
> /wwwroot/cgi-bin/webster/web1828=sincere
> 
> << SINCE'RE, a. [L. sincerus, which is said to be composed of sine, 
> without, and cera, wax; as if applied originally to pure honey.] >> 
> (Mind you, this one says the "without wax" refers to PURE HONEY. 
> IIRC, the story I was told in school was that dishonest potters would 
> rub wax into the cracks in their wares (to conceal the cracks) and 
> the wax would quickly wear out and then the contents would leak out 
> of the crockery, so potters would advertise SINE CERA "without 
> wax".) 

Yes, the story I was told in school (printed in 'The Approach to 
Eating'. Oh wait - it was 'The Approach to Latin' before we modified the 
front cover) is the pottery one.

I encountered that story in around 1988 - when I first started using e-
mail around 1990, I thought this technological medium full of smart 
people would be one to appreciate the useage - so it's always been part 
of my siglines.

Basically - "Yours Sincerely"

Ooh - here's a chance to do a nice plug. I think I've mentioned one 
reason why I liked Harry Potter is because it reminded me (to an extent) 
of my own school experiences - I've just put some pictures of my old 
school online at http://www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/xavpiccies.html

No school can be Hogwarts - but this one wasn't a bad fascimile for 
Australia (-8.  

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia