Welcome to Gaia! ::

Reality: Resurrection!

Back to Guilds

relax with us 

Tags: contests, games, variety 

Reply 6: Pansophic Polls
Word for the Wise, November 29

Quick Reply

Enter both words below, separated by a space:

Can't read the text? Click here

Submit

100%
 100%  [ 4 ]
Total Votes : 4


Uadzit
Crew

Ghostly Shapeshifter

PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:23 am


Topic: Charles Thomson

Today we remember Charles Thomson, born in Ireland on this date in 1729. Having a difficult time recalling Thomson's claim to fame? He was the American patriot who was one of two men to have actually signed his name on July 4th, '76 to the Declaration of Independence. The other man, of course, was John Hancock.

In his day, Thomson was admired as a man of great integrity. He emigrated to the colonies at the age of ten and was among the earliest to support the movement for independence. Thomson served as secretary to the Continental Congress for seven years, then reprised that role for the following eight years for the United States Congress, earning himself the title the first official record keeper of the United States.

Thomson lived through, participated in, and recorded an impressive amount of what we now know as history during his 95 years. More than 5000 coinages also entered the American English lexicon during the lifetime of that American patriot. That list includes terms ranging from sounding board and the adjective baritone in 1729, the year of Thomson's birth, to aeronautics, skyline, and high school in 1824, the year of Thomson's death. And in the early 1750s, when Charles Thomson was making friends with Ben Franklin in Philadelphia, the American lexicon was welcoming the Native Americanisms succotash and quahog.

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.
PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:34 pm


domokun

Nechbet

Nuclear Hipster

12,000 Points
  • Grunnyland Dabbler 50
  • Grunnyland Collector 150
Reply
6: Pansophic Polls

 
Manage Your Items
Other Stuff
Get GCash
Offers
Get Items
More Items
Where Everyone Hangs Out
Other Community Areas
Virtual Spaces
Fun Stuff
Gaia's Games
Mini-Games
Play with GCash
Play with Platinum