Comments on: Word of the Day: Ostracize http://www.dailywritingtips.com/word-of-the-day-ostracize/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:06:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Joan-AndThatIsAllYouNeedToKnow- http://www.dailywritingtips.com/word-of-the-day-ostracize/comment-page-1/#comment-389962 Joan-AndThatIsAllYouNeedToKnow- Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:25:04 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4480#comment-389962 I remember this word! I first came across Ostrakizein back in elementary school during an unbelievably boring hour of ancient Greek History and felt so sorry for Aristides when our teacher told us the story of his ostracizing. I remember myself being so interested so as to look up from the fairy I had been working on my History book's margins -something that didn't go unnoticed by Mrs. Polly,our teacher, who commented humorlessly on it. Oh, the good, old days, when we didn't have to read to get good grades... (hey, that rhymes! :D) Anyway, great choice for Word of the Day! I remember this word!
I first came across Ostrakizein back in elementary school during an unbelievably boring hour of ancient Greek History and felt so sorry for Aristides when our teacher told us the story of his ostracizing. I remember myself being so interested so as to look up from the fairy I had been working on my History book’s margins -something that didn’t go unnoticed by Mrs. Polly,our teacher, who commented humorlessly on it.
Oh, the good, old days, when we didn’t have to read to get good grades… (hey, that rhymes! :D )
Anyway, great choice for Word of the Day!

]]> By: Daniel http://www.dailywritingtips.com/word-of-the-day-ostracize/comment-page-1/#comment-233097 Daniel Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:42:21 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4480#comment-233097 There's even an interesting anecdote on ostracism. They say that Aristeides, an Athenian strategos, also known as "The Just", was ostracized in 482. He was approached by an illiterate citizen and asked to write the name Aristeides on an ostrakon, his own name and not somebody elses mind you! In return, he inquired as to why the man wanted Aristeides banished and the man repplied starkly "I'm sick of hearing everyone calling him the Just". Dont know how this illustrates the meaning of the word better than the previous explanation, but it's rather funny and I wanted to share it. There’s even an interesting anecdote on ostracism. They say that Aristeides, an Athenian strategos, also known as “The Just”, was ostracized in 482. He was approached by an illiterate citizen and asked to write the name Aristeides on an ostrakon, his own name and not somebody elses mind you! In return, he inquired as to why the man wanted Aristeides banished and the man repplied starkly “I’m sick of hearing everyone calling him the Just”.

Dont know how this illustrates the meaning of the word better than the previous explanation, but it’s rather funny and I wanted to share it.

]]> By: Maeve http://www.dailywritingtips.com/word-of-the-day-ostracize/comment-page-1/#comment-231348 Maeve Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:42:23 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4480#comment-231348 Ostracize comes from an ancient Athenian practice of banishment. Citizens who thought someone should be banished wrote the name of the undesirable on a potsherd or broken piece of tile. If enough bits accumulated, the targeted person was banished for a period of ten years. Greek <i>ostrakon</i>, "tile, potsherd." :-) Ostracize comes from an ancient Athenian practice of banishment. Citizens who thought someone should be banished wrote the name of the undesirable on a potsherd or broken piece of tile. If enough bits accumulated, the targeted person was banished for a period of ten years.
Greek ostrakon, “tile, potsherd.” :-)

]]> By: Asaad http://www.dailywritingtips.com/word-of-the-day-ostracize/comment-page-1/#comment-231090 Asaad Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:29:07 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4480#comment-231090 I am greatly thank you for sending me Daily writing tips , it is very useful and it improve my writing style I am greatly thank you for sending me Daily writing tips , it is very useful and it improve my writing style

]]> By: Philip Dragonetti http://www.dailywritingtips.com/word-of-the-day-ostracize/comment-page-1/#comment-230890 Philip Dragonetti Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:33:54 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=4480#comment-230890 Interesting word---"Ostracize". Although not mentioned in today's Writing Tip---I remember that the word "Ostrov" in Russian means "Island." So to ostrasize someone--- a Russian, at least--- is to be insular towards him---to put him on an island. And of course, the word "insular" also means 'island". Language is interesting---No? :-) Phil Interesting word—”Ostracize”. Although not mentioned in today’s Writing Tip—I remember that the word “Ostrov” in Russian means “Island.”
So to ostrasize someone— a Russian, at least— is to be insular towards him—to put him on an island. And of course, the word “insular” also means ‘island”.

Language is interesting—No? :-)

Phil

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