anon @ 2:11 AM: You are obviously confusing the word with eulogy: encomiums as expressions of praise are not predominantly associated with funerals, as is the former.
anon @11:48 PM — Again, you’re confused: “encomium” is Latin, from the Greek “enkomion” (from “en” [in] + “komos” [revel, celebration -- more at "in, comedy"]): high or glowing praise. “Eulogy” derives from the Greek “eulogia” (praise), from “eu-” + “-logia” (-logy).
From answers.com:
When you like something very much, you don’t have to suffice with simply praising it. You can give it an encomium, like the many that the TV series The Sopranos got during its eight-year run:
“It was sometimes hard to bear the encomiums — the saga of the New Jersey mob family has been likened to Cheever, Dickens and Shakespeare; scripts were pored over as if they were the Dead Sea Scrolls.”
From Merriam-Webster Online:
Etymology: Latin, from Greek enkOmion, from en in + kOmos revel, celebration
: glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise; also : an expression of this
synonyms ENCOMIUM, EULOGY, PANEGYRIC, TRIBUTE, CITATION mean a formal expression of praise. ENCOMIUM implies enthusiasm and warmth in praising a person or a thing . EULOGY applies to a prepared speech or writing extolling the virtues and services of a person . …
From wiki:
Encomium is a Greek word which, in a general sense, means the praise of a person or thing. While keeping this general meaning, “encomium” also names several distinct aspects of rhetoric: * A general category of oratory * A method within rhetorical pedagogy* A figure of speech. As a figure, encomium means praising a person or thing, but occurring on a smaller scale than an entire speech.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encomium
So you see, anon, “encomium” was correctly used at 12:24 AM (that is, in reference to a “thing” [a performance at the WTF]), as opposed to your understanding of the word “eulogy” (which would be properly used in reference to a “person” [which a "revival" at the WTF is not]).
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:24 am
As one enamored with Williamstown, I don’t believe Olivier could have chosen a more appropriate encomium than “Heavenly.”
Good catch.
July 22nd, 2007 at 2:11 am
Encomiums are delivered at funerals. This is a humorous exposition. Leave it at that.
July 22nd, 2007 at 3:24 pm
anon @ 2:11 AM: You are obviously confusing the word with eulogy: encomiums as expressions of praise are not predominantly associated with funerals, as is the former.
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:48 pm
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/encomium :
1. A formal expression of high praise; eulogy
(it even turns out that it’s greek for eulogy)
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:52 am
anon @11:48 PM — Again, you’re confused: “encomium” is Latin, from the Greek “enkomion” (from “en” [in] + “komos” [revel, celebration -- more at "in, comedy"]): high or glowing praise. “Eulogy” derives from the Greek “eulogia” (praise), from “eu-” + “-logia” (-logy).
From answers.com:
When you like something very much, you don’t have to suffice with simply praising it. You can give it an encomium, like the many that the TV series The Sopranos got during its eight-year run:
“It was sometimes hard to bear the encomiums — the saga of the New Jersey mob family has been likened to Cheever, Dickens and Shakespeare; scripts were pored over as if they were the Dead Sea Scrolls.”
From Merriam-Webster Online:
Etymology: Latin, from Greek enkOmion, from en in + kOmos revel, celebration
: glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise; also : an expression of this
synonyms ENCOMIUM, EULOGY, PANEGYRIC, TRIBUTE, CITATION mean a formal expression of praise. ENCOMIUM implies enthusiasm and warmth in praising a person or a thing . EULOGY applies to a prepared speech or writing extolling the virtues and services of a person . …
From wiki:
Encomium is a Greek word which, in a general sense, means the praise of a person or thing. While keeping this general meaning, “encomium” also names several distinct aspects of rhetoric: * A general category of oratory * A method within rhetorical pedagogy* A figure of speech. As a figure, encomium means praising a person or thing, but occurring on a smaller scale than an entire speech.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encomium
So you see, anon, “encomium” was correctly used at 12:24 AM (that is, in reference to a “thing” [a performance at the WTF]), as opposed to your understanding of the word “eulogy” (which would be properly used in reference to a “person” [which a "revival" at the WTF is not]).