Jansy sent me the difinitions of
"lunette" given by COD. When I translated TT, I was
satisfied with
the 3rd definition in Webster 2 (as Jansy cited, "the hole in a
guillotine for the victim's neck") and did not think about its meaning any
more. I confess I did not know the other dictionaries did not give that
meaning. I have just found Webster 3 does not have it
either! Why did VN choose such rare terms--anide, lunette,
kix? Another definition of lunette in Webster 2, "a watch crystal flattened
in the center" reminds me of "The entire solar system is but a reflection
in the crystal of my (or your) wrist watch" in the last letter from Mr. R.
It sounds close to the kix too. But I have no idea about the meaning
of the crystal connection.
Akiko
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 10:34 AM
Subject: Fw: more on lunette
> Concise Oxford Dictionary:
> 1. an
arched aperture in a domed ceiling to admit light;
> 2. a crescent-shaped
(meniscus? JM ) or semicircular space or alcove which
> contains a
painting, statue ( not a Pauline Anide, I $B!- (Bm sure...);
> 3. a watch-glass
of flattened shape;
> 4. a ring through which a hook is placed to attach a
vehicle to the
vehicle
> towing it;
> 5. a temporary
fortification with two faces forming a salient angle, and
two
>
flanks;
> 6. RC Church a holder for the consecrated host in a
monstrance.
> French diminutive of lune.
> In the Oxford Dic. there
is no entry for the "guillotine", as in the
former
> mailing
with: " the hole in the guillotine for the victim $B!- (Bs neck"
by
James
> L. Taylor in the Websters! ( I wonder why
)
>
>