Comments on: Seething in Etymological Vacuity (The Story of Theodolite)

By: J P Maher

J P Maher — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:01:36 +0000

Surveying overlaps with architecture. This might be a lead:
(47) 6. THEODOLI, Augusto (1819-1892.
Birth. September 18, 1819, Rome. Son of Giacomo Theodoli and Maria Camassei. Relative of Cardinal Mario Theodoli (1643)…
“… organized … the First Vatican Council; restored the columnade; covered with lead the dome of the basilica; renewed parts of the marble pavement; and completely renovated the chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the choir. Papal majordomo and prefect of the Pontifical Household, March 30, 1882.Death. June 26, 1892, Roome….buried in his family’s tomb in Campo Verano cemetery, Rome.

Bibliography. De Camilis, Mario. “Theodoli, Augusto.” Enciclopedia Cattolica. 12 vols. Città del Vaticano : Ente per l’Enciclopedia cattolica e per il Libro cattolico, 1948-1954, XII, col. 50; Weber, Christoph and Becker, Michael. Genealogien zur Papstgeschichte. 6 v. Stuttgart : Anton Hiersemann, 1999-2002. (Päpste und Papsttum, Bd. 29, 1-6), II, 937.

By: John Considine

John Considine — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:08:26 +0000

The word “theodolite” is not quite unknown outside the ranks of surveyors: admirers of Flanders and Swann will remember their song “The Armadillo,” which begins

I was taking compass bearings for the Ordnance Survey
On an army training camp on Salisbury Plain,
I had packed up my theodolite, was calling it a day,
When I heard a voice that sang a sad refrain …

the voice being that of the armadillo, the story of whose unhappy love we then learn.

By: The Glamour of Grammar | Lawrence S. Miller | My Personal Insights

The Glamour of Grammar | Lawrence S. Miller | My Personal Insights — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:38:53 +0000

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By: Stuart Fox

Stuart Fox — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:57:24 +0000

I received a google alert concerning The story of the Theodolite by Rebecca – very interesting.- and noticed your invitation to submit queries.

The word Desmodromic is used in connection with engine valves – these are usually pushed open by cams and closed by springs. A desmodromic valve is closed by cam action – positively – rather than spring action, thereby eliminating valve bounce which may happen at high engine speeds. As far as I know the method is only currently used in Italian Ducati motorcycles ‘Desmo’ models although I believe it has been used by other high speed engines.

I am interested in the origin of the word and could the word or an extract of it be used to indicate a person or something else else that acts positively ?

Many thanks.

Stuart Fox