notion, handsel, shortcomings, entertain, entertaining

I would entertain the notion in proof,...

Indian School Deaths Highlight Lunch Program's Shortcomings

 

 

 

Obama Orders Improvements in Security Policies
By JEFF ZELENY and HELENE COOPER
President Obama ordered a series of steps to improve the government’s ability to act on terrorist threats, saying a review of the attempted airline bombing on Christmas Day revealed shortcomings in national security.

From Library Journal
First published in the United Kingdom in 1999, this is an entertaining biography of Augusta Ada Byron Lovelace, daughter of the renowned poet Lord Byron. Separated from Lord Byron shortly after Ada's birth, Lady Bryon raised her daughter in a strange and thoroughly controlled manner, limiting her access to both people and intellectual pursuits in order to keep Ada from developing any of the shortcomings she might have inherited from her father. As a result, Ada, who suffered from a variety of legitimate health problems, also developed serious psychological problems. As directed by her mother, Ada's educational focus was on science, and her relationship with Charles Babbage and the work she did in explaining and interpreting his Analytical Engine and Difference Machine, a precursor of the computer, were the culmination of her mathematical and technical studies. A fine study of Ada, this book is as much about her mother, Annabella, a woman who would not be crossed and who dominated her daughter's life right up to Ada's death at age 37. There is much controversy associated with Ada's life, and Woolley (Virtual Worlds) deals with it openly and philosophically. Some of his interpretations will surely be questioned, but for a biography filled with "sex, drugs, and mathematics" this is to be expected. Readers who enjoyed Dava Sobel's Galileo's Daughter will find this interesting.
Hilary Burton, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, CA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Review
"This book is a natural for handselling, not only to the literati interested in all things Byronic, but to cyberfolk, many of whom will be aware of Ada's early work in computers."

handsel
(hăn'-) Chiefly British.
n.

1. A gift to express good wishes at the beginning of a new year or enterprise.
2. The first money or barter taken in, as by a new business or on the opening day of business, especially when considered a token of good luck.
3. 1. A first payment.
   2. A specimen or foretaste of what is to come.

tr.v., -seled or -selled also -seled or -selled, -sel·ing or -sel·ling -sel·ing or -sel·ling, -sels -sels.

1. To give a handsel to.
2. To launch with a ceremonial gesture or gift.
3. To do or use for the first time.

[Middle English hanselle, from Old English handselen, a handing over (hand, hand + selen, gift) and from Old Norse handsal, legal transfer (hand, hand + sal, a giving).]

short·com·ing (shôrt'kŭm'ĭng)

n.
A deficiency; a flaw.

entertain[en・ter・tain]

• 発音記号[èntərtéin]
• 
  

[動](他)

1 〈人を〉（飲食物を出して）もてなす, 接待する, 歓待する, 供応する；〈人を〉（客として）迎える；〈相手チームと〉自分の本拠地で試合する

entertain a person at ［((英))to］ dinner
人を招いてもてなす［ごちそうする］

entertain him on his birthday
（彼の）誕生日に彼を招いてもてなす.

2 〈人を〉（…で）楽しませる, おもしろがらせる, 慰める((with, by ...))

entertain a child with fairy tales
おとぎ話をして子供を楽しませる

entertain oneself by singing songs
歌を歌って楽しむ.

3 〈申し出・考えなどを〉考慮する, （受け入れて）考えてみる；〈疑念・希望・考え・計画などを〉心に抱く. ▼進行形不可

entertain a proposal
提案を考えてみる

entertain doubts
疑念を抱く.

━━(自)もてなしをする, 客を呼ぶ；人を楽しませる.

［中フランス語←後ラテン語intertenēre （inter-間に＋tenēre保つ＝維持する→接待する）］

entertain

Pronunciation: /ɛntəˈteɪn/

Translate entertain | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

verb

[with object]

• 1provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment:a tremendous game that thoroughly entertained the crowd
• receive (someone) as a guest and provide them with food and drink:a private dining room where members could entertain groups of friends [no object]:Sunday lunchtime is the best time to entertain

• 2give attention or consideration to (an idea or feeling):Washington entertained little hope of an early improvement in relations

Origin:

late Middle English: from French entretenir, based on Latin inter 'among' + tenere 'to hold'. The word originally meant 'maintain, continue', later 'maintain in a certain condition, treat in a certain way', also 'show hospitality' (late 15th century)

notion

Pronunciation: /ˈnəʊʃ(ə)n/

Translate notion | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

noun

• 1a conception of or belief about something:children have different notions about the roles of their parents I had no notion of what her words meant

• 2an impulse or desire, especially one of a whimsical kind:she had a notion to ring her friend at work

• 3 (notions) chiefly North American items used in sewing, such as buttons, pins, and hooks.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin notio(n-) 'idea', from notus 'known', past participle of noscere