Who is the patron saint of Saints?

occam

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Mar 13, 2015, 1:41:07 PM3/13/15

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.. and what is the collective noun for saints?

"I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

Katy Jennison

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Mar 13, 2015, 2:02:15 PM3/13/15

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On 13/03/2015 17:40, occam wrote:
> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
>

I rather like pantheon, but I fancy that not all saints aspire to that
degree of elevation. A cursory Google suggests quite a few, including
congregation, communion, calendar and swelter. None of these quite work
in your context, which I take to be referring to an array of statues or
stained-glass images. Words like panorama and pageant come to mind, not
so much collective nouns as words suggesting a display or a procession
of saints. There ought to be other words; how about "harping"?

--
Katy Jennison

Dr. HotSalt

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Mar 13, 2015, 2:22:53 PM3/13/15

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On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 10:41:07 AM UTC-7, occam wrote:

re: post title

You don't need to know unless you're a saint.

> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

There are collective nouns for *categories* of saints. Chorus of Apostles, Army of Martyrs, etc.

https://books.google.com/books?id=KQFOAMU7KIwC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=collective+noun+saints&source=bl&ots=YjGftZjrlx&sig=6WUmeWelPyI7b_Bg7Vw1vzO8abk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HicDVdy0Lo6togS8poHQCA&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=collective%20noun%20saints&f=false

Dr. HotSalt

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 13, 2015, 3:41:16 PM3/13/15

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occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

Saints are not gods, by christian doctrine,
so pantheon is inappropriate.

A congregation of saints?

Jan

Lanarcam

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Mar 13, 2015, 3:44:08 PM3/13/15

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communion

Sneaky O. Possum

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Mar 13, 2015, 3:53:00 PM3/13/15

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nos...@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) wrote in
news:1m18oyz.zr2...@de-ster.xs4all.nl:

I propose 'a niche of saints'.
--
S.O.P.

Sneaky O. Possum

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Mar 13, 2015, 3:53:40 PM3/13/15

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Lanarcam <lana...@yahoo.fr> wrote in
news:55033e06$0$3177$426a...@news.free.fr:

That should be the collective noun for wafers, surely?
--
S.O.P.

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:15:43 PM3/13/15

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A "niche" sounds like a small gathering.

For a larger group, I propose a "zeal" of saints.

Best,
Helen

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:18:43 PM3/13/15

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No, no! A "syndicate" of saints.

That's the ticket.

Who'll I tick off next?
Helen

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:32:52 PM3/13/15

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You'll have 'a gang of saints' next?

Jan

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:32:53 PM3/13/15

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One saint per niche,

Jan

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:36:38 PM3/13/15

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That's a pernicious suggestion.

Best,
Helen

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:37:25 PM3/13/15

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A syndicate is better organized.

Best,
Helen

Horace LaBadie

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:53:35 PM3/13/15

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In article <mdv7e2$ejj$1...@dont-email.me>, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

A sin-odd of saints.

Richard Tobin

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Mar 13, 2015, 4:55:03 PM3/13/15

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In article <1m18oyz.zr2...@de-ster.xs4all.nl>,

J. J. Lodder <jjl...@xs4all.nl> wrote:

>Saints are not gods, by christian doctrine,
>so pantheon is inappropriate.

I am somewhat surprised that there is no world "panagion" or similar.
"Panagia" turns out to be a title of Mary.

-- Richard

Richard Tobin

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Mar 13, 2015, 5:00:03 PM3/13/15

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In article <mdvil6$12ec$4...@macpro.inf.ed.ac.uk>, I wrote:

>I am somewhat surprised that there is no world "panagion" or similar.

I realised "pantagion" would be more likely.

Calvin has in a footnote "Pantheo successit Pantagion".

And there is this:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1560720&partId=1

-- Richard

Percival P. Cassidy

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Mar 13, 2015, 5:00:45 PM3/13/15

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On 03/13/2015 04:53 PM, Horace LaBadie wrote:

>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>>
>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
>
> A sin-odd of saints.

A sin-not of saints? (Except that not all saints were free of sin: their
sainthood was acknowledged despite their faults.)

Perce

Jerry Friedman

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Mar 13, 2015, 5:28:16 PM3/13/15

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On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 11:41:07 AM UTC-6, occam wrote:
> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

Canon? I like "pantagion" though.

I think St. John Paul II should be the patron of those aspiring to
sainthood.

--
Jerry Friedman

occam

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Mar 13, 2015, 6:03:05 PM3/13/15

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I like niche, but too individualistic. How about a balcony of saints?

Sneaky O. Possum

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Mar 13, 2015, 6:04:35 PM3/13/15

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occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote in news:mdvmp7$erc$1...@dont-email.me:

A little too theatrical. Maybe an apse of saints?
--
S.O.P.

occam

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Mar 13, 2015, 6:24:10 PM3/13/15

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The reason for that title for Mary is that the mother of Jesus, in the
Orthodox church, comes above the saints in the organigram of the Church.
(Panagia 'Παναγία' means 'all Saints') I was explained this by a priest
who specialised in the painting of icons in Greek churches. All icons
must be arranged according to strict hierarchical rules, with the Virgin
above the saints, and just below the Father-Son- H. Spirit trio.

GordonD

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Mar 13, 2015, 6:31:07 PM3/13/15

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A march of saints?
--
Gordon Davie
Edinburgh, Scotland

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 6:50:52 PM3/13/15

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A nave of saints. Not to be confused with the knave of saints.

Or a "naivete"?

Helen

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 6:53:09 PM3/13/15

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An aisle of saints. It recalls the old name for Ireland, "Island of Saints."

Best,
Helen

Tony Cooper

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Mar 13, 2015, 7:40:50 PM3/13/15

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What about a mythology of saints?
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando FL

Sam Plusnet

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Mar 13, 2015, 8:20:45 PM3/13/15

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In article <XnsA45C98625123Bsn...@213.239.209.88>,
sneaky...@gmail.com says...

Would there be an apse for the lapsed?

--
Sam

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 13, 2015, 8:29:40 PM3/13/15

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Have the lapsed not forsaken the apse and the laps of the gods?

Best,
Helen

Traddict

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Mar 13, 2015, 8:52:33 PM3/13/15

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"occam" <oc...@127.0.0.1> a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
mdv7e2$ejj$1...@dont-email.me...

> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?

I like "an Areopagus of saints", though an "army of saints" seems to be far
more common, with apparently countless occurrences in the Bible.

quia...@yahoo.com

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Mar 13, 2015, 9:30:49 PM3/13/15

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On Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:40:00 +0100, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>.. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>

>"I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

"Panoply"?

--
John

David Kleinecke

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Mar 13, 2015, 9:48:49 PM3/13/15

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On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 12:41:16 PM UTC-7, J. J. Lodder wrote:
> occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
> > .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
> >
> > "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
>

> Saints are not gods, by christian doctrine,
> so pantheon is inappropriate.

Those of us who think the Catholic conception of saints makes them gods have more freedom. But I'd use "army" rather than "pantheon".

Peter Moylan

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Mar 13, 2015, 11:12:13 PM3/13/15

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On 14/03/15 04:40, occam wrote:
> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
>

Choir? Or is that only for angels.

Perhaps a misery of saints. I can imagine them sitting around discussing
life, and regretting all the time they wasted being saintly.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Steve Hayes

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Mar 14, 2015, 1:28:26 AM3/14/15

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On Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:40:00 +0100, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>.. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
>"I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

???

Better than a pandemonium, I suppose.

--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Steve Hayes

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Mar 14, 2015, 1:33:58 AM3/14/15

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On Fri, 13 Mar 2015 23:24:11 +0100, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>On 13/03/2015 9:51 PM, Richard Tobin wrote:
>> In article <1m18oyz.zr2...@de-ster.xs4all.nl>,
>> J. J. Lodder <jjl...@xs4all.nl> wrote:
>>
>>> Saints are not gods, by christian doctrine,
>>> so pantheon is inappropriate.
>>
>> I am somewhat surprised that there is no world "panagion" or similar.
>> "Panagia" turns out to be a title of Mary.
>>
>The reason for that title for Mary is that the mother of Jesus, in the
>Orthodox church, comes above the saints in the organigram of the Church.

>(Panagia '???????' means 'all Saints') I was explained this by a priest

Or "all holy", or "altogether holy", or "totally dedicated" (to
serving God).

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 14, 2015, 2:09:52 AM3/14/15

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On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 8:12:13 PM UTC-7, Peter Moylan wrote:
> On 14/03/15 04:40, occam wrote:
> > .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
> >
> > "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
> >
> Choir? Or is that only for angels.
>
> Perhaps a misery of saints. I can imagine them sitting around discussing
> life, and regretting all the time they wasted being saintly.

I just can't buy it. Saints are so constructed as to not -- in the final analysis -- regret the time spent being saintly. And why should they? Is the non-saintly life some sort of guarantee of lasting happiness? Piffle!

Perhaps, though, a misericord of saints?

Best,
Helen

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 14, 2015, 5:10:28 AM3/14/15

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They run a protection racket.
A gang will do,

Jan

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 14, 2015, 5:10:29 AM3/14/15

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The mythological saints have been removed from the canon,

Jan

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 14, 2015, 5:10:30 AM3/14/15

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Why not just all saints?
You can have them marching in.

Wait for the call of the trumpet,

Jan

Whiskers

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Mar 14, 2015, 1:13:54 PM3/14/15

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On 2015-03-13, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
> Cathedral?"

Saints aren't deities so that can't be correct. 'Multitude' perhaps?

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~

Traddict

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Mar 14, 2015, 1:20:21 PM3/14/15

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"Traddict" <Tradd...@hotmail.fr> a écrit dans le message de groupe de
discussion : 5503864f$0$3043$426a...@news.free.fr...

>
>
> "occam" <oc...@127.0.0.1> a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion
> : mdv7e2$ejj$1...@dont-email.me...
>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> I like "an Areopagus of saints", though an "army of saints" seems to be
> far more common, with apparently countless occurrences in the Bible.

On second thoughts, maybe "cohort(s) of saints" or "legion(s) of saints".

Steve Hayes

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Mar 14, 2015, 1:49:07 PM3/14/15

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On Sat, 14 Mar 2015 18:20:04 +0100, "Traddict"
<Tradd...@hotmail.fr> wrote:

>
>
>"Traddict" <Tradd...@hotmail.fr> a écrit dans le message de groupe de
>discussion : 5503864f$0$3043$426a...@news.free.fr...
>>
>>
>> "occam" <oc...@127.0.0.1> a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion
>> : mdv7e2$ejj$1...@dont-email.me...
>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>>
>> I like "an Areopagus of saints", though an "army of saints" seems to be
>> far more common, with apparently countless occurrences in the Bible.
>
>On second thoughts, maybe "cohort(s) of saints" or "legion(s) of saints".

The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world :
doth acknowledge thee;

Just sing it when you see an ICBM, and the party will be "come as you
are".

Paul Wolff

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Mar 14, 2015, 2:04:28 PM3/14/15

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On Sat, 14 Mar 2015, Whiskers <catwh...@operamail.com> posted:

>On 2015-03-13, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>>
>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
>> Cathedral?"
>
>Saints aren't deities so that can't be correct. 'Multitude' perhaps?
>

'Beatitude' would be apter. Especially for cool saints of the 1950s.

ObAue, I'm not sure I shouldn't be docked marks for 'apter'. 'Apterous'
is all right though, except it doesn't mean what I want it to ('having
the quality of being apter'); though as saints aren't angelic, they
shouldn't be winged, unlike time's chariot; so perhaps it's all right
after all.
--
Paul

Sneaky O. Possum

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Mar 14, 2015, 4:17:30 PM3/14/15

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nos...@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) wrote in

news:1m19pfi.el...@de-ster.xs4all.nl:

Well, there you go. 'A marching of saints.' Voilà!

> Wait for the call of the trumpet,

The trumpet's a little fancy for a prole like me. I'm waiting for a
different call:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJxCdh1Ps48
--
S.O.P.

Mike L

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Mar 14, 2015, 5:22:52 PM3/14/15

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On Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:53:44 +0200, Steve Hayes
<haye...@telkomsa.net> wrote:

>On Sat, 14 Mar 2015 18:20:04 +0100, "Traddict"
><Tradd...@hotmail.fr> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"Traddict" <Tradd...@hotmail.fr> a écrit dans le message de groupe de
>>discussion : 5503864f$0$3043$426a...@news.free.fr...
>>>
>>>
>>> "occam" <oc...@127.0.0.1> a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion
>>> : mdv7e2$ejj$1...@dont-email.me...
>>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>>>
>>> I like "an Areopagus of saints", though an "army of saints" seems to be
>>> far more common, with apparently countless occurrences in the Bible.
>>
>>On second thoughts, maybe "cohort(s) of saints" or "legion(s) of saints".
>
>The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
>The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
>The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee.
>The holy Church throughout all the world :
> doth acknowledge thee;
>
>
>Just sing it when you see an ICBM, and the party will be "come as you
>are".

"Just as I am, without one plea..."

--
Mike.

Katy Jennison

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Mar 14, 2015, 5:42:41 PM3/14/15

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And to think, there are now whole generations which don't automatically
sing these things to themselves.

--
Katy Jennison

Mike L

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Mar 14, 2015, 6:29:27 PM3/14/15

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"Change and decay in all around I see..."

--
Mike.

Peter Moylan

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Mar 14, 2015, 7:35:48 PM3/14/15

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On 14/03/15 20:10, J. J. Lodder wrote:

> Why not just all saints?
> You can have them marching in.
>
> Wait for the call of the trumpet,

We hear now and then of "The last trump". Is "trump" ever used for
trumpeting in any other context?

Richard Yates

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Mar 14, 2015, 8:07:18 PM3/14/15

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On Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:38:47 +1100, Peter Moylan
<pe...@pmoylan.dropthispart.org> wrote:

>On 14/03/15 20:10, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>
>> Why not just all saints?
>> You can have them marching in.
>>
>> Wait for the call of the trumpet,
>
>We hear now and then of "The last trump". Is "trump" ever used for
>trumpeting in any other context?

Yes, The Donald.

John Varela

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Mar 14, 2015, 8:13:08 PM3/14/15

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On Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:02:13 UTC, Katy Jennison
<ka...@spamtrap.kjennison.com> wrote:

> On 13/03/2015 17:40, occam wrote:
> > .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
> >

> > "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
> >
>

> I rather like pantheon, but I fancy that not all saints aspire to that
> degree of elevation. A cursory Google suggests quite a few, including
> congregation, communion, calendar and swelter. None of these quite work
> in your context, which I take to be referring to an array of statues or
> stained-glass images. Words like panorama and pageant come to mind, not
> so much collective nouns as words suggesting a display or a procession
> of saints. There ought to be other words; how about "harping"?

I was going to suggest "array" but you beat me to it and then didn't
suggest it.

--
John Varela

Jack Campin

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Mar 14, 2015, 8:13:57 PM3/14/15

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> We hear now and then of "The last trump". Is "trump"
> ever used for trumpeting in any other context?

"Trump" is the old Scots word for a Jew's harp, and it's commonly
used in the folk scene.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 <http://www.campin.me.uk> Twitter: JackCampin

Katy Jennison

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Mar 14, 2015, 11:55:41 PM3/14/15

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"Restore us to our rightful mind ..."

--
Katy Jennison

occam

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Mar 15, 2015, 3:40:16 AM3/15/15

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Or even a 'panoply' of Saints.

Katy Jennison

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Mar 15, 2015, 4:18:49 AM3/15/15

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I wondered about "panoply", and it's another of the "pa..." words which
might have been in the back of the original writer's mind when he/she
came up with "pantheon". "Array" actually struck me as just too
everyday and ordinary.

--
Katy Jennison

Richard Tobin

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Mar 15, 2015, 5:15:04 AM3/15/15

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In article <me2vrr$j70$1...@news.albasani.net>,

Katy Jennison <ka...@spamtrap.kjennison.com> wrote:

>"Restore us to our rightful mind ..."

Not "reclothe us in our rightful mind"?

-- Richard

Katy Jennison

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Mar 15, 2015, 6:43:51 AM3/15/15

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Oh, dear. Back to bed, I think. I really shouldn't post at 3.55am.

--
Katy Jennison

Peter Duncanson [BrE]

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Mar 15, 2015, 7:23:46 AM3/15/15

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On Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:38:47 +1100, Peter Moylan
<pe...@pmoylan.dropthispart.org> wrote:

>On 14/03/15 20:10, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>
>> Why not just all saints?
>> You can have them marching in.
>>
>> Wait for the call of the trumpet,
>
>We hear now and then of "The last trump". Is "trump" ever used for
>trumpeting in any other context?

Not the musical instrument, but "trump" is BrE slang meaning "fart"
(verb and noun): from "produce a sound as if from a trumpet".

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

CDB

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Mar 15, 2015, 7:34:32 AM3/15/15

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On 15/03/2015 3:39 AM, occam wrote:
> John Varela wrote:

>> Katy Jennison <ka...@spamtrap.kjennison.com> wrote:
>>> occam wrote:

>>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?

>>>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
>>>> Cathedral?"

>>> I rather like pantheon, but I fancy that not all saints aspire to
>>> that degree of elevation. A cursory Google suggests quite a few,
>>> including congregation, communion, calendar and swelter. None of
>>> these quite work in your context, which I take to be referring to
>>> an array of statues or stained-glass images. Words like panorama
>>> and pageant come to mind, not so much collective nouns as words
>>> suggesting a display or a procession of saints. There ought to
>>> be other words; how about "harping"?

>> I was going to suggest "array" but you beat me to it and then
>> didn't suggest it.

> Or even a 'panoply' of Saints.

Duelling saints.

A panorama? (Pro nobis.)

Peter Moylan

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Mar 15, 2015, 7:43:38 AM3/15/15

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This is the way the world ends: not with a bang but a fart.

Somehow that sounds appropriate.

Justin Thyme

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Mar 15, 2015, 11:47:33 AM3/15/15

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occam wrote:
> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?

Hierarchy.

> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"
>

--
I do not believe in revealed religion — I will have nothing to do
with your immortality; we are miserable enough in this life, without
speculating on another.
Lord Byron, 1778-1824, letter to Rev. Francis Hodgson, 1811

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 15, 2015, 12:49:20 PM3/15/15

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Helen Lacedaemonian <helenofs...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 3:04:35 PM UTC-7, Sneaky O. Possum wrote:
> > occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote in news:mdvmp7$erc$1...@dont-email.me:

> >
> > > On 13/03/2015 9:32 PM, J. J. Lodder wrote:
> > >> Sneaky O. Possum <sneaky...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> nos...@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) wrote in
> > >>> news:1m18oyz.zr2...@de-ster.xs4all.nl:
> > >>>

> > >>>> occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
> > >>>>>

> > >>>>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
> > >>>>> Cathedral?"
> > >>>>

> > >>>> Saints are not gods, by christian doctrine,
> > >>>> so pantheon is inappropriate.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> A congregation of saints?
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Jan
> > >>>
> > >>> I propose 'a niche of saints'.
> > >>
> > >> One saint per niche,
> > >
> > > I like niche, but too individualistic. How about a balcony of saints?
> >

> > A little too theatrical. Maybe an apse of saints?
>
> A nave of saints. Not to be confused with the knave of saints.

The knave gives an idea.
Saints function as lawyers:
you pray to them, pay to their church,
they ask the boss on your behalf to get a soul out of purgatory.

So what is the collective noun for lawyers?

Something more friendly than 'a shoal of sharks'?

Jan

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 15, 2015, 5:27:16 PM3/15/15

to

I didn't realize they had intercessory functions.

> So what is the collective noun for lawyers?

A bar? A bench? A body? A pool? A lane (e.g. Chancery)? A railing?

Best,
Helen

Mike L

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Mar 15, 2015, 6:16:54 PM3/15/15

to

Well, you never know when the bridgeroom's* going to show up.

*Skittesque attempt to correct typo; liked it.

--
Mike.

Mike L

unread,

Mar 15, 2015, 6:29:13 PM3/15/15

to

Chuck, you are still my bestest internet bestie. "Panoply"-abuse gets
even my goat's goat.
>
>A panorama? (Pro nobis.)
>
Quelle est cet' odeur agréable? C'est le pan-arôme, mine host.

--
Mike.

David Kleinecke

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Mar 15, 2015, 8:07:49 PM3/15/15

to

I like that better than Eliot's word. Without looking harder at the
meter I think it fits beter too.

Steve Hayes

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Mar 15, 2015, 9:55:05 PM3/15/15

to

Do you regard that as a slipshod extension, like "shambles"?

Peter Moylan

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Mar 15, 2015, 10:06:55 PM3/15/15

to

On 16/03/15 03:49, J. J. Lodder wrote:

> So what is the collective noun for lawyers?

These collective nouns began, as I understand it, as terms of venery. To
get a good answer to your question, look for someone who has a
collection of lawyers' heads on his wall.

Message has been deleted

Reinhold {Rey} Aman

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Mar 15, 2015, 11:52:30 PM3/15/15

to

"J. J. Lodder" wrote:
>
> So what is the collective noun for lawyers?
>

A shitload of divorce lawyers.

--
~~~ Reinhold {Rey} Aman ~~~

David Moorman

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Mar 16, 2015, 12:21:41 AM3/16/15

to

On 2015-03-13 17:40:00 +0000, occam said:

> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>
> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the Cathedral?"

A transcendence of saints?

Message has been deleted

Sneaky O. Possum

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Mar 16, 2015, 12:51:02 AM3/16/15

to

Peter Moylan <pe...@pmoylan.dropthispart.org> wrote in news:me5dqe$9e8$1
@dont-email.me:

> On 16/03/15 03:49, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>
>> So what is the collective noun for lawyers?
>
> These collective nouns began, as I understand it, as terms of venery. To
> get a good answer to your question, look for someone who has a
> collection of lawyers' heads on his wall.

The list of 'The Compaynys of beestys and fowlys' in the *Boke of Saint
Albans* (1486), which is one of the earliest sources for collective nouns
in English, including some that are still current ('a Pride of Lionys', 'a
Swarme of bees') and others well-known to bibliophiles ('an unkyndenes of
Ravenes'), also includes terms for groups of people, including 'an Eloquens
of laweyeris'.
--
S.O.P.

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 16, 2015, 5:24:26 AM3/16/15

to

But of course, that's why there are so many.
Saints are money makers.
And Parkinson's law applies,
over time the constraints on creating more of them
become smaller and smaller.

Saints are powerless by themselves,
but they can put in a good word for you with zebigboss.
They prove their effectivenes at that by performing miracles.
(originally three, nowadays two, or even just one)

You, having direct access to the one and only real boss
have no need for any them of course,
so it is not surprising you didn't notice.

> > So what is the collective noun for lawyers?
>
> A bar? A bench? A body? A pool? A lane (e.g. Chancery)? A railing?

Perhaps a flock?

Jan

occam

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Mar 16, 2015, 6:16:43 AM3/16/15

to

We agree that they are lot of them.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php
And one presumes they channel the prayers of their designated
professions (firemen, fishermen, etc). The fact that they are so many
means that, from time to time, they need to turn to a meta-Saint? Hence
the original question: who is the patron saint of saints?

As for the collective noun for lawyers: I propose the same as that of
hyenas ('a cackle' apparently)
http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/kennel/collectives.htm
(Note: the list does not contain Saints)

CDB

unread,

Mar 16, 2015, 6:54:40 AM3/16/15

to

On 15/03/2015 6:29 PM, Mike L wrote:
> CDB <belle...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> occam wrote:

[Band of Saints -- Special Rates for Funerals and Picnics]

>>> Or even a 'panoply' of Saints.

>> Duelling saints.

> Chuck, you are still my bestest internet bestie. "Panoply"-abuse
> gets even my goat's goat.

>> A panorama? (Pro nobis.)

> Quelle est cet' odeur agréable? C'est le pan-arôme, mine host.

La sainteté. I love the smell of toasted wafers in the morning.

CDB

unread,

Mar 16, 2015, 7:03:12 AM3/16/15

to

On 15/03/2015 6:29 PM, Mike L wrote:
> CDB <belle...@gmail.com> wrote:

[I visualise them as a Conga line]

>> Duelling saints.

> Chuck, you are still my bestest internet bestie. "Panoply"-abuse
> gets even my goat's goat.

>> A panorama? (Pro nobis.)

> Quelle est cet' odeur agréable? C'est le pan-arôme, mine host.

And welcome back, of course.

Steve Hayes

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Mar 16, 2015, 7:18:45 AM3/16/15

to

On Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:15:33 +0100, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>> Saints are powerless by themselves,
>> but they can put in a good word for you with zebigboss.
>> They prove their effectivenes at that by performing miracles.
>> (originally three, nowadays two, or even just one)
>>
>
>We agree that they are lot of them.
>http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php
>And one presumes they channel the prayers of their designated
>professions (firemen, fishermen, etc). The fact that they are so many
>means that, from time to time, they need to turn to a meta-Saint? Hence
>the original question: who is the patron saint of saints?

Already mentioned: the Panagia.

CDB

unread,

Mar 16, 2015, 7:21:40 AM3/16/15

to

On 15/03/2015 11:52 PM, Reinhold {Rey} Aman wrote:
> "J. J. Lodder" wrote:

>> So what is the collective noun for lawyers?

> A shitload of divorce lawyers.

But if ever there was a context for "shedload", this would be it.

CDB

unread,

Mar 16, 2015, 7:21:52 AM3/16/15

to

On 15/03/2015 9:59 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
> Mike L <n...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>> CDB <belle...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> occam wrote:
>>>> John Varela wrote:
>>>>> Katy Jennison <ka...@spamtrap.kjennison.com> wrote:
>>>>>> occam wrote:

>>>>>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?

>>>>>>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
>>>>>>> Cathedral?"

>>>>>> I rather like pantheon, but I fancy that not all saints aspire to
>>>>>> that degree of elevation. A cursory Google suggests quite a few,
>>>>>> including congregation, communion, calendar and swelter. None of
>>>>>> these quite work in your context, which I take to be referring to
>>>>>> an array of statues or stained-glass images. Words like panorama
>>>>>> and pageant come to mind, not so much collective nouns as words
>>>>>> suggesting a display or a procession of saints. There ought to
>>>>>> be other words; how about "harping"?

>>>>> I was going to suggest "array" but you beat me to it and then
>>>>> didn't suggest it.

>>>> Or even a 'panoply' of Saints.
>>>
>>> Duelling saints.

>> Chuck, you are still my bestest internet bestie. "Panoply"-abuse gets
>> even my goat's goat.

> Do you regard that as a slipshod extension, like "shambles"?

Could be God's panoply. A cherub to the chops, a well-cured martyr to
the breadbasket. Take that, you Beast.

occam

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Mar 16, 2015, 11:50:24 AM3/16/15

to

On 13/03/2015 18:40, occam wrote:
> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>

Here are some interesting Saints I was not aware of until now:

- St. Isidore - patron saint of computers
http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/who-is-the-patron-saint-of-computers/

- St Luigi Scrosoppi - patron saint of footballers
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/spirituallife/saintoftheweek/2011/03/31/the-patron-saint-of-footballers-who-worked-tirelessly-for-the-poor/

- St. Paul - patron saint of Bloggers (and writers)
http://www.quintonreport.com/2014/05/24/the-patron-saint-of-bloggers/

The mind boggles.

Jerry Friedman

unread,

Mar 16, 2015, 12:25:07 PM3/16/15

to

On 3/16/15 4:23 AM, Steve Hayes wrote:
> On Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:15:33 +0100, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
>>> Saints are powerless by themselves,
>>> but they can put in a good word for you with zebigboss.
>>> They prove their effectivenes at that by performing miracles.
>>> (originally three, nowadays two, or even just one)
>>>
>>
>> We agree that they are lot of them.
>> http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php
>> And one presumes they channel the prayers of their designated
>> professions (firemen, fishermen, etc). The fact that they are so many
>> means that, from time to time, they need to turn to a meta-Saint? Hence
>> the original question: who is the patron saint of saints?
>
> Already mentioned: the Panagia.

"Let it be understood that I am Don Juan Gomez!
Only in prayer to bend the knee and bow the head I deign,
And when I pray, the saints go hurrying to the Virgin,
And cry 'Don Juan is praying, and must not pray in vain!'"

--Elizabeth Coatsworth, "Announcement"

http://www.poetrynook.com/poem/announcement-1

--
Jerry Friedman

Jerry Friedman

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Mar 16, 2015, 12:27:33 PM3/16/15

to

:-)

--
Jerry Friedman

Richard Tobin

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Mar 16, 2015, 1:40:02 PM3/16/15

to

In article <me6u2e$5e8$1...@dont-email.me>, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>Here are some interesting Saints I was not aware of until now:

Richard Coles, who some of you may remember as the keyboard player in
the Communards, has written two books "Lives of the Improbable Saints"
and "Legends of the Improbable Saints".

-- Richard

J. J. Lodder

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Mar 16, 2015, 2:59:02 PM3/16/15

to

occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> On 13/03/2015 18:40, occam wrote:
> > .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
> >
>
>
> Here are some interesting Saints I was not aware of until now:
>
> - St. Isidore - patron saint of computers
> http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/who-is-the-patron-saint-of-computers/

> The mind boggles.

Of course, it is well known that sacrificing a goat,
and dancing naked under the full moon
is a far more effective cure for computer woes
than praying to some upstart saint,

Jan

Peter T. Daniels

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Mar 16, 2015, 6:22:43 PM3/16/15

to

On Monday, March 16, 2015 at 11:50:24 AM UTC-4, occam wrote:

> Here are some interesting Saints I was not aware of until now:
>
> - St. Isidore - patron saint of computers
> http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/who-is-the-patron-saint-of-computers/

Did that in fact go through? My late friend Michael Patrick O'Connor,
Ordinary Professor and Department Chair of Semitics at Catholic University
of America, mounted a campaign against the designation on the grounds of
Isidore of Seville's vicious antisemitism. He place an op-ed piece in the
Washington Post and presumably also agitated through the hierarchy.

Paul Wolff

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Mar 16, 2015, 7:46:31 PM3/16/15

to

On Mon, 16 Mar 2015, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> posted:

>On 16/03/2015 10:24, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>> Helen Lacedaemonian <helenofs...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 9:49:20 AM UTC-7, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>> Helen Lacedaemonian <helenofs...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 3:04:35 PM UTC-7, Sneaky O. Possum wrote:
>>>>>> occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote in news:mdvmp7$erc$1...@dont-email.me:
>>>>>>> On 13/03/2015 9:32 PM, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>>>>>> Sneaky O. Possum <sneaky...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> nos...@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) wrote in

>>>>>>>>>> occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
>>>>>>>>>>> Cathedral?"
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Saints are not gods, by christian doctrine,
>>>>>>>>>> so pantheon is inappropriate.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> A congregation of saints?
>>>>>>>>>

If a collective noun can be derived from the sound the creatures make,
as in cackle, murmuration, tittering, then I suggest an orison of
saints.

It does give the opportunity to say "I could see nothing but saints,
from one orison to the other."
--
Paul

Peter T. Daniels

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Mar 16, 2015, 11:09:46 PM3/16/15

to

On Monday, March 16, 2015 at 7:46:31 PM UTC-4, Paul Wolff wrote:

> If a collective noun can be derived from the sound the creatures make,
> as in cackle, murmuration, tittering, then I suggest an orison of
> saints.
>
> It does give the opportunity to say "I could see nothing but saints,
> from one orison to the other."

But unless Britten got it wrong in *War Requiem*, "orisons" isn't "horizons"
minus the h.

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 17, 2015, 12:13:09 AM3/17/15

to

For years I prayed to the saints for a daughter, orison. Finally my orison was heard.

Best,
Helen

Helen Lacedaemonian

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Mar 17, 2015, 1:29:20 AM3/17/15

to

Truly: my father never did have any use for saints.

Neither did my mother, nor... anyone of my acquaintance.

> > > So what is the collective noun for lawyers?
> >
> > A bar? A bench? A body? A pool? A lane (e.g. Chancery)? A railing?
>
> Perhaps a flock?

A dissimulation of barristers?

A deceit of lapwings?

Best,
Helen

occam

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Mar 17, 2015, 3:20:43 AM3/17/15

to

Not one, but four patron saints of lost causes:
- St. Rita of Cascia, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Philomena and St. Gregory
of Neocaesarea

There must be a lot of call for this sort of thing.
https://www.catholiccompany.com/blog/four-patron-saints-of-impossible-causes

Paul Wolff

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Mar 17, 2015, 9:37:08 AM3/17/15

to

On Mon, 16 Mar 2015, Peter T. Daniels <gram...@verizon.net> posted:

I know, but after you said it was still a subject of disagreement among
experts, I felt entitled to abandon my inward ear for the occasion.
--
Paul
Experto credite.

Peter T. Daniels

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Mar 17, 2015, 1:52:13 PM3/17/15

to

It wasn't I who commented on "orisons" -- my remark was on the objection to
Isidore of Seville as a patron of -- well, anything these days.

Mike L

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Mar 18, 2015, 7:49:19 PM3/18/15

to

On Mon, 16 Mar 2015 23:36:38 +0000, Paul Wolff
<boun...@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote:

>On Mon, 16 Mar 2015, occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> posted:

[...]

>>As for the collective noun for lawyers: I propose the same as that of
>>hyenas ('a cackle' apparently)
>>http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/kennel/collectives.htm
>>(Note: the list does not contain Saints)
>>
>If a collective noun can be derived from the sound the creatures make,
>as in cackle, murmuration, tittering, then I suggest an orison of
>saints.
>
>It does give the opportunity to say "I could see nothing but saints,
>from one orison to the other."

Oooph! I hope some kindly nymph is daily remembering that sin for you.

--
Mike.

Jerry Friedman

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Mar 18, 2015, 11:05:24 PM3/18/15

to

On 3/17/15 12:19 AM, occam wrote:
...

> Not one, but four patron saints of lost causes:
> - St. Rita of Cascia, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Philomena and St. Gregory
> of Neocaesarea
>
> There must be a lot of call for this sort of thing.
> https://www.catholiccompany.com/blog/four-patron-saints-of-impossible-causes

Philomena might be the most appropriate, since she was decanonized in 1961.

--
Jerry Friedman

Jerry Friedman

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Mar 18, 2015, 11:13:23 PM3/18/15

to

Well, maybe not. Wikipedia says she wasn't decanonized and quotes
somebody as saying she was never canonized in the strict sense. What
happened in 1961 was that she was decalendared.

--
Jerry Friedman

Steve Hayes

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Mar 19, 2015, 6:22:20 AM3/19/15

to

That's a bit rough.

Sneaky O. Possum

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Mar 19, 2015, 1:07:56 PM3/19/15

to

Mike L <n...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in
news:1j3kgatl5k7re0m63...@4ax.com:

There are water nymphs who can be hired to do that. One finds them in
orison wells.
--
S.O.P.

Charles Bishop

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Mar 19, 2015, 3:40:58 PM3/19/15

to

In article <mededh$cq1$3...@news.albasani.net>,

Impossible!

--
charles

CDB

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Mar 20, 2015, 1:22:46 PM3/20/15

to

On 19/03/2015 1:07 PM, Sneaky O. Possum wrote:
> Mike L <n...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>> Paul Wolff <boun...@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote:
>>> occam <oc...@127.0.0.1> posted:

>> [...]

>>>> As for the collective noun for lawyers: I propose the same as
>>>> that of hyenas ('a cackle' apparently)
>>>> http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/kennel/collectives.htm (Note:
>>>> the list does not contain Saints)

>>> If a collective noun can be derived from the sound the creatures
>>> make, as in cackle, murmuration, tittering, then I suggest an
>>> orison of saints.

>>> It does give the opportunity to say "I could see nothing but
>>> saints, from one orison to the other."

>> Oooph! I hope some kindly nymph is daily remembering that sin for
>> you.

> There are water nymphs who can be hired to do that. One finds them
> in orison wells.

"The "Wh" is silent." -- WRH

Snidely

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Mar 27, 2015, 2:28:03 AM3/27/15

to

on 3/15/2015, Mike L supposed :
> On Sun, 15 Mar 2015 07:33:53 -0400, CDB <belle...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>> On 15/03/2015 3:39 AM, occam wrote:
>>> John Varela wrote:
>>>> Katy Jennison <ka...@spamtrap.kjennison.com> wrote:

>>>>> occam wrote:
>>
>>>>>> .. and what is the collective noun for saints?

>>>>>> "I was confronted by a pantheon of Saints as I walked into the
>>>>>> Cathedral?"
>>

>>>>> I rather like pantheon, but I fancy that not all saints aspire to
>>>>> that degree of elevation. A cursory Google suggests quite a few,
>>>>> including congregation, communion, calendar and swelter. None of
>>>>> these quite work in your context, which I take to be referring to
>>>>> an array of statues or stained-glass images. Words like panorama
>>>>> and pageant come to mind, not so much collective nouns as words
>>>>> suggesting a display or a procession of saints. There ought to
>>>>> be other words; how about "harping"?
>>>> I was going to suggest "array" but you beat me to it and then
>>>> didn't suggest it.
>>
>>> Or even a 'panoply' of Saints.
>>
>> Duelling saints.
>
> Chuck, you are still my bestest internet bestie. "Panoply"-abuse gets
> even my goat's goat.

It clangs in your ear?

>>
>> A panorama? (Pro nobis.)
>>
> Quelle est cet' odeur agréable? C'est le pan-arôme, mine host.

That might be a real pain.

/dps

--
Ieri, oggi, domani