hoise \HOYZ\ - lift, raise; especially : to raise into position by or as if by means of tackle
I often think that etymologists' distinctions are much ado about nothing. In this case, learning the meaning of petard will probably do more to help keep me from butchering the most commonplace application of this synonym of - but technically different word from - "hoist."
petard \peh-TARD\ - 1. a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall 2. a firework that explodes with a loud report
I've never seen this definition, and always assumed a petard was a sort of lance or hook. As a result, I misunderstood the phrase to be "hoist upon one's own petard," instead of "hoist by . . . ," thereby screwing up both the verb (actually past participle of "hoise," not any form of "hoist") and the meaning of the object.
sui generis \soo-eye-JEN-uh-ris\ - constituting a class alone : unique, peculiar
So many of us would like to consider ourselves such, and in truth we are, but rarely in as lofty a sense as we'd like! (My mind is going to insist on pronouncing the second syllable consistently with Latin.)
At this rate, it looks like I'll be at least the rest of the week to catch up, especially if I'm led away from the WOTD list as I was by the second of these.
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