tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Dec 17 09:36:08 2014

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Re: [Tlhingan-hol] Klingon Word of the Day: qI'

Gaerfindel ([email protected]) 

On 12/17/2014 10:13 AM, Steven Boozer wrote:

Klingon Word of the Day for Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Klingon word: qI'
Part of speech: verb
Definition: sign (a treaty)
Source: TKD

KGT 121f.:  The idiom {bIQ'a'Daq 'oHtaH 'etlh'e'} ("The sword is in the ocean") is used to mean that something has ended, that it is impossible to return to a prior condition, just as Kahless and Morath never spoke to each other again. The expression might be used, for example, in reference to a treaty that was just signed, suggesting that a former state of antagonism has ended forever.
I like how {'oHtaH} implies that "the sword is in the ocean...and *continues* to be." 


SEE ALSO:
mab 		treaty (n)
rom 		accord (n)
{mab} is likely a reference to Queen Mab of the faeries, who are known in story to make bargains with mortals (which often don't turn well for the mortals). 


~quljIb


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