tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Feb 20 09:24:08 2003
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Re: Klingon WOTD: qu' (v)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Thursday, February 20, 2003.
>
>Klingon word: qu'
>Part of Speech: verb
>Definition: be fierce
As used in canon:
qu'bej QoghlIj
Your krol is definitely fierce. PK
The verb also has a slang meaning:
The verb {qu'} literally means "be fierce". In its slang sense, it may be
used adjectivally, as in {taj qu'} ("excellent knife"; literally, "fierce
knife"), or as the main verb in a sentence, as in {qu' taj} ("the knife is
excellent"; literally, "the knife is fierce"). ... When applied to people
or animals, it is not always clear whether the slang or nonslang meaning
of {qu'} is intended. That is, {SuvwI' qu'} ("fierce warrior") could be
interpreted literally, or it could mean "excellent warrior". When applied
to anything other than people or animals, the slang meaning is more likely.
Thus, {may' qu'} ("fierce battle") is really a way of saying "excellent
battle". In Klingon, only a participant in a battle, not the battle itself,
can literally be described as "fierce". (KGT 159)
"Even in the midst of ferocious Jem'Hadar, there is no doubt who is the
fiercest warrior." [i.e. Worf; KGT 160, ill.]
Cf. {naS} "be vicious", {ral} "be violent"; also {HoS} "be strong" and
{HoSghaj} "be powerful".
--
Voragh "Damage control is easy. Reading Klingon
- that's
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons hard!" (Montgomery
Scott, STIV)