Chapter Conclave to Conscience of C by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Conclave to Conscience

Conclave (2 syl.). A set of rooms, all of which are entered by one common key (Latin, con clavis). The word is applied to the little deal cells erected in some large apartment for the cardinals who meet to choose a new Pope, because the long gallery of the Vatican between the cells and the windows of the palace is common ground to all the conclavists. The assembly itself is, by a figure of speech, also called a conclave.

Conclamatio amongst the ancient Romans, was similar to the Irish howl over the dead; and, as in Ireland, women led the funeral cortège, weeping ostentatiously and gesticulating. “One not howled over” (corpus nondum conclamatum) meant one at the point of death; and “one howled for” was one given up for dead or really deceased. Virgil tells us that the ululation was a Phoenician custom; and therefore he makes the palace ring with howls when Dido burnt herself to death.

“Lamentis, gemituque, et foemineo ululato,
Texta fremunt.” Æneid, iv. 667.

Conclamatum est He is dead past all hope. The sense of hearing is generally the last to fail in the hour of death, hence the Romans were accustomed to call on the deceased three times by name, and if no indication of hearing was shown death was considered certain. Conclamatum est, he has been called and shows no sign.

Concord is Strength The wise saw of Periander, “tyrant” of Corinth ( B.C. 665-585).

Concordat An agreement made between a ruler and the Pope relative to the collation of benefices. As the Concordat of 1801 between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII.; the Concordat of 1516 between Francois I. and Pope Leo X. to abolish the “pragmatic sanction;” and the Germanic Concordat of 1448 between Frederick III. and Pope Nicholas V.

Condign' Latin; condignus (well worthy); as condign punishment- i.e. punishment well deserved.

“In thy condign praise.”
Shakespeare: Love's Labour's Lost, i. 2.

Condottieri Leaders of military adventurers in the fifteenth century. The most noted of these brigand leaders in Italy were Guarnieri, Lando, Francesco of Carmagnola, and Francesco Sforza. Giacomo Sforza, the son of Francesco, married the daughter of the Duke of Milan, and succeeded his father-in-law. The singular is Condottiere (5 syl.).

Confederate States The eleven States which revolted from the Union in the late American Civil War (1861-1866)- viz. Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida and Texas.

Confederation of the Rhine Sixteen German provinces in 1806 dissolved their connection with Germany, and allied themselves with France. At the downfall of Napoleon in 1814 this confederation melted away of itself.

Confession John of Nepomuc, canon of Prague, suffered death rather than violate the seal of confession. The Emperor Wenceslas ordered him to be thrown off a bridge into the Moldau, because he refused to reveal the confession of the empress. He was canonised as St. John Nepomucen.

Confiscate (3 syl.). To forfeit to the public treasury. (Latin, con fiscus, with the tribute money.)

“If thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood,
Thy lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice,
Confiscate to the State of Venice.”
Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, iv. 1.

Confusion Worse Confounded Disorder made worse than before.

“With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,
Confusion worse confounded.”
Milton: Paradise Lost, ii. line 996.

Conge “To give a person his congé” is to dismiss him from your service. “To take one's congé” is to give notice to friends of your departure. This is done by leaving a card at the friend's house with the letters P.P.C. (pour prendre congé) inscribed on the left-hand corner. (French, donner congé and donner à son congé.)