A Latin Breakdown

In this penultimate issue of the Trinity Tripod, I thought it fitting to mention etymology. “Penultimate” comes from Latin roots, combining paene (almost) and ultimus (last). Peninsula is actually a similar construction (paene + insula), or, “almost an island.” You get the gist.  

It’s interesting to think of etymology to construct words that don’t — but could — exist. By breaking something down at the root, you can slap together some twisted Franken-words that could mean just about anything. Par exemple, Trinity could be described as “penexcellent” or, more crudely, a “penminimus Ivy,” or what have you. 

In this issue of the Tripod, this is what we have produced in the spirit of construction: In News, you can read about the recent Bantam Welcome Weekend, as well as the re-branding of the Study Away Office (first DEI and now this? Email me if we should re-brand the paper something long, uninteresting and buzzword-y). Opinion houses quite the smorgasbord, with pieces on Tucker Carlson ’91 and his potential presidential bid, academic requirements, colloquialisms (lock me up) and a piece from The Trinity Faculty Coalition for Justice in Palestine. Both a professor and a student are exhibited in the features section, while arts covers Trinity’s Hip Hop Festival, Dawn Lundy Martin’s visit for the A.K Smith Reading Series and has reviews of films “Project Hail Mary” and “Palestine 36.” 

The timing of this issue is what I consider to be a golden era on campus – everyone has housing and class schedules (hopefully), but thoughts of next year are still far off, instead leaving us to scintillate in what can only be described as a campus photographers wet dream: lounging on the quad, playing spikeball and somehow always inexplicably mid-laugh. 

I urge us to stay here as long as possible. Or, at least until our “penexcellent” institution breaks for summer. Is it “penexcellent” or “penexellentia”? I wouldn’t know — I’m taking Latin next semester. As rough as this amateur wordsmithing has been, I sincerely hope that this issue is much smoother. Happy reading. 

In peace, 

TBC