Each Thursday a word taken from a different historical era is posted. The intent is to hopefully spark an idea or two. You can either use the word itself in your writing or use the ideas it may inspire.

Note: The definitions for the following words are available to members through the group archives.

April 13, 2000--
sarcophagus

April 20, 2000--
posset

April 27, 2000--
phoenix

May 4, 2000--
totem pole

May 11, 2000--
blockade

May 18, 2000--
gnowee

May 25, 2000--
portal

June 1, 2000--
scabbard

June 8, 2000--
rheno

June 15, 2000--
quistron

June 22, 2000--
racking crook

June 29, 2000--
keystone

July 6, 2000--
scimitar

July 13, 2000--
seeing the elephant

July 20, 2000--
obeying signs

July 27, 2000--
daguerreotype

August 3, 2000--
commanding signs

August 10, 2000--
Martello tower

August 17, 2000--
baldric

August 24, 2000--
chain mail

August 31, 2000--
regent

September 7, 2000--
prohibition

September 14, 2000--
schooner

September 21, 2000--
dolmen

September 28, 2000--
Ka

Based upon a suggestion by a list member, the Thursday Historical Word exericise will now be containing three words each week instead of one. All three words will be chosen from the same historical era. The exercise itself has remained the same. One or all of the words can be used in whatever form of writing you prefer. For an extra challenge: try holding your work to the following limits--no less than 250 words, no more than 500.

October 5, 2000--
Ba, Akh, Kemet

October 12, 2000--
carcanet, steward, tables

October 19, 2000--
basilisk, Cerberus, ambrosia

October 26, 2000--
nosethirl, aliper, genet

November 2, 2000--
vaquero, dogie, lasso

November 9, 2000--
flapper, shiek, two-timer

November 16, 2000--
Tories/Loyalists, Hessians, Minutemen

November 23, 2000--
The Mayflower Compact, provisions lists, blunderbusses

November 30, 2000--
archie, hop the bags, uncle charlie

December 7, 2000--
arena, basilica, centurion

December 14, 2000--
Cat's Meow (bee's knees, cat's pajamas), speakeasy, Moonshine (sauce, giggle water, hooch, bathtub gin, Jake- leg)

December 21, 2000--
sovereign, Quarter Days, precedence

December 28, 2000--
geomancy, canel, thyrsus