Thursday, October 15, 2020

apoc·​a·​lypse | \ ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips  \plural apocalypses

Apocalypse comes from Greek apokálypsis “uncovering,” a derivative of the verb apokalýptein “to take the cover off,” a compound whose first element is the preposition and prefix apó, apo- “off, away.”
The second part of apokalýptein is the simple verb kalýptein “to cover, hide.” 
The variant root kol- becomes hal- in Germanic, and the derivative noun haljō, literally “hidden place,” is the source of Old Norse Hel, goddess of the underworld, and English hell (the bad place).
The earliest recorded meaning of apocalypse (in Old English) was in reference to the name of the last book in the New Testament, also called Revelation. It recounts several prophetic visions of upheaval and destruction culminating in the Second Coming of Christ. In Middle English, apocalypse was extended to mean “any revelation or disclosure.” However, the meaning “any disaster or cataclysm” was not recorded until the late 19th century.

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Early voting here in NC begins today; we decided a few weeks ago that we’d vote in person, rather than by mail.

Then there’s this presence in our town in a few hours.

So much has been uncovered; so much apocalyptic about the past four years. Just not sure what more of a revelation we can endure, what more can be disclosed. We will either rebuild, or not likely live through the coming of cataclysmic events which will turn our society into whatever survives civil unrest not seen here in 50 years.