1. The oldest woman in a family (a grandmother or great-grandmother) who thus has the most seniority.
2. The head of a family in a matrilineal society
3. The ruler in a matriarchy.
2. The head of a family in a matrilineal society
3. The ruler in a matriarchy.
The matriarch looked proudly over her great progeny, from her eldest daughter to her newest heir, her month-old great-granddaughter.
by Lorelili October 19, 2010
Get the matriarch mug.The ancient art or inflicting physical, mental, and/or emotional pain on somebody for information, as punishment, or just sheer sadistic pleasure.
Torture is not limited to humans; disturbed sickos will also torture innocent animals.
Torture is not limited to history; it's still around.
Torture is not limited to humans; disturbed sickos will also torture innocent animals.
Torture is not limited to history; it's still around.
Torture has been carried out in every way possible; you name it, it's been done:
-Rack
-Iron Maiden
-Dunking
-Breaking at the Wheel
-Brank
-Public Humiliation
-Pear of Anguish
-Breast Ripper
-Flogging
-Quartering
-Judas Cradle
-Pillory/Yoke
-Spiked cages
-Pendulum
-Burning at the Stake
-Water Torture
-Mutilation
-Head Crusher
-Tongue Tearer
-Gibbet
-Garrotte
-Interrogation Chair
-Spanish Donkey
-Spanish crusher
-Spanish Boot
-Spanish Tickler
-Knee-Splitter/Thumbscrew
And that's just a few.
-Rack
-Iron Maiden
-Dunking
-Breaking at the Wheel
-Brank
-Public Humiliation
-Pear of Anguish
-Breast Ripper
-Flogging
-Quartering
-Judas Cradle
-Pillory/Yoke
-Spiked cages
-Pendulum
-Burning at the Stake
-Water Torture
-Mutilation
-Head Crusher
-Tongue Tearer
-Gibbet
-Garrotte
-Interrogation Chair
-Spanish Donkey
-Spanish crusher
-Spanish Boot
-Spanish Tickler
-Knee-Splitter/Thumbscrew
And that's just a few.
by Lorelili March 25, 2005
Get the torture mug.A witch-hunter's guidebook, written in 1486 by German Dominican monks Jakob Sprenger and Heinrich Kramer, and arguably one of the most blood-soaked and hateful books in history.
The main purpose of the "Malleus Maleficarum", or "The Hammer Against Witches", was to refute all arguments that witchcraft did not exist, refute those who were skeptical about its reality, to prove that witches were more often women than men, and to educate magistrates on the how to find witches and convict them.
This book reflects that Sprenger and Kramer not only severely lacked a sense of humor and were obsessed with sex, but also that they had major issues with women; the book singles women out as the weaker sex, weaker in faith, lustful and easy by nature, and thus easy prey for Satan's coaxing. The men even went so far as to state the etymology of "femina" (Latin for "woman") as "fe" ("faith") + "minus" ("less"), which it is not.
Indeed, the book uses the exclusively feminine "malefica" rather than the masculine (and more inclusive) "maleficus" to denote witches, a strong implication that only women were witches in their eyes. Also, Sprenger and Kramer stated that old women and Jews were most likely witches and should never be trusted.
The Malleus Maleficarum accuses witches of cannibalistic infanticide, casting evil spells to harm their enemies, and holding the power to steal men’s penises (even make them come to life). It goes on to give accounts of witches committing these crimes.
The Malleus also delves deeply into the Bible, astrology, and philosophy, as this book was published during the Renaissance.
This whole book is one long tirade not just against women, but also heretics, independent thinkers, romantic lovers, the sensitive passions, human sexuality, and compassion.
The reasoning and logic used are bewilderingly outlandish... as horrible as the the images and reasoning are, they are also so ridiculous that it would be funny if the subject matter were not so grim.
Amazingly, in its day, this book of intolerance and persecution was second most popular after the Bible.
Thousands of innocents were killed because of Sprenger and Kramer, because of the hysteria and paranoia that they sparked, eventually leading to the Burning Times.
The main purpose of the "Malleus Maleficarum", or "The Hammer Against Witches", was to refute all arguments that witchcraft did not exist, refute those who were skeptical about its reality, to prove that witches were more often women than men, and to educate magistrates on the how to find witches and convict them.
This book reflects that Sprenger and Kramer not only severely lacked a sense of humor and were obsessed with sex, but also that they had major issues with women; the book singles women out as the weaker sex, weaker in faith, lustful and easy by nature, and thus easy prey for Satan's coaxing. The men even went so far as to state the etymology of "femina" (Latin for "woman") as "fe" ("faith") + "minus" ("less"), which it is not.
Indeed, the book uses the exclusively feminine "malefica" rather than the masculine (and more inclusive) "maleficus" to denote witches, a strong implication that only women were witches in their eyes. Also, Sprenger and Kramer stated that old women and Jews were most likely witches and should never be trusted.
The Malleus Maleficarum accuses witches of cannibalistic infanticide, casting evil spells to harm their enemies, and holding the power to steal men’s penises (even make them come to life). It goes on to give accounts of witches committing these crimes.
The Malleus also delves deeply into the Bible, astrology, and philosophy, as this book was published during the Renaissance.
This whole book is one long tirade not just against women, but also heretics, independent thinkers, romantic lovers, the sensitive passions, human sexuality, and compassion.
The reasoning and logic used are bewilderingly outlandish... as horrible as the the images and reasoning are, they are also so ridiculous that it would be funny if the subject matter were not so grim.
Amazingly, in its day, this book of intolerance and persecution was second most popular after the Bible.
Thousands of innocents were killed because of Sprenger and Kramer, because of the hysteria and paranoia that they sparked, eventually leading to the Burning Times.
"What else is a woman but a foe to friendship-! They are evil, lecherous, vain, and lustful. All witchcraft comes from carnal lust, which is, in women, insatiable."
-The Malleus Maleficarum
That sums up the tone of the book. Here's more:
"When a woman thinks alone, she thinks evil."
“For though the devil tempted Eve to sin, yet Eve seduced Adam. And as the sin of Eve would not have brought death to our soul and body unless the sin had afterwards passed on to Adam, to which he was tempted by Eve, not by the devil, therefore she is more bitter than death.” (Kramer, Question 6)
"She is a liar by nature."
"...they have slippery tongues... they are intellectually like children... she is more carnal than a man, as is clear from her many carnal abominations."
And on and on; it's basically the work of two sexually repressed, frustrated monks who were so alienated towards women that the only way that they could deal with women was to slander them. They basically claimed that women were frivolous, stupid, dirty, weak, emotionally unstable, faithless trollops who were up to no good.
Because of the Malleus Maleficarum, women could be accused to witchcraft because a few men had an erotic dream about her or because she made a correct prediction about the weather or some other mundane thing that could be logically explained.
-The Malleus Maleficarum
That sums up the tone of the book. Here's more:
"When a woman thinks alone, she thinks evil."
“For though the devil tempted Eve to sin, yet Eve seduced Adam. And as the sin of Eve would not have brought death to our soul and body unless the sin had afterwards passed on to Adam, to which he was tempted by Eve, not by the devil, therefore she is more bitter than death.” (Kramer, Question 6)
"She is a liar by nature."
"...they have slippery tongues... they are intellectually like children... she is more carnal than a man, as is clear from her many carnal abominations."
And on and on; it's basically the work of two sexually repressed, frustrated monks who were so alienated towards women that the only way that they could deal with women was to slander them. They basically claimed that women were frivolous, stupid, dirty, weak, emotionally unstable, faithless trollops who were up to no good.
Because of the Malleus Maleficarum, women could be accused to witchcraft because a few men had an erotic dream about her or because she made a correct prediction about the weather or some other mundane thing that could be logically explained.
by Lorelili February 21, 2009
Get the Malleus Maleficarum mug.(1521-1542) The fifth wife of Henry VIII and first-cousin of Anne Boleyn. Katherine "Kitty" Howard was just 18 when she arrived at court. A diminutive, pretty redhead with a great joie de vivre but little formal education, Kitty was the daughter of impoverished nobles. Motherless by age 10, Kitty lived in dormitories at her step-grandmother's mansion with her numerous cousins and other noble wards. Largely neglected in a huge family, Kitty was seduced by her music teacher at age 15 and soon became romantically involved with courtier Francis Dereham, even promised to marry him. Always eager to please, she agreed to go to Henry's court as a lady-in-waiting for Anne of Cleves.
Henry was instantly smitten with her, although he was nearly fifty and obese, three times her size. Seeing a chance to seize power, the powerful Howard clan nudged Kitty into marrying Henry, who was assured of her chastity. Although accommodating, Kitty was disappointed by her old, fat husband and soon found herself enchanted by a young favorite of Henry, bad boy Thomas Culpeper.
Betrayed by a spiteful friend, Kitty's cover was blown; Henry had Dereham and Culpeper killed and Kitty's family imprisoned. Initially terrified, Kitty resigned herself to her fate and even had the chopping block brought to her before execution so that she could practice.
Henry was instantly smitten with her, although he was nearly fifty and obese, three times her size. Seeing a chance to seize power, the powerful Howard clan nudged Kitty into marrying Henry, who was assured of her chastity. Although accommodating, Kitty was disappointed by her old, fat husband and soon found herself enchanted by a young favorite of Henry, bad boy Thomas Culpeper.
Betrayed by a spiteful friend, Kitty's cover was blown; Henry had Dereham and Culpeper killed and Kitty's family imprisoned. Initially terrified, Kitty resigned herself to her fate and even had the chopping block brought to her before execution so that she could practice.
Anne of Cleves, already familiar with Katherine Howard as a maidservant, maintained their friendship. Kitty had also grown attached to her stepdaughter, Elizabeth I, although Mary Tudor resented her "stepmother", who was five years younger than her.
Katherine Howard, the least educated of Henry's wives and thoroughly spoiled by him, was not the woman for the office of queen. Still, Katherine's ambitious, heavily Catholic family knew that the teenager was reckless and too naive to handle the ruthless intrigue of the court, but they cared more for Henry's favor than about her safety; she was just another mouth to feed. In her hour of need, Kitty's family abandoned her to fend for herself.
In the end, Henry refused to be made to look like a fool and even thought of killing Katherine himself.
Katherine Howard, the least educated of Henry's wives and thoroughly spoiled by him, was not the woman for the office of queen. Still, Katherine's ambitious, heavily Catholic family knew that the teenager was reckless and too naive to handle the ruthless intrigue of the court, but they cared more for Henry's favor than about her safety; she was just another mouth to feed. In her hour of need, Kitty's family abandoned her to fend for herself.
In the end, Henry refused to be made to look like a fool and even thought of killing Katherine himself.
by Lorelili January 16, 2011
Get the Katherine Howard mug.Some feminists trying to find a word to replace the sexist words "he" and "she" have put together "he or she, it" and condensed it into this little word: "h'orsh'it". This is likely not what they had in mind.
by Lorelili January 06, 2006
Get the h'orsh'it mug.Originally meant joyful, vibrant, and full of life.
Now it's used by ignorant (and often prejudiced) people to describe something that they don't like. It's especially common among teenage boys, who use it to look cool or to "hide" their insecurity about gay people.
Gay is now slang for a homosexual person, that is, somebody who is attracted romantically and sexually to people of their own sex.
Gay men are known as gays, while gay women are known as lesbians. And some bisexuals also identify as gay.
Up to 1 in every 10 adults is predominantly gay; everybody is somewhere in between the two extremes of heterosexual and homosexual.
Gay is sometimes, but not always:
-Living with AIDS.
-Living a promiscuous life.
-Acting very much like the opposite gender (very masculine women and very feminine men.)(When people think of these stereotypes, they're usually thinking about transsexual people or transgender people instead. Most of these people are straight and just happen to identify as the opposite gender.)
-All about sex.
Gays are perfectly normal people. Their only "difference" is that they (romantically) love somebody of their own sex. Aside from the cruel prejudice that they face because of who they love, they usually are able to live wonderfully full, happy lives.
Often, gays have reclamed old derogatory terms for them as terms of affection: fag and queen for the men, dyke for the women, etc... although they can still be used as insults by the bigoted.
Gays sometimes do imitate heterosexual gender roles (butch and femme) in their marriages (in every other way if not legal), but most do not; plenty of femmes pair up with other femmes, butches with other butches, androgynous and so forth. It's often remarkable how much their unions resemble heterosexual unions.
A man can be highly flamboyant and act and dress quite feminine, but sleeping with men is the last thing on this mind. Likewise, a man can be incredibly butch and swaggering, and yet he likes to sleep with men; being gay has to do with who you are attracted to sexually, not how masculine or how feminine you are.
Gay is not all about sex. Most gays are happy doing other things than sex. And most gays loathe the idea of molesting a child, contrary to the beliefs of ignorant people. (Almost all pedophiles are heterosexual)
And with marriage ending in so many divorces, then those in favor of marriage should be happy that there are people who want to get married and are willing to fight for that right. Gays have had to fight so much for the basic rights that straights take for granted.
Now it's used by ignorant (and often prejudiced) people to describe something that they don't like. It's especially common among teenage boys, who use it to look cool or to "hide" their insecurity about gay people.
Gay is now slang for a homosexual person, that is, somebody who is attracted romantically and sexually to people of their own sex.
Gay men are known as gays, while gay women are known as lesbians. And some bisexuals also identify as gay.
Up to 1 in every 10 adults is predominantly gay; everybody is somewhere in between the two extremes of heterosexual and homosexual.
Gay is sometimes, but not always:
-Living with AIDS.
-Living a promiscuous life.
-Acting very much like the opposite gender (very masculine women and very feminine men.)(When people think of these stereotypes, they're usually thinking about transsexual people or transgender people instead. Most of these people are straight and just happen to identify as the opposite gender.)
-All about sex.
Gays are perfectly normal people. Their only "difference" is that they (romantically) love somebody of their own sex. Aside from the cruel prejudice that they face because of who they love, they usually are able to live wonderfully full, happy lives.
Often, gays have reclamed old derogatory terms for them as terms of affection: fag and queen for the men, dyke for the women, etc... although they can still be used as insults by the bigoted.
Gays sometimes do imitate heterosexual gender roles (butch and femme) in their marriages (in every other way if not legal), but most do not; plenty of femmes pair up with other femmes, butches with other butches, androgynous and so forth. It's often remarkable how much their unions resemble heterosexual unions.
A man can be highly flamboyant and act and dress quite feminine, but sleeping with men is the last thing on this mind. Likewise, a man can be incredibly butch and swaggering, and yet he likes to sleep with men; being gay has to do with who you are attracted to sexually, not how masculine or how feminine you are.
Gay is not all about sex. Most gays are happy doing other things than sex. And most gays loathe the idea of molesting a child, contrary to the beliefs of ignorant people. (Almost all pedophiles are heterosexual)
And with marriage ending in so many divorces, then those in favor of marriage should be happy that there are people who want to get married and are willing to fight for that right. Gays have had to fight so much for the basic rights that straights take for granted.
-"Those flowers are so lovely in here! So bright and gay! Don't you think so?"
-"Yes! Quite nice to look at!"
Aw man, this computer is being gay! It won't let me print!
-"Scott... I have to tell you something very important...
-"What is it, Colin?"
-"I- I'm gay."
-"That makes two of us."
-"You are?!... Then are you comfortable knowing...?"
-"Knowing what?"
-"That I love you..."
-..."C'mere!"
-"Yes! Quite nice to look at!"
Aw man, this computer is being gay! It won't let me print!
-"Scott... I have to tell you something very important...
-"What is it, Colin?"
-"I- I'm gay."
-"That makes two of us."
-"You are?!... Then are you comfortable knowing...?"
-"Knowing what?"
-"That I love you..."
-..."C'mere!"
by Lorelili March 14, 2007
Get the gay mug.Gifted with the ability to speak articulately and even charmingly on the spur of the moment, but there is a lack of accuracy or understanding. Slippery or slick in speech, cunningly persuasive.
He was a charming man, but there was a glib quality to the way that he spoke; something just did not seem genuine about him.
by Lorelili July 28, 2011
Get the glib mug.