On Wednesday, October 5, 2005, at 04:10 PM, Whitney wrote: "Watertown Republican 18 October 1861: In Watertown, Wisc. October 10, by Rev. D.O. Jones married Mr. George L. Whitney of Mukwonago and Miss Molicie L. Shakspeare." I sure hope this is a typo and not an example of mordant humor by the Shakespeare family. "Molicie" is an obscure Spanish word which one online dictionary translates as "effeminacy, flabbiness, fondness for luxury, softness", and others as "mushiness" or "lassitude". Not an inspiring choice of name! The word appears in a 1909 Spanish version of Collosians 3:5, which can be compared with our King James translation of the same: "Amortiguad, pues, vuestros miembros que están sobre la tierra: fornicación, inmundicia, molicie, mala concupiscencia, y avaricia, que es idolatría:" "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" Had George been using a Spanish Bible, he might have mortified his bride! However, this source suggests that "Molicie"'s name was actually Melissa-- Greek for "honeybee", and cognate with "Deborah" in Hebrew-- especially as the wedding date is the same: http://www.dodgejeffgen.com/archive/newsclipping/DJ_Seeley-Shakspeare.htm Cheers, Ron Kyser

Wow! Ron, you amaze me with the information you share with the group. Thanks for all! from, Carolyn Whitney Branagan ----- Original Message ----- From: "R R Kyser" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 7:45 PM Subject: Re: [WHITNEY-L] Miscellaneous Whitney Stuff!! > On Wednesday, October 5, 2005, at 04:10 PM, Whitney wrote: > > "Watertown Republican 18 October 1861: > In Watertown, Wisc. October 10, by Rev. D.O. Jones married Mr. George L. > Whitney of Mukwonago and Miss Molicie L. Shakspeare." > > I sure hope this is a typo and not an example of mordant humor by the > Shakespeare family. "Molicie" is an obscure Spanish word which one online > dictionary translates as "effeminacy, flabbiness, fondness for luxury, > softness", and others as "mushiness" or "lassitude". Not an inspiring > choice of name! > > The word appears in a 1909 Spanish version of Collosians 3:5, which can be > compared with our King James translation of the same: > > "Amortiguad, pues, vuestros miembros que están sobre la tierra: > fornicación, inmundicia, molicie, mala concupiscencia, y avaricia, que es > idolatría:" > > "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, > uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, > which is idolatry:" > > Had George been using a Spanish Bible, he might have mortified his bride! > > However, this source suggests that "Molicie"'s name was actually Melissa-- > Greek for "honeybee", and cognate with "Deborah" in Hebrew-- especially > as the wedding date is the same: > > http://www.dodgejeffgen.com/archive/newsclipping/DJ_Seeley-Shakspeare.htm > > Cheers, > Ron Kyser > > >