Citations:semperannual

English citations of semperannual

• 1861: George Meredith, Evan Harrington, pages 238–240

  Mr. Raikes laughed mildly. “When I was in Town, sir, on my late fortunate expedition, I happened to be driving round St. Paul’s. Rather a crush. Some particular service going on. In my desire to study humanity in all its aspects, I preferred to acquiesce in the blockade of carriages and avoid manslaughter. My optics were attracted by several effulgent men that stood and made a blaze at the lofty doors of the cathedral. Nor mine alone. A dame with an umbrella — she likewise did regard the pageant show. ‘Sir,’ says she to me. I leaned over to her, affably — as usual. ‘Sir, can you be so good as to tell me the names of they noblemen there?’ Atrocious grammar is common among the people, but a gentleman passes it by: it being his duty to understand what is meant by the poor creatures. You laugh, sir! You agree with me. Consequently I looked about me for the representatives of the country’s pride. ‘What great lords are they?’ she repeats. I followed the level of her umbrella, and felt — astonishment was uppermost. Should I rebuke her? Should I enlighten her? Never, I said to myself: but one, a wretch, a brute, had not these scruples. ‘Them ‛ere chaps, ma’am?’ says he. ‘Lords, ma’am? why, Lor’ bless you, they’re the Lord Mayor’s footmen!’ The illusion of her life was scattered! I mention the circumstance to show you, sir, that the mistake is perfectly possible. Of course, the old dame in question, if a woman of a great mind, will argue that supposing Lord Mayor’s footmen to be plumed like estridges — gorgeous as the sun at Midsummer — what must Lord Mayors be, and semperannual Lords, and so on to the pinnacle? — the footmen the basis of the aristocratic edifice. Then again she may say, Can nature excel that magnificent achievement I behold, and build upon it? She may decide that nature cannot. Hence democratic leanings in her soul! For me, I know and can manage them. Thomas! hand in my card. Mr. John Feversham Raikes.”

• 1998: Gem76, alt.fan.hanson (Google group): sempiternize HA YeW HaNSoNiTeS MuST DiE!!! - HaNSoN iS FiLTH TH, the 24^th day of September at 8 o’clock a.m.

  Semostomae. Maybe semostomeous. In semostomous semperannual. This sempergreen semperidentical semperjuvenescent sempervirent sempervirid. In Sempervivum. You sempitern. This sempiternal. You sempiternally. This sempiternity sempiternize sempiternize.