Excursus (or divagation)

Deep in the bowels of the OST archives, something stirred. Striking his gavel on the table, the Chairman of the Moderators surveyed the snuffling, harumphing and throat-clearing of the committee members which accompanied their rude awakening from a barely concealed snooze.

The Chairman spoke, peering over his horn-rimmed National Health (1948) spectacles.

" Members of the committee, I bring you ‘Divagation’. According to the regrettably inexorable progress of technology, our on-line resources, WordReference.com in particular, define it thus: a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern); "a diversion from the main highway"; "a digression into irrelevant details"; "a deflection from his goal"; "a message that departs from the main subject" . We therefore raise no objections to its inclusion in this, if I may say so, rather lamentably inconclusive post?

Wearily, a row of hands was raised to indicate the assent of the committee.

The decision was recorded and pneumatically transferred to the archives. The clock ticked. Dust settled. The bone-numbing tedium of lexicographical surveillance and research was resumed.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

End of Excursus

Divagation and Deus ex Machina loquit

I had never heard of ‘divagation’ until a couple of days ago, when I came across it in Alan Bennett’s ‘The Uncommon Reader’ (part of the Trappist’s holiday reading material). The following day it appeared in John Doyle’s post. An uncanny extra-sensorily perceived cyber-coincidence?

End of Divagation - Deus in Machina reintravit