There is a street in Detroit called Beaubien named for one of the old 18th century French families of that city. As a surname it seems like a typical French Canadian sobriquet. Beaubien looks like a combination of beau (beautiful) and bien (good).
I first read this word in Moby Dick and fell in love with it. it's got alliteration with the l's. -less and -ness rhyme, but have opposing meanings. it's the perfect little package.
Plus, the context of the word in chapter 23 of Moby Dick was pretty powerful:
"But as in landlessness alone resides the highest truth, shoreless, indefinite as God -- so, better is it to perish in that howling infinite, than be ingloriously dashed upon the lee, even if that were safety!"
Comments by landlessness
landlessness commented on the word beaubien
There is a street in Detroit called Beaubien named for one of the old 18th century French families of that city. As a surname it seems like a typical French Canadian sobriquet. Beaubien looks like a combination of beau (beautiful) and bien (good).
January 20, 2018
landlessness commented on the user landlessness
first cousins once removed
April 27, 2011
landlessness commented on the word landlessness
I first read this word in Moby Dick and fell in love with it. it's got alliteration with the l's. -less and -ness rhyme, but have opposing meanings. it's the perfect little package.
Plus, the context of the word in chapter 23 of Moby Dick was pretty powerful:
"But as in landlessness alone resides the highest truth, shoreless, indefinite as God -- so, better is it to perish in that howling infinite, than be ingloriously dashed upon the lee, even if that were safety!"
April 27, 2011