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− | [[Image:lighterstill.jpg]] | + | [[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Gadfly.jpg|right|frame]] |
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| + | '''Gadfly''' is a term for people who upset the [[status quo]] by posing upsetting or novel questions, or just being an irritant. |
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| + | The term "gadfly" (Ancient Greek: μυο̃ψ, myops)[1] was used by [[Plato]] in the Apology[2] to describe [[Socrates]]' relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian [[political]] scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse. The [[Bible]] also references the gadfly in terms of political influence; The [[Book of Jeremiah]] (46:20, Darby Bible) states "Egypt is a very fair heifer; the gad-fly cometh, it cometh from the north." The term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators. |
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| + | During his defense when on trial for his life, [[Socrates]], according to Plato's writings, pointed out that [[dissent]], like the tiny ([[relative]] to the size of a horse) gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to [[society]] of silencing [[individual]]s who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of [[truth]]." |
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| + | In modern and local [[politics]], gadfly is a term used to describe someone who persistently challenges people in positions of [[power]], the status quo or a popular position.[3] The [[word]] may be uttered in a pejorative sense, while at the same time be accepted as a description of honorable work or civic duty.[4] |
| + | ==Definitions== |
| :[f. [[GAD]] n.1] | | :[f. [[GAD]] n.1] |
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| *1. The popular name of a fly which bites and goads cattle, esp. a fly of the genus Tabanus or of the genus {Oe}strus; a bot-fly, breeze. | | *1. The popular name of a fly which bites and goads cattle, esp. a fly of the genus Tabanus or of the genus {Oe}strus; a bot-fly, breeze. |
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− | :1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. 120 It was like..as a bull stung with a Gad-fly. 1727-46 THOMSON Summer 499 Light fly his slumbers, if perchance a flight Of angry gadflies fasten on the herd. 1831 YOUATT Horse xiii. (1843) 289 A species of gad-fly, the {oe}strus equi, is in the latter part of the summer exceedingly busy about horses. 1841-4 EMERSON Ess. Ser. I. i. (1876) 25 The nomads of Africa were constrained to wander by the attacks of the gadfly, which drives the cattle mad. | + | :1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. 120 It was like..as a bull stung with a Gad-fly. 1727-46 THOMSON Summer 499 Light fly his slumbers, if perchance a flight Of angry gadflies fasten on the herd. 1831 YOUATT Horse xiii. (1843) 289 A [[species]] of gad-fly, the {oe}strus equi, is in the latter part of the summer exceedingly busy about horses. 1841-4 EMERSON Ess. Ser. I. i. (1876) 25 The [[nomad]]s of Africa were constrained to wander by the attacks of the gadfly, which drives the cattle mad. |
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| *2. fig. One who irritates, torments, or worries another. Also (after L. {oe}strus), an irresistible impulse to some course of action. | | *2. fig. One who irritates, torments, or worries another. Also (after L. {oe}strus), an irresistible impulse to some course of action. |
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− | :1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch., Hen. IV, cccxlvii, Rather then have the Gad-flyes of an ill-Disposed Army on their shoulders feed. 1807-8 W. IRVING Salmag. (1824) 243 It is our misfortune to be frequently pestered..by certain critical gad-flies. 1864 LOWELL Fireside Trav. 314 Bitten with the Anglo-Saxon gadfly that drives us all to disenchant artifice. | + | :1649 G. DANIEL Trinarch., Hen. IV, cccxlvii, Rather then have the Gad-flyes of an ill-Disposed Army on their shoulders feed. 1807-8 W. IRVING Salmag. (1824) 243 It is our misfortune to be frequently pestered..by certain critical gad-flies. 1864 LOWELL Fireside Trav. 314 Bitten with the [[Anglo-Saxon]] gadfly that drives us all to disenchant artifice. |
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− | *3. With allusion to GAD v. a. In phrase to have a gad-fly: to be fond of ‘gadding about’. | + | *3. With allusion to [[GAD]] v. a. In phrase to have a gad-fly: to be fond of ‘gadding about’. |
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− | :1591 LYLY Sappho II. iii, My mistresse, I thinke, hath got a gadfly, never at home, and yet none can tell where abroade. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. viii, You have neither wings to your shoulder, nor gad-fly in your cap: you love home. | + | :1591 LYLY [[Sappho]] II. iii, My mistresse, I thinke, hath got a gadfly, never at [[home]], and yet none can tell where abroade. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. viii, You have neither wings to your shoulder, nor gad-fly in your cap: you [[love]] home. |
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− | :b. A person who is constantly ‘gadding about’. | + | :b. A [[person]] who is constantly ‘gadding about’. |
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| ::1614 BEAUM. & FL. Wit. at Sev. Weapons IV. ii, Where are those gad-flies going? to some junket now. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xviii. 125 Your Harriet may turn gad-fly, and never be easy but when she is forming parties. | | ::1614 BEAUM. & FL. Wit. at Sev. Weapons IV. ii, Where are those gad-flies going? to some junket now. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. xviii. 125 Your Harriet may turn gad-fly, and never be easy but when she is forming parties. |
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| *4. attrib., as gad-fly time; gad-fly haunted adj. | | *4. attrib., as gad-fly time; gad-fly haunted adj. |
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− | :1846 C. G. PROWETT Prometh. Bound 28 The gadfly-haunted maid, whose charms have power To smite Jove's heart with love. 1893 D. JORDAN (‘Son of the Marshes’) Forest Tithes, etc. 197 In gadfly time it was a fine sight to see a herd of cattle charging along. | + | :1846 C. G. PROWETT Prometh. Bound 28 The gadfly-haunted maid, whose charms have [[power]] To smite Jove's [[heart]] with love. 1893 D. JORDAN (‘Son of the Marshes’) Forest Tithes, etc. 197 In gadfly time it was a fine [[vision|sight]] to see a herd of cattle charging along. |
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− | "Gadfly" is a term for people who upset the [[status quo]] by posing upsetting or novel questions, or just being an irritant.
| |
− | | |
− | The term "gadfly" (Ancient Greek: μυο̃ψ, myops)[1] was used by [[Plato]] in the Apology[2] to describe [[Socrates]]' relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian [[political]] scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse. The [[Bible]] also references the gadfly in terms of political influence; The [[Book of Jeremiah]] (46:20, Darby Bible) states "Egypt is a very fair heifer; the gad-fly cometh, it cometh from the north." The term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators.
| |
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− | During his defense when on trial for his life, [[Socrates]], according to Plato's writings, pointed out that [[dissent]], like the tiny ([[relative]] to the size of a horse) gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to [[society]] of silencing [[individual]]s who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of [[truth]]."
| |
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− | In modern and local [[politics]], gadfly is a term used to describe someone who persistently challenges people in positions of [[power]], the status quo or a popular position.[3] The [[word]] may be uttered in a pejorative sense, while at the same time be accepted as a description of honorable work or civic duty.[4]
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| [[Category: General Reference]] | | [[Category: General Reference]] |
| [[Category: Philosophy]] | | [[Category: Philosophy]] |