ep36 Ape Saved Key Possession

Heaps, saves a key possession of the British Empire. A man invents anoiser soup spool. The word ambition originally applied only to politics. And of course those statements mean that we're back once more with another batch of surprising statements and their proof.

With which we hope to entertain you for a little while. This is Lindsay McCarry asking you to stand by for just a minute and a half for the first item. Have you heard someone say of a particularly energetic person?

My, but he has a lot of ambition? Well, you've heard it hundreds of times, of course. But I wonder if you know from where we get the word ambition. Today it means showing a lot of energy and get up and go, but suppose we go back to ancient Rome for a few moments.

Let's follow Lucius Arugulus as he makes his way through the crowded streets of the bustling city of Rome. As he walks along, he spies a friend walking before him. Marcus, Marcus a moment! Where do you go?

Oh, Lucius! You seem in a hurry or excited. No, I just wanted to catch up with you. Well, you have, Marcus. You know that the day after tomorrow are the elections for the Senate. I know that. I suppose you know that I am a candidate.

Well, yes, I had heard. I wondered if I might count upon you for your vote, eh? You're a friend of mine, Lucius. I'll vote for you. Oh, thank you. Thank you. I've been going around these last few days getting votes to myself. It's been no easy time.

So even in those days, politicians approached their friends for votes. That going about was termed ambitio, A-M-B-I-T-I-O, which means a going around or going about. We can well imagine the bustling two and fro those ancient politicians did to get votes for themselves.