Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Does Not Provoke Comedy

While applying one of the very expensive and totally incomprehensible cosmetics I purchased the other week in the irrational belief that they would magically turn me into a modern-day Calypso, I noticed the phrase "non-comedogenic" on the label. I pondered this all the way to work (beautiful morning for a walk, by the way).

Non-comedogenic? Does not provoke comedy? Surely there's nothing *more* comedy than paying hundreds of pounds for approximately two millilitres of gelatinous gunk that appears to produce no effect other than a significant lightening of the purse? (I don't actually own a purse. I had one when I was 12, but in an episode of unplanned anti-capitalism I threw it out of the car window while travelling at speed down a French motorway. Never bothered getting another.)

I was quite disappointed to discover the real definition. What's acne got to do with comedy? Etymological progression really took a wrong turn there. No doubt cello will have a sensible explanation, though.

6 comments:

cello said...

No problem. The origin of 'comedogenic' lies in the Italian phrase, "come Doge", or "like the Doge". This refers to the fact that the Ventian rulers' palace is adjacent to the lagoon, which in the 14th and 15th century was heaving with noxious effluent and infectious diseases, resulting in a near-permanent state of zitdom for the Doge.


Etymology-R-Us

patroclus said...

Ohhhhh cello. That is the best etymology I have *ever* heard. Ever. Thank you so much.

NB I don't see too much acne in Bellini's portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan. Airbrushing. Tsk.

cello said...

Yeh, well what's the point of being Doge unless you can get airbrushed.

Fizzy good said...

Get yer knickers on and make me a cup of tea.

Anyway. Yes. Mm. Do you have a wallet?

patroclus said...

Lapsang Souchong alright?

I don't have a wallet, as it happens. Unless by that you mean a little wall, in which case, yes.

Fizzy good said...

Where do you put your money? I have a nice plain black wallet, thank you very much.

Did you get Lapsang Souchong especially because you knew I'd be coming back? Are you doing a Gollum walk?