saturnine (2009-03-31)

Part of Speech: adjective

Pronunciation: ['sæt-ê(r)-nIn]

Definition: Pertaining to the planet Saturn (archaic); born under the influence of Saturn, hence gloomy, grumpy, sour, and with a sarcastic attitude.

Usage: Here are both our recent planetary adjectives used in their contemporary senses: "You would expect General Newsance to be less saturnine after such a mercurial rise to the top rank," implying he enjoyed rapid promotion which left him, for some odd reason, rather grumpy. Today's adjective brings the agent noun "curmudgeon" to mind, "That saturnine old curmudgeon wouldn't give his grandmother the time of day."

Suggested Usage: Although today's word comes from the name of the planet Saturn, we rarely use it in reference to the planet these days. To say, "The Mercurial day is twenty-four hours long but the Saturnine, only ten," would sound as though we were speaking of quick versus slow and sulky time periods. The adverb is "saturninely" and, yes, someone has succeeded in publishing the noun "saturninity," so you may use it, too.

Etymology: Although many think the origin of Saturn's name (Saturnus) is the Etruscan language, since Saturn was the Roman god of agriculture, it could be another realization of the Proto-Indo-European root for "to sow," as to sow seeds. If so, it is not only a relative of English "sow," but also "seed," which is a form originally meaning "(that which is) sowed." English "seed" comes from the same Germanic source as German "Saat," Dutch "zaad," Swedish "säd."