What's that word/phrase?

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This has been being argued (or very loudly discussed and laughed over) in my household for several weeks, on and off. What is the Latin phrase, dealing with the wh**l of fortune, that applies to Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part 1," along with many of his other works? We think it begins "Fortuna ______" or "______ Fortuna" but really don't know - maybe it's Fortuna's Wheel? The idea that as Hal grows(moves toward the summit of the wheel), Hotspur falls (toward the bottom of the wheel) in "Henry IV"?

And that word/phrase for a brand name that has come to be used as a generic term (Kleenex, Jello, Xerox, etc.)? (I know that's been answered here before, but I haven't found the thread.)

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

my grandmother used to call "wheel of fortune" "wheel of fortuna"

then again she also called taking a shit a "guncey"

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

the game show i mean

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

("wheel of fortune"...i dont think there was ever a gameshow called "taking a shit")

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

(maybe in japan)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Si fortuna me tormenta, spero me contenta? (If fortune torments me, hope contents me) ?

You asked the other question here but there was no answer. Are you sure there is one?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

jess - I think I'd like your grandmother. My mother's oddball phrase (well, one of them at least) is "Kissy face, Pressy bod" - usually prefaced with a "No", directed toward me when I was a horny teenager and seducing men older than she was. Maybe she had a point.

Nick, thanks *smile*. And yes, I am certain that there is one - I've heard it maybe twice in my life - and I swear that the next time I hear it I'll have it tattooed somewhere on my body so I'll never forget it again - or, well, if I do forget it, then I know where to look to find it and all.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Laura: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/meponym.html

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 05:20 (twenty-two years ago)

re: 2. proprietary eponym??

(haha yeah chris!! u da man)

― ron (ron), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 05:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, Cecil's da man.

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

*grin* Many thanks for finding that document, Chris - you've answered (or, rather, provided that link to the answer) to one of those questions that has bugged me for ages. You're marvelous *grin* And ron, I like the additional information that you've come up with, too. You're perfectly awesome *another grin*

Here's another question:

What is the masculine form of the word "ballerina"? I am guessing that there is such a word, but usually see "male ballerina" - any ideas? And is it a word that is in common usage that I've just not come across or remembered?

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm telling you, read the Straight Dope. It's marvellous.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmalebal.html

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris, I absolutely adore you. Passionately. Madly. With great respect and awe. Remind me to make you a choclate kaluha cake next time I'm on the west coast.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Thursday, 19 June 2003 04:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah! Whooo! Will you tell me, ah, some of your more fun stories? Hmmm?

― Chris P (Chris P), Thursday, 19 June 2003 04:55 (twenty-two years ago)

*laughing* Even better - I'll bring photos!

So, another word question: is the "inter" in "intermittent" a prefix? And, if it is, then what is "mittent"? (Staight Dope failed me on thsi one.)

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Thursday, 19 June 2003 05:13 (twenty-two years ago)

from m-w.com, it sez the etymology is inter + mittere (to transmit).

― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 19 June 2003 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I expect chocolate orgasms now.

― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 19 June 2003 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

and here's the link

― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 19 June 2003 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Many, many chocolate orgasms for you, Leee - I shall bake you a chocolate kaluha cake as well. And deliver a bottle of kaluha with it, too, in case it needs to be "freshened up" with the spirits.

(I need to get better at this web search thing. Really.)

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Thursday, 19 June 2003 06:20 (twenty-two years ago)

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