Non Temere. Don't Be Afraid. These Are Said To Have Been The Poet Seamus Heaney's Last Words...

[sandyRoe]

Does that word, Temere', have any link with the name of the ship in Turners painting, The Fighting Temeraire?

[slaney]

Don't think so Sandy - Téméraire is French for reckless, and Noli timere (fear not) comes from Latin timeo - I fear.

[Eve]

Téméraire means fearless so maybe that is where the ship's name came from?

They would seam to have the same root with temere if meant as in "fear", as in Don't Fear, like don't be afraid, same thing I guess, just semantics.

[slaney]

Great last words though!

[slaney]

Although they both could be based on Timeo come to think of it...

[Eve]

Or maybe there is a dragon connection!

http://www.temeraire.org/wiki/Temeraire

[Octavius]

Noli Timere Messorem / Non temetis messor - Death is not to be feared / Do not fear the reaper.

[slaney]

Nope - different origins temere - rashly, timere to fear.

[Octavius]

And…before anyone starts, I know the Latinistas will crticise and ask about conjugating verbs and suchlike. It was a potential link to what he might have said, that is all.

[Eve]

Ahh I always wanted to learn Latin.

[slaney]

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/02/seamus-heaney-last-words-funeral

[Octavius]

Oh I see, misread the question.

[stewey]

It appears that I have attained the rank of Senator: I got 5 out of 7.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23944612

[sandyRoe]

6 out of 7 for me there.

[stewey]

I won't say which two I I got wrong in case other people want to take the quiz. So, Sandy, you quite obviously were acquainted with more famous dead people that I was:)

[sandyRoe]

Half I knew, the others I guessed.