A Question Of Words

 

Sunday Ponderings

    I woke from my Saturday nap with two words bouncing around in my head.

Exhultation
Exhaltation

    I thought they must be close in meaning. So, I checked etymologyonline.com. as usual.

exultation_(n.)
"act of exulting, g (n.)reat gladness, triumphant delight," late 14c., exultacioun, from Old French exultacion "joyousness, exultation" and directly from Latin exultationem/exsultationem "a leaping for joy, exultation," noun of action from past-participle stem of exultare/exsultare (see exult). The notion is of leaping or dancing for joy. An Old English word for it was heahbliss "high bliss."

 Highbliss! I like that! Sometimes I feel that.

exaltation (n.)
late 14c, in astrology, "position of a planet in the zodiac where it exerts its greatest influence," from Old French exaltacion "enhancement, elevation," and directly from Late Latin exaltationem (nominative exaltatio) "elevation, pride," noun of action from past-participle stem of exaltare "to raise, elevate" (see exalt).
From late 15c. as "act of raising high or state of being elevated" (in power, rank, dignity, etc.); also "elevation of feeling, state of mind involving rapturous emotions." The Exaltation of the Cross (late 14c.) is the feast commemorating the miraculous apparition seen by Constantine in 317.

“state of mind involving rapturous emotions.”

    So, they describe related emotions.
    Now, to get down to it. I believe this is the state in which the angels of God sing to him and about him. They exult in him and exalt him. They express their exhultation by lifting him up in exhaltation.
    Likewise, I think it’s safe to say that in our best moments we can and maybe also do much the same.

"You are the Mighty King!"