“Downton Abbey” Vocab

When I was sick last week, I decided to watch the season finale of “Downteon Abbey.” What a pleasant experience. I was in charge of The Buttons and I was able to pause, back up, and replay as often as I wanted. I caught nuances that I am sure I usually miss in any episode. In doing so, I caught some vocabulary that was common to the time period. In context, it all made pretty good sense, but I made note and looked them up.

Here we go!

Hobson’s choice
a choice of taking what is available or nothing at all.
ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: named after Thomas Hobson (1554–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who gave the customer the “choice” of the horse nearest the door or none at all.

bored to sobs
no definition needed, self-explanatory

tweeny
(pl. tweenies) archaic, informal
a maid who assisted two other members of a domestic staff.
ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from between-maid, a servant assisting two others.

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #309, Silent Night

Mary sang “Silent Night” at the close of “Downtown Abbey” this season. I wondered at the lyrics and decided to look them up.

1 Still the night, holy the night!
Sleeps the world; hid from sight,
Mary and Joseph in stable bare
watch o'er the child belovèd and fair,
sleeping in heavenly rest,
sleeping in heavenly rest.


2 Still the night, holy the night!
Shepherds first saw the light,
heard resounding clear and long,
far and near, the angel-song,
“Christ the Redeemer is here!”
“Christ the Redeemer is here!”

3 Still the night, holy the night!
Son of God, O how bright
love is smiling from thy face!
Strikes for us now the hour of grace,
Saviour, since thou art born!
Saviour, since thou art born!

Get all the details here.