[FONT=arial, helvetica]Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 06, 2007 is:
Maecenas • \mih-SEE-nus\ • noun
: a generous patron especially of literature or art

Example sentence:
Donations from Maecenases of Yiddish literature have greatly enriched the library's collection.

Did you know?
Although the ancient Roman Gaius Maecenas was a well-known diplomat and counselor to Emperor Augustus, it was his munificent patronage of literature that immortalized his name as a word for "a generous patron." A writer himself, Maecenas knew of the power of poetry and viewed it as a way to glorify Augustus's regime. Among the poets he patronized were the celebrated Virgil and Horace -- both of whom he befriended. Maecenas has also been credited with encouraging both writers to focus more on topics of public interest, such as affairs of state.


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