On enneads

Like myself, Badi Blog contributor Ed de Jong subscribes to the M-W word-a-day list server. He writes about today's word:

Hey! Another name for LSA's NSA's, etc? :) "Our local Ennead met today and decided..."

Perhaps something like, "The UHJ is, at present, an ennead, though according to its constitution it may be as large as 19 members..."

Here is the definition:

Ennead \eN-ee-ad\   noun: a group of nine

 

Example Sentence

 

Immediately following the show, viewers will be able to call or text in their votes for their favorite among this ennead of remaining contestants.

 

 

Since ancient times, various groups of people have considered nine to be a very special and sacred number. Legends and literature have long characterized groups of nine as having a special, in some cases magical, significance.

 

Ancient Egyptians organized their gods into groups of nine; even today, their principal group of gods (headed by sun god Re-Atum) is called the "Great Ennead of Heliopolis."

 

The "Ennead" English speakers use in that name traces to "ennea," the Greek word for "nine."

 

"Ennead" is also used generally to refer to other groups of ancient gods. Furthermore, it is the name given to six sets of nine treatises by Greek philosopher Plotinus that were collected and organized by his 3rd-century disciple, Porphyry.