Word of the Day
Divan (dih-VAWN)
A long backless sofa
Common clues: Backless sofa; Parlor piece
Crossword puzzle frequency: 2 times a year
Frequency in English language: 29610 / 86800
A long backless sofa, especially one set with pillows against a wall.
Photo
courtesy Reynold
Rodriguez
In 1269, Saint Francis of Assisi visited Egypt with the intention of converting the sultan, al-Malik al-Kamil, to Christianity. The sultan, however, had laid a trap for him: a carpet, decorated with crosses, placed before his divan. "If he treads on the crosses," the sultan explained, "I will accuse him of insulting his God, and if he refuses to tread on the carpet, I will accuse him of insulting me."
Sure enough, Francis stepped upon the carpet, prompting an outburst from the delighted sultan. Francis, however, was not easily duped: "Our Lord was crucified between two thieves," he declared, unperturbed. "We Christians have the True Cross. The crosses of the thieves we have left to you, and I am not ashamed to tread on those."
Source: Anecdotage.com
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