Encomium to accompany 'Of mice and children: reminiscences of a teratogeneticist'.

摘要

The Editors of the American Journal of Medical Genetics are publishing the updated autobiography, or personal memoire, by F. Clarke Fraser. They requested a brief encomium to accompany Fraser's piece (the italics are mine). I accepted this as an opportunity to honor my exceptional mentor of 47 years and counting. Encomium is an uncommon word. It means "a formal or high-flown expression of praise; a panegyric" (OED). It is a word not often used, but it does point to "a published text in praise of someone" (OED again). Common words convey thoughts that are high-flown only in the feelings they convey.