carpe diemn.
An aphorism quoted from Horace ( Odes i. xi) affirming the need to make the most of the present time. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > [verb (intransitive)]
playeOE
glewc900
gameOE
lakec1300
solace1340
bourdc1440
dallyc1440
sporta1450
to make sportc1475
disport1480
to have a good (bad, etc.) time (of it, formerly on it)1509
toy?1521
pastime1523
recreate1589
jest1597
feast1609
deliciate1633
divert1670
carpe diem1817
hobby-horse1819
popjoy1853
that'll be the day1916
to play around1929
loon1969
the world > time > relative time > the present (time) > present time [verb (intransitive)] > seize the day
carpe diem1817
1817 Ld. Byron Let. 2 Jan. (1976) V. 155 I never anticipate,—‘Carpe diem’.the past at least is one's own—which is one reason for making sure of the present.
1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green x. 89 I daresay old Horace gives very good advice when he says, ‘carpe diem’.
1867 ‘Ouida’ Under Two Flags II. ii. 41 The reckless life of Algeria..with..its gay, careless carpe diem camp-philosophy.
1901 Daily News 7 Mar. 6/1 The ‘Carpe diem’ philosophy is not the philosophy of happy people.
1914 T. A. Baggs Back from Front xix. 91 ‘Carpe diem’ is their motto, and indeed, they enjoy life while they may.
1957 N. Frye Anat. Crit. 299 The carpe diem poem based on a moment of pleasure in experience.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.1817