balance of mind disturbed
- balance of mind disturbed
British
a temporary insanity
Legal jargon, especially of suicides where people want to bury the corpse in consecrated ground, or merely to reject the probability that someone had been driven to suicide as a rational choice:
The verdict of the coroner was that he took his life while the balance of his mind was disturbed. I know little of my son's mind but I reject the comfortable euphemism. (P. D. James, 1972)
How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms.
R. W. Holder.
2014.
Look at other dictionaries:
balance of mind — emotional equilibrium : sanity had taken her life when her balance of mind was disturbed * * * balance of mind Sanity • • • Main Entry: ↑balance … Useful english dictionary
balance — bal|ance1 W2S2 [ˈbæləns] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(steady)¦ 2¦(equal amounts)¦ 3 on balance 4¦(surprise somebody)¦ 5¦(bank)¦ 6¦(money owed)¦ 7¦(remaining)¦ 8 be/hang in the balance 9 tip/swing the balance 10¦(for weighing)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
disturbed — dis|turbed [dıˈstə:bd US ə:rbd] adj 1.) not behaving normally because of a mental condition mentally/emotionally disturbed ▪ the care of emotionally disturbed children ▪ while the balance of his mind was disturbed 2.) worried or upset disturbed… … Dictionary of contemporary English
A Delicate Balance — Infobox Play name = A Delicate Balance image size = caption = writer = Edward Albee characters = Tobias Claire Agnes Harry Edna Julia setting = premiere = place = Martin Beck Theatre New York City, New York orig lang = English series = subject =… … Wikipedia
HISTORICAL SURVEY: THE STATE AND ITS ANTECEDENTS (1880–2006) — Introduction It took the new Jewish nation about 70 years to emerge as the State of Israel. The immediate stimulus that initiated the modern return to Zion was the disappointment, in the last quarter of the 19th century, of the expectation that… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
humanism — /hyooh meuh niz euhm/ or, often, /yooh /, n. 1. any system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, and dignity predominate. 2. devotion to or study of the humanities. 3. (sometimes cap.) the studies, principles, or culture… … Universalium
Spiritism — • History and methods of Spiritism (here distinguished from Spiritualism) and the dangers inherent in its practice and beliefs Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Spiritism Spiritism … Catholic encyclopedia
suicide — There is some confusion about the burial of suicides, reflecting the fact that legally they were criminals if sane, but not if the balance of mind was disturbed . Up to 1823, those found guilty of the crime were given a degrading burial in the … A Dictionary of English folklore
India — /in dee euh/, n. 1. Hindi, Bharat. a republic in S Asia: a union comprising 25 states and 7 union territories; formerly a British colony; gained independence Aug. 15, 1947; became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations Jan. 26, 1950.… … Universalium
china — /chuy neuh/, n. 1. a translucent ceramic material, biscuit fired at a high temperature, its glaze fired at a low temperature. 2. any porcelain ware. 3. plates, cups, saucers, etc., collectively. 4. figurines made of porcelain or ceramic material … Universalium
