NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO): ONE FELL SWOOP The phrase at (or in)...

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Re: MI Dendream post# 424830

Wednesday, 12/08/2021 6:28:56 PM

Wednesday, December 08, 2021 6:28:56 PM

ONE FELL SWOOP

The phrase at (or in) one fell swoop means all in one go. Here, the noun swoop, which denotes the act of swooping down, refers to the sudden pouncing of a bird of prey (a kite for example) from a height upon its quarry (of Germanic origin, the verb swoop is cognate with sweep). The adjective fell (related to felon) means of terrible evil or ferocity. The whole expression is from The Tragedie of Macbeth (around 1603), by the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616); Macduff is struggling to come to terms with the murder of his children and wife on the orders of the “hell-kite” Macbeth:

https://wordhistories.net/2016/08/07/at-one-fell-swoop/

Men who are occupied in the restoration of health to other men, by the joint exertion of skill and humanity, are above all the great of the earth. They even partake of divinity, since to preserve and renew is almost as noble as to create.