w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
93
OUR
DISTINCTLY MONTANA
CARTOON
CAPTION CONTEST!
SUBMIT YOUR BEST CAPTION TO:
WWW.DISTINCTLYMONTANA.COM/CAPTION
ENTER TO WIN AT
DISTINCTLYMONTANA.COM/CAPTION
ANY TIME BEFORE MARCH 15. One entry per person. Distinctly Montana is the sole judge of the
contest, and the top captions will be announced in our next issue, with the prize awarded to our
favorite caption. Each of the three finalists will be named in the next issue, with the winning caption
used in the cartoon.
PRIZES
The winner of the DM Cartoon Caption Contest will receive a print of the captioned cartoon
signed by Robert Rath, the artist and our very own art director... AND a $50 Gift Card for
DistinctlyMontanaGifts.com!
THE WINNER FROM LAST ISSUE:
D
I
S
T
I
NC
T
LY
M
O
N
T
A
N
A
w
w
w
.
d
i
st
i
n
c
t
l
y
m
o
n
t
a
n
a.
c
o
m
F
LY
F
I
S
H
E
R
M
A
N
C
O
N
S
E
R
VAT
I
O
N
I
S
T
C
O
N
T
E
S
T
•
O
F
F
I
C
I
A
L
•
" "
"Sure, it's a big foot,
but is it lucky?"
STEVEN ADKINS
Imagine investigating unknown territory without map or guide.
As the point person, you make the first astounding discovery.
A hundred-foot waterfall. A herd of tiny striped ungulates gathered
around a lake. You call to your companions: wow, look at this!
Such a scenario may provide an etymology in a nutshell. The
verb explore is made of the Latin prefix ex- (out) and plorare (to
shout). It literally means "to cry out," possibly in astonishment
at a discovery.
As a spelunker in my youth, I spent many hours exploring
the subterranean unknown. My cave-loving companions and I
descended in anticipation of gleaming stalactites, big around as
trees. A crystalline pool in the depths of a cave. An underground
room so vast it resisted illumination from our headlamps. These
made us sigh, gasp and whoop in amazement. I can relate to the
"crying out" sense of exploration.
And I can imagine such scenarios playing out age after age
throughout human history: a wanderer's cries of disbelief and
astonishment from a first glimpse of the ocean, an unfamiliar
animal, or a rushing geyser.
Though most dictionaries hesitate to paint this fine a genesis
of the word explore, I champion this etymology. I have consid-
ered the term's relatives in my decision. Deplore means "cry out
against." To implore is to cry out urgently, making an entreaty.
Explore seems just as passionate: to cry out in the wonder of
discovery.
EXPLORE
wow, look at this!