MDMD2: Fops, Macaronis, or Lunarians

[Thomas Eckhardt]

As for Lunarians, the OED gives us (without the quotes):

A. adj. Inhabiting the moon.
B. n.
1. A dweller in the moon.
and

2. One who observes or describes the moon; one who used the lunar method
in finding longitude.

This is the meaning we need here, but there are, of course, numerous
associations mythological and otherwise attached to "luna". First, of
course, "lunatic", a person under the influence of the moon, a madman.
Madness, melancholy etc. are important in M&D, as we have already seen
in the first chapter. Then there is the rather uncommon (the OED says
"now rare") "sublunar". The word has the meaning "earthly, terrestrial"
but was also used in a more theological sense ("now obsolete") in which
"sublunar" or "sublunary" describes a "fallen world" - as opposed to
celestial peace and harmony - or, in much better words, "the bare mortal
world, that is our home, and our despair" (quoted from memory, certainly
there are some more capital letters in there).

Thomas

P.S. "Fop", "Macaroni", "Coxcomb" - I just love these words. English is
a great language.