# What's the word for...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for/312645
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 15, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for/312645 "2005-07-15T14:18:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for/312645/21 "2005-07-15T18:13:25Z")
> [@I Love Me](#):
>
> We know that Archimedes discovered this method, but we don’t know if the part about the crown and the gold is true. Still, it really _should_ be because it perfectly illustrates how and why Archimedes’ Principle was discovered.
Awesome! The variation I’ve heard is, Archie was contemplating the nature of buoyancy and the like whilst taking a bath. It was then he noticed the water spilling over. He became so excited by his newly discovered principle that he immediately jumped from the tub and ran naked through the streets of Athens shouting “Eureka!”
Another ben trovato - and certainly as apocryphal as Newton’s apple.
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### Author:  [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for/312645/22 "2005-07-15T18:16:05Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#):
>
> btw, how is _ben trovato_ used?
I’ve just used it twice now as a noun phrase, with the indefinite article, i.e. “a ben trovato.” Hope it’s correct. Come back **aldiboronti**!
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### Author:  [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for/312645/23 "2005-07-15T19:29:34Z")
I’ve used the phrase “cautionary tale” for stories such as these, but I like “ben trovato” much, much better. Very elegant and sophisticated. Unfortunately, if I use it anywhere in conversation, I will have to explain it and I find that somewhat embarassing.
[Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) lists it as an adjective.[ben trovato](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=ben%20trovato)
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