A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Fri Apr 1 00:40:16 EST 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--esprit d'escalier X-Bonus: One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. -English Proverb esprit d'escalier (e-SPREE des-kal-i-YE) noun, also esprit de l'escalier Thinking of a witty remark too late; hindsight wit or afterwit. Also such a remark. [From French esprit de l'escalier, from esprit (wit) + escalier (stairs).] We're all witty. It's just that many of us think of our clever remarks a bit too late. The French call it the staircase wit, indicating that one thought of that perfect retort on his or her way out. "I can think of hard, tough, one-line put-downs, but only after the person concerned has left the room. (NB: this affliction, esprit de l'escalier, is one of the principal reasons why people become writers.)" Simon Barnes; Glitzy Game Gets Line Not Length All Wrong; The Times (London, UK); Jun 13, 2003. "'You don't have a television?' The question is invariably accompanied by a baffled expression. ... Even as I'm writing this, my esprit d'escalier kicks in, and I start composing witty comebacks for future use: 'Oh, but those things run on electricity, don't they? We don't use electricity.'" Eya Donald Greenland; There's Luxury in Life Without TV; Toronto Star (Canada); Mar 17, 2003. This week's theme: words about wordplay. -------- Date: Mon Apr 4 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--halcyon X-Bonus: Nature is slow, but sure; she works no faster than need be; she is the tortoise that wins the race by her perseverance. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862) halcyon (HAL-see-uhn) adjective 1. Peaceful; tranquil. 2. Carefree; joyful. 3. Golden; prosperous. noun Any of various kingfishers of the genus Halcyon. [From Greek halkyon (kingfisher) via Latin and Middle English. Halcyon was a mythical bird, identified with the kingfisher, that was said to breed around the winter solstice. It nested at sea and had the power to charm the wind and waves so that they became calm.] In Greek mythology, Alcyone was the daughter of Aeolus and wife of Ceyx. When Ceyx drowned in a shipwreck, she threw herself into the sea. Out of compassion, the gods transformed them into a pair of kingfishers. To protect their nest, the winds were forbidden to blow for a week before and after the winter solstice. Halcyon pictures: http://www.naturephoto-cz.eu/halcyon-smyrnensis-picture-1780.html "In the halcyon days, the company's total workforce between the two plants topped 3,300 but the decline in those numbers has been ongoing for some considerable time." John Murphy; Concern Over Future of Plant; The Irish Examiner (Cork, Ireland); Mar 15, 2005. So many mythological animals live on in literature, in our minds, and in our imagination, that they would fill a virtual zoo. Because these creatures are myths, they're not bound by biological rules. Sometimes they're part human, part animal. They could have a human head and an animal body, or vice versa. These permutations and combinations of body parts make it look as though the gods were playing a mix-n-match game of combining parts to make a composite. At times, it even takes more than a single head to make one of these mythical animals. Enjoy looking at the menagerie this week and feel free to use them metaphorically to allude their attributes to situations in your life. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Apr 5 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cerberus X-Bonus: A compliment is something like a kiss through a veil. -Victor Hugo, author (1802-1885) Cerberus (SUR-buh-ruhs) noun A powerful, hostile guard. [From Latin, from Greek Kerberos.] Cerberus (also Kerberos) was the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades, the infernal region in classical mythology. Ancient Greeks and Romans used to put a slice of cake in the hands of their dead to help pacify Cerberus on the way. This custom gave rise to the idiom "to give a sop to cerberus" meaning to give a gift to quiet a troublesome person. Cancerbero (from Spanish can: dog) is one of the Spanish terms for a goalkeeper in fútbol (football). Kerberos is the name given to an authentication protocol for computer networks. Cerberus pictures: http://images.google.com/images?q=cerberus "Making their task even more difficult has been a sentinel at the entrance to this political inferno named Paul Christensen, a Cerberus if ever there was one." Jon Ralston; County's Refusal to Bid Insurance Contract Sparks Nasty Flap; Las Vegas Review-Journal; Apr 25, 1991. This week's theme: words derived from the names of mythical creatures. -------- Date: Wed Apr 6 00:01:14 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cyclopean X-Bonus: I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may, -- light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful. -John Constable, painter (1776-1837) cyclopean (sy-kluh-PEE-uhn, si-KLOP-ee-uhn) adjective 1. Of or suggestive of Cyclops; one-eyed. 2. Huge. 3. Formed with large, irregular stones closely fitted without the use of mortar. [From Latin Cyclopeus, from Greek Kyklops (Cyclops), from kyklos (circle) + ops (eye). Cyclops were a race of savage one-eyed giants in Greek mythology. They forged thunderbolts for Zeus in return for their freedom. Cyclopean walls were attributed to them for their strength in building such massive walls.] Cyclops pictures: http://images.google.com/images?q=cyclops A cyclopean wall: http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~ajm/Pages/cyclopean.htm "Unlike the Tate Modern, which cleared out all its cyclopean turbines and boilers, the Wapping Project has retained as much as is sensible." Hugh Pearman; Power for the People; Sunday Times (London, UK); Oct 8, 2000. "The stones of the arch have been replaced, but there are still the huge original cyclopean slabs at the base." Barry Unsworth; Volterra's Past Speaks In Its Stones; The New York Times; Mar 31, 2002. This week's theme: words derived from the names of mythical creatures. -------- Date: Thu Apr 7 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--minotaur X-Bonus: The days come and go like muffled and veiled figures sent from a distant friendly party, but they say nothing, and if we do not use the gifts they bring, they carry them as silently away. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882) Minotaur (MIN-uh-tawr) noun Someone or something monstrous, especially one that devours. [From Latin Minotaurus, from Greek Minotauros, from Minos (a king of Crete) + tauros (bull).] In Greek mythology, Minotaur was a monster with a bull's head and a man's body. He was confined in a labyrinth designed by Daedalus, and devoured seven youths and seven maidens every year until Theseus killed him. Minotaur pictures: http://images.google.com/images?q=minotaur "Couples swooped by on Vespas, sportifs swanked past in fluorescent colours, and now and then came the real Minotaurs of the road: heavy-duty bikers slung back on easy-riders, handlebars round their ears." David Clement-Davies; Biking the Minoan Trail The Independent (London, UK): Feb 25, 1996. This week's theme: words derived from the names of mythical creatures. -------- Date: Fri Apr 8 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--dragon's teeth X-Bonus: When I can look Life in the eyes, / Grown calm and very coldly wise, / Life will have given me the Truth, / And taken in exchange---my youth. -Sara Teasdale, poet (1884-1933) dragon's teeth (DRAG-uhns teeth) noun Seeds of discord. Usually used in the form "to sow dragon's teeth": to take an action that leads to future conflict. [In Greek mythology, the Phoenician prince Cadmus killed a dragon and sowed its teeth. From those teeth sprang an army of men who fought each other until only five were left.] "As some would tell it, the Court of Appeals sowed dragon's teeth five years ago in its landmark holding that a cable television provider's late fees were too high." Peter Geier; Despite Negative Image, Class-Action Lawyers Perform Important Job For Clients; The Daily Record (Baltimore, Maryland); Dec 10, 2004. This week's theme: words derived from the names of mythical creatures. -------- Date: Mon Apr 11 00:01:32 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pontificate X-Bonus: Time wears away error and polishes truth. -Gaston Pierre Marc, Duc de Levis, writer (1764-1830) pontificate (pon-TIF-i-kayt) verb intr. To speak in a pompous and dogmatic manner. [From Medieval Latin pontificatus, past participle of pontificare (to be an ecclesiastic), from ponti-, from pons (bridge) + facere (to make). So a pontifex (priest) was literally a bridge-maker between here and the hereafter. The verb pontificate comes from the reputation of a priest to speak bombastically. This term ultimately originated from the Indo-European root pent- (to tread) that gave us other words such as English find, Dutch pad (path), French pont (bridge), and Russian sputnik (traveling companion).] The word pontificate is pronounced as pon-TIF-i-kit when used as a noun to denote the office of a pontiff. "[The media] reported it and they pontificated sagely in their editorials that something should be done." Judge Hlophe's Red Herring; Cape Business News (South Africa); Mar 16, 2005. Religion can help us be kind, sincere, and honest. But all too often we cherry-pick its teachings to condemn those we don't agree with. Religion also comes handy in other less-than-sublime purposes. What could be better than exploiting religion for a politician to sway people and strengthen his hold on power? As many rivers flow to merge in one ocean, many paths for spiritual enlightenment can achieve the same goal. The problem begins when we want to portray our religion as the best: "Mine is the one true religion and all others are false." Such religious fervor leads to endless violence. No other cause in human history has resulted in as many killings. If we could remember that God doesn't live in a church, temple, or mosque, there would be no need to preach to anyone, no need to save anyone's soul. The best we can do is save ourselves and improve our own lives and/or after-lives. Imagine a world where we don't feel a need to condemn anyone because "the book of my religion says so." Now that I'm done pontificating, let's see this week a few words relating to religion. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Apr 12 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--colporteur X-Bonus: A man finds room in the few square inches of the face for the traits of all his ancestors; for the expression of all his history, and his wants. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882) colporteur (KAWL-por-tuhr) noun A peddler of religious books. [From French colporteur (peddler), from col (neck) + porter (to carry), from Latin portare, from the idea of a peddler carrying his wares in a bag hung around his neck. Ultimately from Indo-European root per- (to lead, pass over) that gave us other words such as support, comport, petroleum, sport, passport, Swedish fartlek (a training technique), Norwegian fjord (bay), and Sanskrit parvat (mountain).] "By then, because a Seventh-day Adventist colporteur had come into Croscombe selling religious tracts, his parents had joined that Church, and Hardy became a keen member of it." The Rev Bertram Hardy; The Times (London, UK); Mar 27, 2003. This week's theme: words relating to religion. -------- Date: Wed Apr 13 00:01:17 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--catholicity X-Bonus: Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all. -Thomas Szasz, author, professor of psychiatry (1920- ) catholicity (kath-uh-LIS-i-tee) noun 1. Wide-ranging; universality. 2. Broad-mindedness; inclusiveness. [From Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos (general), from kata (according to, by) + holou (whole). Ultimately from Indo-European root sol- (whole) that brought us words such as solid, salute, save, salvo, and soldier.] "[Broadcaster John Ebdon] notched up more than 1,000 broadcasts on topics that reflected the catholicity of his interests -- they included astronomy, religion and poetry." Obituaries: John Ebdon; The Times (London, UK); Mar 24, 2005. This week's theme: words relating to religion. -------- Date: Thu Apr 14 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hagiarchy X-Bonus: It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt. -Publius Cornelius Tacitus, historian (c.55-c.120) hagiarchy (HAG-ee-ar-kee, HAY-jee-) noun A government by holy persons. Also a place thus governed. [From Greek hagi- (holy) + -archy (rule).] Two synonyms of this term are hagiocracy and hierocracy. Also, literally speaking, hierarchy is the rule of the high priest. "[Brazil's] drug lords are altar boys compared with the Mexican and Colombian hagiarchy." Mac Margolis; Brazil's New Drug Habit; Newsweek International; May 28, 2001. This week's theme: words relating to religion. -------- Date: Fri Apr 15 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--latitudinarian X-Bonus: Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy. -H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956) latitudinarian (lat-i-TOOD-n-ar-ee-uhn, -TYOOD-) adjective Holding broad and tolerant views, especially on matters of religion. noun One who is broadminded and tolerant, especially concerning religion. [From Latin latitudin-, stem of latitudo (breadth), from latus (broad).] "[Lord Cornbury's] Whig rivals were more libertarian in their politics and tended to be more latitudinarian in their religion and morals." Alan Taylor; Devil in a Blue Dress; The New Republic (Washington, DC); Aug 3, 1998. This week's theme: words relating to religion. -------- Date: Mon Apr 18 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--festschrift X-Bonus: A stiff apology is a second insult. The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt. -G.K. Chesterton, author (1874-1936) festschrift (FEST-shrift) noun, plural festschriften or festschrifts A volume of writing by many authors as a tribute to a scholar, for example, on the occasion of retirement of a colleague. [From German Festschrift, from Fest (celebration) + Schrift (writing). Ultimately from Indo-European root skribh- (to cut, separate, or sift) that has resulted in other terms, such as manuscript, subscribe, scripture, scribble, and describe.] "A festschrift in Sadie's honour was published by Boydell and Brewer in February. Many of his most distinguished colleagues contributed to this celebration of his work." Obituaries: Stanley Sadie; The Times (London, UK); Mar 23, 2005. "Why do you have a TV when you never watch it?" our daughter Ananya's friend, our little neighbor, asked us one evening while playing in our house. It was a logical question. Our TV is quiet most of the time. In many houses, people turn on their TVs as soon as they enter the front door. It fills the air like an air-freshener. Many become uncomfortable when the TV is turned off, as if their air supply has been cut off. You often hear people complaining about how little time they have. A moment later you can hear them discussing characters in the latest vacuous reality show. TV doesn't kill just time. It promotes a sedentary lifestyle leading to obesity and early cancellation of our very own reality show. Recognizing this growing epidemic, a bunch of enlightened folks organize a TV-Turnoff Week every year: http://tvturnoff.org/ It's next week. So what are you going to do with all that time when you turn that TV off? Say: so many books, so little time! To celebrate the world of books, this week we feature words about books. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Apr 19 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--feuilleton X-Bonus: Many a deep secret that cannot be pried out by curiosity can be drawn out by indifference. -Sydney J. Harris, journalist (1917-1986) feuilleton (FOI-i-ton) noun 1. The part of a European newspaper devoted to light literature, criticism, and the like; also something printed in this section. 2. A novel published in installments. 3. A short literary piece [From French, from feuillet (sheet of paper), diminutive of feuille (leaf), from Old French foille, from Latin folium (leaf). Ultimately from Indo-European root bhel- (to thrive or bloom) that gave us other descendants as flower, bleed, bless, foliage, blossom, and blade.] "Finally, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung offers tongue-in-cheek reading of the situation on the front page of its feuilleton section, saying, 'Germany is a world champion -- at least in exporting goods. We even offer up our students to study abroad, especially when they are talented.'" Germans Stew Over Joblessness; Der Spiegel (Hamburg, Germany) Mar 15, 2005. "And for more than a decade now, in a supreme triumph of feuilleton journalism, The New Republic has left its readers in weekly agonies of suspense over whether next week's episode will recount precisely such a leap, finally and irrevocably, to the monarchist cause." Paul Berman; Canned Heat; The New Republic (Washington, DC); Nov 23, 1992. This week's theme: words about books. -------- Date: Wed Apr 20 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--roman a clef X-Bonus: I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does. -Jorge Luis Borges, writer (1899-1986) roman a clef (ro-mahn ah KLAY) noun, plural romans a clef A novel that depicts (usually famous) real people and events under the guise of fiction. [From French roman à clef, literally, a novel with a key.] All fiction has a grain of truth, but a roman a clef has it by the bushel. Roman a clef dates back to seventeenth century France. In the beginning, a roman a clef really did have a key that was published separately. In these times, you can simply go on the Internet and search using Google. An example of roman a clef is Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises. These days the term can apply to any work of fiction, for example, a movie, not just a novel. A blend term "faction" has also been used, after "fact" presented as "fiction". "[Geraldine] Brooks has borrowed details not just from Little Women but from the story of Alcott's own extraordinary father, Bronson Alcott, a man whose freethinking, utopian views were all downplayed in his daughter's roman a clef." Michelle Griffin; March; Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Apr 2, 2005. This week's theme: words about books. -------- Date: Thu Apr 21 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--variorum X-Bonus: More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly. -Woody Allen, author, actor, and filmmaker (b. 1935) variorum (var-ee-OR-um) adjective 1. Containing various versions (from manuscripts, earlier editions, etc.) of a text. 2. Containing notes and commentaries by various editors and commentators. noun Such a book. [From Latin editio cum notis variorum (edition with notes of various) [authors/sources].] "A variorum edition would also show us how these elegiac poems, purportedly written on the anniversaries of the birthday of [Ted] Hughes's first wife, Sylvia Plath, were constructed." John Kinsella; Beguiled by the Wild; The Observer (London, UK); Nov 2, 2003. This week's theme: words about books. -------- Date: Fri Apr 22 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--chrestomathy X-Bonus: Shadow owes its birth to light. -John Gay, poet and dramatist (1685-1732) chrestomathy (kres-TOM-uh-thee) noun 1. A volume of selected literary passages, usually by one author. 2. A selection of literary passages from a foreign language, especially one assembled for studying a language. [From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) + manthanein (to learn) These two parts of the word ultimately derive from Indo-European gher- (to like or want) which gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, exhort; and mendh- (to learn) that resulted in the terms mathematics and polymath.] An example: A Mencken Chrestomathy: http://amazon.com/o/asin/0394752090/ws00-20 "'Emerson In His Journals' is more than a mere chrestomathy from the diaries, journals and notebooks. It is indeed a superbly edited volume." Robert Taylor; Book Making; Boston Globe; May 16, 1982. This week's theme: words about books. -------- Date: Mon Apr 25 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--temporize X-Bonus: I hold that gentleman to be the best-dressed whose dress no one observes. -Anthony Trollope, novelist (1815-1882) temporize also temporise (TEM-puh-ryz) verb intr. To delay so as to gain time or to avoid making a decision. [From French temporiser (to bide one's time), from Medieval Latin temporizare (to pass the time), from Latin tempor-, from tempus (time).] "Over the past several months, as the international community has continued to temporize, conditions in Sudan have worsened." Editorial: Darfur, Continued; The Providence Journal (Rhode Island); Apr 19, 2005. "They've a temper, some of them--particularly verbs, they're the proudest -- adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs -- however, I can manage the whole lot of them!" boasts Humpty-Dumpty in Lewis Carroll's 1872 classic, "Through the Looking Glass". If they are in fact as conceited as Humpty-Dumpty claims them to be, perhaps verbs can be forgiven for their hoity-toity ways -- after all they are the ones that bring a sentence to life. How many of this week's five verbs can you manage? -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Apr 26 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--adduce X-Bonus: I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an Islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us. -Lord Byron, poet (1788-1824) adduce (uh-DOOS, uh-DYOOS) verb tr. To offer as evidence; to offer something as proof. [From Latin adducere (to bring forward), from ad- (towards) + ducere (to lead), Ultimately from Indo-European root deuk- (to lead) that led to other words such as duke, conduct, educate, duct, wanton, and tug.] "Before passing judgement, Phumaphi told the accused that evidence adduced in court linked him to the murders." Mogomotsi Moloi; Man Convicted For Double Murder; Mmegi (Gaborone, Botswana); Apr 19, 2005. This week's theme: verbs. -------- Date: Wed Apr 27 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--perpend X-Bonus: Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening. -Maya Angelou, poet (1928- ) perpend (pur-PEND) verb tr. and intr. To reflect upon; to consider; to ponder. [From Latin perpendere (to weigh thoroughly), from per- (thoroughly) + pendere (to weigh), ultimately from Indo-European root (s)pen- (to draw, to spin) that is also the source of pendulum, spider, pound, pansy, pendant, ponder, appendix, penthouse, depend, and spontaneous.] "Gentle Reader, perpend (but finish your breakfast first)." Rehman Rashid; Bless the Beasts And Children, For They Speak Not; New Straits Times (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia); Dec 12, 2002. This week's theme: verbs. -------- Date: Thu Apr 28 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--animadvert X-Bonus: The desire of the man is for the woman, but the desire of the woman is for the desire of the man. -Madame de Stael, writer (1766-1817) animadvert (an-uh-mad-VURT) verb intr. To comment critically (upon) or to express criticism. [From Latin animadvertere (to turn the mind to), from animus (mind) + advertere (to turn).] "Ask pundits across the entire media spectrum to animadvert on the Moral Sickness in Modern Society and you'd expect many forests of newsprint to perish." And Morals in the Maze; The Guardian (London, UK); Mar 13, 1993. This week's theme: verbs. -------- Date: Fri Apr 29 00:01:09 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--palter X-Bonus: Against my will, in the course of my travels, the belief that everything worth knowing was known at Cambridge gradually wore off. In this respect my travels were very useful to me. -Bertrand Russell philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970) palter (PAWL-tuhr) verb intr. 1. To talk or act in an insincere or deceitful manner. 2. To haggle. [Origin unknown.] "Who never sold the truth to serve the hour, Nor paltered with Eternal God for power." Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892), poet laureate, eulogizing the Duke of Wellington. This week's theme: verbs.