A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Sat Jun 1 00:51:07 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--exsert X-Bonus: No problem is so formidable that you can't just walk away from it. ex.sert \ek-'s*rt\ \-'s*rt-*l, -'s*r-.ti-l\ \-'s*r-sh*n\ vt [L exsertus, pp. of exserere] : to thrust out - ex.ser.tile aj -------- Date: Sun Jun 2 00:55:19 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--exsiccate X-Bonus: I think, therefore I am. I think. ex.sic.cate \'ek-si-.ka-t\ \.ek-si-'ka--sh*n\ vt [L exsiccatus, pp. of exsiccare, fr. ex- + siccare to d]ry, fr. siccus dry - more at SACK : to remove moisture from : DRY - ex.sic.ca.tion n -------- Date: Mon Jun 3 00:51:09 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--exscind X-Bonus: Warranty and guaranty clauses are voided by payment of the invoice. ex.scind \ek-'sind\ vt [L exscindere, fr. ex- + scindere to cut, tear - more at MSHED : to cut off or out : EXCISE -------- Date: Tue Jun 4 00:51:06 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gustatory X-Bonus: The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. -Thomas Jefferson gus.ta.to.ry \'g*s-t*-.to-r-e-, -.to.r-\ aj : relating to, associated with, or being the sense of taste " 1882 Standard 23 Aug. 5/1 "Apart from its aesthetic and gustatory aspects, Cookery deserves..profound consideration." -------- Date: Wed Jun 5 00:51:14 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--seigniorage X-Bonus: When you starve with a tiger, the tiger starves last. -Griffin's Thought sei.gnior.age or sei.gnor.age \'sa-n-y*-rij\ n [ME seigneurage, fr. MF, right of the lord (esp. to coin money), fr. s]eigneur : a government revenue from the manufacture of coins calculated as the difference between the monetary and the bullion value of the silver contained in silver coins 1996 MARK BERNKOPF, Electronic Cash and Monetary Policy, "The widespread adoption of electronic cash would deprive Federal authorities of a substantial amount of seignorage, the margin between the face value of currency issued, and the costs of issuing that currency. In 1994, the Federal Reserve turned about $20 billion in seignorage over to the Treasury." -------- Date: Thu Jun 6 00:51:13 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--egeria X-Bonus: A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart. -Jonathan Swift Ege.ria \i-'jir-e--*\ n [L] 1: a nymph who advised the legendary Roman king Numa Pompilius 2: a woman adviser or companion 1890 Athenĉum 24 May 670/2 "With the help and counsel of Beatrice, who turns his Egeria, he wins fame in law and politics." -------- Date: Fri Jun 7 00:51:19 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ananias X-Bonus: Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time. -Hebrew proverb An.a.ni.as \.an-*-'ni--*s\ n [Gk, prob. fr. Heb Hananya-h] 1: an early Christian struck dead for lying 2: LIAR -------- Date: Sat Jun 8 00:51:16 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fuddy-duddy X-Bonus: I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than to have things I am not able to appreciate. -Elbert Hubbard fud.dy-dud.dy \'f*d-e--.d*d-e-\ n [perh. redupl. of Sc fuddy short-tailed animal, tail, fr. fud tail] : one who is old-fashioned, pompous, unimaginative, or concerned about trifles - fuddy-duddy aj -------- Date: Sun Jun 9 00:51:16 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pelagic X-Bonus: Jack the Ripper excused himself on the grounds that what he did was human nature -A.A. Milne pe.lag.ic \p*-'laj-ik\ aj [L pelagicus, fr. Gk pelagikos, fr. pelagos sea - more at (MFLAKE : of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea : OCEANIC 1974 Nature 4 Oct. 367/2 "If the 1974-75 quotas for pelagic whaling in the Southern hemisphere are reached..the catch of all species next season may reach 380 thousand tons." -------- Date: Mon Jun 10 01:02:07 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--icarian X-Bonus: A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor. Icar.ian \ik-'ar-e--*n, -'er-; i--'kar-, -'ker-\ aj : of, relating to, or characteristic of Icarus : : soaring too high for safety : inadequate for an ambitious project 1972 Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 1 Dec. 16/1 "In the view of some social philosophers and historians, space flight is an Icarian venture at its best-and an extravagance at its worst." -- In Greek mythology, Daedalus and his son Icarus fly out of labyrinth using wax wings. As Icarus flies too near the sun, the wax of his wings melts and he falls into the sea. Stories and legends like this one have contributed many colorful words to the language. All of this week's words in AWAD have their origins in tales from Greek mythology. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jun 11 00:51:13 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gorgon X-Bonus: There is a budding morrow in midnight. -John Keats gor.gon \'go.r-g*n\ \go.r-'go--ne--*n, -ny*n\ n [L Gorgon-, Gorgo, fr. Gk Gorgo-n] cap 1: any of three snaky-haired sisters in Greek mythology whose glance turns the beholder to stone 2: an ugly or repulsive woman - gorg.on.ian aj 1815 SCOTT, Guy M. iii, "Her dark elf-locks shot out like the snakes of a gorgon." -------- Date: Wed Jun 12 00:51:09 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--palladium X-Bonus: program (pro'-gram) [n] A magic spell cast over a computer allowing it to turn one's input into error messages. Cross references: 1. element 1. pal.la.di.um \p*-'la-d-e--*m\ \-e--*\ n or pal.la.dia [L, fr. Gk palladion, fr. Pallad-, Pallas] cap 1: a statue of Pallas Athena whose preservation was held to ensure the safety of Troy pl 2: SAFEGUARD 2. palladium n [NL, fr. Pallad-, Pallas, the asteroid] : a silver-white ductile malleable metallic element of the platinum group that is used esp. as a catalyst and in alloys 1845 MCCULLOCH, Acc. Brit. Emp. (1854) II. 91 "The Habeas Corpus Act..denominated the palladium of an Englishman's liberty." -------- Date: Thu Jun 13 00:51:10 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--augean X-Bonus: Laziness is no more than the habit of resting before you get tired. -Jules Renard Au.ge.an \o.-'je--*n\ aj [L Augeas, king of Elis, fr. Gk Augeias; fr. the legend that his st]able, left neglected for thirty years, was finally cleaned by Hercules : extremely filthy or corrupt 1866 ALGER, Solit. Nat. & Man IV. 389 "To cleanse the augean bosom of the world by turning through it a river of pure enthusiasm." -------- Date: Fri Jun 14 00:51:10 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--atlas X-Bonus: The lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul. -Kahlil Gibran at.las \'at-l*s\ \*t-'lant-(.)e-z\ n or at.lan.tes [L Atlant-, Atlas, fr. Gk] cap 1a: a Titan forced to bear the heavens on his shoulders 1b: one who bears a heavy burden 2a: a bound collection of maps 2b: a bound collection of tables, charts, or plates 3: the first vertebra of the neck pl usu 4: a figure or half figure of a man used as a column to support an entablature 1883 M. HOWLAND, in Harper's Mag. Mar. 598/1 "We brokers are the Atlases that bear the world upon our shoulders." -------- Date: Sat Jun 15 00:51:13 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sisyphean X-Bonus: Democracy is where you can say what you think even if you don't think. Sis.y.phe.an or Si.syph.i.an \.sis-i-'fe--*n\ \sis-'if-e--*n\ aj : of, relating to, or suggestive of the labors of Sisyphus 1895 KIDD, Soc. Evol. ix. 245 "Do we only see therein humanity condemned to an aimless Sisyphean labour?" Sisyphus, the name of a king of Corinth, whose punishment in Hades was to roll a heavy stone up a hill; as he reached the top, the stone rolled down again. -------- Date: Mon Jun 17 00:49:50 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--verboten X-Bonus: He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. -Ben Franklin ver.bo.ten \v*r-'bo-t-*n\ aj [G] : FORBIDDEN; esp : prohibited unreasonably 1949 E. BENN, Happier Days xviii. 217 "The unfortunate German, bred and trained from childhood to understand that everything is verboten unless specifically permitted." -------- Date: Tue Jun 18 00:49:54 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nitid X-Bonus: The world is made for people who aren't cursed with self-awareness. -the character Annie Savoy in the film Bull Durham nit.id \'nit-*d\ aj [L nitidus - more at NEAT] : BRIGHT, LUSTROUS -------- Date: Wed Jun 19 00:55:05 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--scabrous X-Bonus: It is not important what you believe, only that you believe. Cross references: 1. rough sca.brous \'skab-r*s also 'ska-b-\ aj [L scabr-, scaber rough, scurfy; akin to L scabies mange -]more at SCAB 1: DIFFICULT, KNOTTY {a ~ problem} 2: rough to the touch : SCALY, SCURFY {a ~ leaf} 3: dealing with suggestive, indecent, or scandalous themes : SALACIOUS; also : SQUALID - sca.brous.ly av 1979 London Rev. Bks. 25 Oct. 10/1 "His propaganda pieces grow more outrageously scabrous." -------- Date: Thu Jun 20 00:51:16 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hyaline X-Bonus: Two step formula for handling stress: 1. Don't sweat the small stuff. 2. Remember that it's all small stuff. -Anthony Robbins 1. hy.a.line \'hi--*-l*n, -.li-n\ aj [LL hyalinus, fr. Gk hyalinos, fr. hyalos] 1: of or relating to glass 2a: transparent or nearly so and usu. homogeneous 2b1: GLASSY 2b2: lacking crystallinity : AMORPHOUS 2. hy.a.line \'hi--*-l*n, -.li-n, in sense 2 -.le-n or -l*n\ \-l*n\ n or hy.a.lin 1: something (as the clear atmosphere) that is transparent 2: any of several translucent nitrogenous substances related to chitin found esp. around cells and readily stained by eosin -------- Date: Fri Jun 21 00:51:24 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--supererogatory X-Bonus: You can lead a computer to the Superhighway but you can't make it think. -Des Waller su.per.erog.a.to.ry \.su:-p*-ri-'ra:g-*-.to-r-e-, -.to.r-\ aj 1: observed or performed to an extent not enjoined or required 2: SUPERFLUOUS, NONESSENTIALN mean done without need or compulsion or warrant. SUPEREROGATORY implies a giving above what is required by rule and may suggest adding something not needed or not wanted; GRATUITOUS usu. applies to something offensive or unpleasant given or done without provocation; UNCALLED-FOR adds to GRATUITOUS implication of impertinence or logical absurdity; WANTON implies not only a lack of provocation but a malicious or sportive motive SYN syn SUPEREROGATORY, GRATUITOUS, UNCALLED-FOR, WANTO 1860 MOTLEY, Netherl. xix. (1868) II. 484 "It had now become supererogatory to ask for Alexander's word of honour." -------- Date: Sat Jun 22 00:51:17 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--compurgator X-Bonus: Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child. -Ron Wild com.pur.ga.tor \'ka:m-(.)p*r-.ga-t-*r\ n : one that under oath vouches for the character or conduct of an accused person 1881 19th Cent. 386 "The compurgators were simply witnesses to character..but the effect of their unanimous declaration of belief in his innocence was precisely that of a verdict of 'not guilty` by a jury." -------- Date: Sun Jun 23 00:51:34 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--laconic X-Bonus: A professional is a person who can do his best at a time when he doesn't particularly feel like it. -Alistair Cooke Cross references: 1. concise la.con.ic \l*-'ka:n-ik\ \-i-k(*-)le-\ aj [L laconicus Spartan, fr. Gk lako-nikos; fr. the Spartan reputat]ion for terseness of speech : sparing of words : TERSE - la.con.i.cal.ly av 1888 A. K. GREEN, Behind Closed Doors iii, "'Trust me` was his laconic rejoinder." -------- Date: Mon Jun 24 02:17:45 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--rictus X-Bonus: The productions of all arts are kinds of poetry and their craftsmen are all poets. -Plato ric.tus \'rik-t*s\ n [NL, fr. L, open mouth, fr. rictus, pp. of ringi to open the mouth;] akin to OSlav recidilla>gnocidilla>ti 1: the gape of a bird's mouth 2a: the mouth orifice 2b: a gaping grin or grimace 1969 Listener 2 Jan. 27/3 "To the comedians I like I find I go more than half-way. I find myself sitting with a rictus of amused incredulity and surprise." -- A word in the head is worth two in the book. Find out how many of this week's bird words you can catch. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jun 25 00:51:15 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--psittacine X-Bonus: If you consult enough experts, you can confirm any opinion. psit.ta.cine \'sit-*-.si-n\ aj [L psittacinus, fr. psittacus parrot, fr. Gk psittakos] : of or relating to the parrots - psittacine n 1976 Amer. Speech 1973 XLVIII. 265 "The psittacine linguistic and cultural relativity with which the argument begins is a very dead duck at the argument's conclusion. -------- Date: Wed Jun 26 00:51:17 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--avifauna X-Bonus: Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf. -American Indian Proverb avi.fau.na \.a--v*-'fo.-n*, .av-*-\ \-'fo.n-*l\ \-*le-\ \-(.)fo.-nis-tik\ n [NL, fr. L avis + NL fauna] : the birds or the kinds of birds of a region, period, or environment - avi.fau.nal aj -------- Date: Thu Jun 27 00:51:20 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ornithology X-Bonus: Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it. -G.B. Shaw or.ni.thol.o.gy \-je-\ n [NL ornithologia, fr. ornith- + -logia -logy] 1: a branch of zoology dealing with birds 2: a treatise on ornithology -------- Date: Fri Jun 28 00:51:16 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--struthious X-Bonus: There never was child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him asleep. -Ralph Waldo Emerson stru.thi.ous \'stru:-the--*s, -the--\ aj [LL struthio ostrich, irreg. fr. Gk strouthos] : of or relating to the ostriches and related birds : RATITE Many MIS managers treat the Year 2000 problem with a struthious attitude--burying their heads in the sand, and hoping it would simply go away. -Anu -- Do people who wear clothings made of struthious skin get ostracized? -Anu -------- Date: Sat Jun 29 00:51:15 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--oology X-Bonus: No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. -William Blake ool.o.gy \-je-\ n : a branch of ornithology dealing with birds' eggs 1883 Nature XXVII. 308/1 "Australian birds, whose nidification and oology had previously been imperfectly known." -------- Date: Sun Jun 30 00:51:24 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nidifugous X-Bonus: Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by so quick you hardly catch it going. -Tennessee Williams ni.dif.u.gous \ni--'dif-y*-g*s, -'dif-i-g*s\ aj [L nidus nest + fugere to flee - more at FUGITIVE] : leaving the nest soon after hatching