A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Tue Aug 1 00:22:50 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--anonym X-Bonus: This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. -Emerson an.o.nym n (1812) 1: one who is anonymous 2: pseudonym -------- Date: Wed Aug 2 00:20:30 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--infelicitous X-Bonus: Even the smallest candle burns brighter in the dark. in.fe.lic.i.tous adj (1835): not appropriate in application or expression -- in.fe.lic.i.tous.ly adv -------- Date: Thu Aug 3 00:28:13 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--metonymy X-Bonus: ELECELLERATION: Pressing an elevator button a lot to speed it up. me.ton.y.my n, pl -mies [L metonymia, fr. Gk metonymia, fr. meta- + -onymon -onym] (1547): a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated (as "crown" in "lands -------- Date: Fri Aug 4 00:22:15 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--argosy X-Bonus: People are like teagbags, you never know how strong they'll be until they're in hot water. ar.go.sy n, pl -sies [modif. of It ragusea Ragusan vessel, fr. Ragusa, Dalmatia (now Dubrovnik, Croatia)] (1587) 1: a large ship; esp: a large merchant ship 2: a fleet of ships 3: a rich supply -------- Date: Sat Aug 5 00:20:31 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--defilade X-Bonus: Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving in words evidence of the fact. -George Eliot def.i.lade vt -lad.ed ; -lad.ing [prob. fr. de- + -filade (as in enfilade)] (1828): to arrange (fortifications) so as to protect the lines from frontal or enfilading fire and the interior from fire from above or behind -- defilade n -------- Date: Sun Aug 6 00:26:01 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--conquistador X-Bonus: One says a lot in vain, refusing; / The other mainly hears the "No." -Goethe con.quis.ta.dor n, pl con.quis.ta.do.res or con.quis.ta.dors [Sp, ultim. fr. L conquirere] (1830): one that conquers; specif: a leader in the Spanish conquest of America and esp. of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century -------- Date: Mon Aug 7 00:24:53 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--footle X-Bonus: The Man who never in his Mind and Thoughts travel'd to Heaven is No Artist. -William Blake foo.tle vi foo.tled ; foo.tling [alter. of footer (to footle)] (1892) 1: to talk or act foolishly 2: to waste time: trifle, fool -- footle n -- foo.tler n -------- Date: Tue Aug 8 00:20:32 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--climacteric X-Bonus: Businesses may come and go, but religion will last forever, for in no other endeavor does the consumer blame himself for product failure. cli.mac.ter.ic adj [L climactericus, fr. Gk klimakterikos, fr. klimakter critical point, lit., rung of a ladder, fr. klimak-, klimax ladder] (1582) 1: constituting or relating to a climacteric 2: critical, crucial climacteric n (ca. 1630) 1: a major turning point or critical stage 2: menopause; also: a corresponding period in the male usu. occurring with less well-defined physiological and psychological changes 3: the marked and sudden rise in the respiratory rate of fruit just prior to full ripening -------- Date: Wed Aug 9 00:22:30 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--declivitous X-Bonus: Those of you who think you know everything are annoying those of us who do. de.cliv.i.tous adj (1799): moderately steep -------- Date: Thu Aug 10 00:21:09 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bodacious X-Bonus: The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting. -Plutarch, biographer (c. 46-120) bo.da.cious adj [prob. blend of bold and audacious] (1845) 1 Southern & Midland: outright, unmistakable 2: remarkable, noteworthy -- bo.da.cious.ly adv -------- Date: Fri Aug 11 00:21:48 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--langlauf X-Bonus: Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt. -George Sewell lang.lauf n [G, fr. lang long + Lauf race] (1927): cross-country running or racing on skis -- lang.lauf.er n -------- Date: Sun Aug 13 00:21:54 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--iatrogenic X-Bonus: We should consider ourselves as spirits having a human experience, rather than humans having an occasional spiritual experience. iat.ro.gen.ic adj [Gk iatros physician + E -genic] (1924): induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures -- iat.ro.gen.i.cal.ly adv -------- Date: Mon Aug 14 00:22:02 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ineluctable X-Bonus: There's a fine line between being on the leading edge and being in the lunatic fringe. -Frank Armstrong [Preparing for Tomorrow's Challenges] in.eluc.ta.ble adj [L ineluctabilis, fr. in- + eluctari to struggle clear of, fr. ex- + luctari to struggle, wrestle; akin to L luxus dislocated--more at lock] (ca. 1623): not to be avoided, changed, or resisted: inevitable -- in.eluc.ta.bil.i.ty n -- in.eluc.ta.bly adv -------- Date: Tue Aug 15 00:21:31 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--peripatetic X-Bonus: It's difficult to be depressed while you're doing something. peri.pa.tet.ic n (15c) 1 cap: a follower of Aristotle or adherent of Aristotelianism 2: pedestrian, itinerant 3 pl: movement or journeys hither and thither peripatetic adj [MF & L; MF peripatetique, fr. L peripateticus, fr. Gk peripatetikos, fr. peripatein to walk up and down, discourse while pacing (as did Aristotle), fr. peri- + patein to tread; akin to Skt patha path--more at find] (1566) 1 cap: aristotelian 2 a: of, relating to, or given to walking b: moving or traveling from place to place: itinerant -- peri.pa.tet.i.cal.ly adv -- Peri.pa.tet.i.cism n -------- Date: Wed Aug 16 00:22:13 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--consort X-Bonus: Eighty percent of all people consider themselves to be above average drivers. con.sort n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L consort-, consors partner, sharer, fr. com- + sort-, sors lot, share--more at series] (15c) 1: associate 2: a ship accompanying another 3: spouse--compare prince consort consort n [MF consorte, fr. consort] (1584) 1: group, assembly 2: conjunction, association 3 a: a group of singers or instrumentalists performing together b: a set of musical instruments of the same family con.sort vt (1588) 1: unite, associate 2 obs: escort ~ vi 1: to keep company <~ing with criminals> 2 obs: to make harmony: play 3: accord, harmonize prince consort n, pl princes consort (1861): the husband of a reigning queen queen consort n, pl queens consort (1765): the wife of a reigning king -------- Date: Thu Aug 17 00:21:21 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nonpareil X-Bonus: There is no security on this earth. There is only opportunity. nonpareil n (1593) 1: an individual of unequaled excellence: paragon 2 a: a small flat disk of chocolate covered with white sugar pellets b: sugar in small pellets of various colors -------- Date: Fri Aug 18 00:23:03 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pericope X-Bonus: Charm is a way of getting a "yes" without having asked any clear question. pe.ric.o.pe n [LL, fr. Gk perikope section, fr. peri- + kope act of cutting, fr. koptein to cut--more at capon] (1658): a selection from a book; specif: lection 1 -------- Date: Sat Aug 19 00:25:06 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--imago X-Bonus: Nothing is more terrible than ignorance in action. -Goethe ima.go n, pl imagoes or ima.gi.nes [NL, fr. L, image] (ca. 1797) 1: an insect in its final, adult, sexually mature, and typically winged state 2: an idealized mental image of another person or the self -------- Date: Sun Aug 20 00:23:30 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mussitation X-Bonus: I've never liked you, and I always will! mussitation n.: murmuring, grumbling -------- Date: Mon Aug 21 00:30:42 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nictitate X-Bonus: All wood and no ply makes Jack a dull board. nic.ti.tate vi -tat.ed ; -tat.ing [alter. of nictate to wink, fr. L nictatus, pp. of nictare--more at connive] (ca. 1834): wink -------- Date: Tue Aug 22 00:32:15 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--probity X-Bonus: You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision. -St. Bernard pro.bi.ty n [ME probite, fr. MF probite, fr. L probitat-, probitas, fr. probus honest--more at prove] (15c): adherence to the highest principles and ideals: uprightness syn see honesty -------- Date: Wed Aug 23 00:37:47 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cacography X-Bonus: Committee: The unwilling, selected from the unfit, to do the unnecessary. ca.cog.ra.phy n (1580) 1: bad spelling--compare orthography 2: bad handwriting--compare calligraphy -- caco.graph.i.cal adj -------- Date: Thu Aug 24 00:28:08 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nidicolous X-Bonus: The two great tragedies in life: not getting what one wants and getting it. ni.dic.o.lous adj [L nidus nest + E -colous--more at nest] (ca. 1902) 1: reared for a time in a nest 2: sharing the nest of another kind of animal -------- Date: Fri Aug 25 00:32:28 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--internuncio X-Bonus: Minds are like parachutes - they function only when open. in.ter.nun.cio n [It internunzio, fr. L internuntius, internuncius, fr. inter- + nuntius, nuncius messenger] (1641) 1: a messenger between two parties: go-between 2: a papal legate of lower rank than a nuncio -------- Date: Sat Aug 26 00:21:48 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nidus X-Bonus: I would rather lose in a cause that will someday win, than win in a cause that will someday lose. -Woodrow Wilson ni.dus n, pl ni.di or ni.dus.es [NL, fr. L] (1742) 1: a nest or breeding place; esp: a place or substance in an animal or plant where bacteria or other organisms lodge and multiply 2: a place where something originates, develops, or is located -------- Date: Sun Aug 27 00:22:08 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mojo X-Bonus: When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him. -Thomas Szasz mo.jo n, pl mojoes or mojos [prob. of African origin; akin to Fulani moco'o medicine man] (1926): a magic spell, hex, or charm; broadly: magical power -------- Date: Mon Aug 28 00:28:13 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--blitzkrieg X-Bonus: A closed mouth gathers no foot. blitz.krieg n [G, fr. Blitz lightning + Krieg war] (1939) 1: war conducted with great speed and force; specif: a violent surprise offensive by massed air forces and mechanized ground forces in close coordination 2: blitz 2a -------- Date: Tue Aug 29 00:31:20 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--funambulism X-Bonus: Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel. fu.nam.bu.lism n [L funambulus ropewalker, fr. funis rope + ambulare to walk] (1824) 1: tightrope walking 2: a show esp. of mental agility -- fu.nam.bu.list n -------- Date: Wed Aug 30 10:29:10 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bohemian X-Bonus: The early worm gets the bird. Bo.he.mi.an n (1603) 1 a: a native or inhabitant of Bohemia b: the group of Czech dialects used in Bohemia 2 often not cap a: vagabond, wanderer; esp: gypsy b: a person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usu. in a colony with others -- bohemian adj, often cap -------- Date: Thu Aug 31 12:13:26 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--malodorous X-Bonus: Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. -Danny Kaye mal.odor.ous adj (1850) 1: having a bad odor 2: highly improper <~ practices and chicanery in high financial places --New Republic> -- mal.odor.ous.ly adv -- mal.odor.ous.ness n syn malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, fusty, musty mean bad-smelling. malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive . stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting . noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive . putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter . rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell . fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age .