A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Sun Sep 1 00:52:28 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--apollonian X-Bonus: Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders than the arguments of its opposers. -William Penn Ap.ol.lo.ni.an \.ap-*-'lo--ne--*n\ aj 1: of, relating to, or resembling the god Apollo 2: harmonious, measured, ordered, or balanced in character -------- Date: Mon Sep 2 00:52:20 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--arcadia X-Bonus: ELECELLERATION: Pressing an elevator button a lot to speed it up. ar.ca.dia \a:r-'ka-d-e--*\ n [Arcadia, region of ancient Greece frequently chosen as background for pa] often cap storal poetry : a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet -- With the words coined after names of cities, this week's AWAD takes you to places all over the world. Would that be: Around the Word in Seven Days? -Anu -------- Date: Tue Sep 3 00:52:44 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--shanghai X-Bonus: Education ... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading. -G.M. Trevelyan shang.hai \shan-'hi-\ \-'hi-(-*)r\ vt or shang.haied; or shang.hai.ing [Shanghai, China; fr. the formerly widespread use of this method to secur]e sailors for voyages to the Orient 1: to drug, intoxicate, or make insensible and put aboard a ship esp. as a sailor 2: to bring by deceit or coercion - shang.hai.er n 1958 People 4 May 15/6 "We began to wonder if she'd got herself shanghaied." -------- Date: Wed Sep 4 00:53:43 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--babylon X-Bonus: Journalism is merely history's first draft. -Geoffrey C. Ward Bab.y.lon \'bab-*-l*n, -.la:n\ n [Babylon, ancient city of Babylonia] : a large city full of luxury and wickedness -------- Date: Thu Sep 5 00:52:03 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bourbon X-Bonus: The only weapon that becomes sharper with constant use is the tongue. bour.bon \'bu.(*)r-b*n, 'bo-(*)r-, 'bo.(*)r-; usu 'b*r- in sense 4\ \-b*-.niz-*m\ n [Bourbon, seigniory in France] [Bourbon (now Re`union), French island in the Indian ocean] [Bourbon county, Kentucky] often attrib cap 1: a member of a French family founded in 1272 to which belong the rulers of France from 1589 to 1793 and from 1814 to 1830, of Spain from 1700 to 1808, from 1814 to 1868, and from 1875 to 1931, of Naples from 1735 to 1805, and of the Two Sicilies from 1815 to 1860 often cap 2: a person who clings obstinately to the social and political ideas of the old order of things; specif : an extremely conservative member of the U.S. Democratic party usu. from the South 3: a rose (Rosa borboniana) of compact upright growth with shining leaves, prickly branches, and clustered flowers 4: a whiskey distilled from corn mash; specif : a whiskey distilled from a mash of corn, malt, and rye and aged in new charred oak containers often cap - bour.bon.ism n -------- Date: Fri Sep 6 00:51:32 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cockaigne X-Bonus: Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as true strength. -Ralph Sockman Cock.aigne \ka:-'ka-n\ n [ME cokaygne, fr. MF (pais de) cocaigne land of plenty] : an imaginary land of extreme luxury and ease 1862 GEN. P. THOMPSON, in Bradford Advertiser 15 Mar. 6/1 "Many things..could have been mended if it had been in that land of Cockaigne where everything is allowed to be done twice over." -------- Date: Sat Sep 7 00:51:39 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--utopia X-Bonus: The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. -Florence Scovel Shinn uto.pia \yu.-'to--pe--*\ n [Utopia, imaginary and ideal country in Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas] More, fr. Gk ou not, no + topos place 1: an imaginary and indefinitely remote place often cap 2: a place of ideal perfection esp. in laws, government, and social conditions 3: an impractical scheme for social improvement -------- Date: Sun Sep 8 00:52:15 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bedlam X-Bonus: A child becomes an adult when he realises that he has a right not only to be right but also to be wrong. -Thomas Szasz bed.lam \'bed-l*m\ n [Bedlam, popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, London,]an insane asylum, fr. ME Bedlem Bethlehem obs 1: MADMAN, LUNATIC archaic 2: a lunatic asylum 3: a place or scene of uproar and confusion - bedlam aj -------- Date: Mon Sep 9 01:34:56 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--canicular X-Bonus: Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery ca.nic.u.lar \k*-'nik-y*-l*r\ aj 1: of or relating to the Dog Star or its rising 2: of or relating to the dog days -- Have you ever found yourself wondering about what to say to make a conversation? Perhaps you turn to weather to rescue you from such a situation. Here are seven words to add some spice to that conversation. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Sep 10 00:52:02 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mammatocumulus X-Bonus: Frisbeetarianism, n.: The belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck. mam.ma.to.cu.mu.lus \ma-.ma-t-o--'kyu:-my*-l*s\ n [NL, fr. L mammatus having breasts, (fr. mamma) + NL cumulus] : a cumulus or cumulostratus storm cloud having breast-shaped protuberances below -------- Date: Wed Sep 11 00:51:51 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pluvial X-Bonus: Jumping to conclusions can be a bad exercise. plu.vi.al \'plu:-ve--*l\ aj [L pluvialis, fr. pluvia rain, fr. fem. of pluvius rainy, fr.] pluere to rain - more at FLOW 1a: of or relating to rain 1b: characterized by abundant rain of a geologic change 2: resulting from the action of rain -------- Date: Thu Sep 12 00:52:15 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--weathercock X-Bonus: It takes a lot of time to be a genius, you have to sit around so much doing nothing, really doing nothing. -Gertrude Stein weath.er.cock \-.ka:k\ n 1: a vane often in the figure of a cock mounted so as to turn freely with the wind and show its direction 2: a person or thing that changes readily or often 1881 M. E. BRADDON, Asphodel II. 162 "In affairs of the heart, Mr. Turchill belonged to the weathercock species." -------- Date: Fri Sep 13 00:51:46 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--foehn X-Bonus: This sentence no verb. foehn or fohn \'f*(r)n, 'fa-n\ n [G fo:hn] : a warm dry wind blowing down the side of a mountain -------- Date: Sat Sep 14 00:51:47 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--windflaw X-Bonus: The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there. -Robert M. Pirsig wind.flaw \-.flo.\ n : a gust of wind : FLAW -------- Date: Sun Sep 15 00:51:46 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--williwaw X-Bonus: Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. -Lewis Grizzard wil.li.waw \'wil-e--.wo.\ n [origin unknown] 1a: a sudden violent gust of cold land air common along mountainous coasts of high latitudes 1b: a sudden violent wind 2: a violent commotion or agitation -------- Date: Mon Sep 16 03:43:49 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--eolian X-Bonus: Experience is what you get when you were expecting something else. eo.lian \e--'o--le--*n, -'o-l-y*n\ aj [L Aeolus, god of the winds] : borne, deposited, produced, or eroded by the wind -- Here is another eponym week. For those who joined recently, eponyms are words named after people and places, real or fictional. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Sep 17 00:52:38 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fabian X-Bonus: Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -Douglas Adams [Last Chance to See] Fa.bi.an \'fa--be--*n\ \-*-.niz-*m\ aj [the Fabian Society; fr. the members' belief in slow rather than revoluti] 1a: of, relating to, or in the manner of the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus known for his defeat of Hannibal in the Second Punic War by the avoidance of decisive contests 1b: CAUTIOUS, DILATORYonary change in government 2: of, relating to, or being a society of socialists organized in England in 1884 to spread socialist principles gradually - Fabian n -------- Date: Wed Sep 18 00:51:51 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cicerone X-Bonus: Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance? ci.ce.ro.ne \.sis-*-'ro--ne-, .chich-*-\ \-(.)ne-\ n or ci.ce.ro.ni [It, fr. Cicerone Cicero] pl : a guide who conducts sightseers -------- Date: Thu Sep 19 00:52:28 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hermetic X-Bonus: Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way. her.met.ic \(.)h*r-'met-ik\ \-i-k*l\ \-i-k(*-)le-\ aj [NL hermeticus, fr. Hermet-, Hermes Trismegistus] [fr. the belief that Hermes Trismegistus invented a magic seal to keep vessels] often cap 1a: of or relating to the writings or teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus 1b: relating to or characterized by occultism or abstruseness : RECONDITEairtight 2a: AIRTIGHT 2b: impervious to external influence - her.met.i.cal aj -------- Date: Fri Sep 20 00:51:59 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--punic X-Bonus: Love me or hate me, but spare me your indifference. -Libbie Fudim 1. Pu.nic \'pyu:-nik\ aj [L punicus, fr. Poenus inhabitant of Carthage, modif. of Gk Phoi]nix Phoenician 1: of or relating to Carthage or Carthaginians 2: FAITHLESS, TREACHEROUS 2. Punic n : the Phoenician dialect of ancient Carthage -------- Date: Sat Sep 21 00:53:01 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mccoy X-Bonus: Friendship is like money, easier made than kept. -Samuel Butler Mc.Coy \m*-'ko.i\ n [alter. of Mackay (in the phrase the real Mackay the true chief of]the Mackay clan, a position often disputed) : something that is neither imitation not substitute 1972 Guardian 17 Feb. 10/3 "Sadler's Wells is playing host to the regal offspring Royal Ballet, and not, please note, a second eleven but the real McCoy. -------- Date: Sun Sep 22 00:53:05 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--tawdry X-Bonus: If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. Cross references: 1. gaudy 1. taw.dry \-re-\ n [tawdry lace (a tie of lace for the neck), fr. St. Audrey (St]. Etheldreda) -679 queen of Northumbria : cheap showy finery 2. tawdry aj : cheap and gaudy in appearance and quality -------- Date: Mon Sep 23 02:58:26 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--variegate X-Bonus: No great man ever complains of want of opportunity. -Ralph Waldo Emerson var.ie.gate \'ver-e--*-.ga-t, 'ver-i-.ga-t, 'var-\ \-.ga-t-*r\ vt [L variegatus, pp. of variegare, fr. varius various + -ega]re (akin to L agere to drive) - more at AGENT 1: to diversify in external appearance esp. with different colors : DAPPLE 2: to enliven by variety - var.ie.ga.tor n -- Autumn is here. This week marks the arrival of fall, the festival of colors. As you relish golden yellows, bright oranges, and cheery reds as feast for the eyes, use this week's words to celebrate the variety of hues. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Sep 24 00:52:08 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--luteous X-Bonus: Man is an intelligence in servitude to his organs. -Aldous Huxley lu.te.ous \'lu:t-e--*s\ aj [L luteus yellowish, fr. lutum, a plant used for dyeing yellow] : yellow tinged with green or brown -------- Date: Wed Sep 25 00:53:09 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--limbate X-Bonus: There is no course of life so weak and sottish as that which is managed by order, method, and discipline. -Montaigne lim.bate \'lim-.ba-t\ aj [LL limbatus bordered, fr. L limbus] : having a part of one color surrounded by an edging of another color {a ~ leaf} -------- Date: Thu Sep 26 00:52:25 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--aureate X-Bonus: Grad school is the snooze button on the clock-radio of life. -Comedian John Rogers (who holds a graduate degree in physics) au.re.ate \'o.r-e--*t\ aj [ME aureat, fr. ML aureatus decorated with gold, fr. L aureus] golden - more at ORIOLE 1: of a golden color or brilliance 2: marked by grandiloquent and rhetorical style -------- Date: Fri Sep 27 00:51:47 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sanguine X-Bonus: Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise. -Lord Chesterfield 1. san.guine \'san-gw*n\ \-gw*n-n*s\ aj [ME sanguin, fr. MF, fr. L sanguineus, fr. sanguin-, sangu]is 1: BLOODRED 2a: consisting of or relating to blood 2b: SANGUINARY of the complexion 2c: RUDDY 3a: having blood as the predominating bodily humor 3b: having the bodily conformation and temperament held characteristic of such predominance and marked by sturdiness, high color, and cheerfulness 4: CONFIDENT, OPTIMISTIC - san.guine.ly av 2. sanguine n : a moderate to strong red -------- Date: Sat Sep 28 00:52:07 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ferruginous X-Bonus: If you judge, investigate. -Seneca fer.ru.gi.nous or fer.ru.gin.e.ous \f*-'ru:-j*-n*s, fe-\ \.fer-(y)u.-'jin-e--*s\ aj [L ferrugineus, ferruginus, fr. ferrugin-, ferrugo iron] rust, fr. ferrum 1: of, relating to, or containing iron 2: resembling iron rust in color -------- Date: Sun Sep 29 00:52:05 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lurid X-Bonus: A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person's brow. -Charles Brower Cross references: 1. ghastly lu.rid \'lu.r-*d\ aj [L luridus pale yellow, sallow] 1a: wan and ghastly pale in appearance : LIVID 1b: of any of several light or medium grayish colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange 2: shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke or cloud 3a: causing horror or revulsion : GRUESOME 3b: highly colored : SENSATIONAL - lu.rid.ly av -------- Date: Mon Sep 30 00:52:55 EDT 1996 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--solon X-Bonus: Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral. -Paulo Freire so.lon \'so--l*n, -.la:n\ n [Solon -ab559BCE Athenian lawgiver] 1: a wise and skillful lawgiver 2: a member of a legislative body 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 21 Aug. 11/2 "The great national political community of solons, scribes, police-men, [etc.]."