A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Wed Jan 1 00:01:06 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pi X-Bonus: The art of progress is to preserve order amid change, and to preserve change amid order. -Alfred North Whitehead, mathematician and philosopher (1861-1947) This week's theme: Short words pi (py) noun 1. A confused mixture, originally a jumble of printing types. Also spelled as pie. [Origin uncertain. Earliest documented use: 1659.] 2. The 16th letter of the Greek alphabet. 3. A mathematical constant (approximately 3.14159), representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. [From Greek pi/pei, of Semitic origin. Earliest documented use: 1425.] "The Indiana soldier's letter, however, 'has completely `knocked into pi` all the arguments [they have] employed.'" Glenn David Brasher; Peninsula Campaign and the Necessity of Emancipation; The University of North Carolina Press; 2012. -------- Date: Thu Jan 2 00:01:04 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--yare X-Bonus: Never confuse motion with action. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790) This week's theme: Short words yare (yahr or yayr) adjective 1. Easily maneuverable; nimble. 2. Ready; prepared. [From Old English gearo/gearu (ready). Earliest documented use: 888.] "I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare." William Shakespeare; Measure For Measure; 1604. "She was a 'bonnie lass' in the words of her chief engineer; she was faithful, she was yare -- an unlikely compliment for a vessel without sails." D.C. Riechel; German Departures; iUniverse; 2009. -------- Date: Fri Jan 3 00:01:04 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ruck X-Bonus: Sin is geographical. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970) This week's theme: Short words ruck (ruk) noun 1. A large mass, especially of ordinary people or things. 2. A crease or wrinkle. verb tr., intr.: To make a crease or to become creased. [From Old Norse hrukka (wrinkle, fold). Ultimately from the Indo-European root sker- (to turn or bend), which is also the source of ranch, rank, shrink, circle, circa, crisp, corolla, search, ring, curb, ridge, curve, corolla https://wordsmith.org/words/corolla.html, and coronary https://wordsmith.org/words/coronary.html . Earliest documented use: 1225.] "Any genuine pilgrim would have to fight his way past a ruck of tourists to get close to such an object." Keith Miller; St Peter's; Profile Books; 2010. "She ran across the room and tripped on the rucked carpet under the bed." Liz Ryan; Sometimes a Rogue; Hodder & Stoughton; 1997. -------- Date: Mon Jan 6 00:01:02 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--repletion X-Bonus: My own experience and development deepen every day my conviction that our moral progress may be measured by the degree in which we sympathize with individual suffering and individual joy. -George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), novelist (1819-1880) Order is good. Mostly. It makes sure that the earth will go around the sun in the same way as it has in the past, and bring summer to ripen the mangoes. Patterns are good too -- most of the time. They help us find our shoes easily among an array of other pairs. But if we stick too much to the same order and pattern, we lose. We lose the opportunity to discover new lands, new paths, new flowers, new ways, and new words! Sometimes the break in order is by choice and at times it's forced, as when you lose a job. Often it's a blessing in disguise. It's an opportunity to explore and discover what remained hidden on the old path. This week's words have no order, pattern, or theme. But they're all interesting. repletion (ri-PLEE-shuhn) noun The condition of being completely filled or satisfied. [Via French, from Latin replere, from re- (back, again) + plere (to fill). Earliest documented use: 1398. "Her body tingled with repletion and yet she was somehow unsatisfied." Susan Swann; The Ritual of Pearls; Little, Brown; 1995. -------- Date: Tue Jan 7 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ponderous X-Bonus: I dreamt that my hair was kempt. Then I dreamt that my true love unkempt it. -Ogden Nash, poet (1902-1971) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words ponderous (PON-duhr-uhs) adjective 1. Having great weight. 2. Awkward or unwieldy. 3. Dull or laborious. [Via French, from Latin ponderare (to ponder, weigh). Ultimately from the Indo-European root (s)pen- (to draw, to spin), which is also the source of pendulum, spider, pound, pansy, pendant, ponder, appendix, depend, spontaneous, perpend https://wordsmith.org/words/perpend.html , vilipend https://wordsmith.org/words/vilipend.html , filipendulous https://wordsmith.org/words/filipendulous.html , and equipoise https://wordsmith.org/words/equipoise.html . Earliest documented use: 1400.] "Don't fall for the old fat trap. That ponderous old set of resolutions you make every year: I will lose weight. I will work out. I will eat less dessert. We both know you'll be tucking into a double chocolate chip cookie before the day is over." Ring in the New!; The Hindu (Chennai, India); Dec 31, 2013. "Freedom awaits the rest of the group as soon as the ponderous Russian paperwork is complete." Mary Dejevsky; Putin's Charm Offensive; The Independent (London, UK); Dec 30, 2013. -------- Date: Wed Jan 8 00:01:02 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--quondam X-Bonus: To be capable of embarrassment is the beginning of moral consciousness. Honor grows from qualms. -John Leonard, critic (1939-2008) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words quondam (KWON-duhm) adjective Former; onetime. [From Latin quondam (formerly). Earliest documented use: 1535.] "One of the assumptions Madison and others labored under was that Britain would be too preoccupied with beating Napoleon to pay much attention to its quondam colonies." Joyce Appleby; The Washington Post; A Stumbling, Fiery End to War of 1812; May 5, 2013. -------- Date: Thu Jan 9 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--inimical X-Bonus: It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. -Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (1907-1988) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words inimical (i-NIM-i-kuhl) adjective 1. Harmful. 2. Unfriendly. [From Latin in- (not) + amicus (friend). A few other words that share the same root are: amigo, amity, enemy, amicable https://wordsmith.org/words/amicable.html , and amicus curiae https://wordsmith.org/words/amicus_curiae.html . Earliest documented use: 1645.] "But the landers found no other signs of biological activity, nor any organic compounds. If anything, the soil seemed inimical to life." Burkhard Bilger; The Martian Chroniclers; The New Yorker; Apr 22, 2013. -------- Date: Fri Jan 10 00:01:02 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ignominy X-Bonus: And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author and aviator (1900-1944) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words ignominy (IG-nuh-min-ee, ig-NOM-uh-nee) noun 1. Public disgrace. 2. Disgraceful quality or conduct. [Via French, from Latin ignominia. Ultimately from the Indo-European root no-men- (name) which also gave us name, anonymous, noun, synonym, eponym, renown, nominate, misnomer, and moniker. Earliest documented use: 1540.] "Nor is JAL likely to suffer the ignominy of an immediate slump in the share price, as Facebook did after its IPO, analysts say." From Bloated to Floated; The Economist (London, UK); Sep 15, 2012. -------- Date: Mon Jan 13 00:01:04 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--voluble X-Bonus: Several excuses are always less convincing than one. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963) It takes all kinds to make the world and it shows in this week's selection of words. For the next five days we'll see words to describe people of various persuasions. These are people you may meet at work or on a train, in a park or in the house next door -- almost anywhere on earth. Here's a fun exercise for you: find at least one person epitomizing the day's word, every day this week. With some seven billion of us around there can't be any excuse for insufficient data. voluble (VOL-yuh-buhl) adjective Speaking incessantly or fluently. [Via French, from Latin volvere (to roll). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wel- (to turn or roll), which also gave us waltz, revolve, valley, walk, vault, volume, wallet, and helix. Earliest documented use: 1575.] "As Mr Barroso, a voluble sort, talked about strong transatlantic relationships and the like, Mr Obama gazed stony-faced at his shoes." A Surfeit of Leaders; The Economist (London, UK); Apr 8, 2009. -------- Date: Tue Jan 14 00:01:04 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--intransigent X-Bonus: Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind. -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875-1965) This week's theme: Words to describe people intransigent (in-TRAN-si-jent) adjective: Unwilling to compromise, especially from an extreme position. noun: One who refuses to compromise. [Via Spanish/French, from Latin in- (not) + transigere (to settle). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ag- (to drive, draw), which is also the fount of such words as act, agent, agitate, litigate, synagogue, and ambassador. Earliest documented use: 1879.] "Both remain intransigent in their respective positions without any real effort to negotiate in a democratic spirit." People Expect Democratic Practice from Two Top Parties; Financial Express (Bangladesh); Dec 26, 2013. -------- Date: Wed Jan 15 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--potentate X-Bonus: Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way. -Martin Luther King Jr., civil-rights leader (1929-1968) This week's theme: Words to describe people potentate (POH-ten-tayt) noun One having great power, especially an autocratic person. [Via French, from Latin posse (to be able). Ultimately from the Indo-European root poti- (powerful, lord), which is also the source of power, potent, possess, pasha, compossible https://wordsmith.org/words/compossible.html , impuissance https://wordsmith.org/words/impuissance.html , and puissant https://wordsmith.org/words/puissant.html . Earliest documented use: 1475.] "The company has always been good at finding oil, whether by discovering new fields deep beneath the ocean floor or by schmoozing potentates such as Libya's Colonel Muammar Qaddafi." Stanley Reed; Refilling BP's Tank; BusinessWeek (New York); Jul 22, 2007. -------- Date: Thu Jan 16 00:01:02 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sophist X-Bonus: Memoir is not an act of history but an act of memory, which is innately corrupt. -Mary Karr, (b. 1955) poet and memoirist This week's theme: Words to describe people sophist (SOF-ist) noun One who makes clever, but unsound arguments. [From Latin sophista, from Greek sophistes (sage), from sophos (clever). Earliest documented use: 1542. In ancient Greece, Sophists were philosophers and teachers known for their subtle, but fallacious reasoning.] "But this day Mansoor had turned five, and Ma used a sophist's argument to call for a celebration." M.G. Vassanji; The Assassin's Song; Doubleday; 2007. -------- Date: Fri Jan 17 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--solicitous X-Bonus: I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790) This week's theme: Words to describe people solicitous (suh-LIS-i-tuhs) adjective 1. Full of concern. 2. Eager. 3. Meticulous. [From Latin sollus (whole), ultimately from the Indo-European root sol- (whole), which brought us solid, salute, save, salvo, soldier, catholicity https://wordsmith.org/words/catholicity.html , salutary https://wordsmith.org/words/salutary.html , and salubrious https://wordsmith.org/words/salubrious.html + citus, past participle of ciere (to arouse), ultimately from the Indo-European root kei- (to set in motion), which also gave us cinema, kinetic, excite, and resuscitate. Earliest documented use: 1563.] "The staff is solicitous of its core customer; efficient with others." Alexandra Jacobs; Dennis Basso's New Shop; The New York Times; Dec 12, 2013. -------- Date: Mon Jan 20 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--stellenbosch X-Bonus: Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility. -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961) Once upon a time, a person's name was his complete identification and address. It could comprise his given name, profession, father or mother's name, a personal trait, and even the name of his village. That was because where one lived defined a person as much as anything else. The place of origin often turned into a generic term for some personal characteristic. The English language is replete with such expressions where the name of a place has become associated with a particular quality, such as laconic (using few words) from Laconia in ancient Greece or bohemian (unconventional) from Bohemia in the Czech Republic. There are hundreds of toponyms -- words derived from the names of places. This week we'll visit five places that have become toponyms in the English language. Our stops will be South Africa, Italy, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. stellenbosch (STE-len-bosh) verb tr. To relegate someone incompetent to a position of minimal responsibility. [After Stellenbosch, a town in South Africa. Earliest documented use: 1900.] NOTES: Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, was a British military base during the Second Boer War. Officers who had not proven themselves were sent to Stellenbosch, to take care of something relatively insignificant, such as to look after horses. Even if they kept their rank, this assignment was considered a demotion. Eventually the term came to be applied when someone was reassigned to a position where he could do little harm. A similar term is coventry https://wordsmith.org/words/coventry.html . Also see Peter Principle https://wordsmith.org/words/peter_principle.html . Another word derived from the name of a South African town is maffick https://wordsmith.org/words/maffick.html . Stellenbosch https://wordsmith.org/words/images/stellenbosch.png Map: Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=stellenbosch+south+africa&data=!1m4!1m3!1d7226463!2d21.925221!3d-30.2159686!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x1dcdb2f75188e2a5%3A0x7009aa00dee36be2!3m8!1m3!1d3130!2d26.2388889!3d39.9575!3m2!1i1168!2i786!4f13.1!4m2!3d-33.923119!4d18.865219 "His erstwhile colleague acknowledged Mr Myers's absence. Has Mr Myers been stellenbosched?" Does RTE Object to Frugality?; Irish Independent; (Dublin, Ireland); Nov 13, 2008. -------- Date: Tue Jan 21 00:01:02 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--campanology X-Bonus: Remorse is a violent dyspepsia of the mind. -Ogden Nash, poet (1902-1971) This week's theme: Words derived from the names of places campanology (kam-puh-NOL-uh-jee) noun The art or study of bell-ringing or making bells. [From Latin campana (bell). From the Campania region in Italy, known for the bronze that was used to cast bells. Earliest documented use: 1847.] Campania, Italy https://wordsmith.org/words/images/campanology.png Map: Wikimedia NOTES: The term bell-ringing is preferred over campanology by people involved in it. In general, those in the know go with simpler terms. For example, caving over spelunking, coding over developing software, and so on. At any rate, here's an introductory video on campanology/bell-ringing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFConOjvAjY that has managed to stuff as many puns as are legally permitted in a five-minute video. Did they miss any? Chime in. "A woman who has helped secure the future of bell ringing across the east of England has been appointed MBE in the New Year Honours list for her services to campanology." Norfolk bell ringer Betty Baines Appointed MBE; BBC News (London, UK); Dec 30, 2013. "The call buttons were pressed so frequently that the passengers were in danger of getting a suntan from the lights, and the galley sounded like a campanology convention for the deaf." Jack Leonard; Bad Altitude; AuthorHouse; 2005. -------- Date: Wed Jan 22 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--perse X-Bonus: There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with. -Harry Crews, novelist and playwright (1935-2012) This week's theme: Words derived from the names of places perse (puhrs) adjective Of a grayish blue or purple color. [From persus (dark blue), from Latin Persicus (Persian), from Persia, former name of Iran. Why this color is associated with Persia is not entirely clear. Earliest documented use: 1387.] Perse carrots https://wordsmith.org/words/images/perse.jpg Photo: Ali Express http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Pack-40-seeds-Perse-Carrot-Seed-Atropurpureus-Carota-Fresh/786947656.html "How much the amethyst ring on her right hand mirrored the fading perse color of the sky." Lisa Kusel; Hat Trick; Hyperion; 2005. "He noticed the perse under each lid, and the blue, death-struck lips." Thomas Keneally; Bring Larks and Heroes; Cassell Australia; 1967. -------- Date: Thu Jan 23 00:01:05 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--iliad X-Bonus: Most people think that shadows follow, precede, or surround beings or objects. The truth is that they also surround words, ideas, desires, deeds, impulses and memories. -Elie Wiesel, writer, Nobel laureate (b. 1928) This week's theme: Words derived from the names of places Iliad (IL-ee-uhd) noun 1. A long narrative, especially an epic poem describing martial exploits. 2. A long series of miseries or disasters. [After the Iliad, a Greek epic poem traditionally attributed to Homer. From Ilion, ancient Greek name of the city of Troy, an area now in modern Turkey. Earliest documented use: 1579.] Another term derived from Troy is trojan horse https://wordsmith.org/words/trojan_horse.html Troia, Turkey https://wordsmith.org/words/images/iliad.png Map: Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=troy+turkey&data=!1m4!1m3!1d13109867!2d22.9201531!3d38.387067!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x14b05025420d2251%3A0xb573bfef2cf9ea13!3m8!1m3!1d29644142!2d18.5832203!3d27.5997486!3m2!1i1168!2i786!4f13.1!4m2!3d39.9575!4d26.238889 "She knew ... stories which form part of an Iliad of obscure hatreds, quarrels, adulteries, marriages." Storm Jameson; Journey from the North, Volume 2; Collins; 1970. "Professional football players are our gladiators. The only difference is that we, the fans, don't, as they did at the Colosseum in Rome, put our thumbs up or down to decide a player's fate. But then we don't have to; they all but kill themselves. In each of his interviews, Mr. Cohen asks former players: 'How're you holding up physically?' Everyone answers with an Iliad of injuries and woes." Joseph Epstein; When Defense Ruled the Game; The Wall Street Journal (New York); Oct 26, 2013. -------- Date: Fri Jan 24 00:01:04 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--damask X-Bonus: There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures. -James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961) This week's theme: Words derived from the names of places damask (DAM-uhsk) noun 1. A reversible fabric with a pattern woven into it, used for table linen, upholstery, etc. 2. Short for damask rose. 3. The color of damask rose: grayish red or pink. 4. Short for damask steel. 5. Wavy markings on such steel. adjective: 1. Made of or resembling damask. 2. Having the color of damask rose. verb tr.: 1. To decorate or weave with richly-figured designs. 2. To inlay a metal object with gold or silver patterns; to gild. [From Damascus, where this fabric was first produced. Earliest documented use: 1325.] Damascus https://wordsmith.org/words/images/damask.png Map: Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=Damascus%2C+Syria&data=!1m4!1m3!1d29644142!2d18.5832203!3d27.5997486!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x1518e6dc413cc6a7%3A0x6b9f66ebd1e394f2!3m8!1m3!1d5788513!2d7.4894541!3d46.1966234!3m2!1i1168!2i786!4f13.1!4m2!3d33.5111!4d36.3064 "The richly coloured damask-covered walls do evoke the palaces for which many of the pictures were intended." Getting Away from Cultural Spinach; The Economist (London, UK); Aug 28, 2008. -------- Date: Mon Jan 27 00:01:04 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bloviate X-Bonus: A fellow of mediocre talent will remain a mediocrity, whether he travels or not; but one of superior talent (which without impiety I cannot deny that I possess) will go to seed if he always remains in the same place. -Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer and musician (1756-1791) This week we'll feature five Americanisms. Some of these are words from the American West. For most, the origin remains obscure. Many of these are pseudo-Latin words, fanciful formations that may sound highfalutin today. Use these words to bring a certain earthy flavor to your discourse. But like spices in a preparation, a little goes a long way. Use them judiciously. bloviate (BLO-vee-ayt) verb intr. To speak pompously. [Pseudo-Latin alteration of blow (to boast). Earliest documented use: 1845.] "All you cinephiles who like to find grand statements and social criticism in horror movies, prepare to bloviate. It's midnight at the Tribeca Film Festival." Neil Genzlinger; Scare Me, Sure, But Also Make A Statement; The New York Times; Apr 18, 2013. -------- Date: Tue Jan 28 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--skulduggery X-Bonus: A grain of poetry suffices to season a century. -José Martí, revolutionary and poet (1853-1895) This week's theme: Americanisms skulduggery (skuhl-DUHG-uh-ree) noun Underhand dealing: trickery, bribery, etc. [An American coinage, apparently from the alteration of Scots sculduddery (fornication, obscenity). Earliest documented use: 1867.] Also spelled as skullduggery, sculduggery, and scullduggery. "In the 1980s [the Vatican Bank] was accused of involvement in financial skulduggery and responsibility for the still-mysterious death of a prominent Italian banker, Roberto Calvi." God's Bankers; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 7, 2012. -------- Date: Wed Jan 29 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--honeyfuggle X-Bonus: It is not only the prisoners who grow coarse and hardened from corporal punishment, but those as well who perpetrate the act or are present to witness it. -Anton Chekhov, short-story writer and dramatist (1860-1904) This week's theme: Americanisms honeyfuggle (HUN-ee-fuh-guhl) verb tr., intr., Also spelled as honeyfugle To deceive or swindle, especially by flattery. [Perhaps from honey + fugle (to cheat). Earliest documented use: 1829.] "Don't try to honeyfuggle me, Wolf McCloud. I'm not pretty, and we both know it." Jane Bonander; Wild Heart; Pocket Books; 1995. -------- Date: Thu Jan 30 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lallygag X-Bonus: War is the unfolding of miscalculations. -Barbara Tuchman, historian (1912-1989) This week's theme: Americanisms lallygag or lollygag (LAL-ee-gag, LOL-ee-gag) verb intr. 1. To fool around, waste time, or spend time lazily. 2. To neck. [Origin uncertain. Earliest documented use: 1862.] "I lallygagged around and when it was evident that they were not coming home to take me, I had to start off." Margaret Mason; A Memory at Large; RoseDog Books; 2011. -------- Date: Fri Jan 31 00:01:03 EST 2014 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bumfuzzle X-Bonus: I don't trust a man who uses the word evil eighteen times in ten minutes. If you're half evil, nothing soothes you more than to think the person you are opposed to is totally evil. -Norman Mailer, author (1923-2007) This week's theme: Americanisms bumfuzzle (bum-FUZ-uhl) verb tr. To confuse. [From bum-, probably from bamboozle (to deceive) + fuzzle (to confuse). Earliest documented use: 1900.] "Latt insists the company is not trying to bumfuzzle anybody into believing Asylum's releases are big-studio product." James Hebert; Knockoff Movies Touted as 'Tie-ins'; Union-Tribune (San Diego, California); August 17, 2007.