A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Mon Feb 3 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--Moloch X-Bonus: Writers, like teeth, are divided into incisors and grinders. -Walter Bagehot, journalist and businessman (3 Feb 1826-1877) Last year, when I was visiting India, one morning I went out for groceries in Mumbai. I was taking in sights and sounds when a shopkeeper picked an apple from his basket, sliced it, and offered it to me for tasting. "Washington apple!" he said. I smiled. I told him that I lived in Washington* and we chatted for a few minutes. I marveled at how economics have changed. Somehow, it's still profitable to sell an apple brought in from 8,000 miles away. Somehow, it's still profitable to grow and send an apple that far. Most amazingly, the same apple can be sold profitably both by a shopkeeper with a rickety basket (net worth $100) and by a storeowner with a high-tech store (net worth $100+ billion).** https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/01/business/jeff-bezos-2019-billionaire-index-trnd/index.html Fruits travel thousands of miles to land on our plates, but none has traveled as widely to reach us as the apricot. It took the scenic route to travel from Latin to Greek to Arabic to Spanish/Portuguese to French, before reaching dining tables of the English language. This week we'll look at five other terms that have traveled widely before reaching the English language. *The good Washington, not the one that's currently the home of the orange monster. We are Washington state. That one is Washington, DC. **In the latter case, you pick the apple from the high-tech basket and leave -- the basket magically takes money from your purse and puts the change back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vorkmWa7He8 Save time and money! Impressive, but you miss out on talking with the storeowners, exchanging stories with them. With money you can buy apples, you can even buy stores, but not stories. I was in a musical instruments shop in Haridwar, a city in north India. It was a low-tech place (no credit cards) to say the least, but when the owner found out I lived in America, he told me about his son who was obsessed with an American "company". "Which one?" I asked. "NASA." He told me the kid one day hoped to work for them and go visit other planets. Moloch (MOH-lahk, MAH-luhk) noun Someone or something to which extreme sacrifices are made. [After Moloch, a Canaanite god of the Bible, associated with the practice of child sacrifice. From Latin Moloch, from Greek Molokh, from Hebrew Molekh, from melekh (king). Earliest documented use: 1615. Moloch has turned into a verb as well: molochize https://wordsmith.org/words/molochize.html .] http://wordsmith.org/words/images/moloch_large.jpg "Study for Moloch", 1895 Art: John Singer Sargent https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/14081603785 "Sacrifice all to the Moloch of convenience and you might end up on the altar, too." Jon Talton; If Amazon Go Technology Goes Big, Grocery Workers May Get the Sack; The Seattle Times (Washington); Dec 7, 2018. -------- Date: Tue Feb 4 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bezoar X-Bonus: There comes a point when a man must refuse to answer to his leader if he is also to answer to his own conscience. -Hartley Shawcross, barrister, politician, and prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal (4 Feb 1902-2003) This week's words: Well-traveled words bezoar (BEE-zohr) noun A stone-like mass formed in the stomach or intestines of some animals, formerly believed to be a remedy for poison. [From Old French bezahar/bezoard, from Arabic bazahr, from Persian padzahr (antidote), from pad- (protector) + zahr (poison). Earliest documented use: 1597.] Bezoar from unknown animal, 1551-1750 https://wordsmith.org/words/images/bezoar_large.jpg Photo: Science Museum, London https://wellcomecollection.org/works/zjuuwfn3 "Other objects will seem familiar to readers: a bezoar, a stone taken from an animal's stomach, like the one Harry used after Ron was poisoned; an 18th-century orrery, a model of the solar system, with tiny, movable planets, ..." Jennifer E. Smith; Even Harry Potter Has a Past; The New York Times; Oct 5, 2018. https://wordsmith.org/words/orrery.html -------- Date: Wed Feb 5 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cavalcade X-Bonus: A hungry man is not a free man. -Adlai Stevenson, statesman (5 Feb 1900-1965) This week's words: Well-traveled words cavalcade (kav-uhl-KAYD, KAV-uhl-kayd) noun 1. A procession of riders on horses, vehicles, etc. 2. A noteworthy series of events. [From French cavalcade (stampede, cavalcade), from Italian cavalcata (ride, cavalcade), from cavalcare (to ride on horseback), from Latin caballus (horse). Earliest documented use: 1591.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/cavalcade A cavalcade of miniature engines https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cavalcade_large.jpg Photo: Pam Whitehead https://flickr.com/photos/pamw/34449906806/ "Steve Bannon, Mr Trump's former chief strategist and the architect of his presidential campaign, headlined a motley crew of far-right Republicans who offered a cavalcade of bilious, resentment-filled speeches promoting Mr Moore while pandering to Alabamians' prickliness. 'Nobody comes down here and tells Alabamians what to do,' said Mr Bannon, a Virginian, speaking after a Texan and several Midwesterners." Roy Moore Is Defeated in Alabama's Senate Election: Decency Wins; The Economist (London, UK); Dec 13, 2017. -------- Date: Thu Feb 6 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--saber-rattling X-Bonus: There's a schizoid quality to our relationship with animals, in which sentiment and brutality exist side by side. Half the dogs in America will receive Christmas presents this year, yet few of us pause to consider the miserable life of the pig -- an animal easily as intelligent as a dog -- that becomes the Christmas ham. -Michael Pollan, professor and writer (b. 6 Feb 1955) This week's words: Well-traveled words saber-rattling or sabre-rattling (SAY-buhr-rat-ling) noun Threatening words or action, for example, in the form of a flamboyant display of military power. [From saber/sabre (a heavy cavalry sword with a curved blade), from French sabre, from German dialect Sabel (now Säbel), probably ultimately of Slav origin, from Hungarian szablya + rattle (to make a quick succession of sharp noises), probably ultimately of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1922.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/saber%20rattling "Word just came down that something is heating up between Egypt and Israel. Probably only a bunch of saber-rattling, but it could turn serious." Kim Barnes; In the Kingdom of Men; Knopf; 2012. -------- Date: Fri Feb 7 00:01:04 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--calash X-Bonus: I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this. -Emo Phillips, comedian, actor (b. 7 Feb 1956) This week's words: Well-traveled words calash (kuh-LASH) noun 1. A light horse-drawn carriage with a folding top. 2. The folding top of a carriage. 3. A folding bonnet formerly worn by women. [From French calèche, from German Kalesche, from Czech kolésa (carriage, wheels). Earliest documented use: 1666.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/calash https://wordsmith.org/words/images/calash_carriage_large.jpg Photo: https://www.piqsels.com/da/public-domain-photo-ssjae https://wordsmith.org/words/images/calash_bonnet_large.jpg Photo: https://mohistory.org/collections/item/resource:218367?page=3 "We left Canada in a horse-drawn calash." William J. Mann; The Biograph Girl; Kensington Books; 2000. "He hunched down into the seat and stared at the flattened calash of the carriage." Meagan McKinney; Till Dawn Tames the Night; Dell; 1991. "Wear your calash, and not your plain bonnet." Mary Cable; Avery's Knot; Putnam; 1981. -------- Date: Mon Feb 10 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--interdigitate X-Bonus: I see too plainly custom forms us all. Our thoughts, our morals, our most fixed belief, are consequences of our place of birth. -Aaron Hill, dramatist and writer (10 Feb 1685-1750) Dirty words can be fun. Even more fun are words that appear dirty, but aren't. That's what we're going to feature this week. We start off relatively clean and as the week progresses, we're going to ratchet up the dirtitude. Irrespective of what they look like, all are perfectly innocent little words. You may hesitate to say these words aloud in polite company, but why not have a little fun anyway? Bring out your inner (junior high) kid. Take inspiration from the usage example for today's word. Remember, just like these words, you have a spotless mind. It's only the person you're talking to who thinks dirty. Why else would they misinterpret these immaculate words? NOTE: If you don't receive one or more issues of A.Word.A.Day this week, it's probably the email filter at your work or school, performing its nannying duties in earnest. Don't be mad at the email filter -- it's only trying to protect your innocence. You can always read any missing issues online at https://wordsmith.org/words/ interdigitate (in-tuhr-DIJ-i-tayt) verb tr., intr. To interlock like the fingers of two hands. [From Latin inter- (between, together) + digitus (finger, toe). Ultimately from the Indo-European root deik- (to show, to pronounce solemnly), which also gave us judge, verdict, vendetta, revenge, indicate, dictate, paradigm, diktat https://wordsmith.org/words/diktat.html , dictatress https://wordsmith.org/words/dictatress.html , dittohead https://wordsmith.org/words/dittohead.html , fatidic https://wordsmith.org/words/fatidic.html , hoosegow https://wordsmith.org/words/hoosegow.html , and interdict https://wordsmith.org/words/interdict.html . Earliest documented use: 1847.] NOTES: To interdigitate is to hold hands together. Also, to hold toes of two feet together. Also, hand and foot. Also, hand and paw. Or foot and paw. Think of other combinations. Show us what you come up with. Write to us at words@wordsmith.org. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/interdigitate_hands_large.jpg Photo: Adobe Stock https://wordsmith.org/words/images/interdigitate_toes_paws_large.jpg Photo: Hethr Reynolds https://flickr.com/photos/mojabunni/2374258009/ "'Oh, by the way, do you only interdigitate once a day?' "She stopped and looked up at me. She was mentally replaying what I had just said to her. 'What did you say?' she said indignantly -- wondering if I just had been incredibly rude to her. She was getting ready to be really ticked off. Short fuse was a side to Mia I had only guessed at. "'I asked you if you only interdigitate once a day?' I replied innocently working hard to keep the grin off my face. She obviously did not know what the hell I was talking about, but she was not ready to let me know it. I started walking again. She stood still for a moment and then scurried up beside me. We walked for another few yards before I asked again. "She hesitated and then grudgingly -- as if she had committed some major sin -- quietly replied, 'No, I've not set any limit on that. Should I?' "'Oh no,' I replied, 'I kind of enjoyed holding your hand earlier, but when you didn't take mine a minute or so ago, I wasn't sure if you had set some sort of personal daily limit.' "She started to giggle and then punched my shoulder -- hard. 'You are truly nuts -- one of your oars is clearly out of the water -- and that's a fact.' And she took my hand. 'Where did you get that word? What was it?' "'Interdigitate,' I replied. 'The first time I heard the word was when a kid in my Sex-Ed class -- his name was Jerry Piels, I think -- asked our female Sex-Ed teacher if she thought interdigitation before marriage was morally wrong." Al Rennie; Clearwater Journals; Smashwords; 2011. "So the days would have passed, literary labour interdigitating with agricultural." V.S. Naipaul; The Mimic Men; Andre Deutsch; 1967. -------- Date: Tue Feb 11 00:01:04 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--titular X-Bonus: The government ought not to be invested with power to control the affections, any more than the consciences of citizens. -Lydia Maria Child, activist, novelist, and journalist (11 Feb 1802-1880) This week's theme: Words that appear dirty, but aren't titular (TICH-uh-luhr, TIT-uh-luhr) adjective 1. Of or relating to a title. 2. In the name only: having a title without accompanying responsibilities and powers. [From Latin titulus (title). Earliest documented use: 1540.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/titular "It is uncertain whether Prince Charles, her heir, will step into her shoes as titular head of the show." An Amiable Delusion; The Economist (London, UK); Apr 14, 2018. -------- Date: Wed Feb 12 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cockloft X-Bonus: The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. -Charles Darwin, naturalist and author (12 Feb 1809-1882) This week's theme: Words that appear dirty, but aren't cockloft (KOK-loft) noun A small loft just below the roof. [From cock (rooster), from Old English cocc, of imitative origin + Old English loft (sky). Apparently roosters love to roost up high and this is the highest place, indoors, in the house. Earliest documented use: 1580.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/cockloft Cockloft in red https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cockloft_large.jpg Image: Larry Smith http://www.motherbedford.com/LostRooms03.htm "There's also ... stairs leading to the cockloft, which has twin beds." Liz Bird; The 30 Cosiest Cottages in Britain; The Times (London, UK); Nov 28, 2015. -------- Date: Thu Feb 13 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cuntline X-Bonus: The crucial disadvantage of aggression, competitiveness, and skepticism as national characteristics is that these qualities cannot be turned off at five o'clock. -Margaret Halsey, novelist (13 Feb 1910-1997) This week's theme: Words that appear dirty, but aren't cuntline or contline or cantline (KUHNT-lyn) noun 1. The spiraling groove between two strands of a rope. 2. The space between bilges (the widest part) of two casks stowed side by side. [From cant (slope), from French from Latin cantus (corner), from canthus (rim). Earliest documented use: 1848.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cuntline_rope_large.jpg Photo: corinna-kr/Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/rope-dew-leash-woven-knitting-938034/ https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cuntline_cask_large.jpg Photo: pxfuel https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-jprqh "The cuntline in the rope of our legs." Nadine Botha; Ants Moving the House Millimetres; Deep South; 2005. -------- Date: Fri Feb 14 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cummingtonite X-Bonus: Patriotism is often an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles. -George Jean Nathan, author and editor (14 Feb 1882-1958) This week's theme: Words that appear dirty, but aren't cummingtonite (KUHM-ing-tuh-nyt) noun A mineral, otherwise known as magnesium iron silicate hydroxide. [Named after Cummington, Massachusetts, where it was discovered. Earliest documented use: 1824.] NOTES: Cummingtonite is named after Cummington, MA, and the town of Cummington itself is named after Colonel John Cumings who got things started in the township. If cummingtonite is not enough for you, there's also fukalite, named after Fuka mines in the Fuka region of Japan. Then there is carnalite, named after mining engineer Rudolf von Carnall. Not much is known about cummingtonite's applications. An unscientific survey shows it's commonly used in the making of T-shirts. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cummingtonite_large.jpg Photo: Dave Dyet / Wikimedia https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cummingtonite_tshirt_large.jpg Photo: https://amazon.com/dp/B07V2FVQ5J/ws00-20 "And cummingtonite is actually a mineral, not a rock. Although that doesn't explain why the cracks in mineral rocks are called cleavage." Johanna Edwards; How to Be Cool; Berkley Books; 2007. -------- Date: Mon Feb 17 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--faff X-Bonus: Time is the fairest and toughest judge. -Edgar Quinet, historian (17 Feb 1803-1875) Bees buzz, clocks go tick-tock, and steam hisses. Where there's sound there is a possibility of onomatopoeia -- our interpretation of the sound in words. It varies. To an English speaker a dog's bark is bow wow or woof, but to a Japanese, it's wan wan. Some of these interpretations of sounds become words in the language and find a place in the dictionary. This week we have picked five such words. What are your favorite onomatopoeic words? What onomatopoeic words have you coined? Share on our website https://wordsmith.org/words/faff.html or email us at words@wordsmith.org. faff (faf) verb intr.: To waste time without accomplishing much. noun: Fuss; activity perceived as a waste of time. [Of imitative origin, to describe something flapping in the wind. Earliest documented use: 1874.] "As Parkinson's law observes, 'work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion', and since I was no longer time-limiting my tasks, I was much more liable to faff." Time to Microschedule Your Life?; The Daily Telegraph (London, UK); Feb 1, 2020. "She wastes about 90 percent of her time faffing around after her dog." Russell Brand; Revolution; Random House; 2014. -------- Date: Tue Feb 18 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--scroop X-Bonus: It's not a business with me. ... I'm not a professional of poetry; I'm a farmer of poetry. -Jack Gilbert, poet (18 Feb 1925-2012) This week's theme: Onomatopoeic words scroop (skroop) verb intr.: To make a scraping or grating sound. noun: A scraping sound, especially the rustle of a silk fabric. [Of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1787.] "I heard a soft scroop as the front door latch clicked home." Jane K. Cleland; Consigned to Death; St. Martin's Press; 2007. -------- Date: Wed Feb 19 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fanfaronade X-Bonus: There's nothing that makes you so aware of the improvisation of human existence as a song unfinished. Or an old address book. -Carson McCullers, writer (19 Feb 1917-1967) This week's theme: Onomatopoeic words fanfaronade (fan-far-uh-NAYD, -NAHD) noun 1. Bragging or blustering behavior. 2. Fanfare. [From French fanfaronnade, from Spanish fanfarronada (bluster), from fanfarron (braggart), ultimately of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1652.] "But what of Trump's boast that 'MEXICO HAS AGREED TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN BUYING LARGE QUANTITIES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT FROM OUR GREAT PATRIOT FARMERS!'? The use of ALL CAPS -- a little too insistent -- and the employment of a description for farmers that sounds as if it was lifted from Pravda, circa 1935, should indicate that this fanfaronade, too, wasn't quite on the level. And, indeed, Mexican officials told Bloomberg News on Saturday they never discussed agricultural purchases in the days leading up the ballyhooed accord." Max Boot; Another Illusory Victory for Trump; The Washington Post; Jun 11, 2019. -------- Date: Thu Feb 20 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--jape X-Bonus: It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. -Ansel Adams, photographer (20 Feb 1902-1984) This week's theme: Onomatopoeic words jape (jayp) noun: A joke or prank. verb intr.: To joke or play a trick. verb tr.: To mock or trick. [From Old French japer (to yap; Modern French japper), of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1362.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/jape "To [Boris] Johnson, we are all just suckers -- easily manipulated by his fabricated boyish japes and his deliberately tousled blond hair." John McDonnell; If You Want a More Equal Society, You Have to Choose Labour; The Guardian (London, UK); Dec 11, 2019. -------- Date: Fri Feb 21 00:01:04 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--whicker X-Bonus: I and the public know / What all schoolchildren learn, / Those to whom evil is done / Do evil in return. -W.H. Auden, poet (21 Feb 1907-1973) This week's theme: Onomatopoeic words whicker (HWIK-uhr, WIK-) verb intr. 1. To neigh. 2. To laugh in a half-suppressed manner. [Of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1656.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/whicker "She whickered, that soft, chortlelike noise that passed for a laugh among her people." Steve Perry; The Vastalimi Gambit; Penguin; 2013. -------- Date: Mon Feb 24 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--somedeal X-Bonus: When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen. -Samuel Lover, songwriter, composer, novelist, and artist (24 Feb 1797-1868) Reader Karen Pierce of Colorado Springs, Colorado, wrote: Can you tell me what the noun is for the deliberate use of incorrect grammar, like this, published by University of Colorado Health marketing? It burns my eyeballs! https://www.flickr.com/photos/wordsmithorg/49256283737/ Let's see, what could we call this strain of "Think different", an Appleism? Adspeak? Crime against language? Solecism? https://wordsmith.org/words/solecism.html The word you may be looking for is "substantive". It means, literally, standing under or in place of. A substantive is another word standing in place of a noun. When you say "Out with the old, in with the new" you're using adjectives "old" and "new" as nouns. In the case of uchealth* when they said "Live extraordinary" maybe they meant "Live [an] extraordinary [life]" and pressed "extraordinary" into active duty as a noun. Or maybe they wanted "Live extraordinary" to mean "Live extraordinarily" but couldn't get their VP of Word Use to approve the use of the adverb. The adverb is a stepchild of the language. Language pundits have been advising people to use it sparingly or to shun it completely. (See here http://wordsmith.org/words/ad_hoc.html here http://wordsmith.org/words/mayhap.html and here http://wordsmith.org/words/seriatim.html .) Perhaps advertising copywriters appear to have taken the advice of those pundits to heart, but these ads are not what they meant when they suggested avoiding the adverb. An ad is supposed to catch eyeballs and make you think. And this deliberate misuse (uncommon use?) https://wordsmith.org/words/allicient.html of language does get you thinking. Also, an ad is supposed to be innovative, just like the product.** Hope your eyes feel better soon. I have heard the University of Colorado Health System has good ophthalmologists on staff. (Motto: See clear.) Meanwhile in this week's A.Word.A.Day we'll see five adverbs. Think adverb! Or should that be: Think adverbly? * Perhaps the SHIFT key was broken on their keyboard when designing the logo! Or maybe their motto is: Shift extraordinary! ** This adverbing of adjectives is not really an innovation though. Words such as "different" and "extraordinary" have been used as adverbs in the English language for at least 400 years. somedeal (SUHM-deel) adverb Somewhat; to some degree. [From Old English sum (some) + dael (deal). Earliest documented use: 725.] "A great, sweet lady like you wouldn't think it, of course, but it's a godsend at times for a lone woman when she's ugly enough to turn cream sour, and somedeal crooked o' the body into the bargain." George W. Gough; The Yeoman Adventurer; G.P. Putnam's Sons; 1917. -------- Date: Tue Feb 25 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--abaft X-Bonus: In the cellars of the night, when the mind starts moving around old trunks of bad times, the pain of this and the shame of that, the memory of a small boldness is a hand to hold. -John Leonard, critic (25 Feb 1939-2008) This week's theme: Adverbs abaft (uh-BAFT) adverb: Toward the rear or stern. preposition: Behind. [From Middle English a- (toward) + baft (in the rear). Earliest documented use: 1400.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/abaft "The Irish sense of home place is almost a clinically identifiable organ, abaft the gizzard and above the spleen." Kevin Myers; Mailmen and Google Earth Already Deliver What Postcodes Can't; Sunday Times (London, UK); Aug 2, 2015. -------- Date: Wed Feb 26 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--natheless X-Bonus: Knowing exactly how much of the future can be introduced into the present is the secret of great government. -Victor Hugo, poet, novelist, and dramatist (26 Feb 1802-1885) This week's theme: Adverbs natheless (NAYTH-luhs/lis) adverb Nevertheless; notwithstanding. [From Old English na (no) + the (this, that) + laes (less). Earliest documented use: 11th c.] "A mossy ship's skipper -- any ship's skipper -- is, as I have said, a small god, but a god natheless." Harry Turtledove; The Quest for the Great Gray Mossy; Analog Science Fiction & Fact (New York); Jan/Feb 2020. -------- Date: Thu Feb 27 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--endlong X-Bonus: The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun. -Ralph Nader, activist, author, speaker, and attorney (b. 27 Feb 1934) This week's theme: Adverbs endlong (END-long) adverb From end to end; lengthwise. [From Old English andlang (lengthwise). Earliest documented use: 1225.] "[A]s the axis revolves it also travels endlong." Robert Willis; Principles of Mechanism; Cambridge University Press; Nov 25, 2010. -------- Date: Fri Feb 28 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--somewhither X-Bonus: He who establishes his argument by noise and command, shows that his reason is weak. -Michel De Montaigne, essayist (28 Feb 1533-1592) This week's theme: Adverbs somewhither (SUM-hwith-uhr) adverb To some place; somewhere. [From Old English sum (some) + whither (where). Earliest documented use: 1398.] "We cannot after all avoid always sailing somewhither." Wendell V. Harris; Multiculturalism and Cultural Warfare; Philosophy and Literature, suppl. Special Issue: Raymond Carver (Baltimore, Maryland); Oct 1998.