A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Wed Jun 1 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gamut X-Bonus: All restraints upon man's natural liberty, not necessary for the simple maintenance of justice, are of the nature of slavery, and differ from each other only in degree. -Lysander Spooner, lawyer (1808-1887) gamut (GAM-uht) noun The complete range of something. [From Medieval Latin, contraction of gamma ut, from gamma (third letter of the Greek alphabet), used to represent the lowest tone + ut, from the names of the notes ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si (ut and si later changed to do and ti). Gamma + ut contracted to gamut and the meaning expanded to denote all notes. The names of the notes are derived from the initial syllables of a Latin hymn.] "'Our biggest problem is basic infrastructure strain, and that covers the gamut - electricity, water, telephone service - you name it, we have continuous basic problems with all of them,' [Alain Tiphaine] said." Luis Ramos; Caribbean Business; Puerto Rico Herald; Jul 8, 2004. This week's theme: words from music. -------- Date: Thu Jun 2 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--coda X-Bonus: You can out-distance that which is running after you, but not what is running inside you. -Rwandan Proverb coda (KO-duh) noun 1. The concluding passage of a piece of music, usually independent of the essential parts, added to bring it to a satisfactory close. 2. An additional section at the end of a piece of literature, serving to summarize it or to add related information. 3. Any concluding part. [From Italian coda (tail), from Latin cauda (tail), the source of other words such as queue, coward, French queue (tail) and Spanish cola (tail).] "Then came the coda, in Goran [Ivanisevic]'s press conference in which we were reminded what a wonderful flakehead he is. He was asked to compare himself with Navratilova, a 6-0 6-1 winner over a grasscourt no one, and Goran happily accepted." Bruce Wilson; Former Champs Brighten Dull Day; Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia); Jun 23, 2004. This week's theme: words from music. -------- Date: Fri Jun 3 00:01:13 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--finale X-Bonus: It's impossible to be loyal to your family, your friends, your country, and your principles, all at the same time. -Mignon McLaughlin, journalist and author (1913-1983) finale (fi-NAL-ee) noun The last section of a piece of music, the final scene of a drama, or the concluding part of a performance or event. [From Italian, from Latin finalis (last), from finis (end) that's also the source of such words as final, finish, finance, define, and fine.] "The monstrous reality-dating series had apparently wrapped last week in a finale that saw transparent bachelor Preston break Rachel's heart by choosing P.J. as his life mate." Andrew Ryan; Ken Burns, Julie Andrews And Other Roadside Stuff; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Jul 12, 2004. This week's theme: words from music. -------- Date: Mon Jun 6 00:01:21 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--terete X-Bonus: Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. -Alfred, Lord Tennyson, poet (1809-1892) terete (tuh-REET, ter-EET) adjective Smooth-surfaced, cylindrical, and tapering at the ends. [From Latin teret-, stem of teres (round).] "Passengers on the Temptress Explorer, above, can get close to a terete leaved vanda orchid, a scarlet macaw or a blue morpho." John Tierney; Costa Rica, Naturally; The New York Times; Feb 1, 1998. The 2005 U.S. Spelling Bee championship took place in Washington D.C. last week. In this annual contest, kids compete by identifying the spellings of the pronounced words and the winner is determined by elimination. Why "bee"? No one is certain but the name apparently alludes to the social nature of these buzzing insects. Long ago, a bee was a gathering to unite efforts of neighbors to help one of their number. The pooling of muscle and a little friendly competition (such as who could husk the most ears of corn) made the task easy. Some of the earlier examples of these community get-togethers were a quilting bee where participants sewed a patchwork quilt, an apple-bee where apples were prepared for drying, and a raising-bee to raise a barn. There were also a husking-bee (to husk the corn), a logging-bee (to chop the trees), and even the sinister lynching-bee. We are thankful to have left that last one behind us. Today's friendly competitions cover many fields, including a geographic bee, a history bee, a math bee, and, of course, a spelling bee. A spelling bee is possible only in a language like English, where spelling and pronunciation of words have often diverged. In many languages, such as Hindi or Spanish, words are pronounced just as they are written, so a spelling bee would make no sense. This week let's look at some of the words the young spellers tackled. To see the winners, the words they spelled, and to learn more about the Spelling Bee, visit http://spellingbee.com -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Jun 7 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hodiernal X-Bonus: It is easier to make a saint out of a libertine than out of a prig. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952) hodiernal (ho-di-ER-nuhl) adjective Of or pertaining to the present day. [From Latin hodiernus, from hodie (today).] "Our vernal Brightness keeping, Time outleaping; Passed the hodiernal!" Thomas Hardy; To Outer Nature; 19th c. This week's theme: words from the 2005 Spelling Bee. -------- Date: Wed Jun 8 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--oligopsony X-Bonus: It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence to practice neither. -Mark Twain, author and humorist (1835-1910) oligopsony (ol-i-GOP-suh-nee) noun The market condition where a few buyers control the market for a product. [From Greek oligo- (few, little) + opsonia (purchase).] A word that shares the same prefix is oligarchy: government by the few, where political power is held by a small group and used for selfish and corrupt purposes. "Does a joint Internet venture by the world's automakers to purchase parts amount to an illegal oligopsony--a cartel of buyers that can drive prices down through their market power?" James V. Grimaldi; Trustbusters Put On a Stern Face; The Washington Post; Jun 29, 2000. This week's theme: words from the 2005 Spelling Bee. -------- Date: Thu Jun 9 00:01:13 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--peccavi X-Bonus: Force without wisdom falls of its own weight. -Horace, poet and satirist (65-8 BCE) peccavi (pe-KAH-vee) noun An admission of guilt or sin. [From Latin peccavi (I have sinned), from peccare (to err).] The story goes that in 1843, after annexing the Indian province of Sind, British General Sir Charles Napier sent home a one word telegram, "Peccavi" implying "I have Sind." Although apocryphal, it's still a great story. "Rabbi Yosef's peccavi had a certain dignity, unlike the cringing surrender of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz." N.D. Gross; Two Sinners; Jerusalem Post (Israel); Aug 18, 1989. This week's theme: words from the 2005 Spelling Bee. -------- Date: Fri Jun 10 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--agio X-Bonus: Love truth, but pardon error. -Voltaire, philosopher and writer (1694-1778) agio (AJ-ee-o) noun 1. The charge for exchanging currency. 2. The premium or percentage when paying in a foreign currency to compensate for the exchange cost. 3. Foreign exchange business. [From Italian agio (ease, convenience).] "The second volume concentrated on the concept and nature of capital, concluding with a book about the concept of the agio." Donna M Kish-Goodling; Using The Merchant of Venice in Teaching Monetary Economics; College Teaching (Washington, DC); Spring 1999. This week's theme: words from the 2005 Spelling Bee. -------- Date: Mon Jun 13 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--spruik X-Bonus: To keep your marriage brimming, With love in the loving cup, Whenever you're wrong, admit it; Whenever you're right, shut up. -Ogden Nash, poet (1902-1971) spruik (sprook) verb intr. To make an elaborate speech, especially to attract customers. [Of unknown origin.] "[Lee Iacocca] appeared in the first of 80 television commercials spruiking a money-back guarantee if people disliked their new Chryslers." Gideon Haigh; Corporate kings; The Times (London, UK); Mar 17, 2004. Poet Carl Sandburg once described slang as "a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands, and goes to work." Nothing wrong with words in tie and suit but sometimes only slang can do the job. Since slang is often born in the back-alleys of language rather than in a sanitized hospital room, it's not easy to pin down its origins. Does that matter? Go ahead, hire this week's five hardworking words for your verbal mill. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Jun 14 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hubba-hubba X-Bonus: Few are altogether deaf to the preaching of pine trees. Their sermons on the mountains go to our hearts; and if people in general could be got into the woods, even for once, to hear the trees speak for themselves, all difficulties in the way of forest preservation would vanish. -John Muir, naturalist, explorer, and writer (1838-1914) hubba-hubba (HUB-uh HUB-uh) interjection Used to express approval, enthusiasm, or excitement. Also, akin to wolf whistle. [Of unknown origin.] "On Erin Wheeler's first Valentine's Day with her then fiancee, she received a card featuring a hippo in a tutu on front and a 'Hubba, hubba,' written inside. Enough said." Annie Pierce; Love American-Style: The Female Take; Columbian (Vancouver, Washington); Feb 12, 1999. "I also received a few messages of the hubba-hubba variety from my female readers, which were greatly appreciated." Robert X Cringely; IE Nixed, Mozilla Fixed; Infoworld (San Francisco, California); Jul 30, 2004. This week's theme: slang. Mark your calendars: On June 18, 2005, 4 PM GMT (9 AM PDT) online chat about language myths with guest Michael Quinion of World Wide Words. https://wordsmith.org/chat -------- Date: Wed Jun 15 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--spondulicks X-Bonus: What's done to children, they will do to society. -Karl A. Menninger, psychiatrist (1893-1990) spondulicks also spondulix (spon-DOO-liks) noun Money; cash. [Of unknown origin.] It could only be a sign of money's popularity that there are numerous slang terms to describe it. Among others, there are moola, buck, greenback (from the color of the US currency), simoleon, dead presidents (from the pictures of US presidents on currency notes), bean, and dough (referring to the buying of food). Counterfeit money could then very well be sourdough. "Get yourself another tasty helping, as long as you are in possession of the requisite spondulicks." Salman Rushdie; The Ground Beneath Her Feet; Picador Books; 2000. This week's theme: slang. -------- Date: Thu Jun 16 00:01:09 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--shellac X-Bonus: Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952) shellac (shuh-LAK) verb tr. 1. To coat or treat with varnish. 2. To defeat easily or decisively. 3. To strike repeatedly; batter. noun 1. Purified lac (a resinous substance secreted by the female of the lac insect) in the form of thin sheets. 2. Varnish made by dissolving this material in alcohol or other solvent. 3. A phonograph record made of this substance, played at 78 rpm. [From shell + lac (translation of French laque en ecailles: lac in thin plates).] "The other two competing nations in the Churchill are Argentina and the United States, the latter shellacked 77-3 by Wales last week." Lance Hornby; Wales Blows Past Canada; The Free Press (London, UK); Jun 12, 2005. This week's theme: slang. -------- Date: Fri Jun 17 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mopery X-Bonus: To array a man's will against his sickness is the supreme art of medicine. -Henry Ward Beecher, preacher and writer (1813-1887) mopery (MO-puh-ree) noun 1. Violation of a trivial or imaginary law, for example, loitering, used to arrest someone when no other crime can be charged. 2. Mopish behavior: to have pouted face, be gloomy or disappointed. [From mope, from mop, of uncertain origin.] "The bleakest moment came when Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon indulged in fatuous mopery, and compounded their crime by causing four Chopin studies to be played at the same time." Clement Crisp; Sadler's Wells; Financial Times (London, UK); Feb 25, 2004. This week's theme: slang. -------- Date: Mon Jun 20 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--kleptomaniac X-Bonus: Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would still be destroyed, chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. Few that fell trees plant them; nor would planting avail much towards getting back anything like the noble primeval forests. -John Muir, naturalist, explorer, and writer (1838-1914) kleptomaniac (klep-tuh-MAY-nee-ak) noun A person having an obsessive urge to steal, driven by emotional disturbance rather than material need. [From Greek klepto-, from kleptes (thief) + -mania (madness).] From The Devil's Dictionary: Kleptomaniac, n. A rich thief. "[Winona Ryder] told the court, which convicted her of theft, that she was getting into character for the part of a kleptomaniac in a new film." Sarah Boseley; Why Do Women Steal?; The Guardian (London, UK); Jul 21, 2003. This week's A.Word.A.Day presents five words from The Devil's Dictionary by satirist Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914). First published as The Cynic's Word Book, "a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve", the Dictionary is a compilation of witty, aphoristic definitions he penned over the years for the San Francisco journal Wasp. His succinct style, acid wit, and keen observation of life are evident in almost every entry, such as: "Apologize - To lay the foundation for a future offence", and "Politics - A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage." Like all genuine satire, while these are funny there is more than a grain of truth in them. You can browse the Dictionary at http://thedevilsdictionary.com/ -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Jun 21 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--dissemble X-Bonus: Those who put out the people's eyes, reproach them for their blindness. -John Milton, poet (1608-1674) dissemble (di-SEM-buhl) verb tr., intr. To hide true feelings, motives, or the facts. [By alteration of Middle English dissimulen, from Latin dissimulare, from simulare, from similis (similar).] From The Devil's Dictionary: Dissemble, v.i. To put a clean shirt upon the character. "So when should you be honest and when should you dissemble? 'You don't want to trick them and tell them later about the onions in the soup because they'll learn not to trust you,' advises Chambliss." Barbara Rowley; 7 Rules For a Peaceful Home; Parenting (San Francisco); Dec 2001/Jan 2002. This week's theme: words from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. -------- Date: Wed Jun 22 00:01:09 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mendacious X-Bonus: Be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862) mendacious (men-DAY-shuhs) adjective Telling lies, especially as a habit. [From Latin mendac-, stem of mendax (lying), from mendum (fault or defect) that also gave us amend, emend, and mendicant.] From The Devil's Dictionary: Mendacious, adj. Addicted to rhetoric. "Forget Disney's cartoon tale of the mendacious marionette whose doweled nose grows longer with every fib." Roger McBain; Ballet Helps 'Pinocchio' Step Out In New Direction; Evansville Courier & Press (Indiana); May 11, 2005. This week's theme: words from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. -------- Date: Thu Jun 23 00:01:22 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--resolute X-Bonus: 'Tis with our judgements as our watches: none Go just alike, yet each believes his own. -Alexander Pope, poet (1688-1744) resolute (REZ-uh-loot) adjective Determined; firm; unwavering. [From Middle English, from Latin resolutus, past participle of resolvere (to resolve), from re- + solvere (to untie or loosen). Ultimately from Indo-European root leu- (to loosen, divide) that is also the source for forlorn, lag, loss, solve, and analysis.] From The Devil's Dictionary: Resolute, adj. Obstinate in a course that we approve. "Government and the private sector must unite against the threat, [Doreen Frankson] noted. 'Firm, resolute and measured actions are required.'" Manufacturing Revival Under Way; The Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica); May 22, 2005. This week's theme: words from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. -------- Date: Fri Jun 24 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pandemonium X-Bonus: God builds his temple in the heart on the ruins of churches and religions. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882) pandemonium (pan-duh-MO-nee-uhm) noun 1. Wild uproar. 2. A place marked by disarray, noise, chaos, confusion, etc. 3. Hell. [From Pandaemonium, the capital of hell in Paradise Lost by John Milton (1608-1674).] From The Devil's Dictionary: Pandemonium, n. Literally, the Place of All the Demons. Most of them have escaped into politics and finance, and the place is now used as a lecture hall by the Audible Reformer. When disturbed by his voice the ancient echoes clamor appropriate responses most gratifying to his pride of distinction. "Each short move brings pandemonium, a clatter of hooves and high-pitched bleats from lambs frantically searching for their mothers." Shirleen Holt; Court Battle Over Sheepherders' Plight Highlights Fading Vocation; The Seattle Times; May 22, 2005. This week's theme: words from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. -------- Date: Mon Jun 27 00:01:15 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--caliginous X-Bonus: Doubt everything at least once, even the proposition that two times two equals four. -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, scientist and philosopher (1742-1799) caliginous (kuh-LIJ-uh-nuhs) adjective Dark, gloomy, obscure, misty. [From Latin caliginosus (misty, dark).] "In March the cover got blown off of Brightly's caliginous caper." Steve Mirsky; Academic Exams Taken by True And False People; Scientific American (Washington DC); Jun 2005. Are you one of those people who love antiques? You hound yard sales on weekends for some rare piece that might be up for sale. You stop at every antique mall on your way to grandpa's house. In a way, you love to travel back in time. If you're one of those folks, consider this week's words as an antique equivalent of the English language. Linguistically, they're called archaic terms. They were once everyday words, but today they reveal their age. They've that certain old-time flavor to them. Not that these words show any wear and tear. They're still ready to serve, patiently waiting in the pages of dictionaries, even though labeled as senior citizens of the language. They haven't called it quits. They still have their shingles up. Verily, I urge you to become better acquainted with them. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue Jun 28 00:01:12 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--quotha X-Bonus: Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual. -Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author (1743-1826) quotha (KWO-thuh) interjection Indeed. [From quoth a, an alteration of quoth he (said he).] The word is used to express surprise or sarcasm, after quoting someone. Another, much older term with the same meaning is forsooth (literally, for truth). "'Such stuff as dreams are made on,' quotha." Dennis O'Donnell; Tobacco Pipes; The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland); Nov 7, 2000. "The wicked London tavern - thieves and drabs To affront the blessed hillside drabs and thieves With mended morals, quotha -- fine new lives!" Elizabeth Barrett Browning; Aurora Leigh; 19th c. This week's theme: archaic words. -------- Date: Wed Jun 29 00:01:13 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cark X-Bonus: In their early passions women are in love with the lover, later they are in love with love. -Francois de La Rochefoucauld, writer (1613-1680) cark (kark) verb tr., intr. To worry. noun A worry or care. [From Middle English carken (to load or burden), from Norman French carquier, from Latin carricare. Ultimately from Indo-European root kers- (to run) that's also the source of car, career, carpenter, occur, discharge, and caricature. Why caricature? Because a caricature is a loaded or distorted picture of someone.] "Crows in hundreds carking desolately from the blasted white skeletons of dead trees." Colleen McCullough; The Thorn Birds; HarperCollins Publishers; 1977. This week's theme: archaic words. -------- Date: Thu Jun 30 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--crasis X-Bonus: Wherever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship. -Harry S Truman, 33rd US president (1884-1972) crasis (KRAY-sis) noun 1. Composition; constitution; blending. 2. Contraction of two vowels into one long vowel or into a diphthong. [From Greek krasis (mixture, blend), from kerannynai (to mix).] "However, I do not wish to condemn the Greek-Latin crasis. After all I have used it to mould my surname (Latro=thief [Latin], Nike=victory [Greek]) into a more palatable form (victory over the thieves) than might be inferred from its slanderous (for me) Latin stem!" Nicola Latronico; Making Sense; The Lancet (London, UK); Mar 30, 1996. This week's theme: archaic words.