A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Thu Jun 1 00:21:29 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--abecedarian X-Bonus: How come you are so fond of all those probability people? Because they are never negative. -Andrejs Dunkels abe.ce.dar.i.an n [ME abecedary, fr. ML abecedarium alphabet, fr. LL, neut. of abecedarius of the alphabet, fr. the letters a + b + c + d] (1603): one learning the rudiments of something (as the alphabet) abecedarian adj (1665) 1 a: of or relating to the alphabet b: alphabetically arranged 2: rudimentary -------- Date: Fri Jun 2 00:19:45 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--xanthippe X-Bonus: Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is. -Isaac Asimov Xan.thip.pe or Xan.tip.pe n [Gk Xanthippe, shrewish wife of Socrates] (1691): an ill-tempered woman -- And I thought I'll never see omphaloskepsis outside dictionary... > From: Aryeh Cohen > AWAD had material benefit for me last night. I walked into a local bar to get > few beers and they had challenge posted. The challenge was in the form of > "If you know this word you get a free drink." The word, probably supplied by > another AWAD recepient was omphaloskepsis. Last night's beer was on you - I > owe you one. -------- Date: Sat Jun 3 00:19:54 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lycanthropy X-Bonus: The loss of life will be irreplaceable. -Dan Quayle after the San Francisco earthquake ly.can.thro.py n [NL lycanthropia, fr. Gk lykanthropia, fr. lykanthropos werewolf, fr. lykos wolf + anthropos human being--more at wolf] (1594) 1: a delusion that one has become a wolf 2: the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic -- > From: Sandra J. Stowell > From a woman's point of view, the phrase "shrewish wife of Socrates" > is at best inevitable, and seems quite redundant. Think of being > married to Socrates! I certainly sympathize with Mrs Xanthippe... -------- Date: Sun Jun 4 00:19:36 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--oneiromancy X-Bonus: Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. onei.ro.man.cy n [Gk oneiros + E -mancy] (1652): divination by means of dreams -------- Date: Mon Jun 5 00:19:54 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--imprimatur X-Bonus: Nothing worthwhile was ever accomplished by a reasonable man. im.pri.ma.tur n [NL, let it be printed, fr. imprimere to print, fr. L, to imprint, impress--more at impress] (1640) 1 a: a license to print or publish esp. by Roman Catholic episcopal authority b: approval of a publication under circumstances of official censorship 2 a: sanction, approval b: imprint c: a mark of approval or distinction -------- Date: Tue Jun 6 00:20:11 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--tessellate X-Bonus: Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present. -Albert Camus tes.sel.late vt -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [LL tessellatus, pp. of tessellare to pave with tesserae, fr. L tessella, dim. of tessera] (1789): to form into or adorn with mosaic -------- Date: Wed Jun 7 00:34:32 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ululate X-Bonus: The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable. -John Kenneth Galbraith, economist (1908-2006) ul.u.late vi -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [L ululatus, pp. of ululare, of imit. origin] (1623): howl, wail -- ul.u.la.tion n -------- Date: Thu Jun 8 00:20:04 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sequitur X-Bonus: The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. - Eden Phillpotts se.qui.tur n [L, it follows, 3d pers. sing. pres. indic. of sequi t follow--more at sue] (1836): the conclusion of an inference: consequence -------- Date: Fri Jun 9 00:20:29 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--obnubilate X-Bonus: Reputation: what others are not thinking about you. ob.nu.bi.late vt -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [L obnubilatus, pp. of obnubilare, fr. ob- in the way + nubilare to be cloudy, fr. nubilus cloudy, fr. nubes cloud--more at ob-, nuance] (1583): becloud, obscure -- ob.nu.bi.la.tion n -------- Date: Sat Jun 10 00:20:29 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--caveat X-Bonus: If I love you, what business is it of yours? -Goethe ca.ve.at n [L, let him beware, fr. cavere--more at hear] (1533) 1 a: a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices b: an explanation to prevent misinterpretation 2: a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition has a hearing ca.ve.at lec.tor [L] foreign term : let the reader beware caveat emp.tor n [NL, let the buyer beware] (1523): a principle in commerce: without a warranty the buyer takes the risk -------- Date: Sun Jun 11 00:19:34 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pullulate X-Bonus: There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. -Hodding Carter pul.lu.late vi -lat.ed ; -lat.ing [L pullulatus, pp. of pullulare, fr. pullulus, dim. of pullus chicken, sprout--more at foal] (1619) 1 a: germinate, sprout b: to breed or produce freely 2: swarm, teem -- pul.lu.la.tion n -------- Date: Mon Jun 12 00:20:50 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--swag X-Bonus: Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. -James Allen swag vb swagged ; swag.ging [prob. of Scand origin; akin to ON sveggja to cause to sway; akin to OHG swingan to swing] vi (1530) 1: sway, lurch 2: sag ~ vt 1: to adorn with swags 2: to arrange (as drapery) in swags swag n (1660) 1: sway 2 a: something (as a decoration) hanging in a curve between two points: festoon b: a suspended cluster (as of evergreen branches) 3 a: goods acquired by unlawful means: loot b: spoils, profits 4: a depression in the earth 5 chiefly Austral: a pack of personal belongings -- Short words impart a certain vigor to the writing. As if they say, "See, I don't waste any time, here is the message: ..." They mean business. This week's words are short -- some short and sweet, and others short and snappy -- but all of them hardworking. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jun 13 00:21:09 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hone X-Bonus: Of all the music that reached farthest into heaven, it is the beating of a loving heart. -Henry Ward Beecher hone n [ME, fr. OE han stone; akin to ON hein whetstone, L cot-, cos, Skt sisati he whets] (14c): whetstone hone vt honed ; hon.ing (1826) 1: to sharpen or smooth with a whetstone 2: to make more acute, intense, or effective: whet -- hon.er n hone vi honed ; hon.ing [MF hoigner to grumble] (1600) 1 dial: yearn--often used with for or after 2 dial: grumble, moan hone in vi [alter. of home in] (1965): to move toward or focus attention on an objective Usage The few commentators who have noticed hone in consider it to be a mistake for home in. It may have arisen from home in by the weakening of the /m/ sound to /n/ or may perhaps simply be due to the influence of hone. Even though it seems to have established itself in American English (and its mention in a British usage book suggests it is used in British English too), your use of it esp. in writing is likely to be called a mistake. Home in or in figurative use zero in is an easy alternative. -------- Date: Wed Jun 14 00:19:48 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--educe X-Bonus: Only when you can be extremely pliable and soft can you be extremely hard and strong. -Zen Proverb educe vt educed ; educ.ing [L educere to draw out, fr. e- + ducere to lead--more at tow] (1603) 1: to bring out (as something latent) 2: deduce -- educ.ible adj -- educ.tion n syn educe, evoke, elicit, extract, extort mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved. educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent . evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory . elicit usu. implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response . extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information . extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly . -------- Date: Thu Jun 15 00:20:54 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--eke X-Bonus: The cynic says: the pessimist is a realist who isn't afraid to admit it. eke adv [ME, fr. OE eac; akin to OHG ouh also, L aut or, Gk au again] (bef. 12c) archaic: also eke vt eked ; ek.ing [ME, fr. OE iecan, ecan; akin to OHG ouhhon to add, L augere to increase, Gk auxein] (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: increase, lengthen 2: to get with great difficulty--usu. used with out <~ out a living> eke out vt (1596) 1: to make up for the deficiencies of: supplement 2: to make (a supply) last by economy -------- Date: Fri Jun 16 00:21:01 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--spar X-Bonus: Even the smallest candle burns brighter in the dark. spar n [ME sparre; akin to OE spere spear--more at spear] (14c) 1: a stout pole 2 a: a stout rounded wood or metal piece (as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging b: any of the main longitudinal members of the wing of an airplane that carry the ribs spar vi sparred ; spar.ring [prob. alter. of spur] (1537) 1 a: box; esp: to gesture without landing a blow to draw one's opponent or create an opening b: to engage in a practice or exhibition bout of boxing 2: skirmish, wrangle 3: to strike or fight with feet or spurs in the manner of a gamecock spar n (1814) 1: a movement of offense or defense in boxing 2: a sparring match or session spar n [LG; akin to OE spaerstan gypsum, spaeren of plaster] (1581): any of various nonmetallic usu. cleavable and lustrous minerals -------- Date: Sat Jun 17 00:21:29 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--brio X-Bonus: There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. -Booker T. Washington brio n [It] (1734): enthusiastic vigor: vivacity, verve -- > From: Martha R. O'Kennon (albion.edu) > i was just reading "eke". you could mention that from the first > meaning we get the word nickname from "an eke name". so i'm told. Thanks Martha. Here is the complete citation: nick.name n [ME nekename additional name, alter. (resulting from misdivision of an ekename) of ekename, fr. eke eke, also + name name] (15c) 1: a usu. descriptive name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to a person, place, or thing 2: a familiar form of a proper name (as of a person or a city) -------- Date: Sun Jun 18 00:20:26 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pip X-Bonus: I would rather lose in a cause that will someday win, than win in a cause that will someday lose. -Woodrow Wilson pip n [ME pippe, fr. MD (akin to OHG pfiffiz), fr. (assumed) VL pipita, alter. of L pituita phlegm, pip; perh. akin to Gk pitys pine--more at pine] (15c) 1 a: a disorder of a bird marked by formation of a scale or crust on the tongue b: the scale or crust of this disorder 2 a: any of various human ailments; esp: a slight nonspecific disorder b chiefly Brit: a feeling of irritation or annoyance pip vb pipped ; pip.ping [imit.] vi (1598) 1: peep 1 2: to break through the shell of the egg ~ vt: to break open (the shell of an egg) in hatching pip n [origin unknown] (1604) 1 a: one of the dots used on dice and dominoes to indicate numerical value b: spot 2c 2 a: spot, speck b: spike 6a; also: blip 3: an individual rootstock of the lily of the valley 4: a diamond-shaped insignia of rank worn by a second lieutenant, lieutenant, or captain in the British army pip n [short for pippin] (1797) 1: a small fruit seed; esp: one of a several-seeded fleshy fruit 2: one extraordinary of its kind pip vt pipped ; pip.ping [prob. fr. pip to blackball, fr. pip or pip] (1880) Brit: to beat by a narrow margin pip n [imit.] (1907) chiefly Brit: a short high-pitched tone -------- Date: Mon Jun 19 00:20:16 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--subaltern X-Bonus: Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. -Robert Frost sub.al.tern adj [LL subalternus, fr. L sub- + alternus alternate, fr. alter other (of two)--more at alter] (1570) 1: particular with reference to a related universal proposition <"some S is P" is a ~ proposition to "all S is P"> 2: subordinate subaltern n (1605) 1: a person holding a subordinate position; specif: a junior officer (as in the British army) 2: a particular proposition that follows immediately from a universal -- One of the reasons of the richness of English is its generous borrowing of words from other languages. Latin has been a source of large number of loanwords to English. This week's AWAD focus is on words adopted from Latin. "Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur." (Anything in Latin sounds profound). Look for seven "profundities" this week. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jun 20 00:20:50 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nimbus X-Bonus: We learn from history that we do not learn anything from history. nim.bus n, pl nim.bi or nim.bus.es [L, rainstorm, cloud; prob. akin to L nebula cloud--more at nebula] (1616) 1 a: a luminous vapor, cloud, or atmosphere about a god or goddess when on earth b: a cloud or atmosphere (as of romance) about a person or thing 2: an indication (as a circle) of radiant light or glory about the head of a drawn or sculptured divinity, saint, or sovereign 3 a: a rain cloud b: thunderhead; also: cumulus 2 -------- Date: Wed Jun 21 00:21:45 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--intercalary X-Bonus: It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. -Robert H. Goddard in.ter.ca.la.ry adj [L intercalarius, fr. intercalare] (1614) 1 a: inserted in a calendar b of a year: containing an intercalary period (as a day or month) 2: inserted between other things or parts: interpolated -------- Date: Thu Jun 22 00:20:35 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pugnacious X-Bonus: Why do grandparents and grandchildren get along so well? They have the same enemy--the mother. -Claudette Colbert pug.na.cious adj [L pugnac-, pugnax, fr. pugnare to fight--more at pungent] (1642): having a quarrelsome or combative nature: truculent syn see belligerent -- pug.na.cious.ly adv -- pug.na.cious.ness n -- pug.nac.i.ty n -------- Date: Fri Jun 23 00:20:18 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--reboant X-Bonus: Fenderberg: Deposit on the inside of a car fender after a snowstorm. reb.o.ant adj [L reboant-, reboans, prp. of reboare to resound, fr. re- + boare to cry aloud, roar, fr. Gk boan, of imit. origin] (1830): marked by reverberation -------- Date: Sat Jun 24 00:21:04 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--desultory X-Bonus: The great use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it. -William James des.ul.to.ry adj [L desultorius, lit., of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, fr. desilire to leap down, fr. de- + salire to leap--more at sally] (1581) 1: marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose 2: not connected with the main subject 3: disappointing in progress or performance: sluggish -- des.ul.to.ri.ly adv -- des.ul.to.ri.ness n -------- Date: Sun Jun 25 00:21:03 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mendacious X-Bonus: Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. men.da.cious adj [L mendac-, mendax--more at amend] (1616): given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth <~ tales of his adventures> syn see dishonest -- men.da.cious.ly adv -- men.da.cious.ness n -------- Date: Mon Jun 26 00:20:26 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--abut X-Bonus: A man is rich in proportion to the things he can afford to let alone. -Henry David Thoreau abut vb abut.ted ; abut.ting [ME abutten, partly fr. OF aboter to border on, fr. a- (fr. L ad-) + bout blow, end, fr. boter to strike; partly fr. OF abuter to come to an end, fr. a- + but end, aim--more at butt, butt] vi (15c) 1: to touch along a border or with a projecting part 2 a: to terminate at a point of contact b: to lean for support ~ vt 1: to border on 2: to cause to abut -------- Date: Tue Jun 27 00:20:09 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--testy X-Bonus: It's wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago. -Dan Quayle tes.ty adj tes.ti.er ; -est [ME testif, fr. AF, headstrong, fr. OF teste head--more at tester] (1526) 1: easily annoyed: irritable 2: marked by impatience or ill humor <~ remarks> -- tes.ti.ly adv -- tes.ti.ness n -------- Date: Wed Jun 28 00:21:54 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--riff X-Bonus: The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. -Gen. Omar Bradley riff n [prob. by shortening & alter. fr. refrain] (1935) 1: an ostinato phrase (as in jazz) typically supporting a solo improvisation; also: a piece based on such a phrase 2: a short succint usu. witty comment; also: bit, routine riff vi (1950): to perform a riff riff vb [short for riffle] (1952): riffle, skim <~ pages> Riff n, pl Riffs or Riffi or Riff (1903): a Berber of the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco -------- Date: Thu Jun 29 00:21:04 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--diaspora X-Bonus: Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius. -Mozart di.as.po.ra n [Gk, dispersion, fr. diaspeirein to scatter, fr. dia- + speirein to sow] (1881) 1 cap a: the settling of scattered colonies of Jews outside Palestine after the Babylonian exile b: the area outside Palestine settled by Jews c: the Jews living outside Palestine or modern Israel 2 a: the breaking up and scattering of a people: migration b: people settled far from their ancestral homelands c: the place where these people live -------- Date: Fri Jun 30 00:22:18 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--brobdingnagian X-Bonus: I'm not indecisive. Am I indecisive? -Jim Scheibel, St. Paul MN mayor Brob.ding.nag.ian adj [Brobdingnag, imaginary land of giants in Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift] (1728): marked by tremendous size -- Brobdingnagian n