Michael Gates's Blog, page 8
July 26, 2020
Dear Diary: I'm feeling SCRIBACIOUS
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...
SCRIBACIOUS [scrib-AY-shuss] (adjective)
Fond of writing
"Heraud is a loquacious scribacious little man, of middle age, of parboiled greasy aspect, whom Leigh Hunt describes as ‘wavering in the most astonishing manner between being Something and Nothing."
--Thomas Carlyle, The Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson (1899)
TWITO, page 133
SCRIBACIOUS [scrib-AY-shuss] (adjective)
Fond of writing
"Heraud is a loquacious scribacious little man, of middle age, of parboiled greasy aspect, whom Leigh Hunt describes as ‘wavering in the most astonishing manner between being Something and Nothing."
--Thomas Carlyle, The Correspondence of Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson (1899)
TWITO, page 133
July 19, 2020
Are these times FISSIPAROUS or what?
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...
FISSIPAROUS [fih-SIP-er-us] (adjective)
Tending to break apart; divisive.
"This endless multiplication of somatic cells has been going on under the eyes of numerous observers for forty years. What observer has watched for forty years to see whether the fissiparous multiplication of Protozoa does not cease? What observer has watched for one year, or one month or one week?"
--Herbert Spencer, "Professor Weismann's Theories", in Popular Science (1893)
The word "congress" means "coming together". Odd, isn't it, how fissiparous the US Congress tends to be?
TWITO, page 54
FISSIPAROUS [fih-SIP-er-us] (adjective)
Tending to break apart; divisive.
"This endless multiplication of somatic cells has been going on under the eyes of numerous observers for forty years. What observer has watched for forty years to see whether the fissiparous multiplication of Protozoa does not cease? What observer has watched for one year, or one month or one week?"
--Herbert Spencer, "Professor Weismann's Theories", in Popular Science (1893)
The word "congress" means "coming together". Odd, isn't it, how fissiparous the US Congress tends to be?
TWITO, page 54
July 12, 2020
Are you a nobody or are you a PANJANDRUM?
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...
PANJANDRUM [pan-JAN-drum] (noun)
A very important person (VIP) -- or someone who thinks he or she is (sometimes capitalized).
"Panjandrum" is sometimes used as a metaphorical synonym for other things, such as an explosive weapon used by the British military in World War II, and even for the Supreme Being. (I prefer to refer to the latter as The Cosmic Muffin.)
TWITO, page 106
PANJANDRUM [pan-JAN-drum] (noun)
A very important person (VIP) -- or someone who thinks he or she is (sometimes capitalized).
"Panjandrum" is sometimes used as a metaphorical synonym for other things, such as an explosive weapon used by the British military in World War II, and even for the Supreme Being. (I prefer to refer to the latter as The Cosmic Muffin.)
TWITO, page 106
June 14, 2020
Are your nights these days ONEIRIC?
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today (tonight) it's...
ONEIRIC [oh-NYE-rik] (adjective)
Related to or suggestive of dreams
"A fairly common type observed was a state of mental confusion associated with what has been termed oneiric delirium, symptoms of which were associated with a history of concussion and exhaustive experiences."
--John H. W. Rhein, M.D., "Psychopathic Reactions to Combat Experiences in the American Army," The American Journal of Insanity (1920)
TWITO, page 102
ONEIRIC [oh-NYE-rik] (adjective)
Related to or suggestive of dreams
"A fairly common type observed was a state of mental confusion associated with what has been termed oneiric delirium, symptoms of which were associated with a history of concussion and exhaustive experiences."
--John H. W. Rhein, M.D., "Psychopathic Reactions to Combat Experiences in the American Army," The American Journal of Insanity (1920)
TWITO, page 102
May 25, 2020
Is the pandemic driving you DOOLALLY?
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today (tonight) it's...
DOOLALLY [DOO-lol-lee] (adjective)
Insane, mad, eccentric
"I love talking to people who are a little bit doolally," said Lisa. "Not a lot crazy, just a little bit."
TWITO, page 42
DOOLALLY [DOO-lol-lee] (adjective)
Insane, mad, eccentric
"I love talking to people who are a little bit doolally," said Lisa. "Not a lot crazy, just a little bit."
TWITO, page 42
May 10, 2020
It's so FULGENT that it's hurting my eyes!
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today (tonight) it's...
FULGENT [FUL-jent] (adjective)
Shining brilliantly, radiant
"Unable to sleep, he wandered the hills that night, under the fulgent moon."
TWITO, page 58
FULGENT [FUL-jent] (adjective)
Shining brilliantly, radiant
"Unable to sleep, he wandered the hills that night, under the fulgent moon."
TWITO, page 58
April 19, 2020
You're talking nothing but BLATHERSKITE!
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today it's...
BLATHERSKITE [BLAT-er-skite] (noun)
1. A babbling, foolish person
2. Absurd and foolish talk
"Oh, that's nothing but blatherskite!" cried Miranda when Viola suggested that Mr. Crave might only be interested in her fortune."
TWITO, page 22
BLATHERSKITE [BLAT-er-skite] (noun)
1. A babbling, foolish person
2. Absurd and foolish talk
"Oh, that's nothing but blatherskite!" cried Miranda when Viola suggested that Mr. Crave might only be interested in her fortune."
TWITO, page 22
April 5, 2020
A time for LACRIMATION...stay safe
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...
LACRIMATION [lack·ri·MAY·shun] (noun)
Secretion of tears, especially in excess
"Once again, Billy's team lost, and the whole city was filled with lacrimation."
TWITO, page 82
LACRIMATION [lack·ri·MAY·shun] (noun)
Secretion of tears, especially in excess
"Once again, Billy's team lost, and the whole city was filled with lacrimation."
TWITO, page 82
March 28, 2020
The longer this lasts, the more PHILOCOMAL I'll be
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's....
PHILOCOMAL [FI-lo-cohm-al] (adjective)
Characterized by excessive concern with one's hair
"There were ladies present too; and after some pleasant little discourse, all tending to the glorification of hair-dressing, an eminent professor of the philocomal art there present proceeded to a series of practical and illustrative experiments on the heads of some of the young ladies...."
--George Augustus Sala, Twice 'Round the Clock (1858) (TWITO, page 112)
As I isolate at home and practice social distancing during the pandemic, and as all barber shops and hair salons are closed, I have a frustrating problem.
I need a haircut. "We'll see what happens," as you-know-who keeps saying, ad nauseam. You'll likely see a shaggier me (if you see me at all), unless I get too tempted by the scissors -- probably not a good idea.
PHILOCOMAL [FI-lo-cohm-al] (adjective)
Characterized by excessive concern with one's hair
"There were ladies present too; and after some pleasant little discourse, all tending to the glorification of hair-dressing, an eminent professor of the philocomal art there present proceeded to a series of practical and illustrative experiments on the heads of some of the young ladies...."
--George Augustus Sala, Twice 'Round the Clock (1858) (TWITO, page 112)
As I isolate at home and practice social distancing during the pandemic, and as all barber shops and hair salons are closed, I have a frustrating problem.
I need a haircut. "We'll see what happens," as you-know-who keeps saying, ad nauseam. You'll likely see a shaggier me (if you see me at all), unless I get too tempted by the scissors -- probably not a good idea.
March 15, 2020
'Tis most vexing to issue forth in antique GODWOTTERY!
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's....
GODWOTTERY (noun)
1. Elaborate gardening
2. The use of archaic language
"Verily, I say, 'tis most vexing to issue forth in antique jottings, as if from the honeyed pen of Shakespeare. One feels like an artless fly-bitten coxcomb! Or a lumpish doghearted wagtail! Or even an impertinent flap-mouthed dewberry! Fie on it! Methinks I must leave off with this gleeking, sheep-biting godwottery! Art thou in agreement?" (TWITO, page 62)
GODWOTTERY (noun)
1. Elaborate gardening
2. The use of archaic language
"Verily, I say, 'tis most vexing to issue forth in antique jottings, as if from the honeyed pen of Shakespeare. One feels like an artless fly-bitten coxcomb! Or a lumpish doghearted wagtail! Or even an impertinent flap-mouthed dewberry! Fie on it! Methinks I must leave off with this gleeking, sheep-biting godwottery! Art thou in agreement?" (TWITO, page 62)
