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What's Your Word for the Day?
message 2601:
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Carol
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Nov 23, 2010 09:34AM
Yes you knew what are first thoughts would be LOL
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I wonder if this is where we get the word CRAP?As in...Don't give me any crap!
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It has often been claimed in popular culture that a euphemism for human waste, "crap", originated with Thomas Crapper because of his association with lavatories. The most common version of this story is that American servicemen stationed in England during World War I saw his name on cisterns and used it as army slang, i.e. "I'm going to the crapper."[8]
The word crap is actually of Middle English origin, and first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1846 under a reference to a crapping ken, or a privy, where ken means a house.[8]
Its most likely etymological origin is a combination of two older words, the Dutch krappen, to pluck off, cut off, or separate; and the Old French crappe, or siftings or waste or rejected matter, from medieval Latin crappa, chaff.[8]
As Thomas Crapper launched his company in 1861 and only gained fame much later, there is therefore no direct link between his name and the colloquialism, except one of coincidence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_C...
Kitty told me that this has been a little neglected, but I would certainly like to revive it. From now on, I'll be posting one word a day (at least Monday through Friday) that even the well-educated lover of books might not be familiar with. My only rule (at least for my own words) is that they're not overly abstruse scientific terms that would only ever be used by a specialist. Today's word is:
Obsolagnium: (n) The waning of sexual desire with the setting on of old age.
Example: Much to the shock and dismay of the young gold-digger who had married him, the ancient and humpbacked Mr. Finch showed absolutely no sign whatsoever of any obsolagnium.
Proctalgia, n. Pain in the backside. 'And this is our Corporate Resources Management Officer . . . I'm sorry, her name has just slipped my mind for the moment, but she's known to all of us, with the greatest possible affection, as Proctalgia.'
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Gabi, why don't you give us a few of the words that you found there and let us have a crack at them?
Hi, Malcolm - If you would be so kind as to give the definition, part of speech, and maybe an example of usage, like you did with your first wonderful contribution.
And if we start doing more than one word a day, we might get drowned in syllables!
John wrote: "Hi, Malcolm - If you would be so kind as to give the definition, part of speech, and maybe an example of usage, like you did with your first wonderful contribution.
And if we start doing more ..."
Pleniloquence, n. Literally, a plentitude of talking. Excessive loquacity. There are two species of the genus, entitled the Senate and House of Representatives.
So are you a modern day Ambrose Bierce and this is your way of compiling a new Devil's dictionary?
Malcolm, perhaps an Ambrose Bierce if you subtract the fascination with Mexican politics and the ability to be a superior short story writer. But someone with a fervent love of the English language, especially its little forgotten corners.
ostensorium - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :ostensorium
n 1: (Roman Catholic Church) a vessel (usually of gold or
silver) in which the consecrated Host is exposed for
adoration [syn: monstrance, ostensorium]
The saint's relic was carried forth in a ostensorium made of clay instead of gold ;in keeping with his simple life.
John wrote: "Gabi, why don't you give us a few of the words that you found there and let us have a crack at them?"John made a funny, crack /chiropractor
Sometimes you guys just crack me up! LOL!
Mod
Newengland wrote: "You stumble on a word you don't know. You look it up. You like it. You share it here! OR...
You just like it word. It likes you. You exchange phone numbers (or e-mail) and BAM! it's a..."
NewEngland, this is in response to your almost three-year-old posting on the definition of solipsism.
I'm sure your etymology was in jest (perhaps it wasn't), but solipsism comes from the Latin "solus" meaning "alone" and the noun form "ipse" meaning "person," "self," or "one's self." Nothing to do with the sun at all, actually.
Just in case there are any other word geeks out there.
Breastsummer, n. Believe it or not, this beautiful word denotes the beam supporting the upper front part of a building, over its main door or portico. 'Ah, Mrs Sandalbath, as I came in I admired your breastsummer so much. What a superstructure!'
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Didn't you get it?
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I am still repenting. Me, a charter member of the Amalgamated Solipsists Local 421....
NE, if you think I'm going to read through three years and 60 pages of posts, you're even crazier than I am. And I thought your membership in Amalgamated Solipsists Local lapsed in your salad days. Not that you're not already still in them!
Debbie wrote: "You are right John!! NE's reference to the sun was a jest, as all of us who share his love of wordplay know! Didn't you get it?"
Yes, I got it, Debbie. But his etymology seemed to be in earnest. At least until it was correct a few posts later.
My Word of the Day today is...Cicerone – A tour guide, especially for someone who conducts visitors and sightseers to museums, galleries, etc., and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic, or artistic interest. (Noun.) The word is eponymous, taken from Cicero’s name, alluding to his intelligence and erudition on these subjects.
Example: Thanks to the insight of our learned and thoughtful cicerone, the Louvre turned from a confusing complex of a bewildering amount of art into a storehouse of intelligible treasures.
Zeit·geist (tsītˈgīstˌ, zītˈ-)noun
The spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation: “It's easy to see how a student . . . in the 1940's could imbibe such notions. The Zeitgeist encouraged Philosopher-Kings” (James Atlas).
Origin: German : Zeit, time (from Middle High German zīt, from Old High German; see dā- in Indo-European roots)
Sexual freedom and social changes was the zeitgeist of the 1960's college campuses.
droll (drl)adj. droll·er, droll·est
Amusingly odd or whimsically comical.
n. Archaic
A buffoon.
[French drôle, buffoon, droll, from Old French drolle, bon vivant, possibly from Middle Dutch drol, goblin.]
drollness n.
drolly adv.
The new guy on the block has a droll humor and makes me laugh.
John wrote: "NE, if you think I'm going to read through three years and 60 pages of posts, you're even crazier than I am. And I thought your membership in Amalgamated Solipsists Local lapsed in your salad days..."John, I am gradually reading my way through all of the threads in their entirety. Believe it or not there are only seven on show that I have not yet read. (I don't worry about archived threads). I think the one for limericks is my favourite.
Absquatulate, v. To leave in a hurry, suddenly and/or in secret. 'No problems, Mr Trump; just make the cheque out to cash --- I'm doing the accounts tonight and you can rely on me to absequatulate first thing in the morning.'
Or maybe he will absequatulate with the said funds. I am the world's worst skeptic.skep·tic also scep·tic (skptk)
n.
1. One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
2. One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3. Philosophy
a. often Skeptic An adherent of a school of skepticism.
b. Skeptic A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? b.c.).
[Latin Scepticus, disciple of Pyrrho of Elis, from Greek Skeptikos, from skeptesthai, to examine; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
Today’s word of the day is…Grangerize – 1) To mutilate a book by clipping pictures out of it or 2) To illustrate a book by adding pictures cut from other books. (Verb) Its origins date from around 1880-1885; after James Granger, an English clergyman whose Biographical History of England (1769) was arranged for such illustrations.
Example: Children often dislike the dry language of the King James Version of the Bible, but a few editions that have been thoroughly grangerized with illustrations and other eye-catchers have been very successful.
Mod
Today’s Word of the Day is…Epanorthosis – The immediate rephrasing of something said in order to correct it or make it stronger. Usually indicated by: no, nay, rather, I mean, etc. (Noun)
Example: I am angry – no, I am furious – at the delay!
That's a good word...no, it's an excellent one!(and I got to write message #3000!)
pleonasmPRONUNCIATION:
(PLEE-uh-naz-uhm)
MEANING:
noun: The use of more words than those necessary to express an idea; redundancy.
Example: free gift.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos, from pleonazein (to be in excess), from pleon (more). First recorded use: 1610.
The little small child was lost.
Today’s Word of the Day is…Petrichor – The pleasant small that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell. (Noun) It comes from the Greek words “petros” (for “stone”) and “ichor” (the fluid that runs through the veins of the gods).
Example: Nothing beats the smell of petrichor in the morning as the dew fades.
apophasisPRONUNCIATION:
(uh-POF-uh-sis)
MEANING:
noun: Allusion to something by denying it will be said.
ETYMOLOGY:
Via Latin from Greek apophanai (to say no), from apo- (away from) + phanai (to say). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bha- (to speak) that is also the source of fable, phone, fame, boon, and infant. First recorded use: 1657.
We will not bring up the other party's questionable political dealings is an example of apophasis politicians use quite often.
I would NEVER dare to ask Kitty's age.
LOL, I will never say I am older than dirt, because you already know.
sesquipedalityPRONUNCIATION:
(ses-kwi-pi-DAL-i-tee)
MEANING:
noun: The practice of using long words.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin sesqui- (one and a half) + ped- (foot). First recorded use: 1759.
I am not in the habit of using sesquipedalities, when smaller words will suffice.
suffice suf.fice (s-fs)
v. suf·ficed, suf·fic·ing, suf·fic·es
v.intr.
1. To meet present needs or requirements; be sufficient: These rations will suffice until next week.
2. To be equal to a specified task; be capable: No words will suffice to convey my grief.
v.tr.
To satisfy the needs or requirements of; be enough for.
[Middle English suffisen, from Old French suffire, suffis-, from Latin sufficere : sub-, sub- + facere, to make; see dh- in Indo-European roots.]
Today’s Word of the Day is…Mortmain – 1) The perpetual ownership of property by institutions such as churches or 2) the often stifling influence of the past on the present and the living. (Noun)
Example: With the waning of the Middle Ages, the mortmain of the church became less politically powerful, as its property began to be absorbed into secular states instead.
Today’s Word of the Day is…Hypnopompic – Of or pertaining to the semiconscious state prior to complete wakefulness. (Adjective)
A general mental haze and the lust for espresso are two of the most commonly identifiable hypnopompic effects.
Here is an interesting word I had not heard of. Fletcherize
/ˈflɛtʃəˌraɪz/ Spelled[flech-uh-rahyz]
–verb (used without object), verb (used with object), -ized, -iz·ing.
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
Origin:
1900–05, Americanism ; see Fletcherism, -ize
Did your mother always tell you to fletchrize your food?
Mod
(And my mother said chew it a hundred times, which no one including her EVER does, but no one ever called it "fletcherize.")
No, Fletcher was a doctor and nutritionist. I've always said that "chewing" and "seaman" should never be in the same sentence.
Mod
My WFTD is HarlequinAs a noun it refers to a buffoon or a certain kind of comic character.
But I've been more interested lately in its use as an adjective, where it refers to fanciful patterns and colors (especially in clothing) or even the shape of a harlequin's mask. This last use I read in Lolita, where Nabokov refers to "harlequin glasses."
If a dog has a white coat with irregular colorful markings, it can be referred to as "harlequin." I'm the guardian of just such a dog (not the one in my pic), and I finally, finally know what to call it.
Tyler, I'd certainly appreciate your help in keeping this thread alive. I tried to revive it a while ago, but it admittedly sometimes goes neglected. I know that your background in philosophy has probably given you a few lifetime's worth of Greek and Latin cognates you can occasionally pepper the board with. Please sprinkle away.
Here's a new one for me which would likely raise a few eyebrows when used...GONGORISM
■(noun) A kind of affected elegance of style introduced into Spanish literature in imitation of that of the Spanish poet Góngora y Argote (1561—1627).
Notes
■'Gongorism' is also known as 'culteranismo,' which is Spanish in origin and blends 'culto' (cultivated) and 'luteranismo' (Lutheranism). The style is charcterized by ostentatious vocabulary and overuse of metaphors.
Examples
■“The origins of Euphuism and of that later form of preciousness which is sometimes called Gongorism and sometimes Marinism have been much discussed, but the last word has certainly not been said on them.”
■“For some reason not very obvious this collection of verses was not published till 1631 when it was issued by Quevedo, who hoped that it would help to stem the current of Gongorism in Spain.”
■“The effects of Gongorism lasted long in Spain, which, with its innate propensity to bombast, was more fertile soil for it than other nations.”
Suz, it sounds a lot like the Euphuism of John Lyly. Great contribution.
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