A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Sat Jan 1 02:03:29 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cantabrigian X-Bonus: Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, / Or what's a heaven for. -Robert Browning Cantabrigian (kant-uh-BRIJ-eeuh-n) adjective 1. Of or relating to Cambridge, England, or Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2. Of or relating to Cambridge University. noun 1. A native or resident of Cambridge, England, or Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2. A student or graduate of Cambridge University. [From Medieval Latin Cantabrigia, Cambridge, England.] "But Cantabrigians bestow their laurels on humbler lives. Nearly 100 streets, corners, lanes--even trees--are dedicated to the likes of Violet `Vie' Moore, an elementary school crossing guard, and Elmer J. `Mac' McLeod, who for years worked in the city auditing department." Local Hero: Signs Of Respect In Cambridge, Mass., People, 9 Feb 1998. -------- Date: Sun Jan 2 00:03:26 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hibernian X-Bonus: The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. -Aristotle Hibernian (hie-BUR-nee-uhn) adjective 1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Ireland or its inhabitants; Irish. noun 2. A native of Ireland. [Hiberni(a), the Latin and poetic name for the island of Ireland + -an] "A tremulous bit of post-Angela's Ashes cinder raking about a gloomy American-born teacher (James Caan) who goes to Ireland to learn about his dead father, a gloomy Hibernian (Aidan Quinn) thwarted in his youthful love for a rosy-cheeked lass ...." Owen Gleiberman and Lisa Schwarzbaum, Movies/The Week, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 1999. -------- Date: Mon Jan 3 00:19:30 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--tittle X-Bonus: The truth must dazzle gradually / Or every man be blind. -Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) tittle (TIT-l) noun 1. A small diacritic mark, such as an accent, a vowel mark, or a dot over an i. 2. The tiniest bit; an iota. [Middle English titil, from Medieval Latin titulus, diacritical mark, from Latin, title, superscription.] "Reporters and editors crave detail, down to the dot and tittle, and assume as much about the reader, listener or viewer." Deborah Mathis, Clinton: The Arkansas view, USA Today, 17 Jan 1994. Ever wondered if there is a word for that dot over the letter i, or what to call that fleshy fold of skin hanging from the throat of a rooster? Ever spent a weekend trying to find out what to call those vertical grooves on the side of a coin, or if there is a term for the big toe? Relax, help is at hand. This week's AWAD answers these and a few other questions that may be keeping you up at night. (-: -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jan 4 00:20:04 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--wattle X-Bonus: There are many ways to be free. One of them is to transcend reality by imagination, as I try to do. -Anais Nin (1903-1977) [The Diary of Anais Nin] wattle (WOT-l) noun 1. A construction of poles intertwined with twigs, reeds, or branches, used for walls, fences, and roofs. Material used for such construction. 2. A fleshy, wrinkled, often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat, characteristic of certain birds, such as chickens or turkeys, and some lizards. 3. Any of various Australian trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia. verb tr. 1. To construct from wattle. 2. To weave into wattle. [Middle English wattel, from Old English watel, hurdle.] "The floral pattern includes blooming red roses and a yellow-breasted rooster with a red crest and wattle." Ralph and Terry Kovel, Remembering the Days of Fireplace Ovens, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 Aug 1998. This week's theme: words for miscellany. -------- Date: Wed Jan 5 00:19:32 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bollard X-Bonus: The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. -William James bollard (BOL-uhrd) noun A thick post on a ship or wharf, used for securing ropes and hawsers. [Middle English, probably from bole, tree trunk.] "My wife, now on relief duty at the prow, fastened the rope between bollard and boat leaving no slack...." Richard Weekes, On the straight and narrow in France, Independent on Sunday, 3 Jan 1999. This week's theme: words for miscellany. -------- Date: Thu Jan 6 00:19:32 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--flews X-Bonus: The whole drift of my education goes to persuade me that the world of our present consciousness is only one out of many worlds of consciousness that exist. -William James flews (flooz) plural noun The pendulous corners of the upper lip of certain dogs, such as the bloodhound. [Origin unknown.] "That lesson is implicit in these 15 essays, each stressing the value of preserving every species. (Richard) Conniff assembles a rogue's gallery of unlikely candidates for environmentalists' zeal: the sloth, grizzly, bat, bloodhound (with his slobbery flews), mouse, weasel, shark, porcupine and mole." David Walton, Essays ponder beasts whose beauty isn't obvious, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 22 Nov 1998. This week's theme: words for miscellany. -------- Date: Fri Jan 7 00:19:24 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--reeding X-Bonus: In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. -Lao Tzu reeding (REE-ding) noun 1. A convex decorative molding having parallel strips resembling thin reeds. 2. Parallel grooves cut into the edge of a coin at right angles to the faces. [Middle English rede, from Old English hreod + -ing.] "... historically, these three coins were made out of precious metals such as silver or gold and were worth their weight in that metal. People thought they could get more for their money if they shaved a little off the sides and kept the shavings for future use. So, the Mint added the grooves or reeding to prevent cheating." Kristina Lanier, At The US Mint They're Making Change, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Jul 1998. This week's theme: words for miscellany. -------- Date: Sat Jan 8 00:19:29 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--halyard X-Bonus: All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind. -Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) [Sand and Foam] halyard also halliard (HAL-yuhrd) noun A rope used to raise or lower a sail, flag, or yard. [Alteration (influenced by yard), of Middle English halier, from halen, to pull.] "A recent morning in downtown New Market, population 224, was silent except for the resonant, unsynchronized clanging as halyards rattled against the metal flag poles that are common here." Jim Buchta, Spotlight on New Market, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 18 May 1996. This week's theme: words for miscellany. -------- Date: Sun Jan 9 00:19:27 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hyoid X-Bonus: Dictionary: A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work. -Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), [The Devil's Dictionary, 1906] hyoid (HIE-oid) adjective Of or relating to the hyoid bone, a U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the muscles of the tongue. noun The hyoid bone. [New Latin hyoides, the hyoid bone, from Greek huoeides, shaped like the letter upsilon : hu, name of the letter upsilon + -oeides, -oid.] "Even the discovery in Israel a decade ago of a Neanderthal skeleton with a large hyoid bone, which is in the throat and associated with speech, had not settled the issue of Neanderthal speech." John Noble Wilford, Early man had the ability to speak, The Dallas Morning News, 4 May 1998. This week's theme: words for miscellany. -------- Date: Mon Jan 10 00:19:22 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--grok X-Bonus: The secret of education is respecting the pupil. -Ralph Waldo Emerson grok (grok) verb tr. Slang. To understand profoundly through intuition or empathy. [Coined by Robert A. Heinlein in his "Stranger in a Strange Land".] "... Well, you have to grok your plants to get good results--get to know them as seeds and as seedlings and you'll really know them as mature plants." Cox, Jeff, Meet your experts in the Southeast!, Organic Gardening, 1 Apr 1997. All fiction writers invent stories but some go so far as to invent words to help tell the tales. In his 1961 science-fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Anson Heinlein told the story of Valentine Michael Smith, an earthling raised by Martians on the red planet, and in the process helped us grok what it means to be human. This week's AWAD is about words that took birth in novels, stories, and poems and are now part of the English language. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jan 11 00:19:26 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--frabjous X-Bonus: An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence; a vain man, in order that it may. -William Hazlitt (1778-1830) [Characteristics] frabjous (FRAB-juhs) adjective Wonderful, elegant, superb, or delicious. [Coined by Lewis Carroll in "Through the Looking-Glass"; perhaps meant to suggest fabulous or joyous.] "Ah, my friends, rejoice. These are frabjous days." Ivins, Molly, Needed: one strong stomach, The Progressive, 1 Mar 1995. This week's theme: coined words. -------- Date: Wed Jan 12 00:19:41 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--galumph X-Bonus: Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are windows, bringing light to bear on the dark corners where troubles fester. The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. -Sydney J. Harris galumph (guh-LUMF) verb intr. To move or run clumsily or heavily. [Phonesthemic invention of Lewis Carroll, perhaps blend of gallop and triumphant.] "When it was announced that this galumphing vehicle was moving from screen to stage, insiders shook their heads in disbelief." David Benedict, Colourful animal magic that just saves the show, Independent, 15 Jul 1998. This week's theme: coined words. -------- Date: Thu Jan 13 00:19:27 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hobbit X-Bonus: The one real object of education is to have a man in the condition of continually asking questions. -Bishop Mandell Creighton hobbit (HOB-it) noun An imaginary creature resembling a diminutive human being, having some rabbitlike characteristics, and being naturally peace-loving, domestic, and sociable. [From pseudo-Old English holbytla, hole-builder (coined by J.R.R. Tolkien) : Old English hol, hole + Old English bytla, builder, hammerer (from bytl, bietel, mallet.] "`I'm 4ft and that's with shoes on,' laughed 21-year-old Southon. `I could be just what they're looking for if they're after an elf or a hobbit.'" Keane Philippa, The height of fame, Sunday Star Times (New Zealand), 25 Apr 1999. This week's theme: coined words. -------- Date: Fri Jan 14 00:19:38 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--newspeak X-Bonus: The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. -Robert Maynard Hutchins newspeak (noo-speek, nyoo-) noun Deliberately ambiguous and contradictory language used to mislead and manipulate the public. [From Newspeak, a language invented by George Orwell in the novel "1984".] "For example, an Imperial Tobacco memo predicted that the trend towards fewer smokers could `virtually wipe us off the map,' within 50 years. The writer recommended the company target `starters' - company newspeak for teens." Mindelle Jacobs, Edmonton Sun, Smoke And Mirrors Fool No One, The Edmonton Sun, 23 Nov 1999. This week's theme: coined words. -------- Date: Sat Jan 15 00:19:25 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bandersnatch X-Bonus: The best educated human being is the one who understands most about the life in which he is placed. -Helen Keller bandersnatch (BAN-duhr-snach) noun 1. An imaginary wild animal of fierce disposition. 2. A person of uncouth or unconventional habits, attitudes, etc., especially one considered a menace, nuisance, or the like. [Coined by Lewis Carroll in "Through the Looking Glass" (1871)] "In getting exactly what they wanted, the college presidents may find a surprise in the gift package, a frumious bandersnatch, if you will." James Ahearn, Most of us have worked at one time or another for a boss we didn't like, The Record (Bergen County, NJ), 11 May 1994. This week's theme: coined words. -------- Date: Sun Jan 16 00:19:21 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--doublethink X-Bonus: Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. -Thomas Henry Huxley doublethink (DUB-uhl-thingk) noun Thought marked by the acceptance of gross contradictions and falsehoods, especially when used as a technique of self-indoctrination. [Double + think, coined by George Orwell in his novel "1984" (1949).] "The cases for structural reform involve doublethink, Krugman said. The real and ostensible reasons are not the same." Lucy Komisar, World Bank/IMF 1998: International lending agencies face increasing criticism at annual meeting, The Earth Times, 7 Oct 1998. This week's theme: coined words. -------- Date: Mon Jan 17 01:40:29 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--showstopper X-Bonus: Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principle. -Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) showstopper (SHO-stop-uhr) noun 1. A performer or performance that wins enthusiastic or prolonged applause. 2. A spectacularly arresting or appealing person or thing. "She grew up to be a showstopper, a hard act to follow in a family of legendary performers. At 28, Janet Jackson is at the very top of her game as one of the world's most dazzling superstars." Edwards, Audrey, The 1995 Essence Awards: 25 years of celebrating African-American achievement, Essence, 1 May 1995. "Too bad this innocent little button caused data entry to come to a dead stop, leaving the user staring at the computer screen in confusion. I would never have known this feature was a showstopper ...." Paul Youngworth, Being there, Computerworld, 10 Aprl 1995. How many times have you seen (and heard) the word `showstopper' used to refer to a possible hurdle in reaching a goal? Notice that in this usage the word is used in a pejorative sense instead of the positive sense that the word denotes. All the AWAD words for this week share this trait--they are often used `erroneously' so often that the `incorrect' sense of the word is understood by more people than the dictionary meaning. The new senses of these words are becoming established in dictionaries, often without any usage labels. Why do I put the words `erroneously' and `incorrect' in quotes in the above paragraph? Because I believe a word is used properly as long as there is no ambiguity and the audience can understand the usage intended. Linguists call this the descriptive approach--letting the language flow--as opposed to straitjacketing it in some rules handed down by a committee. Most languages have always been in flux and evolving. Their words have always been changing their meanings, lamentations of purists and "Letters to the Editor" notwithstanding. A few hundred years ago if you told someone they were nice, you'd be putting that person down as stupid. This will be the subject of a future week's theme in AWAD. -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jan 18 00:04:33 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fortuitous X-Bonus: The covers of this book are too far apart. -Ambrose Bierce, reviewing a book. fortuitous (for-TOO-i-tuhs, -TYOO-) adjective 1. Happening by accident or chance. 2. (Usage Problem) Happening by a fortunate accident or chance. Lucky or fortunate. [Latin fortuitus, from forte, by chance, ablative of fors, chance.] "... for what initially had appeared to be a series of fortuitous events turned out to be to no small degree the machinations of Bokki ...." Gray, Charlotte Schiander, et al, Other Germanic Languages, World Literature Today, 22 Sep 1998. "One connection would prove to be especially fortuitous, a friendship with the legendary editor Abe Rosenthal, who took a liking to the earnest, devout kid." Michael S. Arnold, Goldman's Search for God, Jerusalem Post, 25 Sep 1998. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. -------- Date: Wed Jan 19 00:04:38 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fulsome X-Bonus: Even in the worm that crawls in the earth there glows a divine spark. When you slaughter a creature, you slaughter God. -Isaac Bashevis Singer, Writer, Nobel laureate (1904-1991) fulsome (ful-sum) adjective 1. Offensively flattering or insincere. 2. Offensive to the taste or sensibilities. 3. (Usage Problem) Copious or abundant. [Middle English fulsom, abundant, well-fed, arousing disgust : ful, full + -som, adjective suff.] "One tires of the fulsome endorsement, the blizzard of exclamation points, the arch locutions ...." Daniel Aaron, Belle du Jour, The New Republic, 2 Feb 1998. "`We've had some problems with recent Iranian and Somali receiving less than a fulsome welcome. This is an opportunity to say we are a multicultural society and that we welcome all cultures in our country,' said Mr Terris." Hank Schouten, Terris favours Settlers Day, The Evening Post, 2 Feb 1998. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. -------- Date: Thu Jan 20 00:04:23 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--factoid X-Bonus: My idea of education is to unsettle the minds of the young and inflame their intellects. -Robert Maynard Hutchins factoid (FAK-toid) noun Unverified or inaccurate information that is presented in the press as factual, often as part of a publicity effort, and that is then accepted as true because of constant repetition. "This sort of thing is infuriating to practicing historians who can tell fact from factoid, without, in a deep way, being able to explain why." A New Philosophy of History, The Economist, 11 Nov 1995. "Real-life factoid: Estes is married to Bissett, who'll be leaving Melrose at midseason to have a baby." Bruce Fretts, et al., Television: The Week, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep 1996. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. -------- Date: Fri Jan 21 00:04:25 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--enormity X-Bonus: If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. -Derek Bok enormity (i-NOR-mi-tee) noun 1. The quality of passing all moral bounds; excessive wickedness or outrageousness. 2. A monstrous offense or evil; an outrage. 3. (Usage Problem) Great size; immensity. [French enormite, from Old French, from Latin enormitas, from enormis, unusual, enormous.] "... our cities, nations, countries, and kingdoms may take example to amend their faults, enormities, and errors." More, Sir Thomas, Utopia: Part I. "The reason is not simply a matter of Freedom's proposed 4320-ft. length, which is nearly five times that of the currently largest cruise ship, Carnival Cruise Line's 900-ft. Destiny, but the enormity of its mass." Jim Wilson; City At Sea (building of the 'Freedom' cruise ship); Popular Mechanics; Feb 1998. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. -------- Date: Sat Jan 22 00:05:08 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--luxuriant X-Bonus: I do not hesitate to read ... all good books in translations. What is really best in any book is translatable--any real insight or broad human sentiment. -Ralph Waldo Emerson [Society and Solitude] luxuriant (lug-ZHOOR-ee-ent, luk-SHOOR-) adjective 1. Abundant or lush in growth, as vegetation. 2. Producing abundantly, as soil; fertile; fruitful; productive. 3. Richly abundant, profuse, or superabundant. 4. Florid, as imagery or ornamentation; lacking in restraint. [Latin luxurians, luxuriant-, present participle of luxuriare, to be luxuriant.] "Mr. Nice Guyhad grown a luxuriant beard." J.D. Reed, People: going, Going, Gone, Time, 18 Sep 1989. "Time to divide between books and introspection, between periods of luxuriant languor and frenzied hours squandered on pursuits that would never be tolerated ashore." Martin Evans, Cruise Vacation / It's A Floating Party 'Round the Clock, Newsday, 20 Apr 1997. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. -------- Date: Sun Jan 23 00:04:31 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--literally X-Bonus: A time will come when a politician who has wilfully made war and promoted international dissension will be as sure of the dock and much surer of the noose than a private homicide. It is not reasonable that those who gamble with men's lives should not stake their own. -H.G. Wells, writer [The Salvaging of Civilization] (1866-1946) literally (LIT-uhr-uh-lee) adverb 1. In a literal manner; word for word. 2. In a literal or strict sense. 3. (Usage Problem) Really; actually. "Perfide Angleterre. 1786, French aristocrat Count Honore de Mirabeau: English generosity! They calculate everything, even talent and friendship; most of their writers have almost literally died of starvation." The English, The Economist, 31 Dec 1999. "Sadada Jackson: It took me literally two months just to get around the corner from my house." Jay Schadler, et al., Don't Panic, ABC 20/20, 24 Feb 1999. This week's theme: words often used in a sense different from their established definitions. -------- Date: Mon Jan 24 00:04:32 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--egregious X-Bonus: Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882) egregious (i-gree-juhs, -jee-uhs) adjective Conspicuously bad or offensive. [From Latin egregius, outstanding : e-, ex- + grex, greg-, herd.] "Far more egregious, of course, is the raw truth that we have very few black people in the insular world of our intimate circle." Spiegelman, Art, Getting in touch with my inner racist, Mother Jones, 19 Sep 1997. "You are not the same any more!" Have you ever said this to a friend, lover or spouse? Well, people change over time and so do words. Most often they shift their shade a degree or two but sometimes they make a U turn. Earlier if you called someone egregious, you would be praising her as a distinguished person. On the other hand, if you told someone that he was nice, you'd be putting him down as stupid. Amazing what a few hundred years can do to some words! So as you read this week's words, pay special attention to the etymologies--you'll find words that ain't what they used to be. In linguistic circles these phenomena are called pejoration (semantic change to a negative meaning) and melioration (change to a more positive connotation). -Anu -------- Date: Tue Jan 25 00:04:25 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--officious X-Bonus: It ill becomes us to invoke in our daily prayers the blessings of God, the Compassionate, if we in turn will not practice elementary compassion towards our fellow creatures. -Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) officious (o-fish-uhs) adjective 1. Marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services or advice to others. 2. Informal; unofficial. 3. Archaic. Eager to render services or help others. [Latin officiosus, obliging, dutiful, from officium, duty.] "Since he was younger than I, I often played the officious elder sister, Lucy to his Linus, constantly nattering about what he should do next." The real Karen Kain, Chatelaine, 1 Dec 1994. This week's theme: words that have reversed their meaning. -------- Date: Wed Jan 26 00:04:23 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--notorious X-Bonus: Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it. -Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) notorious (no-TOR-ee-uhs) adjective Known widely and usually unfavorably; infamous. [From Medieval Latin notorius, well-known, from Latin notus, known, past participle of noscere, to get to know.] "Antidepressants--particularly SSRIs--are notorious for causing sex problems." Castleman, Michael, Becoming unblue, Mother Jones, 15 May 1997. This week's theme: words that have reversed their meaning. -------- Date: Thu Jan 27 00:04:21 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sycophant X-Bonus: Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) [Nationality in Literature] sycophant (SIK-uh-fuhnt, SIE-kuh-) noun A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people. [Latin sycophanta, informer, slanderer, from Greek sukophantes, informer : sukon, fig + -phantes, one who shows (from phainein, to show).] "There are few models around the world of coup plotters who have succeeded as civilian administrators. This is in part because dictators invariably begin to believe the sycophants who gather around them." The Savior Fantasy, The Washington Post, 20 Oct 1999. This week's theme: words that have reversed their meaning. -------- Date: Fri Jan 28 00:04:34 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--obsequious X-Bonus: There is no fundamental difference between man and the lower animals in their mental faculties... The lower animals, like man, manifestly feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery. -Charles Darwin (1809-1882) obsequious (ob-SEE-kwee-uhs, uhb-) adjective Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning. [Middle English, from Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium, compliance, from obsequi, to comply : ob-, to + sequi, to follow.] "This year's US PGA Championship has almost been overshadowed by the continuing and (to European ears) delightful row over money, though it is scarcely surprising that some of the US players possess egos too big to fit into a sponsored Cadillac, given the way the obsequious American media gush all over them. Sample: Davis Love III being interviewed on television yesterday. `Davis Love, major tournament winner, and major human being, welcome.'" Martin Johnson, Golf: A Charitable Lot These Americans, The Daily Telegraph, 16 Aug 1999. This week's theme: words that have reversed their meaning. -------- Date: Sat Jan 29 00:04:21 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--harbinger X-Bonus: No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true. -Nathaniel Hawthorne, writer (1804-1864) harbinger (HAHR-bin-juhr) noun One that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner. verb tr. To signal the approach of; presage. [Middle English herbengar, person sent ahead to arrange lodgings, from Old French herbergeor, from herbergier, to provide lodging for, from herberge, lodging, of Germanic origin.] "And while lower prices could mean an opportunity for investors and some savings for American consumers, such reductions could also be a harbinger of deflation." David Welna, Renee Montagne, Deflation Threat, Morning Edition (NPR), 7 Oct 1998. This week's theme: words that have reversed their meaning. -------- Date: Sun Jan 30 00:04:22 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--garble X-Bonus: Language is an archeological vehicle... the language we speak is a whole palimpsest of human effort and history. -Russell Hoban [Novelists in Interview] garble (gar-buhl) verb tr. 1. To mix up or distort to such an extent as to make misleading or incomprehensible. 2. To scramble (a signal or message), as by erroneous encoding or faulty transmission. 3. Archaic. To sort out; cull. noun The act or an instance of garbling. [Middle English garbelen, to inspect and remove refuse from spices, from Anglo-Norman garbeler, to sift, and from Medieval Latin garbellare, both from Arabic garbala, to select, from girbal, sieve, from Late Latin cribellum, diminutive of Latin cribrum.] "Some other impertinent observations of Bill Bradley in action: When he says `president of the United States' in speeches, he says it as though it is one word - presnunidedstays and I wonder whether this means he feels he already owns the words enough that he can garble them or whether he's scared to touch them with his lips." Chris Heath, Taking the shot, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct 1999. This week's theme: words that have reversed their meaning. -------- Date: Mon Jan 31 00:04:23 EST 2000 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--catacomb X-Bonus: ...it is difficult to picture the great Creator conceiving of a program of one creature (which He has made) using another living creature for purposes of experimentation. There must be other, less cruel ways of obtaining knowledge. -Adlai Stevenson, statesman (1835-1914) catacomb (KAT-uh-kom) noun 1. Often catacombs. An underground cemetery consisting of chambers or tunnels with recesses for graves. 2. An underground burial place. [Probably French catacombe, from Old French, from Late Latin catacumba.] "The best-known burial grounds are the great Victorian cemeteries which ringed London from the 1830s and 1840s. Most of them boasted catacombs, as at Highgate, Brompton, West Norwood and Nunhead." Andrew John Davies, Down to a sunless city: Beneath your feet lies another, Independent, 26 Sep 1994. It's that time of the year again when you get to don your word-sleuth hat. There is something common among this week's words but we are not telling--it's your task to find the unifying theme. Each day this week brings a new word that on the surface may appear not to, but does share a trait with the others. Are you going to be the first to solve the mystery theme? If you think you have the answer, write to (garg AT wordsmith.org). Look for the solution in this space next week. -Anu