A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Mon May 2 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gordian X-Bonus: Nothing so completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straightforward and simple integrity in another. -Charles Caleb Colton, author and clergyman (1780-1832) gordian (GOR-dee-uhn) adjective Highly intricate; extremely difficult to solve. [In Greek mythology, King Gordius of Phrygia tied a knot that defied all who tried to untie it. An oracle prophesied that one who would undo this Gordian knot would rule Asia. Alexander the Great simply cut the knot with one stroke of his sword. Hence the saying, "to cut the Gordian knot" meaning to solve a difficult problem by a simple, bold, and effective action.] See what the Mathematical Association of America has to say about untying the Gordian knot: http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_9_01.html "Fortunately, the FBI has a team of good-looking, well-dressed, super-smart agents to untangle this Gordian plot." David Chater; TV Choice; The Times (London, UK); Apr 24, 2004. An ad in a recent issue of a trade journal touts the efficacy of the product very forcefully. The graphic shows the classic maze scene complete with a rat and a piece of cheese in one corner. In the traditional experiment, the little animal is supposed to find his way through the maze, backtracking, remembering the paths already taken, and ultimately reaching the reward. Instead, in this scene, he zooms across the diagonal, turning to dust those parts of the maze that are in his way, and claims the prize he richly deserves. I think that was a perfect illustration of the idiom cutting the Gordian knot. Can you think of a Gordian knot or two you could cut in your own life, at work or at home? This week we look at that and other allusions and metaphors. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue May 3 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mammon X-Bonus: Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that! -Lewis Carroll, mathematician and writer (1832-1898) mammon (MAM-uhn) noun 1. Wealth; money. 2. The personification of wealth and of inordinate desire for it; the material wealth considered having an evil influence. [From Middle English, from Late Latin mammona, from Greek mammonas, from Aramaic mamona (riches). Mammon was personified as a false god in the New Testament.] "Ironically, [David] Denby has just been talking about the virtues of savouring time and the 'slower gracious life' he writes about at the end of American Sucker, his memoir about the two years in which he surrendered his soul and sanity to the Mammon of the dotcom-delirious Nasdaq stock market." Guy Somerset; Going for Broke; Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand); Mar 12, 2005. This week's theme: allusions and personifications. -------- Date: Wed May 4 00:01:13 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gorgonize X-Bonus: The beloved of the Almighty are the rich who have the humility of the poor, and the poor who have the magnanimity of the rich. -Saadi, poet (1213-1291) gorgonize or gorgonise (GOR-guh-nyz) verb tr. To paralyze, petrify, or hypnotize. [After Gorgon, any of the three monstrous sisters Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa in Greek mythology, who had snakes for hair. They turned into stone anyone who looked into their eyes.] "Gorgonised me from head to foot With a stony British stare." Alfred, Lord Tennyson; Maud; 1855. This week's theme: allusions and personifications. -------- Date: Thu May 5 00:01:27 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cain X-Bonus: Life is short. Be swift to love! Make haste to be kind! -Henri Frederic Amiel, philosopher and writer (1821-1881) cain (kayn) noun A murderer. To raise Cain: 1. To become angry; to reprimand someone angrily. 2. To behave in a boisterous manner; to create a commotion. [After Cain, a Biblical character, the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy.] "[Carol Kruse and Patty Peeples] also won first place in that category last year with a Mardi Gras-themed party. The duo has been raising Cain at Stoneybrook for about 20 years." Brian Klimek; Horse Races Just Part of Festivities; Southern Pines Pilot (North Carolina); Apr 10, 2005. This week's theme: allusions and personifications. -------- Date: Fri May 6 00:01:23 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--phoenix X-Bonus: Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author (1743-1826) phoenix (FEE-niks) noun 1. A person or thing of unparalleled beauty or excellence. 2. A person or thing that has regenerated or rejuvenated after a great misfortune. [After a fabulous bird of great beauty in Egyptian mythology. It lived to 500 years and burned itself on a funeral pyre to be born again from the ashes.] "[Oprah Winfrey] is a phoenix who rose from the ashes and became self-sufficient and highly respected." Beverly Stewart; Small Business Spotlight; The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware); Mar 31, 2005. This week's theme: allusions and personifications. -------- Date: Mon May 9 00:01:20 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--delitescent X-Bonus: "Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course." -Ray Bradbury, science-fiction writer (1920- ) [Fahrenheit 451] delitescent (del-i-TES-uhnt) adjective Hidden; latent. [From Latin delitescent-, stem of delitescens, present participle of delitescere (to hide away).] "[Muumuu] matches and enhances the infinite variety of the human psyche as well as providing a delitescent veil for those aged parts of you that you can't yet bring yourself to make public." Reese Palley; Call of the Ancient Mariner; International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 2003. Have you ever taken a vacation that's planned to every nanosecond? At 9:37 we visit the Garden of Standonburg and spend an hour and 18 minutes there, then we reach the Pamponi Museum at 11:09, and then .... Well, that's not a vacation, is it? Sometimes it's best to let yourself roam through what may come, with no plan, no schedule, no rules, no aim and nothing to guide except a free mind and open heart. This week's AWAD is prepared in just that spirit. A word tickles our fancy and leads us to some others that bring forth new sights. We skip some of them, move ahead or perhaps take a leisurely stroll through the dictionary. There's nothing common among the words selected--at least as far as we know. There's no theme to constrain our word choices during the next five days. Or maybe that's the theme. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue May 10 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--comedogenic X-Bonus: The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. -Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900) comedogenic (kom-i-do-JEN-ik) adjective Causing or aggravating acne. [From New Latin comedo, from Latin comed (glutton, from the worm-shaped pasty mass that can be squeezed from the hair follicles; from the name formerly given to worms which feed on the body), from comedere (to eat up), from com- + edere (to eat) + -genic (producing), from Greek -gens (born).] This term in its negative form is often found on bottles and tubes of cosmetics. It's put there by marketers as a select blend of technical terms (pH-balanced is another example) to make the concoction appear high-tech. That and the bilingual labeling of the packaging (in French, even though the product is sold to English-speaking populace) assure customers that the product will take 10 years off the users' age. "Any makeup should be non-comedogenic, if it's worn at all." Acne Reasons; The Indian Express (New Delhi, India); Feb 23, 2005. This week's theme: miscellaneous words. -------- Date: Wed May 11 00:01:09 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--provender X-Bonus: If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers. -Thomas Pynchon, writer (1937- ) provender (PROV-uhn-duhr) noun 1. Dry food used as livestock feed. 2. Food or provisions. [From Middle English provendre, from Old French, alteration of provende, from Medieval Latin provenda, alteration of praebenda. Ultimately from Indo-European root ghebh- (to give or receive) that gave us give, debt, duty, habit, endeavor, able, inhibit, and malady.] "Last year nearly 34,000 people were involved in the urban gardening program. It's an impressive figure to be sure, but according to the county agent, the very process of tilling and watering may be more important than the provender." Joan Kaufman; The Greening of New York City; The Wall Street Journal (New York); Apr 23, 1985. This week's theme: miscellaneous words. -------- Date: Thu May 12 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bindlestiff X-Bonus: Secrecy is an instrument of conspiracy; it ought not, therefore, to be the system of a regular government. -Jeremy Bentham, jurist and philosopher (15 Feb 1748-1832) bindlestiff (BIN-dl-stif) noun A hobo who carries a bundle of bedding and other possessions. [From English bindle (bundle) + stiff (tramp). Ultimately from Indo-European root bhendh- (to bind), that is also the source of such words as bandanna, band, bond, and bundle.] "In fact, the governor is hardly more than a duly elected bindlestiff running a train full of deadbeats." Michael Browning; Janet the Just; Palm Beach Post (Florida); Sep 22, 2002. This week's theme: miscellaneous words. -------- Date: Fri May 13 00:01:08 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--persiflage X-Bonus: Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891) persiflage (PUR-sih-flazh) noun Light-hearted or flippant treatment of a subject; banter. [From French persiflage, from persifler (to banter), from per- (thoroughly) + siffler (to whistle or hiss), from Old French, from Late Latin sifilare, an alteration of Latin sibilare (to hiss).] "It is derivative rather than destructive humour which presupposes serious history on which to base their persiflage." Stewart Lamont; It's the Way You Tell Them, When Something is Sacred; The Herald (Glasgow, UK); May 30, 1998. This week's theme: miscellaneous words. -------- Date: Mon May 16 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--abigail X-Bonus: It is kindness immediately to refuse what you intend to deny. -Publilius Syrus, writer (85-43 BCE) abigail (AB-i-gayl) noun A lady's maid. [After Abigail, an attendant in The Scornful Lady (1610), a play by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. She was probably named after the Biblical character Abigail the Carmelitess, who often called herself a handmaid. The name Abigail derives from Hebrew Avigayil meaning "father's joy".] "Now haste ye, Mab's sweet abigails, And dress your queen for day!" William Rose Benet (1886-1950). Eponyms are little capsules of history. They capture a bundle of stories in just a word or two. These terms, derived from the names of people, summarize their characters and qualities that made them stand out. As we explore eponyms this week, we'll meet five people, men and women, real and fictional, from the world of medicine, finance, art and literature. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue May 17 00:01:15 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--Gresham's law X-Bonus: The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same. -Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle), novelist (1783-1842) Gresham's law (GRESH-ums law) noun The theory that bad money drives good money out of circulation. [Coined by economist Henry Dunning Macleod in 1858 after Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-1579), financier and founder of the Royal Exchange in London. Gresham, a financial adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, wrote to her "good and bad coin cannot circulate together."] NOTES: Gresham's law says that when both are required to be accepted as legal tender, inferior money remains in circulation while the good money tends to be hoarded or exported. Examples of bad money could be counterfeit notes, coins that have their edges scraped off to siphon precious metal, or two legal tenders where one is intrinsically superior (e.g. a gold coin vs. a paper note of the same face value). In general, the law applies to situations outside the financial world as well: for example, bad politicians drive out good ones. "But the main blame for the debasement lies with the Tories, who have conclusively confirmed that there is a Gresham's law of politics: the most squalid party drags the others down towards its level." Roy Hattersley; Exploitation Dressed Up As Compassion; The Guardian (London, UK); May 2, 2005. This week's theme: eponyms. -------- Date: Wed May 18 00:01:13 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--rubenesque X-Bonus: Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine. -Hosea Ballou, preacher (1771-1852) Rubenesque (roo-buh-NESK) adjective Full-figured; rounded; voluptuous. [After Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) known for depiction of plump female figures in his paintings.] Rubens's paintings: http://ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rubens/ "But our society admires thinness -- the Rubenesque Marilyn Monroe likely would be considered too plump these days -- and so some of our children, in the quest to look attractive, may starve themselves." S. Jennifer Hunter; Where Were Schiavo's Loved Ones As Disorder Led to Downfall?; Chicago Sun-Times; Apr 6, 2005. This week's theme: eponyms. -------- Date: Thu May 19 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--Apgar score X-Bonus: Oh to have a lodge in some vast wilderness. Where rumors of oppression and deceit, of unsuccessful and successful wars may never reach me anymore. -William Cowper, poet (1731-1800) Apgar score (AP-gar skor) noun A method of assessing a newborn's health. [After anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) who devised it.] This is a judging world and we get evaluated right from birth (Apgar score) to death (how many people came to the funeral). In 1953, Dr. Virginia Apgar devised a quick way to measure the health of a newborn child. She assigned 0, 1, or 2 points for each of the five criteria: heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, skin color, and reflex response. The Apgar score is typically calculated at one minute and five minutes after birth. Ten years after the debut of the Apgar score, Dr. L. Joseph Butterfield introduced an acronym as a mnemonic aid for the term: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration. See backronym https://wordsmith.org/words/backronym.html "The baby, a 6-pound, 14-ounce boy, appeared so healthy that doctors who delivered him gave him an Apgar score of 9 on a scale of 1 to 10." Delthia Ricks; Congenital Malaria Case is First For NY; Newsday (New York); Apr 23, 2005. This week's theme: eponyms. -------- Date: Fri May 20 00:01:10 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--Lady Bountiful X-Bonus: Heresy is only another word for freedom of thought. -Graham Greene, novelist and journalist (1904-1991) Lady Bountiful (LAY-dee BOUN-ti-ful) noun Someone, especially a woman, known for charity and generosity. [After Lady Bountiful, a character in the 1707 comedy Beaux' Stratagem by the playwright George Farquhar (1678-1707).] This play is the source of another eponym, boniface, meaning an innkeeper. Here is how the character Will Boniface describes Lady Bountiful: "My lady Bountiful is one of the best of women. Her late husband, Sir Charles Bountiful, left her with £1000 a year; and I believe she lays out one-half on't in charitable uses for the good of her neighbours. In short, she has cured more people in and about Lichfield within ten years than the doctors have killed in twenty; and that's a bold word." "[The Citizens Advice Bureau] was sometimes portrayed as a lady bountiful organisation doing good works among the poor." Ron Ferguson; More Credit Should Go to Local Heroes; The Herald (Glasgow, UK): Aug 19, 2004. "Of course, Oprah didn't spend a penny to look like Lady Bountiful. The giveaway cost General Motors in the vicinity of US$6-million." Anne Kingston; The Boardroom as Billboard; National Post (Canada); Oct 14, 2004. This week's theme: eponyms. -------- Date: Mon May 23 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fustilugs X-Bonus: A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world. -Paul Dudley White, physician (1886-1973) fustilugs (FUS-ti-lugs) noun A fat and slovenly person. [From Middle English fusty (smelly, moldy) + lug (to carry something heavy).] "'Come on, you old fustilugs,' he called, for she wheezed and blew and mounted with difficulty." Julian Rathbone; Joseph; Little Brown; 2001. Mark Twain once said, "When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear." While swearing is considered uncouth and vulgar, it has its place and purpose. It helps provide an emotional release and clears the system. Isn't a verbal venting of emotions better than a physical manifestation? You don't have to rely on those worn-out four-letter terms to inflict rude remarks on the offending party. With careful selection of words, it's possible to elevate insults to an art form. Why not use this week's exquisite words for one of those times when nothing less will do? But remember, everything in moderation. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue May 24 00:01:45 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--rampallion X-Bonus: Grasp the subject, the words will follow. -Cato the Elder, statesman, soldier, and writer (234-149 BCE) rampallion (ram-PAL-yuhn) noun, also rampallian A ruffian or scoundrel. [Of unknown origin.] In Shakespeare's Henry IV, Falstaff exclaims, "Away, you scullion! you rampallion! You fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe." A scullion is a kitchen servant or one who does menial work. Fustilarian is a synonym of yesterday's term fustilugs (a fat and slovenly person). "[Justin] asked, 'Why do you say that? The rampallion admitted he was to blame.'" Cynthia Morgan; Court of Shadows; Ballantine Books; 1992. This week's theme: insults. -------- Date: Wed May 25 00:01:31 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--effete X-Bonus: Loneliness... is and always has been the central and inevitable experience of every man. -Thomas Wolfe, novelist (1900-1938) effete (i-FEET) adjective 1. Worn out; no longer fertile or productive. 2. Weak, ineffectual. 3. Marked by decadence or self-indulgence. 4. Effeminate. [From Latin effetus (worn out from bearing), from ex- + fetus (bearing young).] "Many people who have grown up in socially, deeply conservative societies have a very hard time coming to terms with the freedoms available in liberal countries. Indeed, they take this personal liberty as a sign of decadence, and often despise Westerners as effete and irreligious. Unfortunately, they have no idea of the centuries of strife and struggle that have gone into attaining this level of secularism and freedom from the church, society, and the state." Irfan Husain; Existential Dilemma Forced by Clash of Civilisations; Khaleej Times (Dubai, United Arab Emirates); Dec 2, 2004. This week's theme: insults. -------- Date: Thu May 26 00:01:09 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sudoriferous X-Bonus: The people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion. -Edmund Burke, statesman and writer (1729-1797) sudoriferous (soo-duh-RIF-uhr-rus) adjective Sweaty or sweat producing. [From Late Latin sudorifer, from Latin sudor sweat, from sudare (to sweat), ultimately from Indo-European root sweid- (to sweat) that also resulted in words sweat and exude.] "And, oh yeah, Greco has been tossed out of her hoity-toity gym, which means the former first spouse might have to attend an icky-poo-poo health club like the YMCA - where she might actually find herself on a treadmill next to a sudoriferous commoner." Daniel Ruth; Tampa's Own "Did I Not Ask For MERLOT?!?!" Moment; The Tampa Tribune; Jun 9, 2003. This week's theme: insults. -------- Date: Fri May 27 00:01:18 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--scut X-Bonus: A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862) scut (skut) noun A worthless, contemptible fellow. This term often appears in the form "scut work". [Or uncertain origin, perhaps from scout.] A short erect tail, especially of a hare, rabbit, or deer. [Of unknown origin.] "The Voice: Heave a rope when we come alongside. [Then irritably.] Where are ye, ye scut?" Eugene O'Neill; Anna Christie; 1922. This week's theme: insults. -------- Date: Mon May 30 00:31:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bravura X-Bonus: The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. -Hans Hofmann, painter (1880-1966) bravura (bruh-VYOOR-uh, -VOOR-) noun, plural bravuras, bravure 1. A musical piece or performance involving great skill and a display of flair and brilliant style. 2. A display of spirit, daring, or boldness. adjective Marked by display of flair, spirit, style, boldness, etc. [From Italian bravura (bravery), from Latin barbarus, from Greek barbaros (barbarous).] "Swinney aides made a bravura - some would argue demented - attempt to present the vote as good news, but no-one took their side." Tom Gordon; Brisk Goodbye From the Leader; The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland); Jun 23, 2004. I learned to play the guitar while in college. Once, home for the summer vacation, I became lost in an old song. After I let the strings rest at the end of the piece and lifted my head, I noticed my father standing in the doorway of my room, listening intently. The notes floating through the air had made him drop his work and walk all the way to my room at the other end of the house. You could say the music was moving, especially if you knew it wasn't easy to lure a government official away from his files. The music I was playing was nowhere nearly as moving as that of one of India's greatest musicians whose stories I often heard while growing up. Sixteenth century Tansen was one of the jewels in the court of Mogul king Akbar. It's said that when Tansen performed raga deepak (from Sanskrit, fire melody) things would heat up, literally, and the lamps in the king's court would begin to glow. When he sang raga megh malhar (rain melody), raindrops would begin falling to bring relief from the heat. I no longer play the guitar. I mostly prefer the music of quietude. At times, though, I hear a tune that pulls me back in time and even makes my fingers strum imaginary strings. This week we feature a selection of words from music that are metaphorically used in other contexts as well. -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) -------- Date: Tue May 31 00:01:11 EDT 2005 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--crescendo X-Bonus: I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself. -Pietro Aretino, satirist and dramatist (1492-1556) crescendo (kri-SHEN-do) noun, plural crescendos, crescendi 1. A gradual increase in loudness, intensity, or force. 2. The peak or climax. adjective, adverb With a gradual increase in loudness. verb intr. To grow in force, loudness, intensity, etc. [From Italian crescendo (growing), present participle of crescere (to increase), from Latin crescere (to grow). Ultimately from Indo-European root ker- (to grow) that's also the source of other words such as increase, recruit, crew, crescent, cereal, concrete, and Spanish crecer (to grow).] Crescendo is used as a direction in music. In written music, it's shown with a < sign. The opposite is diminuendo or decrescendo which is depicted by a >. Strictly speaking, crescendo is the process, not the end result. It refers to a gradual increase, not a peak, but popular usage has extended the sense of the word and it's often used to refer to the moment when something has reached its peak. "A crescendo of boos rises from the crowd as a madman tackles the bull by its horns wrestling it to the ground, turning to cheers as enraged Spaniards set to him with boots and sticks." Karl Gardner; A Load of Bull; New Zealand Herald (Auckland); Jul 6, 2004. This week's theme: words from music.