A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Mon Oct 2 00:01:01 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lackwit X-Bonus: Civilization is the encouragement of differences. -Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 Oct 1869-1948) In the whimsical ballet of language, where words pirouette and plié, there exists a category of terms known as tosspot words. These words are formed through the partnership of a verb and a noun, creating a pas de deux. In these words, the noun is the object of the verb, and the two together define an identity. For instance, consider the term pickpocket. It conjures up a vivid image of nimble fingers (the verb "pick") stealthily exploring unsuspecting wallets (the noun "pocket"). So pickpocket is a tosspot word because a pickpocket picks pockets; repairman is not, because a repairman does not repair a man, unless you call your doctor a repairman (better to call them sawbones). This fascinating linguistic category showcases the inventive spirit of our language and the storytelling potential packed within simple words. So, let's commence our journey through this lexical wonderland, where every word dances to the rhythm of action and object. lackwit (LAK-wit) noun: One who lacks intelligence. adjective: Lacking intelligence. [From lack + wit, perhaps from Middle Dutch or German lac (deficiency) + Old English wit. Earliest documented use: 1668.] Wylis, a stableboy portrayed as a lackwit in "The Game of Thrones" https://wordsmith.org/words/images/lackwit_large.jpg Photo: https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Lackwit "Here in the land of the lackwit, while nitwits to the right of us and dimwits to the left of us volley and thunder, we permit the plunderers and their political boot-lickers to continue pillaging and highgrading." Stephen Hume; Forests Folly Proves BC Is Province of Losers; The Vancouver Sun (Canada); Feb 20, 1999. -------- Date: Tue Oct 3 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--dingthrift X-Bonus: Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone? -Thomas Wolfe, novelist (3 Oct 1900-1938) This week's theme: Tosspot words dingthrift (DING-thrift) noun One who is wasteful and reckless with money or resources. [From ding (to damage), from Old English dingan (to ding) + thrift (prosperity), from Old Norse thrifast (to thrive). Earliest documented use: 1566. A synonym is spendthrift https://wordsmith.org/words/spendthrift.html .] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/dingthrift_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "Some dingthrifts talk of pulling down the universities and selling off their lands like the monasteries." Diane Davidson; Feversham; Crown Publishers; 1969. -------- Date: Wed Oct 4 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--turnkey X-Bonus: The unrestricted competition so commonly advocated does not leave us the survival of the fittest. The unscrupulous succeed best in accumulating wealth. -Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th US president (4 Oct 1822-1893) This week's theme: Tosspot words turnkey (TUHRN-kee) noun: One in charge of the keys in a prison; jailer. adjective: Relating to a product or service that is supplied ready for immediate use. [From turn + key. Partly from Old English tyrnan/turnian and partly from Anglo-French turner, from Latin tornare (to turn on a lathe), from tornus (lathe), from Greek tornos (lathe). Earliest documented use: noun 1655, adjective 1934.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/turnkey https://wordsmith.org/words/images/turnkey_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "The turnkey closed and bolted the barred gate." Bernard Cornwell; Gallows Thief; HarperCollins; 2001. "GE began to offer turnkey contracts to utilities, in which it delivered an entire nuclear plant for a fixed price." Nucleardawn; The Economist (London, UK); Sep 8, 2007. -------- Date: Thu Oct 5 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nipcheese X-Bonus: Wandering in a vast forest at night, I have only a faint light to guide me. A stranger appears and says to me: 'My friend, you should blow out your candle in order to find your way more clearly.' The stranger is a theologian. -Denis Diderot, philosopher (5 Oct 1713-1784) This week's theme: Tosspot words nipcheese (NIP-cheez) noun 1. A miser. 2. A ship's purser (an official in charge of money matters). [From nip (pinch, snip), probably from Middle Dutch nipen (to pinch) + cheese, from Old English cese (cheese). Earliest documented use: 1785. Also see cheeseparing https://wordsmith.org/words/cheeseparing.html .] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/nipcheese_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "I wouldn't have to dance for my supper if you weren't such a nipcheese about paying me for my services." Cara Elliott; Sinfully Yours; Grand Central Publishing; 2014. -------- Date: Fri Oct 6 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--scattergood X-Bonus: It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy. -George H. Lorimer, editor (6 Oct 1867-1937) This week's theme: Tosspot words scattergood (SKAT-uhr-good) noun One who spends wastefully. [From scatter + good, perhaps from Old English sceaterian (to scatter) + god (good). Earliest documented use: 1577.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/scattergood https://wordsmith.org/words/images/scattergood_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "A damned scattergood -- and you've no need to remind me that you're not dependent on me for money you waste on your horses, and your betting, and your bits of muslin." Georgette Heyer; Charity Girl; Bodley Head; 1970. -------- Date: Mon Oct 9 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hallux X-Bonus: From everything that man erects and builds in his urge for living, nothing in my eyes is better and more valuable than bridges. They are more important than houses, more sacred than shrines. Belonging to everyone and being equal to everyone, useful, always built with a sense, on the spot where most human needs are crossing, they are more durable than other buildings and they do not serve for anything secret or bad. -Ivo Andric, novelist, Nobel laureate (9 Oct 1892-1975) How well do you know yourself? We are not suggesting an introspection, although that has its value. We are asking how well you know this body that you inhabit. Yesterday, as I was finishing the Victoria Marathon in Canada, I came to the conclusion that the hardest working part of me is my feet. They carry me around for miles on a race course, for hours on the dance floor, for thousands of feet up and down mountains. I'm ever thankful to my feet. Also, to the head -- the other end -- that governs the whole operation. Is the rest of the body a support system for the two? What do you think? Which part of your body are you most grateful for? Which part do you hate? Write to us at https://wordsmith.org/words/hallux.html or email us at words@wordsmith.org. Include your location (city, state). In the meantime, we'll explore five words for body parts you may not have realized have their own names. hallux (HAL-uhks) noun, plural halluces (HAL-yuh-seez) The big toe. More generally, the innermost digit on the hind foot of animals. [From Latin hallux. Earliest documented use: 1831.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/hallux NOTES: Interestingly, the big toe is not always the longest toe. When the second toe is longer, this condition is known as Morton's toe. It is named after Dr. Dudley Joy Morton (1884-1960), who first described it. Hallux, a device to geolocate furniture in the dark https://wordsmith.org/words/images/hallux_large.jpg Image: https://imgflip.com/i/6pvdx3 "'I developed gigantism of the hallux so I just don't wear shoes or boots most of the time ...' Billy says as he is gripping his large black toe with his right hand." Jeffrey M. Tulppo; The Carpenter; Xlibris; 2014. -------- Date: Tue Oct 10 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pinna X-Bonus: Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. -Lin Yutang, writer and translator (10 Oct 1895-1976) This week's theme: Words for body parts pinna (PIN-uh) noun 1. The outer ear. Also known as auricle https://wordsmith.org/words/auricle.html . 2. A projecting body part such as a wing, feather, or fin. 3. A leaflet or primary division of a pinnate leaf, as found in ferns and some other plants. [From Latin pinna (wing, feather, fin). Earliest documented use: 1668.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pinna "You think you're pretty clever with those removable ears, don't you?" https://wordsmith.org/words/images/pinna_large.jpg Cartoon: Dan Piraro https://www.facebook.com/bizarrocomics/ "She put her hand on my hair and then the hand slipped down to my ear ... She caressed my pinna and stroked my shoulder." Abraham Verghese; Cutting for Stone; Random House; 2012. -------- Date: Wed Oct 11 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--canthus X-Bonus: Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. -Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat and writer (11 Oct 1884-1962) This week's theme: Words for body parts canthus (KAN-thuhs) noun Either of the two corners of the eye, specifically where the upper and lower eyelids meet, known as the inner and outer canthus. [From Latin canthus, from Greek kanthos (corner of the eye). Earliest documented use: 1646.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/canthus Miss Kansas's canthus (rather canthi) https://wordsmith.org/words/images/canthus_large.jpg Photo: Hannah Klaassen, Miss Kansas 2018 / LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-klaassen-5bb535192/ "There was a dip in the arc from Mick's inner canthus to the top of his eyelid that moved me. No matter how widely Mick smiled, he still had that aching arch." Martha Moody; Sometimes Mine; Riverhead; 2009. "I began to think of the artist as a sort of antenna, picking up invisible signals from across time and space (this impression was likely bolstered by the way they wear their eyeliner: antenna-like, drawn an inch or so past each outer canthus)." Julia Felsenthal; Artist's Questionnaire; The New York Times; Mar 23, 2023. -------- Date: Thu Oct 12 00:01:03 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--uvula X-Bonus: Life is just a short walk from the cradle to the grave and it sure behooves us to be kind to one another along the way. -Alice Childress, playwright, author, and actor (12 Oct 1916-1994) This week's theme: Words for body parts uvula (YOO-vyuh-luh) noun The small, fleshy mass that hangs in the back of the mouth, above the throat. [From Latin uvula, diminutive of uva (grape). Earliest documented use: 1400.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/uvula https://wordsmith.org/words/images/uvula_large.jpg Image: Mad magazine https://www.amazon.com/Magazine-August-2019-UVULA-IDIOTS/dp/B07SQVZLH3 "An hour later, I was swallowed up by an ocean leviathan, and could only escape by ramming against its uvula." Luke Winkie; Goat Simulator 3 Review; The Guardian (London, UK); Dec 20, 2022. https://wordsmith.org/words/leviathan.html -------- Date: Fri Oct 13 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gnathion X-Bonus: Billionaires need the working class. The working class does not need billionaires. -Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US Congress member (b. Oct 13, 1989) This week's theme: Words for body parts gnathion (NAY-thee-on) noun The lowest part of the chin. [From Latin, from Greek gnathos (jaw). Ultimately from the Indo-European root genu- (jawbone, chin), which also gave us chin, gnathic https://wordsmith.org/words/gnathic.html , prognathous https://wordsmith.org/words/prognathous.html , and Sanskrit hanu (jaw). Hanuman (literally, having a large jaw) is the name of a monkey god in the Hindu pantheon. Earliest documented use: 1888.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/gnathion Dude - there's something on your chin. No, the other one. Sorry, the third one. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/gnathion_large.jpg Cartoon: Dan Piraro https://www.facebook.com/bizarrocomics/ "'The cyber sissy,' I snapped, drawing near her to caress her gnathion with the back of my right hand." Hermann Observer; Brain Quest; CreateSpace; 2017. -------- Date: Mon Oct 16 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--appanage X-Bonus: A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it. -Oscar Wilde, writer (16 Oct 1854-1900) What's an airplane? You might say it's a mode of transportation. Another person might call it food. And you both would be right. Meet Michel Lotito https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Lotito , the man who ate a whole plane, complete with the engine, tires, seats, and whatever else it had. And washed it all down with mineral oil. Gives a whole new meaning to the term airline food. All this sounds like a figment of someone's juicy imagination, but the "Guinness Book of World Records" actually certified his feat. Then he ate the award plaque itself. All this is impressive, though I was a bit disappointed to read that he ate a mere Cessna, not a Boeing or Airbus jumbo jet. As a motivational speaker once said: THINK BIG. Seriously though, you have to admire a man like that. To each his own. I'd eat anything as long as it comes from plants. The most adventuresome eating in my case was a big lump of wasabi I put in my mouth thinking it was some kind of chutney. The thing shot up my nose like a space rocket. What's the strangest thing you have ever eaten? Share on our website https://wordsmith.org/words/appanage.html or email us at words@wordsmith.org. Include your location (city, state). Meanwhile we'll look at five words related to food that are used metaphorically. Sometimes the food part is obvious, other times you have to look for it, much like Lotito did. But whatever you do, don't confuse appanage with empennage https://wordsmith.org/words/empennage.html -- the latter has nothing to do with food (except for Michel Lotito). appanage or apanage (AP-uh-nij) noun 1. An allowance given for the maintenance of a member of a royal family. 2. A perk associated with a job or a position. [From French apanage, from apaner (to endow), from Latin appanare, from ad- (toward) + panis (bread). Earliest documented use: 1602.] NOTES: Traditionally, both royalty and common folk followed the system of primogeniture, https://wordsmith.org/words/primogeniture.html where the firstborn child inherited the crown or other assets such as the family farm. So, what about the younger children? They were given an appanage, an allowance, or some source of revenue, such as land, for their maintenance. Royal Perks? Not the appanage we mean, though it does include the bread. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/appanage_large.jpg Image: Burger King https://www.rttnews.com/3223265/burger-king-launching-royal-perks-loyalty-program-nationwide.aspx See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/appanage "PM Mette Frederiksen will accordingly submit a motion to Parliament to enable the prince to continue receiving his appanage in his new home." Ben Hamilton; Prince Joachim Moving to the US; The Copenhagen Post (Denmark); Mar 17, 2023. "With a brilliant detachment that is anything but clinical -- the contradictory appanage of the true poet -- [Mahmoud Darwish's] lyrics are resolutely clear-eyed." Luis H. Francia; Fortune's Child; The Village Voice (New York); Jan 15, 2003. -------- Date: Tue Oct 17 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cake eater X-Bonus: Don't be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value. -Arthur Miller, playwright and essayist (17 Oct 1915-2005) This week's theme: Words derived from food cake eater (KAYK ee-tuhr) noun 1. A self-indulgent person who leads a life of ease and pleasure. 2. A ladies' man. [From cake, from Old Norse kaka + eater, from eat, from Old English etan. Earliest documented use: 1791.] NOTES: If the poor peasants don't have bread, "Let them eat cake." The French queen Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) never said those words, but her name is forever connected with them. They symbolize a disregard for the struggles of the less fortunate, much like the term cake eater. Traditionally, cake is not an everyday sustenance but a symbol of indulgence. A piece of cake metaphorically represents something easily achieved, and a similar term, cakewalk, https://wordsmith.org/words/cakewalk.html refers to a competition or task easily won or accomplished. In recent times, the 1994 film "D2: The Mighty Ducks" popularized the term https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cake_eater.gif Image: https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/84839854-98b3-4d13-bf09-0254e94595b3 "Always be suspicious of a player whose mom or dad carries his or her gear. They're likely cake eaters." Caroline Akervik; Christmas Comeback (to Me); Melange Books; 2020. "The rules: 'Don't fall for the slick, dandified cake eater -- the unpolished gold of a real man is worth more than the gloss of a lounge lizard.'" John Kelly; Anti-Flirt Club in 1923; The Washington Post; Apr 20, 2021. -------- Date: Wed Oct 18 00:01:01 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--grubstake X-Bonus: What I like in a good author isn't what he says, but what he whispers. -Logan Pearsall Smith, essayist (18 Oct 1865-1946) This week's theme: Words derived from food grubstake (GRUHB-stayk) noun: 1. Funds supplied for launching an enterprise in return for a share of the profits. 2. Money or other assistance provided to sustain someone in difficult circumstances. verb tr.: To supply with funds. [From grub (food) + stake (share). The term has origins in gold mining, where miners would get investors to fund their efforts in return for a cut of the profits. Earliest documented use: 1863.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/grubstake https://wordsmith.org/words/images/grubstake_large.jpg Image: https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Grubstake-Story-Early-Mining-Days-Nevada/31475745817/bd "Starting with a grubstake in the low six figures, Two Small Fish backed 22 companies, some of which became breakout stars in Canada." Sean Silcoff; Two Small Fish Aims to Take Big Bite of Tech Market With New Venture Fund; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Oct 4, 2022. "If Bezos had any particular ingenuity, it was in realizing that not only could Amazon avoid paying taxes to get a leg up over its competitors, but it could rely on witless local, state, and federal government representatives to actively grubstake the company's growth. As a result, in 2018 Amazon contributed $0 in corporate tax on $11 billion in profit, and actually bagged a $129 million tax rebate. '[F]rom 2009 to 2018, the company paid an effective tax rate of 3 percent on profits totaling $26.5 billion' writes MacGillis. Amazon wove a new social fabric by threading an astonishing number of loopholes in the American tax system." Alexander Sammon; In Bezosworld; The American Prospect (Princeton, New Jersey); Mar/Apr 2021. -------- Date: Thu Oct 19 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--applesauce X-Bonus: The same people who can deny others everything are famous for refusing themselves nothing. -Leigh Hunt, poet and essayist (19 Oct 1784-1859) This week's theme: Words derived from food applesauce (AP-uhl-saws) noun Nonsense; lies. [From applesauce, made from puréed apples, often sweetened and spiced. Earliest documented use: 1672, metaphorically from 1920s.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/applesauce NOTES: It's not known what the humble applesauce did to deserve to become associated with balderdash. If it's any consolation, other food-related terms are often used as synonyms for nonsense, such as baloney https://wordsmith.org/words/baloney.html and banana oil https://wordsmith.org/words/banana_oil.html . Some other terms made with apple as an ingredient are apple-polish https://wordsmith.org/words/apple-polish.html , apple knocker https://wordsmith.org/words/apple_knocker.html , and apple of one's eye. "Daddy, where does applesauce come from?" https://wordsmith.org/words/images/applesauce_large.jpg Image: https://cheezburger.com/8457740800/delicious-applesauce "The foreshadowing, as it were -- comes true, or turns out to be pure applesauce." Cam Cole; Cujo Puts the Fear Into the Sens; National Post (Don Mills, Canada); Apr 3, 2000. -------- Date: Fri Oct 20 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--interlard X-Bonus: Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination. -John Dewey, philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer (20 Oct 1859-1952) This week's theme: Words derived from food interlard (in-tuhr-LAHRD) verb tr. To mix, insert, or intersperse, especially with something extraneous. [From French entrelarder (to interlard), from entre (inter-) + larder (to lard), from Latin laridum (bacon fat). Earliest documented use: 1533.] NOTES: Originally, to interlard was to mix layers of bacon or fat with other meat. Over time, the term began to be used metaphorically. For example, to interlard a speech with jokes. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/interlard_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/interlard "Kodo programmes are sometimes interlarded with Japanese folk music on flute and zither, but this time their show will reflect a return to basics." The Kudos of Kodo; The Economist (London, UK); Jan 6, 2018. -------- Date: Mon Oct 23 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--neophobia X-Bonus: Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand. -Emily Kimbrough, author and broadcaster (23 Oct 1899-1989) Some words, once you come across them, make you wonder: Why didn't someone think of them earlier? These are words that fill a need. Earlier we needed a phrase or a whole sentence to describe the idea, now we can do that with just one word. Whatever angst and fears we all may have around here, neophobia isn't one of them. At least not the fear of new words. Each week readers think: Wonder what words he has in mind next week. I think: What words should I share with readers next week? And so it goes. This week I've rounded up five words that might make you say: I didn't know there was a word for it. neophobia (nee-oh/uh-FOH-bee-uh) noun The fear or dislike of the new. [From Greek neo- (new) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1886.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/neophobia "Neophobia" 2017 https://wordsmith.org/words/images/neophobia_large.jpg Poster: Mgreen Production / IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6853360/ "The experiment included almost 50 people to determine whether they suffered from food neophobia -- a reluctance to eat or try new food." Judy Siegel-Itzkovich; Does the Bowl Color Change the Taste of Food? Survey Says Yes; Jerusalem Post (Israel); Nov 29, 2022. -------- Date: Tue Oct 24 00:01:01 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--apanthropy X-Bonus: Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness. -Brenda Ueland, journalist, editor, and writer (24 Oct 1891-1985) This week's theme: There's a word for it apanthropy (ap-AN-thruh-pee) noun A desire to be away from people; a love of solitude. [From Greek apo- (away) + -anthropy (human). Earliest documented use: 1753.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/apanthropy_large.jpg Photo: Joshua Earle https://unsplash.com/photos/YxJ5AfKFgFE "While misanthropy is a prejudice, apanthropy is merely a preference. It's a taste for being alone; a penchant for privacy." Tom Albrighton; One for Joy; ABC Business Communications; 2023. -------- Date: Wed Oct 25 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--stultiloquy X-Bonus: Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. -Pablo Picasso, painter and sculptor (25 Oct 1881-1973) This week's theme: There's a word for it stultiloquy (stuhl-TIL-uh-kwee) noun Foolish talk. [From Latin stultus (foolish) + loqui (to speak). Earliest documented use: 1653.] "Ship of Fools" (c. 1490-1500) https://wordsmith.org/words/images/stultiloquy_large.jpg Art: Hieronymus Bosch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Fools_(painting) "[Jacob Zuma] was so keen to impress on the audience his selflessness that he mentioned the word 'perks' a half-dozen times, and threw in the word 'stakeholders', without which no stultiloquy is complete." The Pained Trader; Global Capital (London, UK); Feb 22, 2018. -------- Date: Thu Oct 26 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--argentocracy X-Bonus: None of us gets through life alone. We all have to look out for each other and lift each other up. -Hillary Clinton, secretary of state and senator (b. 26 Oct 1947) This week's theme: There's a word for it argentocracy (ahr-juhn-TOK-ruh-see) noun 1. Rule by the wealthy. 2. Undue influence of money. [From Latin argentum (silver) + Greek -cracy (rule). Earliest documented use: 1868. Some synonyms are chrysocracy (literally, gold rule) https://wordsmith.org/words/chrysocracy.html and plutocracy https://wordsmith.org/words/plutocracy.html .] NOTES: See the article "Why Do the Rich Have So Much Power?" by Nobel laureate Paul Krugman https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/opinion/sunday/inequality-america-paul-krugman.html Permalink https://web.archive.org/web/20230731115501/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/opinion/sunday/inequality-america-paul-krugman.html https://wordsmith.org/words/images/argentocracy_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "The game was fostered by the argentocracy of Baltimore. Players who practiced ... were 'sons of wealthy merchants.'" John McPhee; Silk Parachute; Farrar, Straus, and Giroux; 2011. -------- Date: Fri Oct 27 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--squandermania X-Bonus: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; I lift my eyes and all is born again. -Sylvia Plath, poet (27 Oct 1932-1963) This week's theme: There's a word for it squandermania (skwon-duhr-MAY-nee-uh) noun The practice of spending money recklessly. [From squander, of obscure origin + Greek -mania (desire). Earliest documented use: 1920.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/squandermania https://wordsmith.org/words/images/squandermania_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "People are spending less, saving more and reining in the excessive consumerism that made us the most debt-ridden nation on earth. This forced quit from squandermania may be painful now, but it should benefit us in the long run." Paul Routledge; Our Debt of Thanks to Arch Enemies of Greed; The Daily Mirror (London, UK); Sep 26, 2008. -------- Date: Mon Oct 30 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--primary X-Bonus: The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part in his creation. -Ezra Pound, poet (30 Oct 1885-1972) Q. Give us some examples of verbs, please. A. List verb and noun? Q. No, just verbs! A. List, verb, and noun. Q. What? How do you use these? A. verb, verb tr.: To turn a word into a verb. Example: I can verb nouns. noun, verb tr.: To turn a word into a noun. Example: Please accept this invite to noun any verbs. list, verb tr.: To list something. Example: I just listed three verbs. Apologies for all the meta-ing going on here, but don't let all this verbing and nouning bother you. This kind of transitioning happens all the time. Language would be unrecognizable if we forbade it. The world is more complex than we can imagine. Transitioning, in humans or in languages, is completely normal and common. This week we feature five words that you may be used to seeing as one part of speech but they serve us as others as well. primary (PRY-mer-ee, -muh-ree) adjective: First; main; most important; basic. noun: Something that is fundamental or first in sequence, rank, or importance. verb tr.: To field a candidate against an incumbent of one's own party. [From Latin primus (first). Earliest documented use: 1425; for verb: 1916.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/primary NOTES: In many countries, party leaders nominate candidates to run in an election. They select the most qualified person. Ha! Perhaps sometimes, but the considerations might be nepotism, personal favors, bribery, and more. In contrast, countries like the US adopt a more open approach. Anyone can enter a primary in a bid to represent their party in the general election. This system, though seemingly transparent, can still be mired in complexities. For instance, incumbents typically don't face primaries from their own party members. However, if perceived as not aligning with party ideologies, they might face people of their own party challenging them in a primary. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/primary_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "Many Republican politicians are more worried about being primaried by their own party leaders." Matthew Rothschild; The Fight for Democracy; The Progressive (Madison, Wisconsin); Feb/Mar 2022. -------- Date: Tue Oct 31 00:01:02 EDT 2023 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--rollercoaster X-Bonus: Fatalism is the lazy man's way of accepting the inevitable. -Natalie Clifford Barney, poet, playwright, and novelist (31 Oct 1876-1972) This week's theme: Is it a noun, adjective, or verb? rollercoaster (ROH-luhr-koh-stuhr) noun: Something marked by sudden and sharp shifts in circumstances. adjective: Marked by sudden, extreme changes. verb intr.: To go through extreme and abrupt changes. [After rollercoaster, a thrill ride that typically travels at a high speed along a path marked by sharp curves and steep inclines. Earliest documented use: 1883, for verb: 1931.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/roller%20coaster https://wordsmith.org/words/images/rollercoaster_large.jpg Illustration: Anu Garg + AI "[Akihiko Shiota] trademark to date is an unsentimental but deep sympathy with the rollercoastering emotions of teenagers and children." Amy Taubin; Man of the Moment: Actor Koji Yakusho; Film Comment (New York); Jan/Feb 2002.