A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Tue Nov 1 00:03:11 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--supraprotest X-Bonus: This will be a memorable month -- no matter how hard you try to forget it. su.pra.pro.test \-'pro--.test\ n [modif. of It sopra protesto upon protest] : an acceptance or payment of a bill by a third person for the honor of the drawer after protest for nonacceptance or nonpayment by the drawee -------- Date: Wed Nov 2 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gree X-Bonus: Question Authority... and the Authorities will question you! 1. gree \'gre-\ n [ME, fr. MF gre` step, degree, fr. L gradus - more at GRADEM Scot : MASTERY, SUPERIORITY 2. gree vb [ME green, short for agreen] dial : AGREE -------- Date: Thu Nov 3 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cwm X-Bonus: It is better to have loved and lost than just to have lost. cwm \'ku:m\ n [W, valley] : CIRQUE -- look ma, no vowels! (-: -------- Date: Fri Nov 4 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--testate X-Bonus: Don't forget until too late that the business of life is not business, but living. - B. C. Forbes 1. tes.tate \'tes-.ta-t, -t*t\ aj [ME, fr. L testatus, pp. of testari to make a will] : having left a will {a person dying ~} 2. tes.tate \-.ta-t\ aj [3test or testa] : having a firm external covering and esp. a test or testa -------- Date: Sat Nov 5 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--reticulate X-Bonus: When gas stations start charging for air - that's inflation. 1. re.tic.u.late \-l*t, -.la-t\ \-.lo-s\ aj [L reticulatus, fr. reticulum] 1: resembling a net; specif : having veins, fibers, or lines crossing {a ~ leaf} 2: of, relating to, or constituting evolutionary change dependent on complex new combinations of genes from varied strains of a diversified interbreeding population - re.tic.u.late.ly av 2. re.tic.u.late \-.la-t\ vb [back-formation fr. reticulated, adj. (reticulate)] 1: to divide, mark, or construct so as to form network 2: to distribute by a network : to become reticulated -------- Date: Sun Nov 6 00:03:05 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--curiosa X-Bonus: Paper is always strongest at the perforations. -Corry cu.ri.o.sa \.kyu.r-e--'o--s*, -'o--z*\ n [NL, fr. L, neut. pl. of curiosus] pl : CURIOSITIES, RARITIES; esp : strange or unusual books -------- Date: Mon Nov 7 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--momus X-Bonus: The smoke theory of electronics: Smoke makes electronic circuits work, since circuits stop working once the smoke escapes. Mo.mus \'mo--m*s\ n [L, fr. Gk Mo-mos] 1: the Greek god of censure and mockery 2: a carping critic -------- Date: Mon Nov 7 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--cwm I received a couple of messages where some expressed doubt whether cwm -- apparently a vowel-less word -- was a real word or I just made it up. As it turns out, cwm does have a vowel - "w". Here is how: Cwm happens to be Welsh word and as James Dignan of otago.ac.nz, Nick Jones of fml.co.uk and Stanton McCandlish of eff.org pointed out, in Welsh, aeiouw and y are all vowels. Mark S. Hoffman of pictel.com had this interesting tale to relate: "When I was in 4th grade, we had a teacher, who was new to our school. She tried to warm up the class by asking us to recite the vowels. We all said in unison: `a,e,i,o,u and sometimes y and w.' She just slumped into her chair and didn't know what to do. We didn't know why `w' and I didn't discover `cwm' until it was published in Scientific American in the only sentence that is an anagram of the alphabet." Jonathan March (compuserve.com) further elaborated: "In Welsh, `W' is a vowel, pronounced like the `oo' in `boot'. More interesting is the Welsh `LL' consonant, which has no equivalent in English. You pronounce it by putting the tip of your tongue behind your lower teeth, flattening the middle of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, with your jaw and lips only slightly parted, and blowing air voicelessly past your tongue. Examples: the names `Lloyd' and `Llewellyn' (note that `y' has a schwa sound)." Dan Keller, a linguistics student at colorado.edu reminded us of another Irish word where w serves as a vowel - "crwth". This word, which means "crowd" was also mentioned by Bill little of att.com and Dennis Cordray of ucarb.com. Howard Bussey of bellcore.com cwm disputed the definition: "Among mountaineers, I'm not sure cwm and cirque have exactly the same meaning, but it may be that the differences are as hard to describe as the reputed dozens of words for snow that eskimos use." Thanks tw all of yw whw took the time to send your comments. On a rather unrelated note, here is a report on A.Word.A.Day sightings in print media. John K. of bailey.com has informed that AWAD was featured in an article on the Internet in the Penthouse 25th Anniversary issue. o-: Another alert Linguaphile Helen Wu of utoronto.ca noticed AWAD in the Toronto Star. Thank you both for letting us know. From the leaf-strewn shore of Lake Erie... Anu -------- Date: Tue Nov 8 00:03:25 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--kaffeeklatsch X-Bonus: If someone had told me I would be Pope one day, I would have studied harder. -Pope John Paul I kaf.fee.klatsch \'ko.-fe--.klach; 'ka:f-e--.klach, -.kla:ch\ n [G, fr. kaffee coffee + klatsch gossip] often cap : an informal social gathering for coffee and talk -------- Date: Wed Nov 9 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--akimbo X-Bonus: Formula for success: Underpromise and overdeliver. -Tom Peters akim.bo \*-'kim-(.)bo-\ av(or aj) [ME in kenebowe] : with the hand on the hip and the elbow turned outward -------- Date: Thu Nov 10 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--thew X-Bonus: Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often. thew \'th(y)u:\ n [ME, personal quality, virtue, fr. OE the-aw; akin to OHG kathau] discipline 1: MUSCLE, SINEW - usu. used in pl. 2a: muscular power or development 2b: STRENGTH -------- Date: Fri Nov 11 00:04:17 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--recherche X-Bonus: Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius. re.cher.che \r*-.sher-'sha-, -'she(*)r-.\ aj [F] 1a: EXQUISITE, CHOICE 1b: EXOTIC, RARE 2: excessively refined : PRECIOUS 3: OVERBLOWN, PRETENTIOUS -------- Date: Sat Nov 12 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--metier X-Bonus: Maybe you can't buy happiness, but these days you can certainly charge it. Cross references: 1. work meti.er \ma--'tya-\ n [F, fr. (assumed) VL misterium, alter. of L ministerium work, minis]try 1: VOCATION, TRADE 2: an area of activity in which one is expert or successful : FORTE -------- Date: Sun Nov 13 00:03:06 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--swarth X-Bonus: The graveyards are full of indispensable men. -Charles de Gaulle 1. swarth \'swo.(*)rth\ n [ME, fr. OE swearth skin] : SWARD 2. swarth n : SWATH 3. swarth aj [alter. of swart] : SWARTHY -------- Date: Mon Nov 14 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cunctation X-Bonus: There's not enough sax and violins on television. cunc.ta.tion \.k*n(k)-'ta--sh*n\ \'k*n(k)-.ta-t-iv, .k*n(k)-'; 'k*n(k)-t*t-\ n [L cunctation-, cunctatio, fr. cunctatus, pp. of cunctari)X to hesitate; akin to Skt s'an.kate he wavers : DELAY - cunc.ta.tive aj -- this week, some loanwords from the classical language Sanskrit. -------- Date: Tue Nov 15 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--avatar X-Bonus: The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond into the impossible. av.a.tar \'av-*-.ta:r\ n [Skt avata-ra descent, fr. avatarati he descends, fr. ava-] away + tarati he crosses over - more at UKASE, THROUGH 1: the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu) 2a: an incarnation of another person 2b: an embodiment usu. in a person (as of a concept, philosophy, or tradition) 3: a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity -------- Date: Wed Nov 16 00:03:06 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sutra X-Bonus: I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception. -Marx su.tra \'su:-tr*\ n [Skt su-tra thread, string of precepts, sutra; akin to L suere t]o sew - more at SEW 1: a precept summarizing Vedic teaching 2: a discourse of the Buddha 3: a collection of sutras -------- Date: Thu Nov 17 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nirvana X-Bonus: If you're not afraid to face the music you may some day lead the band. nir.va.na \ni(*)r-'va:n-*, n*r-\ n [Skt nirva-nsub-dot>a, lit., act of extinguishing, fr. nis-] often cap out + va-ti it blows - more at WIND 1: the final beatitude that transcends suffering, karma, and samsara and is sought esp. in Buddhism through the extinction of desire and individual consciousness 2: a place or state of oblivion to care, pain, or external reality -------- Date: Fri Nov 18 00:03:04 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--loot X-Bonus: The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting. -Plutarch, biographer (c. 46-120) Cross references: 1. spoil 1. loot \'lu:t\ n [Hindi lu-tsub-dot>, fr. Skt lunsub-dot>tsub-]dot>ati he robs 1: goods usu. of considerable value taken in war : SPOILS 2: something held to resemble goods of value seized in war : as 2a: anything taken by force or violence 2b: illicit gains by public officials 2c: MONEY 3: the action of looting 2. loot vt 1a: to plunder or sack in war 1b: to rob esp. on a large scale and usu. by violence or corruption 2: to seize and carry away by force esp. in war : to engage in robbing or plundering esp. in war - loot.er n -------- Date: Sat Nov 19 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--intercede X-Bonus: Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Cross references: 1. interpose in.ter.cede \.int-*r-'se-d\ vi [L intercedere, fr. inter- + cedere to go - more at CEDE] : to act between parties with a view to reconciling differences : MEDIATE - in.ter.ced.er n -------- Date: Sun Nov 20 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--raiment X-Bonus: I'll procrastinate... tomorrow. rai.ment \'ra--m*nt\ n [ME rayment, short for arrayment, fr. arrayen to array] : CLOTHING, GARMENTS -------- Date: Mon Nov 21 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--animadversion X-Bonus: Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy. -Joyce (from _Children's Letters to God_) an.i.mad.ver.sion \.an-*-.mad-'v*r-zh*n, -m*d-, -'v*r-sh*n\ n [L animadversion-, animadversio, fr. animadversus, pp. of ]animadvertere 1: a critical and usu. censorious remark 2: adverse criticism mean an adverse criticism. ANIMADVERSION implies criticism prompted by prejudice or ill will; STRICTURE implies censure that may be either ill-natured or judicious; ASPERSION imputes a slanderous character to the criticism; REFLECTION often indicates an implied rather than direct aspersion or criticism SYN syn ANIMADVERSION, STRICTURE, ASPERSION, REFLECTION -------- Date: Tue Nov 22 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--prolix X-Bonus: He who steals tigers will be bitten more than he chooses. Cross references: 1. wordy pro.lix \pro--'liks, 'pro-(.)\ aj [ME, fr. MF & L; MF prolixe, fr. L prolixus extended, fr. pro-X forward + lique-re to be fluid - more at LIQUID 1: unduly prolonged or drawn out 2: given to verbosity and diffuseness in speaking or writing : LONG-WINDED - pro.lix.ly av -------- Date: Wed Nov 23 00:03:15 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--peccant X-Bonus: When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers. -Oscar Wilde, writer (1854-1900) pec.cant \'pek-*nt\ aj [L peccant-, peccans, prp. of peccare to stumble, sin] 1: guilty of a moral offense : SINNING 2: violating a principle or rule - pec.cant.ly av -------- Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 22:15:06 -0500 Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--peccant Srinivas Sunder of cirrus.com has sent in this interesting tidbit on "peccant". He writes: Hmm... don't know if you've mentioned this before, but the Latin for "I have sinned" - "Peccavi" - was the complete text of a one-word message sent by Charles Napier to the Home Office in London in 1841 to inform them that his campaign to take the province of Sind was successful. For the inquiring minds, here is the citation for peccavi: pec.ca.vi \pe-'ka:-(.)we-, -(.)ve-\ n [L, I have sinned, fr. peccare] : an acknowledgment of sin Thanks Srinivas. Sounds like Gen. Napier was quite a linguaphile. And while I have your attention, here is an update on A.Word.A.Day stats: Subscribership of AWAD has touched 5,000 mark. This includes Linguaphiles from some 46 countries. The newest countries to be represented here are Luxembourg and Egypt. Happy Thanksgiving from Lake Erie... Anu -------- Date: Thu Nov 24 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--prolegomenon X-Bonus: Without education, we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously. -G.K. Chesterton pro.le.gom.e.non \.pro--li-'ga:m-*-.na:n, -n*n\ \-n*\ \-n*s\ n or prolegomena [Gk, neut. pres. pass. part. of prolegein to say beforehand, fr. pro-)] plX before + legein to say : prefatory remarks; specif : a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work - pro.le.gom.e.nous aj -------- Date: Fri Nov 25 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sagacious X-Bonus: Gentleman: Knows how to play the bagpipes, but doesn't. Cross references: 1. shrewd sa.ga.cious \s*-'ga--sh*s, sig-'a--\ aj [L sagac-, sagax sagacious; akin to L sagire to perceive keen]ly - more at SEEK obs 1: keen in sense perception 2a: of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : DISCERNING {~ judge of character} 2b: caused by or indicating acute discernment {~ purchase of stock} - sa.ga.cious.ly av -------- Date: Sat Nov 26 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--venal X-Bonus: If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you! venal \'ve-n-*l\ \*l-e-\ aj [L venalis, fr. venum (acc.) sale; akin to Gk o-neisthai t]o buy,Skt vasna price : capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : PURCHASABLE; esp : mercenary corrupt - ve.nal.ly av -------- Date: Sun Nov 27 00:03:04 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--otiose X-Bonus: Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. -Mark Twain Cross references: 1. vain oti.ose \'o--she--.o-s, 'o-t-e--\ \.o--she--'a:s-*t-e-, .o-t-e--\ aj [L otiosus, fr. otium leisure] 1: being at leisure : IDLE 2: STERILE, FUTILE 3: lacking use or effect : FUNCTIONLESS - oti.ose.ly av -------- Date: Mon Nov 28 00:03:07 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--burke X-Bonus: Children aren't happy without something to ignore. And that's what parents were created for. -Ogden Nash, poet (1902-1971) burke \'b*rk\ vt [William Burke -1829 Ir criminal executed for this crime] 1: to suffocate or strangle in order to obtain a body to be sold for dissection 2a: to suppress quietly or indirectly {~ an inquiry} 2b: BYPASS, AVOID {~ an issue} -- this week's special: eponyms, the words which denote: - a person for whom something is named, or - something named after a person. -------- Date: Tue Nov 29 00:03:03 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--shrapnel X-Bonus: The surest sign of intelligent life in the universe is that they haven't attempted to contact us. -Bill Watterson shrap.nel \'shrap-n*l, esp South 'srap-\ n or shrapnel [Henry Shrapnel -1842 E artillery officer] pl 1: a projectile that consists of a case provided with a powder charge and a large number of usu. lead balls and is exploded in flight 2: bomb, mine, or shell fragments -------- Date: Wed Nov 30 00:03:02 EST 1994 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--silhouette X-Bonus: What did the Floating Point say to the Integer? "Get Real!" Cross references: 1. outline 1. sil.hou.ette \.sil-*-'wet\ n [F, fr. E`tienne de Silhouette -1767 F controller general of finances;] fr. his petty economies : a representation of the outlines of an object filled in with black or some other uniform color 2. silhouette vt : to represent by a silhouette; also : to project upon a background like a silhouette