A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 887

A.Word.A.Day

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AWADmail Issue 887

A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language

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From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Interesting stories from the Net

The Holocaust Survivor Who Deciphered Nazi Doublespeak
The New York Times
Permalink

Requiescat in Pace: Finland’s Yle Radio Axes Latin News Show after 30 Years
The Guardian
Permalink

From: Jo Sandrock (josandrock gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--hippodrome

I’ve been to the one in Istanbul, part of a wide street -- a good electoral victory there yesterday, by the way -- and when I was a child in Johannesburg the Hippodrome was one of those little suburban cinemas nearby where we saw all the latest films a month or so after they appeared at the big cinemas in town. The biggest one was called the Colosseum and had twinkling stars and moving clouds on the high ceiling. We were very classically-minded in Joburg in the nineteen-thirties, weren’t we?

Jo Sandrock, Johannesburg, South Africa

From: John Jamison (jjamison26 aol.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--hippodrome

And one mustn’t forget the Hippodrome Parking Garage in NYC whose name could have been loosely based on the idea of a stadium for horseless carriages. :)

John Jamison, Mashpee, Massachusetts

From: Andrew Pressburger (andpress sympatico.ca)
Subject: Hippodrome

The Byzantine hippodrome was a horse-racing oval where chariot races were held as well. The association of political and religious factions with colours, such as blue or green, became the source of betting and rioting, which eventually resulted in the Nika uprising of 532 CE, forcing Emperor Justinian to put an end to the races. Incidentally, the emperor’s wife, Empress Theodora, started her career as a rider in a circus (among many other of her somewhat dubious accomplishments).

Andrew Pressburger, Toronto, Canada

From: Ana Ross (via website comments)
Subject: chivalry

whats the opposite of chivalry?

Trump Hogs Umbrella; Leaves Melania and 11-Year-Old Son in Rain (video, 3 min.)

Trump Exits Plane & Slams SUV Door in Melania's Face (video, 6 min.)

Ana Ross, Honolulu, Hawaii

From: Hannah C (purplepenfox gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--chivalry

Chivalry taken to the extreme is referred to as chauvinism, no? I don’t mind a chivalrous man but I couldn’t stand a chauvinist.

Hannah C, Honolulu, Hawaii

From: Joan Perrin (perrinjoan aol.com)
Subject: Warhorse

One of American history’s most famous warhorses was Comanche. The Bay gelding was the mount of Captain Myles Keogh of the ill-fated 7th Cavalry and the best-known survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Though badly wounded, he recovered from his injuries and became a mascot and pet to cavalry. His many honors included a military funeral when he died many years later. Comanche was stuffed and still resides in a glass case at the University of Kansas. His story was told in a Disney movie and in a Johnny Horton song I sang along with as a child.

Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York

From: T.S. Ananthu (jyotiananthu gmail.com)
Subject: Wrangler

In Cambridge University’s Tripos examination for mathematics, the person who came first is designated Senior Wrangler, the next, Second Wrangler. This word was used because the aspiring student had to “wrangle” over points of intricate logic with the examiners.

T.S. Ananthu, Beas, India

From: Sophie Smiley (sophie.smiley gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--wrangler

In 1890, Philippa Fawcett was 13% ahead of the Senior Wrangler, but although women could sit the same exams, they weren’t awarded a degree till 1948.

Sophie Smiley, Cambridge, UK

Email of the Week brought to you by The Official Old’s Cool Education -- Wit. Grit. Grad. Dad. Gift. >

From: Will Bontrager (will willmaster.com)
Subject: Horses

I left my Amish community as a teenager because I couldn’t stomach the thought of following a horse around, working a farm for 60 or so years. The view would have gotten mighty old.

Yet, I see by this week’s theme, that I have not divorced myself from horses. Not at all. But the view is better.

Will Bontrager, Lowell, Indiana

From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: Hippodrome and chivalry

Hmm... what’s wrong with this picture? Playing off our word “hippodrome”, defined as a stadium for horse or chariot races, I went to the literal root of the matter with my fanciful depiction of hippos barreling down the race course, spurred on by their riders... jockeys in the guise of equines. Admittedly, this slightly absurdist racetrack scenario has taken anthropomorphism to the extreme, but hopefully a somewhat amusing one? Perchance a photo-finish win by a mere flared nostril, as opposed to a nose, is in the offing? Ha!

In this scenario of yore, I’ve envisioned Donald Trump (aka Sir Donald Trumps-a-Lot) as a boorish crusading knight in not-so-shining armor (more like sullied chain mail), uttering the now infamous line about his surefire method of literally capturing a fair damsel’s fancy, or put more crudely... her pudenda to the Access Hollywood entertainment reporter, giggly, sycophantic Billy Bush. Yes... THOSE Bushes. Clearly, Sir Donald’s less than honorable intention and conduct vis-a-vis the fairer sex has fallen sorrowfully short of chivalrous. More like suggestive, boorish, vulgar behavior, rising to the level of outright criminality. Frankly, Sir Donald would never have made it to King Arthur’s storied Round Table. Just sayin’.

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Anagrams of this week’s words


1. hippodrome 2. horse race 3. chivalry 4. warhorse 5. wrangler	=	1. arena 2. rivalry 3. proper heroism 4. charger 5. who held cows	Words originating in horses 1. hippodrome 2. horse race 3. chivalry 4. warhorse 5. wrangler	=	1. arena; pony showring 2. close thing (idiom) 3. his valor/prowess 4. charger; warrior 5. herder
-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)			-Robert Jordan, Lampang, Thailand (alfiesdad ymail.com)

From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Limericks

Says horse to the tortoise and hare,
“We thoroughbreds don’t plan to share
our fine hippodrome,
so you’d best head for home,
take your crazy old fable elsewhere!”
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

The wife of the gambler would cry,
“Just why did I marry you, Sy?
You seem more at home
At that damned hippodrome
Than here with your sweet honey pie!”
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

I’m running away, Mom, from home.
I’m eleven and ready to roam.
I will find work, of course;
I’ll take care of a horse
at the circus, or else hippodrome.
-Zelda Dvoretzky, Haifa, Israel (zeldahaifa gmail.com)

A general traveled to Rome
To orate in a large hippodrome.
The pompous warlord,
Expecting a horde,
Was abashed when they all stayed at home.
-Gayle Tremblay, Saint John, Canada (gayletremblay hotmail.com)

I write from the comfort of home
Of the glorious, famed hippodrome
Where chariots chased,
And rousingly raced;
As they say, there is no place like Rome.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“I’ll show ‘em who’s got some testosterone,”
Said Ben Hur as he entered the hippodrome.
But the sets were all fake,
For when movies they make,
It’s most likely your chariot’s Styrofoam.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Horse-racing is cruel to the max,
Plus fortunes are lost at the tracks.
Third reason to vent:
The poor losers are sent
To be Whoppers and also Big Macs.
-Bill Pfeil, Bang Saphan Noi, Thailand (billpfeil yahoo.com)

Though election day’s still far away,
new contenders keep ent’ring the fray.
So thronged is this horse race,
we voters, perforce, face
confusion by such an array.
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

When Sputnik achieved its great flight,
And put Yuri Gagarin in sight,
Thus began the horse race,
The Big Two face to face,
Spending billions on flexing their might.
-Marcia Sinclair, Newmarket, Canada (marciasinclair rogers.com)

The coming electoral horse race
Is for Donald just one more divorce case.
“You’re a horrible spouse!
Now get out of the house!”
We will scream, and him back to New York chase.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

He walks her home after their date,
shakes her hand upon reaching the gate.
“You’re overly civil,” she
says. “Does this chivalry
kisses and hugs obviate?”
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

Could shouts of #MeToo come to be
The death of belov’d chivalry?
Some men could now fear
Calling lady friends “Dear”,
Or else opening doors just for me.
-Lois Mowat, Orinda, California (lmowat1810 gmail.com)

Said The Donald, “Look, Pence, I get shivery
When I’m called upon daily for chivalry.
It just isn’t my style
To work up a real smile,
Since it’s not my desired delivery.”
-Judith Marks-White, Westport, Connecticut (joodthmw gmail.com)

Though he loved spicy food, he would sweat,
And the sweat made his wife quite upset.
When he bought cakes and sweets
For their jubilee treats,
She joked, “Chivalry isn’t dead yet!”
-Shyamal Mukherji, Wakefield, Massachusetts (mukherjis hotmail.com)

The knights had a noble appeal;
With women they’d gallantly deal.
But chivalry’s dead,
And now in its stead
Some powerful men cop a feel.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Knights of old fought with spear and with lance,
and their chivalry they would enhance
with a valorous feat,
then a compliment neat
with a poem, chanson, and romance.
-Zelda Dvoretzky, Haifa, Israel (zeldahaifa gmail.com)

There’s no chivalry lodged in his hype
When each day he contrives a new gripe.
As he lied and he squirmed,
His guilt was affirmed
When he blurted, “She isn’t my type.”
-Gayle Tremblay, Saint John, Canada (gayletremblay hotmail.com)

“He’s gracious, polite, and acts civilly,”
Thought the granny, “the essence of chivalry.
I’ll ask that young waiter
To visit me later.
Why not? It’s my birthday festivity.”
-Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (jpmarlin456 gmail.com)

Kids waiting for old Santa’s lap
hear a roar. Is it thunder, mayhap?
They track down the snore source:
Exhausted, that war horse
is having a well-deserved nap.
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

There’s a hard-working, faithful warhorse
Who is overlooked sadly, of course.
For there’s simply no other
Who cares like your mother;
Her efforts we all should endorse.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

As he screamed, “Get me down from this warhorse!”
His terrified shouting made Thor hoarse.
“The mythology notes
I ride carts pulled by goats!”
He exclaimed, in surprisingly poor Norse.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

So vicious became their debate
that it mortified each candidate.
By the time disentanglers
subdued the crazed wranglers,
alas, ‘twas already too late.
-Anne Thomas, Sedona, Arizona (antom earthlink.net)

The wrangler in charge of the pet
Made sure all went well on the set.
His collie was famed,
But s/he was misnamed --
Was Lassie transgender? You bet!
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Old Rufus went fishing one day,
But the fish wouldn’t bite, sad to say.
The frustrated angler
Became such a wrangler,
His wife on the couch made him stay.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“With mah spurs, Ah’m a real jingle jangler,”
Said Gene Autry, “as well as a wrangler.
And when nothin’s ado
With them critters that moo,
Ah go fishin’, and then Ah’m an angler.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

From: Phil Graham (pgraham1946 cox.net)
Subject: What the equus this week’s topic?

For people who like remote-controlled devices and are hippodrome is a great gift.

When you wake up hoarse race to the drug store for throat lozenges.

Getting caught in prison with a chivalry turn you to solitary confinement.

He painted so many Campbell’s Soup cans he could’ve been called Andy Warhorse.

If I decide to leave my wife in an Alaskan mountain range I’ll Wrangell ‘er.

Phil Graham, Tulsa, Oklahoma

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Not that I want to be a god or a hero. Just to change into a tree, grow for ages, not hurt anyone. -Czeslaw Milosz, poet and novelist (30 Jun 1911-2004)

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