A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Thu Feb 1 00:01:04 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--emesis X-Bonus: Let America be America again. / Let it be the dream it used to be. ... / Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed - / Let it be that great strong land of love / Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme / That any man be crushed by one above. -Langston Hughes, poet and novelist (1 Feb 1902-1967) This week's theme: Words that turn into another when a letter is added or removed at the top emesis (EM-uh-sis) noun The act or process of vomiting. [From Greek emein (to vomit). Earliest documented use: 1875.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/emesis https://wordsmith.org/words/images/emesis.png Photo: Emmessís icecream http://www.emmessis.is "If you feel nauseous, there are emesis bags in the side compartments." Alan "DOC" Jamison; Space Force: Alien Treasures; Strategic Book Publishing; 2013. -------- Date: Fri Feb 2 00:01:04 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--tautologous X-Bonus: The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw. -Havelock Ellis, physician, writer, and social reformer (2 Feb 1859-1939) This week's theme: Words that turn into another when a letter is added or removed at the top tautologous (to-TOL-uh-guhs) adjective Involving unnecessary repetition of an idea, especially in different words, for example, a good-looking beautiful woman. [From Greek tauto- (same), contraction of "to auto" (the same) + -logy (word). Earliest documented use: 1646.] "If it's in stock, we have it!" https://wordsmith.org/words/images/tautologous_large.jpg Photo: Quinn Dombrowski https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/5893333070/ Words made by adding or removing a letter at the beginning: olid -> solid/lid latitudinarian -> platitudinarian https://wordsmith.org/words/platitudinarian.html fuliginous -> uliginous https://wordsmith.org/words/uliginous.html emesis -> nemesis https://wordsmith.org/words/nemesis.html tautologous -> autologous https://wordsmith.org/words/autologous.html "It is a bit tautologous, though. All it really tells us is that art affects the brain like art." Oliver Moody; What Can Monkeys and Orange Juice Tell Us About Bach?; The Times (London, UK); Oct 27, 2017. -------- Date: Mon Feb 5 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--snollygoster X-Bonus: In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take. -Adlai Stevenson, statesman (5 Feb 1900-1965) If you have been wondering what word to use to describe that good-for-nothing person -- a neighbor, a colleague, or a president -- you are in luck. Things are going to get colorful this week, linguistically speaking. We present you with five vivid, offbeat, American words -- what you do with them is up to you. snollygoster (SNOL-ee gos-tuhr) noun A shrewd, unprincipled person. [Of uncertain origin, perhaps an alteration of snallygaster, a mythical creature said to prey on poultry and children, possibly from Pennsylvania Dutch schnelle geeschter, from German schnell (quick) + Geist (spirit). Earliest documented use: 1846.] NOTES: According to a Georgia editor, "A snollygoster is a fellow who wants office, regardless of party, platform, or principles, and who, whenever he wins, gets there by the sheer force of monumental talknophical assumnacy." "Where do you find lawyers like this snollygoster?" Malcolm Berko; Dunkin' Donuts May Be Full of Holes; Herald Sun with Chapel Hill Herald (Durham, North Carolina); Jun 10, 2012. -------- Date: Tue Feb 6 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--highbinder X-Bonus: True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess. -Louis Nizer, lawyer (6 Feb 1902-1994) This week's theme: Words to describe people highbinder (HY-byn-duhr) noun A swindler, gangster, or a corrupt politician. [After the Highbinders, a Chinese gang in New York and other cities from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Earliest documented use: 1806.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/highbinder https://wordsmith.org/words/images/highbinder_large.jpg Image: LoC http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g04944/ "At least 30 other states have seen their retirement investments fall. In New Mexico, some highbinders getting huge fees put plenty of money in risky investments." Leaders on Notice: Reform Pensions Now; The Santa Fe New Mexican; Sep 14, 2010. -------- Date: Wed Feb 7 00:01:04 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--wirepuller X-Bonus: I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance, any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it. -Charles Dickens, novelist (7 Feb 1812-1870) This week's theme: Words to describe people wirepuller (WAIR-pool-uhr) noun A person who manipulates or exerts control from behind the scenes. [From wire + puller. Earliest documented use: 1824.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/wirepuller "Thurlow Weed, New York's cagey behind-the-scenes Republican wirepuller, was telling Lincoln that his reelection was now an impossibility." John C. Waugh; Lincoln and McClellan; Palgrave Macmillan; 2010. -------- Date: Thu Feb 8 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--four-flusher X-Bonus: When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. -Charles Reade, writer (8 Jun 1814-1884) This week's theme: Words to describe people four-flusher (FOHR-flush-uhr) noun A pretender, bluffer, or fraudster. [In a game of poker, a full flush is five cards of the same suit. A four-flush, only four cards of the same suit, is almost worthless. A player pretending to have a full flush while holding only a four-flush, is said to be a four-flusher. Earliest documented use: 1904.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/four-flusher Poster from the film "The Four Flusher" 1919 https://wordsmith.org/words/images/four-flusher_large.png Image: Film Daily/Wikimedia "Mr. Corbett was basically a four-flusher. He cut education funding in a monumentally shortsighted move and double-crossed the Post-Gazette for its 2010 endorsement." Dan Simpson; Giving Thanks for This and That; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania); Nov 26, 2014. -------- Date: Fri Feb 9 00:01:04 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--jackleg X-Bonus: The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind. -Thomas Paine, philosopher and writer (9 Feb 1737-1809) This week's theme: Words to describe people jackleg (JAK-leg) adjective: Unskilled; unscrupulous; incompetent. noun: An unskilled or unscrupulous worker. [From jack (man, worker) + blackleg https://wordsmith.org/words/blackleg.html . Earliest documented use: 1839.] "A reader emailed: 'You forgot to mention how the jackleg preachers told you to put your hand on the radio to get your blessing and send $100, $50, $25, $10, $5, or $1 for the kind of blessing you want.'" Alonzo Kitterls; Thanks for Sharing Memories and Let's Share More; Philadelphia Tribune (Pennsylvania); Jan 4, 2015. -------- Date: Mon Feb 12 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--adonize X-Bonus: The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind. -Charles Darwin, naturalist and author (12 Feb 1809-1882) In the Harry Potter series, once when the Weasley twins jump on their brooms and leave school early, other students talk about "doing a Weasley". This name-verbing happens in real life too. "To Kanye" now is to interrupt someone in the middle of something important. While none of the above examples have made it to the dictionary, many others have. This week we'll see five such people who became verbs. To meet these personalities, we'll visit the world of mythology, film, government, religion, and history. Chances are you yourself have turned the name of someone around you into a verb. Share your examples on our website or email us at words@wordsmith.org. adonize (AD-uh-nyz) verb tr. To make more attractive; to spruce up. [After Adonis, a beautiful youth in Greek mythology, loved by Aphrodite. Adonis's name has become a synonym for a very handsome young man. Earliest documented use: 1611.] Venus and Adonis (1729) https://wordsmith.org/words/images/adonize_large.jpg Art: François Lemoyne "As before, the viscount had adonized himself. His nankeen trousers and deep green fustian coat covered a ruffled shirt and simple waistcoat." Jo Ann Ferguson; Rhyme and Reason; Zebra; 1997. https://wordsmith.org/words/nankeen.html https://wordsmith.org/words/fustian.html -------- Date: Tue Feb 13 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bogart X-Bonus: If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. -Robert H. Jackson, US Supreme Court justice (13 Feb 1892-1954) This week's theme: People who became verbs bogart (BO-gart) verb tr. 1. To hog or to take more than the fair share of something. 2. To bully, act tough, or to be belligerent. [After film actor Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) who played tough-guy roles. Earliest documented use: 1965.] Humphrey Bogart https://wordsmith.org/words/images/bogart_large.jpg Image: Yousuf Karsh/Library and Archives Canada https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/18653270693 "The Hokies ... bogarted the ball for 22:49 of the second half's 30 minutes." David Teel; Hokies Can Cherish Season; Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia); Nov 26, 2017. -------- Date: Wed Feb 14 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hooverize X-Bonus: Patriotism is often an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles. -George Jean Nathan, author and editor (14 Feb 1882-1958) This week's theme: People who became verbs hooverize (HOO-vuh-ryz) verb tr., intr. To be sparing in the use of something, especially food. [After Herbert C. Hoover (1874-1964), who as the head of the US Food Administration during the WWI, encouraged citizens to eat less and save food for soldiers. Earliest documented use: 1917.] NOTES: "To hooverize" is not the same as "to hoover". The latter is a synonym of "to vacuum" (also used metaphorically for "to devour" or "to consume"). It's the genericizing of the word Hoover, a popular brand name for vacuum cleaners. The word is mostly used around the UK. The brand is named after American industrialist William Henry Hoover (1849-1932). "Food will win the war" - A poster by the US Food Administration https://wordsmith.org/words/images/hooverize_large.jpg Image: The US National Archives "Read one wartime Valentine's Day poem: I can Hooverize on dinner And on lights and fuel too But I'll never learn to Hooverize When it comes to loving you." David Pietrusza; 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR; Lyons Press; 2015. -------- Date: Thu Feb 15 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--molochize 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) This week's theme: People who became verbs molochize (MOL-uh-kyz) verb tr. To sacrifice. [After Moloch, a Canaanite god of the Bible, associated with the practice of child sacrifice. Earliest documented use: 1825.] A Moloch statue from the 1914 film "Cabiria", in the National Museum of Cinema, Turin, Italy https://wordsmith.org/words/images/molochize_large.jpg Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra/Wikimedia "Look to the skies, then to the river, strike Their hearts, and hold their babies up to it. I think that they would Molochize them too, To have the heavens clear." Alfred Tennyson; Harold; 1876. -------- Date: Fri Feb 16 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--napoleonize X-Bonus: As against having beautiful workshops, studios, etc., one writes best in a cellar on a rainy day. -Van Wyck Brooks, writer, critic (16 Feb 1886-1963) This week's theme: People who became verbs napoleonize (nuh-PO-Lee-uh-nyz) verb tr. 1. To occupy or govern in a domineering or aggressive manner. 2. To aggrandize oneself. [After Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), French general and emperor. Earliest documented use: 1822.] Statue of Napoleon I in Cherbourg-Octeville, France https://wordsmith.org/words/images/napoleonize_large.jpg Photo: Eric Pouhier/Wikimedia "Who does that Laura Walker think she is, showing up uninvited and Napoleonizing Lord Hugo's attention like that?" Katherine Kingsley; Once Upon a Dream; Dell; 1997. -------- Date: Mon Feb 19 00:01:04 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--defeasible X-Bonus: Architecture is inhabited sculpture. -Constantin Brancusi, sculptor (19 Feb 1876-1957) Some words have all the vowels https://wordsmith.org/words/abstentious.html , others are derived after names of people https://wordsmith.org/words/silhouette.html , still others are super-long https://wordsmith.org/words/internationalization.html . These unique word forms and origins are what makes those words interesting. But what about words that fit none of the above and other categories? Are they uninteresting words? The Interesting Word Paradox version of the Interesting Number Paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interesting_number_paradox would tell us there are no uninteresting words. For example, if we make a list of all those uninteresting words, there will be a word on the list that stands out as the shortest word. That makes it interesting and it would no longer be part of an uninteresting list. Then, move to the second shortest word on the list. Rinse and repeat. Soon you have emptied the list. The paradox aside, each word is unique, just like each human is special. There are no perfect synonyms. And that makes each word, like each human, special. This week we'll visit with five miscellaneous words. They may not fit a particular category, but they are interesting words nonetheless. defeasible (di-FEE-zuh-buhl) adjective Capable of being revised, defeated, or annulled. [From Old French desfaire (to undo or destroy), from Latin dis- (apart, away) + facere (to do). Ultimately from the Indo-European root dhe- (to set or put), which is also the source of do, deed, factory, fashion, face, rectify, defeat, sacrifice, satisfy, Sanskrit sandhi (joining), Urdu purdah (veil or curtain), and Russian duma (council). Earliest documented use: 1586.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/defeasible "Surely many moral duties are defeasible, and in that sense relative. We all recognize that although lying is typically wrong, under certain circumstances -- to protect someone's life, for example -- it is justifiable." Austin Dacey; Believing in Doubt; The New York Times; Feb 3, 2006. -------- Date: Tue Feb 20 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--usurious X-Bonus: It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. -Ansel Adams, photographer (20 Feb 1902-1984) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words usurious (yoo-ZHOOR-ee-uhs) adjective Charging excessive rates, especially for lending money. [From Latin usus (use), past participle of uti (to use). Earliest documented use: 1610.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/usurious https://wordsmith.org/words/images/usurious_large.jpg Photo: Jason Comely https://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkjustice/4069633895/ "The scenario he and many others feared was ... the price would rise and rise until it began to rival the usurious rates that journals were charging, where for instance by 2011 a yearly subscription to the 'Journal of Comparative Neurology' could cost as much as $25,910." James Somers; Torching the Modern-Day Library of Alexandria; The Atlantic (Washington, DC); Apr 20, 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/04/the-tragedy-of-google-books/523320/ -------- Date: Wed Feb 21 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--benthos X-Bonus: I and the public know / What all schoolchildren learn, / Those to whom evil is done / Do evil in return. -W.H. Auden, poet (21 Feb 1907-1973) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words benthos (BEN-thos) noun Organisms that live at the bottom of a body of water. [From Greek benthos (depth of the sea). Earliest documented use: 1891.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/benthos https://wordsmith.org/words/images/benthos_large.jpg From the book "Das Meer" (1867) by Matthias Jakob Schleiden "At the meeting Tuesday, officials will describe the work they've done to document improvements in ... degradation of organisms in the benthos." Steve Orr; Taste the Difference?; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (New York); Nov 15, 2015. -------- Date: Thu Feb 22 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gerent X-Bonus: Men are the devils of the earth and the animals are its tormented souls. -Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher (22 Feb 1788-1860) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words gerent (JIR-ent) noun A ruler or manager. [From Latin gerent, present participle of gerere (to manage). Earliest documented use: 1576.] "Great deputy, the welkin's vice-gerent, and sole dominator of Navarre ..." William Shakespeare; Love's Labour's Lost; 1590s. -------- Date: Fri Feb 23 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hyperborean X-Bonus: The theory of democratic government is not that the will of the people is always right, but rather that normal human beings of average intelligence will, if given a chance, learn the right and best course by bitter experience. -W.E.B. Du Bois, educator, civil rights activist, and writer (23 Feb 1868-1963) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words hyperborean (hy-puhr-BOR-ee-uhn) noun: An inhabitant of the extreme north. adjective: 1. Relating to the extreme north. 2. Very cold. [In Greek mythology, Hyperboreans were people living in a land of perpetual sunshine, beyond the reaches of north wind. The word is from Greek hyper- (beyond) + Boreas (the god of the north wind). Earliest documented use: 1601.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/Hyperborean Boreas Abducting Oreithyia https://wordsmith.org/words/images/hyperborean_large.jpg Art: Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (1610-1662) "McIlroy was all set to marry tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki this summer, when he suddenly developed cold -- nay, hyperborean -- feet." Alex Beam; The Curse of the Bambina; Boston Globe (Massachusetts); Oct 4, 2014. -------- Date: Mon Feb 26 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--deasil X-Bonus: The first symptom of love in a young man is timidity; in a girl boldness. -Victor Hugo, poet, novelist and dramatist (26 Feb 1802-1885) Last year when I was in India, I took a Jet Airways flight. The courteous and efficient flight attendant who served me wore a name tag that said "Frankly". I asked her if it was her real name. She said it was. I wondered if there was a story behind the name. She said, "No, there's no story. My father wanted to name me this, so he did." Well, it's not very often that I meet people who are named for adverbs, but you have to admit there's a certain charm to the name. If you wanted to name your future child after an adverb, there is Literally, https://wordsmith.org/words/literally.html and there's Verily, https://wordsmith.org/words/verily.html and dozens of other -ly adverbs. If you have an only child, you could name him or her Only (one + -ly). But adverbs come in lots of flavors; not all of them end in -ly. This week we'll see some Non-ly adverbs. deasil (DEE-zuhl) adverb In a clockwise direction. [From Scottish Gaelic deiseil (righthandwise), from Middle Irish dessel, from Old Irish dess (right, south) + sel (turn). Earliest documented use: 1771.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/deasil_large.jpg Photo: groucho https://www.flickr.com/photos/groucho/12988325653/ "The Celts favoured deasil, or sunwise, as a direction." Caitlin Matthews; The Celtic Tradition; Element Books; 1989. -------- Date: Tue Feb 27 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--tantivy X-Bonus: Men of genius are often dull and inert in society, as the blazing meteor when it descends to earth, is only a stone. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, poet (27 Feb 1807-1882) This week's theme: Adverbs tantivy (tan-TIV-ee) adverb: At full gallop; at full speed. noun: A fast gallop; rush. adjective: Swift. interjection: A hunting cry by a hunter riding a horse at full speed. [Of obscure origin, perhaps from the sound of a galloping horse's hooves. Earliest documented use: 1648.] Badge of HMS Tantivy, a British submarine https://wordsmith.org/words/images/tantivy.jpg Image: Wikimedia "He supposes himself as a wolf actually to have been galloping tantivy over hill and dale." Montague Summers; The Werewolf in Lore and Legend; Dover; 1933. -------- Date: Wed Feb 28 00:01:03 EST 2018 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--fain X-Bonus: Man is certainly stark mad: he cannot make a flea, yet he makes gods by the dozens. -Michel de Montaigne, essayist (28 Feb 1533-1592) This week's theme: Adverbs fain (fayn) adverb: 1. Willingly; gladly. 2. Rather. adjective: 1. Pleased. 2. Obliged. 3. Eager. [From Old English faegen (glad). Earliest documented use: 888.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/fain "Now I would fain work, but am unable to." Henrik Ibsen (Translation: Edmund Gosse & William Archer); Hedda Gabler; Scribner; 1909.