A.Word.A.Day Archives from http://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Mon Nov 2 00:13:04 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--acnestis X-Bonus: A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilisation. -Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784) Little strokes make a letter and those letters come together to form words. We assign meanings to the words. Often they express everyday things: a tree, a rock, water, and so on. Sometimes a word describes a more complex idea. Have you ever found yourself wondering, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a word for it?" Well, there is a word for almost everything under the sun. This week we have dug up five words you may not have known existed. acnestis (ak-NEES-tis) noun The part of the body where one cannot reach to scratch. [From Greek aknestis (spine), from Ancient Greek knestis (spine, cheese-grater).] "In what has to be the longest post-election season in living memory, the last five months have felt like an acnestis upon our collective soul; like that little patch of skin on our backs that we just can't reach to scratch ourselves. It's irritating. It's annoying. It's left us reaching and spinning around in circles." A Wish List to Soothe Our Collective Itch; New Straits Times (Malaysia); Aug 5, 2008. -------- Date: Tue Nov 3 00:13:04 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--daymare X-Bonus: The truth is that every morning war is declared afresh. And the men who wish to continue it are as guilty as the men who began it, more guilty perhaps, for the latter perhaps did not foresee all its horrors. -Marcel Proust, novelist (1871-1922) This week's theme: There is a word for it daymare (DAY-mayr) noun A terrifying experience, similar to a nightmare, felt while awake. [Coined after nightmare, from a combination of day + mare (an evil spirit believed to produce nightmares). Ultimately from the Indo-European root mer- (to rub away or to harm) that is also the source of mordant, amaranth, morbid, mortal, mortgage, ambrosia, and nightmare.] "Reports like these give me a deep and sickening feeling, somewhere between a daymare and deja vu." Margaret McCartney; A Swiss Cheese Method to Eliminate Fatal Errors; Financial Times (London, UK); Feb 18, 2006. -------- Date: Wed Nov 4 00:13:11 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nihilarian X-Bonus: In the struggle between yourself and the world, second the world. -Franz Kafka, novelist (1883-1924) This week's theme: There is a word for it nihilarian (nih-i-LAR-ee-uhn) noun One who does useless work. [From Latin nihil (nothing).] "You may find yourself worrying that you're turning into a nihilarian." Sian Prior; Ineffable; The Age (Melbourne, Australia); Dec 16, 2002. -------- Date: Thu Nov 5 00:13:05 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lentiginous X-Bonus: I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals. -Jonathan Swift, satirist (1667-1745) This week's theme: There is a word for it lentiginous (len-TIJ-uh-nuhs) adjective Covered with freckles. [From Latin lentiginosus (freckled), from lentigo (freckle), from lens (lentil).] "I realised that my freckly Celtic complexion wasn't a curse I had to endure for life, and my offensively lentiginous skin could be smoothed into picture-perfect ivory." Simon Price; Cover-up, Powder and Eyeliner; The Guardian (London, UK); Dec 14, 2002. -------- Date: Fri Nov 6 00:13:05 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--spurtle X-Bonus: Understand this, I mean to arrive at the truth. The truth, however ugly in itself, is always curious and beautiful to seekers after it. -Agatha Christie, author (1890-1976) This week's theme: There is a word for it spurtle (SPUR-tl) noun A wooden stick for stirring porridge. [Of uncertain origin, perhaps from Latin spatula, or from sprit (a pole to extend a sail on a ship).] There's a word for everything. And there's a contest for everything. There is one for making porridge, grandly named, Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship, held annually in Scotland http://www.goldenspurtle.com/ "I know hardly anyone who eats anything much in the morning. ... No one yet has owned up to stirring porridge with a spurtle, pouring milk over blocks of desiccated wheat, or even blasting a banana to a pulp in the blender. Nigel Slater; Oat Cuisine; The Observer (London, UK); May 19, 2002. -------- Date: Mon Nov 9 00:01:07 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--horse-and-buggy X-Bonus: Don't surrender your loneliness / So quickly. / Let it cut more deeply. / Let it ferment and season you / As few human / Or even divine ingredients can. -Hafez, poet (1315-1390) It's a sign of our historical dependence on horses that our language is filled with terms, idioms, and other references about them. When the locomotive came out, it was called an iron horse. And when the automobile was invented, it was named a horseless carriage. Today, we use many horse-related terms metaphorically, from horse-trading (hard bargaining) to horse sense (common sense). A political candidate might turn out to be a dark horse (someone little known who gains unexpected support). One might change horses in midstream (to change opinion in the middle of action) or ride two horses (have two allegiances or follow two courses). This week we'll look at five terms related to horses. horse-and-buggy (HORS-uhn-BUG-ee) adjective Old-fashioned; outdated. [Referring to the era before the invention of the automobile, when people often traveled in horse-drawn buggies.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=horse-and-buggy "'You can't continue to run a space-age company with horse-and-buggy methods,' said Angelo Rosati." Gina Thackara; Business Lessons Basic to Survival; Scranton Times (Pennsylvania); Oct 2, 1996. -------- Date: Tue Nov 10 00:01:06 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--horse latitudes X-Bonus: Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are like us." Ask the experimenters why it is morally OK to experiment on animals, and the answer is: "Because the animals are not like us." Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction. -Charles R. Magel, professor of philosophy This week's theme: Words with horse-related origins horse latitudes (hors LAT-i-toodz, -tyoodz) noun Either of the two belts around latitudes 30 to 35 degrees N or S, marked by high pressure, and light variable winds. [Of uncertain origin. There's a story, not very convincing, that when stuck in such a region of calm with little wind to get them across, sailors threw their cargo of horses overboard to save on rations and to lighten the load. Another conjecture is that the term is derived from Spanish golfo de las yeguas, literally, mares' gulf, alluding to the unpredictable nature of the mares. A related term is doldrums, the calm area in an ocean around the equator http://wordsmith.org/words/doldrums.html ] Horse latitudes: http://wordsmith.org/words/images/horse_latitudes_large.gif [Image: USGS] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=horse+latitude "Newspapers are emerging from the doldrums of July and August and gathering wind in their sails again as they sweep southwards through the horse latitudes of autumn, their masts (and metaphors -Editor) creaking from the renewed strain of events." Frank McNally; An Irishman's Diary; The Irish Times (Dublin); Sep 18, 2009. -------- Date: Wed Nov 11 00:01:05 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--stalking horse X-Bonus: If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all. -Joey Adams, comedian (1911-1999) This week's theme: Words with horse-related origins stalking horse (STAH-king HORS) noun 1. Something used to mask the true purpose. 2. A candidate put forward in an election to draw votes from another or to conceal another's potential candidacy. [After the former practice of bird hunters of hiding behind a horse (or a decoy) until he had reached within close range of prey.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=stalking+horse "The escalation of war in Afghanistan may be only a stalking horse for an even larger war in Pakistan as the United States seeks to secure the nukes there." Michael Lerner; Say No to War in Afghanistan and Pakistan; San Francisco Chronicle; Oct 8, 2009. "Pollsters say Mr. Daggett is hurting Mr. Christie more, by siphoning off anti-incumbent voters. And some talk-radio hosts are asking if he is not a stalking horse for Mr. Corzine." David M. Halbfinger; Independent Candidate Stirs Up the Governor's Race in New Jersey; The New York Times; Oct 11, 2009. -------- Date: Thu Nov 12 00:01:05 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hobbyhorse X-Bonus: The test of a democracy is not the magnificence of buildings or the speed of automobiles or the efficiency of air transportation, but rather the care given to the welfare of all the people. -Helen Adams Keller, lecturer and author (1880-1968) This week's theme: Words with horse-related origins hobbyhorse (HOB-ee-hors) noun A favorite pastime, a pet project or topic; an obsession. [The everyday word hobby is a shortening of the term hobbyhorse. A hobbyhorse is a child's riding toy, consisting of a stick with the shape of a horse's head on the front. It was called hobbyhorse, probably from the name Robin or Hobin usually given to a small horse. The word is often used in a metaphorical sense as "to ride one's hobby-horse" meaning to pursue a pet topic.] Also see cheval de bataille http://wordsmith.org/words/cheval_de_bataille.html Hobbyhorse: http://wordsmith.org/words/images/hobbyhorse_large.jpg [Artist: W.W. Denslow] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=hobbyhorse "Charleston was my father's ministry, his hobbyhorse, his quiet obsession, and the great love of his life." Pat Conroy; South of Broad; Nan A. Talese Books; 2009. -------- Date: Fri Nov 13 00:01:06 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--Trojan horse X-Bonus: Literature becomes the living memory of a nation. -Alexander Solzhenitsyn, novelist, Nobel laureate (1918-2008) This week's theme: Words with horse-related origins Trojan horse (TRO-juhn hors) noun Something or someone placed in order to subvert from within. [In the legendary Trojan War, the Greeks left a large hollow wooden horse at the gates of the city of Troy. The Trojans took it inside. Greek soldiers hidden in the horse came out at night and opened the gates of the city, allowing the Greek army to enter and conquer the Trojans. In computing, a Trojan horse is a program that, while seemingly useful, steals passwords or does other damage to computers.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=trojan+horse Trojan Horse from the movie Troy, now preserved in Canakkale, Turkey: http://wordsmith.org/words/images/trojan_horse_large.jpg [Photo: Ross Burgess] "Ministers appear determined to use the Coroners and Justice Bill as a Trojan horse with which to smuggle authoritarian measures on to the statute book." Resist These Attempts to Make Justice Secret; The Independent (London, UK); Oct 22, 2009. -------- Date: Mon Nov 16 00:01:06 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--homologate X-Bonus: Go to where the silence is and say something. -Amy Goodman, investigative journalist, columnist and author (b. 1957) Verbs are special words. They describe action. Nothing would ever get done if it were not for the verbs. Look at a sentence on your screen or on paper -- it just lies there listless, a mere collection of random words until a verb comes to infuse life into it. This week we'll feature five unusual verbs - words for a few things you most likely don't do every day. homologate (huh-MOL-uh-gayt, ho-) verb tr. 1. To approve officially. 2. To register a specific model of a motor vehicle to make it eligible to take part in a racing competition. [From Latin homologare (to agree), from Greek homologein (to agree or allow).] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=homologate Notes: Some auto racing competitions require participating vehicles to be available for sale to the general public, and not be custom made for racing. The process of homologation verifies this. The initials GTO listed after some auto names (Ferrari, Pontiac, etc.) mean "Gran Turismo Omologato", Italian for "Grand Touring, Homologated". "Mr Jimmy Gray said: 'We've major issues which appear to be discussed in the press. Decisions are made and then we're asked to homologate these decisions." Labour Group Leader Hits Out; Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK); Jul 9, 2007. "What was needed was a more streamlined street car to homologate for racing." Malcolm Gunn; Parked on the Showroom Floor; Chicago Daily Herald; Oct 18, 2009. -------- Date: Tue Nov 17 00:01:06 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--convoke X-Bonus: Books written out of fire give me a great deal of pleasure. You get the sense that the world for these writers could not have continued if the book hadn't been written. When you come across a book like that it is a privilege. -Hisham Matar, author (b. 1970) This week's theme: Verbs convoke (kuhn-VOHK) verb tr. To call together for a meeting. [From Latin convocare (call together), from con- (together) + vocare (to call), from vox (voice).] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=convoke "They insist that Mr Zelaya violated the constitution by trying to convoke a constituent assembly which they fear might have prolonged his term." Post-coup Honduras; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 9 2009. -------- Date: Wed Nov 18 00:01:06 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--expiate X-Bonus: The cardinal doctrine of a fanatic's creed is that his enemies are the enemies of God. -Andrew Dickson White, diplomat, historian, and educator (1832-1918) This week's theme: Verbs expiate (EK-spee-ayt) verb tr. To atone, to make amends for. [From Latin expiare (to atone for), from ex- (thoroughly) + piare (to atone), from pius (dutiful).] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=expiate "Is she expiating her guilt for being a neglectful daughter?" Mark Schilling; Tossing Cash Round Like Confetti; Japan Times (Tokyo); Oct 30, 2009. -------- Date: Thu Nov 19 00:01:05 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--subserve X-Bonus: One can promise actions, but not feelings, for the latter are involuntary. He who promises to love forever or hate forever or be forever faithful to someone is promising something that is not in his power. -Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900) This week's theme: Verbs subserve (suhb-SURV) verb tr. To help to further something. [From Latin subservire (to serve under), from sub- (under) + servire (to serve), from servus (slave).] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=subserve "The decisions were ad hoc in nature and were taken to subserve political expediency." H.N. Das; Ethnic Aspirations; The Assam Tribune (India); Apr 19, 2009. -------- Date: Fri Nov 20 00:01:05 EST 2009 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nettle X-Bonus: A man's library is a sort of harem. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882) This week's theme: Verbs nettle (NET-l) verb tr. 1. To irritate. 2. To sting. [The verb senses of the word are derived from the name of the plant, any of the various plants of the genus Urtica whose leaves are covered with stinging hairs. The word is ultimately from the Indo-European root ned- (to bind) that is also the source of node, noose, annex, and connect. There's a British and Australian idiom, grasp the nettle, meaning to tackle an unpleasant or difficult task.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=nettle "My questions about the wisdom or otherwise of disbanding the Iraqi army visibly nettled him [General David McKiernan]." Mark Urban; When Generals Become Unstuck; BBC News; May 12, 2009.