Spontaneous Polling will now commence. Please vote within 72 hours from the time of this posting, unless I arbitrarily change the deadline again.

a. (n) the degree to which cement has hardened, usually indicated by percent.

b. a painting technique thought to originate in North Africa using charcoal and marble chippings

c. A residue, primarily lead oxide, formed during refining silver

d. (n) secretion produced by a pulvillus of the fly

e. Leftovers

f. Still archaic, but more modern, form of letheage –solace gained by forgetting. “He is full lethaged of it”,
meaning he has completely forgotten the subject of his previous sorrow.

g. the sticky saliva that causes insects to adhere to the tongue of a frog

h. Slack created in anchor lines as knots tighten, particularly as a result of tidal forces.

i. weight in stone (Brit. unit of 14 lbs.)

j. The process of removing stones and other unwanted material such as stalks from the usable crop of cherries, prior to jam or juice manufacture.

k. unreadable facial expression

l. the speed at which an object sinks in water

m. the comparative weight of different paper types.

n. The rate of the drop in the use of directive articles in language as the language becomes more homogeneous. Known as the Economy of Usage scale, in 1959, S.I.Hayakawa gave english a lithage rating of + 76, indicating a high rate of diminishing diversity.

I am not ready to cast my vote. I would just like to make an observation. It is so strange the number of entries that have a viscous substance of some sort--to some degree.

Just interesting. This kind of thing happens on Hogwash regularly. I mean, really. Think about it: lithage. That sure doesn't sound like such a viscous word, does it? Yet read those entries...lots of viscosity. I wonder why? Lith? That ain't viscous. Age? That ain't either...

Just plain interesting,
WW

PS: Now Hogwash. That's obviously viscous.
PPS: And, speaking of hogwash, did anyone see that family program last night that had a black pig that looked like a gorilla? It had long black gorrilla-like hair? What kind of pig was that?

What kind of pig was that?

And we wonder how threads go astray...

And we wonder how threads go astray, Hyla? At least I've learned one lesson and made sure the tangent had a different heading. Step by step, closer and closer...

OK. I'm ready to cast my vote, and none of 'em sound right to me, so I'm going to give my vote to n because it gave me the biggest laugh and burst of delight. This in no way means that I think it's correct. They all sound off-mark.

Leftovers was tempting for simplicity as was (related) the oxidized residue, which would be a kind of metallic leftover. And isn't there a baronium or something like that? Must get back in touch with the metallurgist inside of me, that is if metallurgist is a word.

But: A big vote for n 'cuz it's comical, although my daughter thinks it's stupid.

Best regards,
WW with a lithium rating of 142+

what's the word again?

[dizzy]

The word, AnnaStrophic was LITHAGE, although you'll never guess the definition in a million years. Even I had to see it on the list before I recognized the meaning. I'm considering withdrawing from the contest in order to give the less fortunate a chance to win. Also my goodbuddy Hyla let me put two definitions on the guess list, (j)- The process of removing stones and other unwanted material such as stalks from the usable crop of cherries, prior to jam or juice manufacture, and
(k) unreadable facial expression.
Also a hint...
The answer is not A or F or L.

Good Luck to you all,
Milo

Hmmmmm. C then.

CC

Mmmmmmmmmm . . . tastes good.

oh well.

Since I suspect Hyla of trying to hide something in plain sight, I shall have to go for E.

All I positively know is that it's not c, since c is litharge. So I plump for h, as it could be derived from lithe.

h for me

I'm torn between d and n. If it's a red herring, anyone who would dig up the word "pulvillus" for use in a hogwash definition *deserves* a point.

However, I think I'll go with n, for no good reason.

I'll take K. Im glad everyone is voting for my creation though... thanks!

Lots of innerestin' choices, not the least bein' G (gee)...but belay that order! Seein' as how, matey, we don't want the ship to tear free from its mooring I'll have to be choosin' H. Secure those lines, mates!

Long John Hogger

Ill try G