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#59960 03/08/02 04:06 PM
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Two more from physics (and probably elsewhere) are prolate and oblate. Used to describe the two ways of squishing/pulling a sphere.


#59961 03/08/02 04:13 PM
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the local lutherian church in my neighborhood is boat shaped.

it's a new building, (1950's or so) but the original was built by local fishermen, and they shaped the roof like a boat. the new building echoed the same design.

when you are in the church, you feel like you're under a great big ship! As if they took a ship that burned to the water line, drag it ashore and used it as roof for a building!


#59962 03/08/02 04:22 PM
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Because Jesus on one occaseion stood in bow of beached fishing boat to address his disciples, the main part of a church is called the nave. and pulpits were often designed to look like the bow of a ship.


#59963 03/08/02 04:29 PM
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Dear tsuwm...

I cannot believe that you don't like navicular!! I think that's the coolest word---and navy comes from it.

Boat-shaped? That's a very useful word. Boat-shaped shoes, and boat-shaped pastry, boat-shaped noses, and boat-shaped bouquets--boat-shaped hotdog holders--boat-shaped trowels and boat-shaped windows...

Now throw in navicular--and you sound sophisticated!

Navicular bouquets thrown out navicular windows onto passersby with navicular noses casting navicular shadows over quickly padding feet in navicular boots...

I mean, the possibilities are endless! And stunning!

Best regards,
Wordwind [raspberry with navicular tongue]


#59964 03/08/02 04:32 PM
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well, okay! you can now refer to your neighborhood church as naviform (actually rare in usage) or the more common (from Anat. and Bot.) cymbiform (from the L. word for boat).

and there may yet be life for my "shape-file".

http://home.mn.rr.com/wwftd/

#59965 03/08/02 04:49 PM
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Dear Wordwind: Don't forget, you have a navicular in each wrist!


#59966 03/08/02 04:52 PM
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Dear wwh,

I KNEW you were going to mention the navicular bones in the wrists! Just knew it!! I saved that just for you!!

But I sure as heck hoped that you'd mention some other bone shapes!

Bone regards,
WristWind


#59967 03/08/02 05:10 PM
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Dear tsuwm: diligent search turned up nothing on :" cybiform (from the L. word for boat)." Everybody knows about Norbert Wiener and "cybernetics" I couldn't find out background beyond "helmsman"
Please give more details about "cybiform".


#59968 03/08/02 05:26 PM
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dear bill, try "cymbiform". sorry to send you on a wild-goof chase.

http://home.mn.rr.com/wwftd/

#59969 03/08/02 06:19 PM
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One of my favorite shape words is torus, says flatlander.
Join me for some coffee and toroidal pastry?

[Edited. Sorry, folks; made *no sense before]


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