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A.Word.A.Day--estival estival (ES-ti-vuhl) adjective, also aestival Relating to or occurring in summer. [From Latin aestivus (of or relating to summer) via Old French.] "Phaedrus's dialogue with Socrates takes place in a rustic locale `consecrated to Achelous and some of the nymphs' near a pleasant brook during the hours of estival noontime heat." Twyla Meding, Pastoral Palimpsest: Writing the Laws of Love in L'Astree, Renaissance Quarterly (New York), Winter 1999. "I opted for a summer appetizer special of thinly sliced porcini mushrooms drizzled with gloriously fragrant olive oil and topped with snippets of parsley... Three globes of homemade apricot sorbet and biscotti ended the meal on a suitably estival note." Jessica Harris, East Village Other, The Village Voice (New York), Jul 20, 1999. This week's theme: yours to discover. X-Bonus When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: 'Only stand out of my light.' Perhaps some day we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light. -John W. Gardner, author and educator (1912-2002)

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