A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Wed Jan 1 00:01:02 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ballyhoo X-Bonus: We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. -Joseph Campbell, professor and writer (26 Mar 1904-1987) This week's theme: Americanisms ballyhoo (BAL-ee-hoo) noun: 1. Clamor or uproar. 2. Sensational or extravagant promotion. verb tr.: To promote or publicize in a sensational or extravagant manner. [Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1901.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/ballyhoo "Mr. Jasmin resorted to old-fashioned ballyhoo to promote the fair. He described the man-made islands in the middle of the St. Lawrence River as coming 'out of the water like Botticelli's Venus.'" Tom Hawthorn; Promoter Brought Expo 67 to the World; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Aug 16, 2019. "The Conservatives have already embarrassed themselves by joining last week's ballyhoo over rescinding the knighthood of Sir Fred Goodwin, the RBS chief whose mess Mr Hester was brought in to fix." Stephen Hester Is Being Paid Well for Tackling One of the Most Important Jobs in Britain; The Times (London, UK); Jan 28, 2012. -------- Date: Thu Jan 2 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--foofaraw X-Bonus: Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. -Isaac Asimov, scientist and writer (2 Jan 1920-1992) This week's theme: Americanisms foofaraw (FOO-fuh-raw) noun 1. Excessive or unnecessary ornamentation. 2. Fuss; commotion. [Foofaraw is a word from the American West, but how was it formed? Nobody knows. Perhaps from French fanfaron or Spanish fanfarrón. https://wordsmith.org/words/fanfaron.html . Earliest documented use: 1848.] Sometimes, even unicorns don't care for the foofaraw. Check out this cartoon from "The New Yorker": https://www.newyorker.com/cartoon/daily-cartoon-042017-unicorn "The foofaraw included a fake grass skirt undulating from the rear bumper." Kelly O'Dell Stanley; Praying Upside Down; Tyndale; 2015. -------- Date: Fri Jan 3 00:21:02 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lollapalooza X-Bonus: Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a harvest. -Douglas William Jerrold, playwright and humorist (3 Jan 1803-1857) This week's theme: Americanisms lollapalooza (lol-uh-puh-LOO-zuh) noun An exceptional person, thing, or event. [Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1904.] NOTES: The word has a number of variants: lollapaloosa, lalapalooza, lallapalooza, but they all mean the same thing: something or someone truly remarkable. It's also the name of a popular music festival. Lollapalooza, Chicago https://wordsmith.org/words/images/lollapalooza_large.jpg Photo: Lacrossewi/Wikimedia "Young Man Winter did a massive marshmallow job on the region a week ago. It was a snowstorm of Brobdingnagian dimensions. ... It was a lulu wrapped in a lollapalooza inside a humdinger." Robertson Cochrane; One Humdinger of a Snow Job; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); Dec 19, 1992. https://wordsmith.org/words/brobdingnagian.html https://wordsmith.org/words/lulu.html -------- Date: Mon Jan 6 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ombrifuge X-Bonus: Hate is a dead thing. Who of you would be a tomb? -Kahlil Gibran, poet and artist (6 Jan 1883-1931) Why not? In many cases, that's a pretty good response to a "Why?" Why take a dip in icy waters? https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/polar-bear-plunge-blurs-line-between-bravery-and-stupidity/ Why not? Why have ice cream for breakfast? Why not? That's just a couple of examples, but I think we should use "Why not?" more often, especially when deciding which word to use. Of course, we should use a word only when it fits, but what if there are two words that fit and you want to use the one that's more fun, even if a little obscure? Why not? That's our guiding principle in this week's words. We share with you five unusual synonyms of everyday words. What you do with them is up to you. When in doubt, think: Why not? ombrifuge (OM-bruh-fyoozh) noun Something that provides protection from the rain, especially an umbrella. [From Greek ombro- (rain shower) + -fuge (repelling). Earliest documented use: 1869.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/ombrifuge_large.jpg Illustration: Ken Wong http://www.kenart.net/portfolio/sunshine.htm "When you are caught in a shower and spot a convenient ombrifuge ... should you run to it or walk?" The Independent (London, UK); Apr 30, 1998. -------- Date: Tue Jan 7 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--exemplum X-Bonus: There are years that ask questions and years that answer. -Zora Neale Hurston, folklorist and writer (7 Jan 1891-1960) Unusual synonyms exemplum (ig-ZEM-pluhm) noun 1. An example or model. 2. An anecdote used to illustrate a moral truth or support an argument. [From Latin exemplum (example), from eximere (to take out), from ex- (out) + emere (to take). Ultimately from the Indo-European root em- (to take or distribute), which also gave us example, sample, assume, consume, prompt, ransom, vintage, redeem, diriment https://wordsmith.org/words/diriment.html , subsume https://wordsmith.org/words/subsume.html , and peremptory https://wordsmith.org/words/peremptory.html . Earliest documented use: 1482.] "His own life became in some ways an exemplum of classical standards, through the elegance of the book-lined rooms that he inhabited and the impeccable decorum of his clothes." Professor David Watkin (obituary); The Times (London, UK); Sep 10, 2018. -------- Date: Wed Jan 8 00:01:04 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--splanchnic X-Bonus: It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards. -Baltasar Gracian, philosopher and writer (8 Jan 1601-1658) Unusual synonyms splanchnic (SPLANGK-nik) adjective Of or relating to the internal organs or viscera. [From splanchnicus, from Greek splankhnikos, from splankhna (entrails). Earliest documented use: 1694.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/splanchnic "I discovered that the splanchnic nerve is actually three nerves and all control the visceral functions in various manners." Isaac Asimov; Robot Visions; Roc; 1990. -------- Date: Thu Jan 9 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--singultus X-Bonus: It seems to me that those songs that have been any good, I have nothing much to do with the writing of them. The words have just crawled down my sleeve and come out on the page. -Joan Baez, musician (b. 9 Jan 1941) Unusual synonyms singultus (sing-GUHL-tuhs) noun A hiccup. [From Latin singultus (sob, gasp, hiccup). Earliest documented use: 1754.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/singultus "He waved at me -- for silence and focus -- as I was endeavoring to control my singultus which often occurs whenever I see a quarry." Yemi D. Prince; The Birth of a Child in a Fishing Boat; Langaa; 2016. -------- Date: Fri Jan 10 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--indagate X-Bonus: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. -Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton), historian (10 Jan 1834-1902) Unusual synonyms indagate (IN-duh-gayt) verb tr. To search into; to investigate. [From Latin indagare (to search). Earliest documented use: 1623.] "I need to get him to indagate any potential infringement." Richard David Kennedy; The Profit Book One; Lulu; 2015. -------- Date: Mon Jan 13 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--eftsoons X-Bonus: To move freely you must be deeply rooted. -Bella Lewitzky, dancer (13 Jan 1916-2004) A few weeks ago we had featured words that ended in -ly and looked liked adverbs, except they weren't https://wordsmith.org/words/homily.html . As we said, not all -ly words are adverbs and not all adverbs end in -ly. July is a month, lily is a flower, and ugly bully is a president. So this week we have found five uncommon adverbs, none ending in -ly. Give them a try. Rely on them to bring nuance to your verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. eftsoons (eft-SOONZ) adverb 1. Soon after. 2. Again. 3. From time to time. [From Old English ęft (again) + sona (soon). Ultimately from the Indo-European root apo- (off or away), which is also the source of after, off, awkward, post, puny, appose https://wordsmith.org/words/appose.html , and apposite https://wordsmith.org/words/apposite.html . Earliest documented use: 1000.] "Eftsoons we turned to the volume of Shakespeare that we had at hand." Al Sicherman; Al's 'Midsummer Night's Dream'; Minneapolis Star and Tribune (Minnesota); Aug 9, 1987. -------- Date: Tue Jan 14 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--faute de mieux X-Bonus: When one has been threatened with a great injustice, one accepts a smaller as a favour. -Jane Welsh Carlyle, letter writer (14 Jan 1801-1866) This week's theme: Adverbs faute de mieux (foht duh MYOO/MYUH) adverb For want of something better. [From French faute (lack) + de (of) + mieux (better). Earliest documented use: 1766.] "Mrs May survives faute de mieux. The Tory party can't agree on who should succeed her and both factions fear that the alternative would be worse for them." James Forsyth: The Plots Thicken; The Spectator (London, UK); Oct 14, 2017. -------- Date: Wed Jan 15 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--amain X-Bonus: It is not what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. -Moliere, actor and playwright (15 Jan 1622-1673) This week's theme: Adverbs amain (uh-MAYN) adverb 1. With all one's strength. 2. At full speed. 3. With great haste. [From a- (on, in, to) + main, from Old English maegen (strength, power). Earliest documented use: 1540.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/amain "The wind now rising amain, he in vain strove." Herman Melville; Moby Dick; Harper; 1851. -------- Date: Thu Jan 16 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--certes X-Bonus: Be kind to thy father, for when thou wert young, / Who loved thee so fondly as he? / He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue, / And joined in thy innocent glee. -Margaret Courtney, poet (1822-1862) This week's theme: Adverbs certes (suhr-TEEZ) adverb Certainly. [From Old French certes, from Latin certus (certain). Earliest documented use: 1250.] "Certes, no man in his right mind would come near her with a huge wolfhound at her side." Shari Anton; Twilight Magic; Grand Central Publishing; 2007. -------- Date: Fri Jan 17 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--alfresco X-Bonus: I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (17 Jan 1706-1790) This week's theme: Adverbs alfresco (al-FRES-ko) adverb, adjective Outdoors; in the open air. [From Italian alfresco (in the fresh). Earliest documented use: 1717.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/alfresco "Abrupt reforms in the late 1980s sent many young men on to the streets. And the alternatives to living alfresco are better than in New York." Where Have All the Homeless Gone?; The Economist (London, UK); Aug 14, 2004. -------- Date: Mon Jan 20 00:13:02 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ad litem X-Bonus: Is it [hunting] really a sport if you have all the equipment and your opponent doesn't know a game is going on? -Bill Maher, comedian, actor, and writer (b. 20 Jan 1956) What does a bride-to-be have in common with a president elect? Both are waiting for their big day, but that's not what we have in mind here. It's how we use the adjectives to describe their transient states. In both cases, we put the adjectives after the nouns, not in front as is typical in the English language. Welcome to postpositives! The term may look unfamiliar, but if you know what a preposition is you can guess a postposition or a postpositive. Unlike a preposition, which goes before a word, postpositives go after. Enjoy this treasure trove of postpositive adjectives we have collected in this week's A.Word.A.Day. ad litem (AD LYT-uhm) adjective Appointed by a court to represent someone, such as a child, who is considered incapable of representing themselves in a lawsuit. [From Latin ad litem (literally, for the lawsuit), from ad (toward) + litigare (to go to law), from lis (dispute) + agere (to drive). Earliest documented use: 1683.] "'And what does Kiley want?' The judge directed his question to the guardian ad litem. 'Your Honor, she's not even three years old,' Diane said. 'I didn’t ask if she wanted to run off and live with Santa Claus. I'm simply asking a question of our assigned guardian ad litem, since presumably she needs to justify her public-interest salary here today.'" Lee Child; Vengeance; Mulholland Books; 2012. -------- Date: Tue Jan 21 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--errant X-Bonus: Walking is also an ambulation of mind. -Gretel Ehrlich, novelist, poet, and essayist (b. 21 Jan 1946) This week's theme: Words used postpositively errant (ER-uhnt) adjective 1. Traveling, especially in search of adventure. 2. Erring, straying, or moving aimlessly. [For 1: From Old French errer (to travel), from Latin iterare (to travel), from iter (road, trip). For 2: From Old French errer (to err), from Latin errare (to wander or to err). Earliest documented use: 1400s.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/errant NOTES: How in the world can a word have so many different meanings? Blame homographs, two different words having the same spelling (lead, the verb & lead, the metal). In the case of today's word, two Latin words (iterare and errare) evolved into the Old French errer. This homographic confusion continued when the words traveled to English. As if this wasn't enough, the word errant has morphed into another word resulting in further confusion: arrant http://wordsmith.org/words/arrant.html Only the first adjective form is used postpositively. Feline-errant https://wordsmith.org/words/images/errant_large.jpg Image: iridi66/Adobe "For all my lady-errant escapades, I still hold the proprieties in respect." Robert Barr; The Charm of the Old World Romances; E-artnow; 2016. -------- Date: Wed Jan 22 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--aforethought X-Bonus: Death is a friend of ours and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (22 Jan 1561-1626) This week's theme: Words used postpositively aforethought (uh-FOHR-thot) adjective Planned or premeditated; not by accident. [From afore (before) + thought, from Old English thoht. Ultimately from the Indo-European root tong- (to think or feel), which also gave us the words think and thank. Earliest documented use: 1472.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/aforethought "[Jack] Taylor has definitely killed two men, one more or less by accident, the other with malice aforethought." Patrick Anderson; One Tough Tippler; The Washington Post; Jan 27, 2003. -------- Date: Thu Jan 23 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--immemorial X-Bonus: If you don't love me, it does not matter, anyway I can love for both of us. -Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle), novelist (23 Jan 1783-1842) This week's theme: Words used postpositively immemorial (im-uh-MOHR-ee-uhl) adjective Very old; beyond memory or recorded history. [From Latin in- (not) + memoria (memory). Earliest documented use: 1593.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/immemorial "Central bankers like giving the impression that they have played such roles since time immemorial, but as Lord King points out the reality is otherwise. The Fed was created only in 1913." Mervyn King and the Financial Crisis; The Economist (London, UK); Mar 12, 2016. -------- Date: Fri Jan 24 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--laureate X-Bonus: There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. -Edith Wharton, novelist (24 Jan 1861-1937) This week's theme: Words used postpositively laureate (LOR-ee-uht) adjective: Having special distinction or recognition in a field. noun: A person honored for achieving distinction in a field. [From Latin laureatus (crowned with laurel), from laurea (crown of laurel), feminine of laureus (of laurel), from laurus (laurel). Earliest documented use: 1395.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/laureate NOTES: In ancient Greece, a wreath or a crown of laurel sprigs was used to honor people. The word baccalaureate as a synonym for bachelor's degree was formed from the alteration of Latin baccalarius to conform to bacca lauri (laurel berry). "A Reading from Homer", 1885 https://wordsmith.org/words/images/laureate_large.jpg A poet crowned with a laurel wreath reads Homer to an audience Art: Lawrence Alma-Tadema "To foster financial education, the US President or the Secretary of the Treasury should appoint an investor laureate to serve the nation." Steven M. Sears; The Indomitable Investor; Wiley; 2012. [May we suggest Bernie Madoff as our first investor laureate? -Ed.] -------- Date: Mon Jan 27 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bibliophilia X-Bonus: A fellow of mediocre talent will remain a mediocrity, whether he travels or not; but one of superior talent (which without impiety I cannot deny that I possess) will go to seed if he always remains in the same place. -Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer and musician (27 Jan 1756-1791) An idea is a textually-transmitted disease. A great idea puts one out of their comfort zone -- makes them feel dis-eased. Never underestimate the power of a single solitary idea. It may be a Magna Carta, limiting https://wordsmith.org/words/magna_carta.html powers of a king; theses nailed to a door, pointing out that godliness doesn't necessarily means goodness. And what's a book but a collection of ideas. The medium may change -- rock face, tree bark, animal hide, papyrus, magnetic tape, or a Kindle -- but what doesn't change is the purpose. A piece of writing takes an idea from one mind to another. Or as a cartoonist said: You can use books to install new software into your brain http://www.glasbergen.com/gallery-search/?tag=bonus7 . This week we're all about books. We'll feature words about books. bibliophilia (bi-blee-uh-FI-Lee-uh) noun The love of books. [From Greek biblio- (book) + -philia (love).] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/bibliophilia_large.jpg Image: Mushy/Adobe "If you've ever flirted with bibliophilia, ever dabbled in recreational sniffing and fondling of books, be advised: this magnificent volume [Winter Papers 5] might push you over the edge." Kevin Barry and Olivia Smith; A winter wonderland; Sunday Times (London, UK); Dec 22, 2019. -------- Date: Tue Jan 28 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--chrestomathy X-Bonus: Sit down and put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it. -Colette, author (28 Jan 1873-1954) This week's theme: Words about books chrestomathy (kres-TOM-uh-thee) noun 1. A volume of selected literary passages, usually by one author. 2. A selection of literary passages from a foreign language, especially one assembled for studying a language. [From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) + manthanein (to learn). These two parts of the word ultimately derive from Indo-European gher- (to like or want) which gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, exhort; and mendh- (to learn) that resulted in the terms mathematics and polymath. Earliest documented use: 1832.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/chrestomathy A Mencken Chrestomathy: http://amazon.com/o/asin/0394752090/ws00-20 "In a word, they think [Ted Cruz] is a supremely self-absorbed show pony. Perhaps relevant: The Ted Cruz 2016 pocket Constitution that his volunteers distribute features a Ted Cruz introduction and a Ted Cruz chrestomathy before the document's text." Joseph Rago; Ted Cruz Likes Being Hated; The Wall Street Journal (New York); Jan 23, 2016. -------- Date: Wed Jan 29 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--biblioclast X-Bonus: A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against its government. -Edward Abbey, naturalist and author (29 Jan 1927-1989) This week's theme: Words about books biblioclast (BIB-lee-uh-klast) noun One who destroys or mutilates books. [From Greek biblio- (book) + -clast (breaker). Earliest documented use: 1880.] Anthony Comstock, who gave us comstockery and who destroyed 15 tons of books https://wordsmith.org/words/images/comstockery_large.jpg https://wordsmith.org/words/comstockery.html Photo: Wikimedia "Mr Raving was none too subtle a blend of born-again Christian, mini-arsonist and my computer studies master. Once during a lesson, I had to retrieve a text-book from my bag necessitating the removal of everything else. Raving went, well, raving when he saw a copy of Eric Von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods appear. He grabbed the book almost before it landed on my desk and, with a zeal that would have made a Nazi biblioclast proud, set it alight and threw it into the bin while crossing himself with a ruler. A week later I was summoned to the office of the school library to explain why I hadn't returned said book. I said: 'Because Mr Raving destroyed it, sir.' Aghast he replied: 'Another one?!'" Spike Breakwell; Disabled: Joe Egg's School Days; The Independent on Sunday (London, UK); Feb 29, 2004. -------- Date: Thu Jan 30 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--feuilleton X-Bonus: The power to command frequently causes failure to think. -Barbara Tuchman, author and historian (30 Jan 1912-1989) This week's theme: Words about books feuilleton (FOI-i-ton) noun [The last syllable is nasal] 1. The part of a European newspaper devoted to light literature, criticism, and the like; also something printed in this section. 2. A novel published in installments. 3. A short literary piece [From French, from feuillet (sheet of paper), diminutive of feuille (leaf), from Old French foille, from Latin folium (leaf). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bhel- (to thrive or bloom), which also gave us flower, bleed, bless, foliage, blossom, and blade. Earliest documented use: 1845.] "Finally, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung offers tongue-in-cheek reading of the situation on the front page of its feuilleton section, saying, 'Germany is a world champion -- at least in exporting goods. We even offer up our students to study abroad, especially when they are talented.'" Germans Stew Over Joblessness; Der Spiegel (Hamburg, Germany); Mar 15, 2005. "He's to run my next as a feuilleton. This -- this venture is to be rather more serious in tone than any that he's done hitherto." Joseph Conrad and Ford Madox Ford; The Inheritors; William Heinemann; 1901. -------- Date: Fri Jan 31 00:01:03 EST 2020 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bibliophage X-Bonus: To blame the poor for subsisting on welfare has no justice unless we are also willing to judge every rich member of society by how productive he or she is. Taken individual by individual, it is likely that there's more idleness and abuse of government favors among the economically privileged than among the ranks of the disadvantaged. -Norman Mailer, author (31 Jan 1923-2007) This week's theme: Words about books bibliophage (BIB-lee-uh-fayj) noun One who loves to read books; a bookworm. [From Greek biblio- (book) + -phage (one who eats).] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/bibliophage_large.jpg Photo: Africa Studio/Adobe Stock "An author and publisher himself, [Karl] Lagerfeld was a bibliophile of epic appetite. (Practically a bibliophage, he is said to have torn the pages out of thick paperbacks as he read them.) He bought French books, English books, books of poetry, signed books, first editions, monographs, everything he could find." Lauren Collins; The Lagerfeld Economy; The New Yorker; Dec 2, 2019. Also see, "I Am the "Book Murderer", But I Tear Them Apart Out of Love" Bibliophile or biblioclast https://wordsmith.org/words/biblioclast.html? You decide. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/22/book-murderer-tear-apart-love-alex-christofi