A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Mon Jan 3 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--neoist X-Bonus: It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him. -J.R.R. Tolkien, novelist and philologist (3 Jan 1892-1973) What's new? The year is, and so are words. Well, we introduce you to new words the whole year, and here's a fresh crop. This week we have rounded up words to describe people. Know someone, in your personal life or someone public, who fits well with any of this week's words? Share on our website https://wordsmith.org/words/neoist.html or email us at words@wordsmith.org. Include your location (city, state). neoist (NEE-uh-ist) noun: One who favors or employs new ideas, styles, techniques, etc. adjective: Favoring new ideas, styles, techniques, etc. [From Greek neo- (new). Earliest documented use: 1916.] "When you are a neoist ... you pursue your art and let the rats fall where they may." Next a Sinking Ship; The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada); May 16, 1983. -------- Date: Tue Jan 4 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--rounder X-Bonus: It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor. -Max Eastman, journalist and poet (4 Jan 1883-1969) This week's theme: Words for people rounder (RAUN-duhr) noun A drunkard, idler, or self-indulgent person. [Apparently referring to one who makes rounds of bars or downs many rounds of drinks. From Latin rotundus (round), from rota (wheel). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ret- (to run or to roll), which also gave us rodeo, rotunda, rotate, rotary, roulette, orotund https://wordsmith.org/words/orotund.html , rondeau https://wordsmith.org/words/rondeau.html , and rotund https://wordsmith.org/words/rotund.html . Earliest documented use: 1854.] OK, but just one more round. I have to be up at 3 am tomorrow to wake my parents up. Image: https://imgflip.com/i/5vs8p8 See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/rounder "There are people on King Street, rounders and workers alike, moving briskly along the neat sidewalk." Bill Dunphy; Take Care in the Core; The Spectator (Hamilton, Canada); Jan 10, 2002. -------- Date: Wed Jan 5 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hotspur X-Bonus: We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon. -Konrad Adenauer, statesman (5 Jan 1876-1967) This week's theme: Words for people hotspur (HOT-spuhr) noun: A rash, hotheaded person. adjective: Having a rash, hotheaded temperament. [Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1403.] NOTES: Perhaps the origin of the term is in the former idiom "hot on the spur" referring to a rash rider whose spur was hot from rash or constant riding. Another thought is that it's after Hotspur, nickname of Sir Henry Percy (1364-1403), who was killed in the Battle of Shrewsbury https://wordsmith.org/words/shrewsbury_clock.html . When Hotspur's father, Henry Percy Sr. is informed of his son's death in "Henry IV Part II", Shakespeare has him pun along the lines of: So Hotspur is Coldspur now? In "Romeo and Juliet" Shakespeare has the dying Mercutio say, "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." If only Dr. Who had bard the playwright from all this punning when he met him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shakespeare_Code "Hotspur and Lady Percy", 1795 https://wordsmith.org/words/images/hotspur_large.jpg Painting: Robert Smirke, Engraving: James Neagle https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Hotspur_and_Lady_Percy.jpg "He was a spirited child, claiming, 'I used to be a hotspur, though my mother eventually managed to curb my temper.'" Franciszek Macharski: Scholarly Archbishop of Krakow; The Times (London, UK); Aug 30, 2016. -------- Date: Thu Jan 6 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--blellum X-Bonus: The lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul. -Kahlil Gibran, mystic, poet, and artist (6 Jan 1883-1931) This week's theme: Words for people blellum (BLE-luhm) noun An idle, talkative person. [Perhaps a blend of Scots bleber (to babble) + skellum (rascal). Earliest documented use: 1790.] Don't let Nebuchadnezzar corner you at parties. He tends to babble on. https://wordsmith.org/words/images/blellum_large.jpg "I have had the so-called 'pleasure' of yon Braid's company all afternoon, and I can honestly say I have rarely met a more pompous, self-important old blellum." Bruce Durie; The Murder of Young Tom Morris; Gath-Askelon Publishing; 2004. -------- Date: Fri Jan 7 00:01:03 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pot-valiant X-Bonus: You cannot begin to preserve any species of animal unless you preserve the habitat in which it dwells. Disturb or destroy that habitat and you will exterminate the species as surely as if you had shot it. So conservation means that you have to preserve forest and grassland, river and lake, even the sea itself. This is not only vital for the preservation of animal life generally, but for the future existence of man himself -- a point that seems to escape many people. -Gerald Durrell, naturalist and author (7 Jan 1925-1995) This week's theme: Words for people pot-valiant (POT-val-yuhnt) noun: A person displaying boldness or courage while drunk. adjective: Displaying bravado under the influence of alcohol. [From pot, alluding to a drinking pot + valor (boldness), from Latin valor (worth), from valere (to be well, be of worth). Earliest documented use: 1647. Someone pot-valiant is also said to display liquid courage or Dutch courage.] "You've knocked back a few, you're feeling pot-valiant." John Beck; Best Bets for Welcoming 2009; The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California); Dec 21, 2008. -------- Date: Mon Jan 10 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--black swan X-Bonus: Truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history. -Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton), historian (10 Jan 1834-1902) Covid deniers https://wordsmith.org/words/verigreen.html tell me it's all made up. A reader in France often emails me random YouTube videos and other conspiracy links suggesting that Covid is a hoax. I finally asked him: Are you aware of any other instance in which all governments in all countries, doctors, scientists, journalists, nearly everyone (even people who run funeral homes) went along with a conspiracy? It was only left to some guys on YouTube and Fox News to tell the truth? What do you know, this reader has an answer for everything. He asks me to find the FACTS (Important note: FACTS are more factual than mere facts or even Facts). We respectfully https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/oh-my-fucking-god-get-the-fucking-vaccine-already-you-fucking-fucks disagree with the anti-vaxxers, but there's something we all can agree on: Birds aren't real. https://birdsarentreal.com/ As the brave people behind the above website explain: "The Birds Aren't Real movement exists to spread awareness that the US Government genocided over 12 billion birds from 1959-2001, and replaced these birds with surveillance drone replicas, which still watch us every day." At any other time we would have commented upon the verbing of the word "genocide", but this is a grave matter and we don't want to be flighty. We thank the people behind this movement for uncaging the truth and not parroting the government lies. I hope the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers now realize the real reason the rest of us have been diligently putting our masks on: so our faces are partially covered and the government can't easily ID us with the face-recognition algorithms in these "birds". We don't want to be sitting ducks with our faces exposed. Also, now you know the real reason I have been recommending not keeping birds in our homes. https://wordsmith.org/words/dovecote.html When the birds *were* real, they were integral to our lives and they continue to be a part of the language. This week we'll feature five such words. PS: It's about time I exposed the real etymology of the word "bird" that the dictionary publishers have been hiding from the general public -- such a conspiracy! It's actually an acronym. BIRD: Biotronic Intelligence Reconnaissance Drone black swan (BLAK swan) noun 1. An unpredictable occurrence that has major consequences. 2. Something extremely rare. [From the former belief that all swans were white until black swans were discovered in Australia in 1697. Earliest documented use: 1570.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/black%20swan https://wordsmith.org/words/images/black_swan_large.jpg Photo: photoroad / 123rf https://www.123rf.com/photo_14885233_swam.html "'You'd better have plans for a black swan,' McGill's Moore said. 'Companies are going to think a lot more about risk. Boards need to ask themselves what they will do if something like COVID-19 happens again.'" Frédéric Tomesco; Quebec Inc.; Montreal Gazette (Canada); Jun 27, 2020. "You're my black swan, Belle. I love you. And now things will never be the same for me." Sara Sheridan; Brighton Belle; Kensington Books; 2016. -------- Date: Tue Jan 11 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gowk X-Bonus: Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. -William James, psychologist (11 Jan 1842-1910) This week's theme: Birds gowk (gouk, gohk) noun: 1. A foolish person. 2. A cuckoo. verb tr.: To make a fool of or to stupefy. verb intr.: To stare foolishly. [From Old Norse gaukr (cuckoo). Earliest documented use: 1325.] NOTES: Cuckoos don't get no respect. Don't know what this fine bird did to deserve such opprobrium. The bird isn't known to stare awkwardly either. Sure, it lays eggs in others' nests, but that doesn't count as foolishness. It may have something to do with its monotonous call. If you were ever sent on a gowk hunt, you have been had. Or maybe it was just April Fools' Day. A rock that just stands and stares is also called a gowk, though Milton may have a more favorable opinion of such a rock. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowk_stane . Also see cloud-cuckoo-land https://wordsmith.org/words/cloud-cuckoo-land.html . https://wordsmith.org/words/images/gowk_large.gif Cartoon: Dan Piraro https://www.facebook.com/bizarrocomics/ "You can find a gowk and send him off to get an unobtainable item (like striped paint or a one-ended stick)." The Original April Fools' Pranks; The Washington Post; Apr 1, 2007. "I don't doubt we all gowked at the girl as if she had been a two-headed calf." Michael Innes; Lament For A Maker; Orion; 1985. -------- Date: Wed Jan 12 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lame duck X-Bonus: People's memories are maybe the fuel they burn to stay alive. -Haruki Murakami, writer (b. 12 Jan 1949) This week's theme: Birds lame duck (LAYM duhk, laym DUHK) noun 1. An elected official soon going to be out of office due to losing a re-election bid, not running again, or being ineligible to run again. 2. Something or someone weak, unsuccessful, ineffectual, disabled, helpless, etc. 3. Someone who cannot fulfill their contracts, especially one who has lost a great deal of money in stocks or other speculations. [The term originated in the London Stock Exchange where a stockbroker who lost a lot of money and defaulted on his debts was called a lame duck. Other animal metaphors used in the financial world are bull and bear. Earliest documented use: 1761. The term came to be applied to politics about 100 years later.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/lame%20duck https://wordsmith.org/words/images/lame_duck_large.jpg Image: DonkeyHotey https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/8027689882 NOTES: When employees are fired, they are typically escorted out soon after. This is also how it's done after elections in most places. As soon as the victor is confirmed, the old prime minister is out and the new one takes over. In some places, such as the US, there's usually a transition period. For example, elections are held in the first week of Nov and the new president doesn't take over until the next Jan 20. The outgoing president is a lame duck during these 2.5 months. The system was designed with smooth transition in mind and it works, assuming people follow the norms. As we saw on Jan 6, 2021, sometimes even a lame duck has enough time to cause chaos. Going forward, maybe it'd be better to have security escort the guy outside the White House gates as soon as fired by the people. "'The country needs leadership not a lame duck PM who has lost the faith of his MPs and cabinet ... ,' Jenny Chapman said." Denis Staunton; Tory MPs Warn Johnson He Is Running Out of Friends; Irish Times (Dublin); Dec 20, 2021. -------- Date: Thu Jan 13 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--henpeck X-Bonus: To move freely you must be deeply rooted. -Bella Lewitzky, dancer (13 Jan 1916-2004) This week's theme: Birds henpeck (HEN-pek) verb tr. To criticize, nag, pester, etc. in a persistent manner. [The word hen has been used for a woman or a girl for a long time (1555). So has the verb peck for nagging (1641). Earliest documented use for the verb henpeck: 1677.] NOTES: The word is often used in reference to a wife nagging her husband. A henpecked husband is one considered subservient to his wife and a chickenpecked parent is one nagged, harassed, or bullied by a child. Gimme a look. No, no, no! The light is all wrong and it's out of focus. And put that cigarette out, you know I just quit! https://wordsmith.org/words/images/henpeck_large.jpg Image: https://imgflip.com/i/1a0of1 "The idea was to use law enforcement officers to henpeck some of the local troublemakers so they'd move along and know they're being watched,' David Gray said." Christina Jedra; Smith to Ask for Cameras on 'Hot Spots'; Maryland Gazette (Glen Burnie); Oct 31, 2015. "'You don't have anyone to henpeck at home, so you're taking it out on me.' 'How do you know I don't have anyone to henpeck?' Marybeth asked him flippantly. 'I only said I wasn't married. Now, are you going to behave or not?'" Pamela Toth; A Warming Trend; Silhouette Books; 1992. -------- Date: Fri Jan 14 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ostrichism X-Bonus: We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (14 Jan 1875-1965) This week's theme: Birds ostrichism (OS-tri-chiz-uhm) noun The act or policy of refusing to face reality or unpleasant facts. [From the erroneous popular belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when facing danger. From Old French ostrusce/ostriche, from Latin struthio (ostrich), from Greek strouthos. Earliest documented use: 1834.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/ostrichism_large.jpg Photo: Stefan Schierle / 123rf https://www.123rf.com/photo_31846451_rolling-in-the-sand.html NOTES: The ostrich doesn't really bury its head in the sand. This flightless bird puts its head and neck close to the ground for camouflage. Also, they nest their eggs in holes in the ground. It's the largest (up to 9 ft or 2.7 m) and fastest bird (43 miles/hour or 70 km/hour) on the planet and can kill a lion with a kick. If you ever upset an ostrich do not bury your head in the sand. Try apologizing. If not, be ready to be ostracized. "Deciding that ostrichism is the better part of valor, I keep my eyes closed." Adam Davies; Mine All Mine; Riverhead; 2008. -------- Date: Mon Jan 17 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mitzvah X-Bonus: Fatigue is the best pillow. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (17 Jan 1706-1790) What did he brew now? Another week of words! The English language has borrowed words from French https://wordsmith.org/words/soubrette.html , German https://wordsmith.org/words/sitzfleisch.html , Persian http://wordsmith.org/words/satrap.html , Sanskrit http://wordsmith.org/words/brahmin.html , and others. All of these, including English, are languages in the Indo-European family, one that includes about half the languages spoken today. But English has borrowed words from everywhere, including the Semitic family of languages. This family includes Arabic https://wordsmith.org/words/alembic1.html , Aramaic https://wordsmith.org/words/gethsemane.html , Hebrew https://wordsmith.org/words/tohubohu.html , among others. This week we'll focus on words borrowed from Hebrew. mitzvah (MITS-vuh) noun, plural mitzvahs or mitzvoth 1. A good deed. 2. A duty, obligation, or commandment. [From Hebrew mitzvah (commandment), from tziwwah (to command). Earliest documented use: 1723.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/mitzvah NOTES: The most familiar usage of the word may be in the terms bar mitzvah (literally, son commandment) and bat mitzvah (girl commandment). Jewish children are considered adults at the age of 13 (in some versions of Judaism, the age for girls is 12). This comes with rights and responsibilities. The bar and bat mitzvahs are observed with rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations. "Today I become a man. Tomorrow I need to do my homework." https://wordsmith.org/words/images/mitzvah_large.jpg Image: https://www.jokejive.com/topic/bar+mitzvah "There are three sorts of reaction to the commutation of [Chelsea Manning's] jail term. First, there are those who say that what she did was a mitzvah to the world, that she should never have been tried but instead given a citation of thanks, a pension and a condo near Venice Beach." David Aaronovitch; America's Might Lies in the Power to Forgive: Obama's Decision to Commute the Sentence of the WikiLeaks Whistleblower Is a Sign of Moral Strength, Not Weakness; The Times (London, UK); Jan 19, 2017. -------- Date: Tue Jan 18 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cherub X-Bonus: If triangles had a God, he would have three sides. -Charles de Montesquieu, philosopher and writer (18 Jan 1689-1755) This week's theme: Words borrowed from Hebrew cherub (CHER-uhb) noun, plural cherubs or cherubim A person, especially a child, with a sweet innocent appearance. [From Latin cherubim, from Greek kheroubin, from Hebrew kerubim. Ultimately from the Semitic root krb (to praise). Earliest documented use: 825.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/cherub My dogs doing their best cherub impression https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cherub_large.png Image: https://me.me/i/my-dogs-doing-their-best-cherub-impression-1ba7d7c5a0904804a630da103920b0dd NOTES: Cherubim are the second highest order of angels. Do you know your angelology? I know what you are thinking, what's angelology? They don't teach important stuff in schools these days. We are always ready to give you practical knowledge to succeed in the modern world. Angelology is the branch of theology concerning the study of angels. Angels have their own celestial hierarchy (and you thought they were above this) with nine levels that go, from lowest to highest: angels archangels principalities powers virtues dominions thrones cherubim seraphim https://wordsmith.org/words/seraphic.html Best to memorize the order -- never know where it might come in handy. Also, if you are in the market for a guardian angel, well, why go for the lowest order? We suggest getting a guardian seraph instead. "Can a baby be born bad? Or does poor parenting explain why the cherub has grown up to become a psychopath?" Medical Diagnosis of Malfeasance; The Economist (London, UK); Apr 2, 2011. -------- Date: Wed Jan 19 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--tzedakah X-Bonus: Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. -Edgar Allan Poe, poet and short-story writer (19 Jan 1809-1849) This week's theme: Words borrowed from Hebrew tzedakah or zedakah (tsuh-DAH-kuh, -dah-KAH) noun, plural tzedakahs or tzedakot Charitable giving or charity, especially when seen as a moral obligation. [From Hebrew tzedaqah (righteousness). Earliest documented use: 1959.] "A homeless man sat with his knees drawn up in front of him. A little girl leaned against him, clutching a scrap of blanket. I steered over to them and dropped a dollar in his cup. Some might see it as extravagant for tzedakah, but Nathaniel and I could have been them." Mary Robinette Kowal; The Calculating Stars; Tom Doherty Associates; 2018. -------- Date: Thu Jan 20 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--shekel X-Bonus: Don't get so tolerant that you tolerate intolerance. -Bill Maher, comedian, actor, and writer (b. 20 Jan 1956) This week's theme: Words borrowed from Hebrew shekel or sheqel (SHEK-uhl) noun, plural shekels or sheqalim/shekalim 1. Money; wealth; cash. 2. A monetary unit of Israel. [From Hebrew sheqel, from shaqal (to weigh). Ultimately from the Semitic root tql (to weigh), which also gave us scallion and shallot. Earliest documented use: 1560.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/shekel NOTES: A shekel was an ancient unit of weight of the Babylonians. From there the term came to be applied to a coin of this weight. In 1980, Israel replaced the pound as its monetary unit with the shekel. Hyperinflation forced the replacement of shekel with the new shekel in 1986. Today, the new shekel is simply called a shekel. Three shekels equal approx. one US dollar. A 100-shekel note featuring the Hebrew poet Leah Goldberg https://wordsmith.org/words/images/shekel_large.png Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:100_New_Sheqalim2017_Obverse_%26_Reverse.png "'Boys and girls,' the air hostess goes, 'we have arrived in Rovaniemi, Lapland -- home of Santa Claus!' There's, like, an excited cheer from everyone on-board, except my children, of course. Leo shouts, 'Santa's not real!', which is obviously not what the other kids want to hear. Or their parents, who have handed over serious shekels for this Christmas in the North Pole Adventure." Ross O'Carroll-Kelly; Santa's Gaff Is a Seriously Impressive Pile; Irish Times (Dublin); Nov 27, 2021. -------- Date: Fri Jan 21 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--sabbath X-Bonus: In those parts of the world where learning and science have prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue. -Ethan Allen, revolutionary (21 Jan 1738-1789) This week's theme: Words borrowed from Hebrew Sabbath (SAB-uhth) noun 1. A day of the week -- usually a Fri, Sat, or Sun -- observed as a day of rest. 2. A period of rest. 3. A meeting of witches and sorcerers (typically spelled as sabbat). [From Old English sabat, from French sabbat, from Latin sabbatum, from Greek sabbaton, from Hebrew shabbath, from shavat (to rest). Earliest documented use: 950.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/sabbath The music I play on my day of Sabbath https://wordsmith.org/words/images/sabbath_large.gif Image: https://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory2.htm NOTES: Typically, a Fri is considered a day of Sabbath by Muslims, Sat by Jews (and some Christians), and Sun by Christians. Why not convert to Islam, Judaism, *and* Christianity and take a three-day weekend off? "He had been careful not to schedule anything for this day; a day of Sabbath." James T. Elder; Along the Road; WestBow Press; 2012. "We find ourselves in a sabbath of barely clad witches with loosened hair and sharp bamboo canes that they thump loudly on the ground while they jab their toes into the floor like percussive instruments rhythmically beating against the music's wailing." Jennifer Homans; Border Crossing; The New Yorker; Apr 22, 2019. -------- Date: Mon Jan 24 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--wrongous X-Bonus: As the pain that can be told is but half a pain, so the pity that questions has little healing in its touch. -Edith Wharton, novelist (24 Jan 1862-1937) If an electron has a positron and matter has antimatter, then maybe each word has its anti-word. A wrongous for every righteous, a prequel https://wordsmith.org/words/prequel.html to a sequel, and a dissensus https://wordsmith.org/words/dissensus.html for a consensus. The linguistic universe stays in balance. Though sometimes for every wrongous there's just more wrongous. See backstab vs front-stab. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/26/16033638/scaramucci-front-stabbing-person-trump-tweet-health-care-murkowski This week we'll feature five anti-words, counterparts of everyday words. What are your favorite word/anti-word pairs? What anti-word would you like to see? Spin your own word accelerator and have charged words smash into one another and see what comes out? Share on our website https://wordsmith.org/words/wrongous.html or email us at words@wordsmith.org (include your location). We eagerly anticipate what you discover, but please keep the word and its anti-word at a safe distance -- we do not want any annihilation to happen. wrongous (RONG-uhs) adjective Unfair, lacking propriety, illegal, etc. [From wrong, from Old English wrang + wise (manner). Earliest documented use: 1200.] "Partner Gerald Cunningham issued the following statement to The Times: '... medical evidence of physical and or psychological and or mental injury as a result of substantiated wrongous actions on the part of Nuns of the Order and staff ...'" Anna Blundy; Holy Terrors; The Times (London, UK); Jan 24, 1998. "As such, to reject or deny her right would be wrongous, it was decided." Nigel Tranter; Marchman; Hodder & Stoughton; 2012. -------- Date: Tue Jan 25 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--eupnea X-Bonus: The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic, and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant, and kind. -William Somerset Maugham, writer (25 Jan 1874-1965) This week's theme: Anti-words eupnea (yoop-NEE-uh) noun Normal breathing. [From Greek eu- (good) + pnein (to breathe). Ultimately from the Indo-European root pneu- (to breathe), which also gave us pneumatic https://wordsmith.org/words/pneumatic.html , pneuma https://wordsmith.org/words/pneuma.html , pneumonia, sneer, sneeze, snort, snore, and pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis https://wordsmith.org/words/pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.html . Earliest documented use: 1706.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/eupnea NOTES: Some counterparts of today's word are: apnea (temporary cessation of breathing) dyspnea (difficult or labored breathing) hyperpnea (abnormally deep breathing) hypopnea (abnormally shallow and slow breathing) orthopnea (difficulty breathing except when standing or sitting up) tachypnea (abnormally rapid and shallow breathing) bradypnea (abnormally slow breathing). "She sighed, watching the condensation of her eupnea collect in the air like a puff of smoke from a pipe." Matt Bronleewe; House of Wolves; Thomas Nelson; 2008. -------- Date: Wed Jan 26 00:01:03 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--postposition X-Bonus: Sometimes you can't see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others. -Ellen DeGeneres, comedian, TV host, actor, and writer (b. 26 Jan 1958) This week's theme: Anti-words postposition (post-puh-ZISH-uhn) noun 1. The placing of something after another. 2. Something placed in this manner, especially a word or an element placed after another. [From Latin post- (after) + position, from ponere (to put). Ultimately from the Indo-European root apo- (off or away), which is also the source of pose, apposite, after, off, awkward, post, puny, appose https://wordsmith.org/words/appose.html , depose https://wordsmith.org/words/depose.html , repose https://wordsmith.org/words/repose.html , interpose https://wordsmith.org/words/interpose.html , apposite https://wordsmith.org/words/apposite.html , apropos http://wordsmith.org/words/apropos.html , eftsoons https://wordsmith.org/words/eftsoons.html , postiche https://wordsmith.org/words/postiche.html , and pungle https://wordsmith.org/words/pungle.html . Earliest documented use: 1546.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/postposition NOTES: In English we have prepositions. One might say "I live in NY." Here, the word "in" is a preposition because it's positioned before "NY" to which it refers. In some languages, such as Hindi, they are placed after the words they relate to and are known as postpositions. In English we put adjectives before a noun, as in, hot coffee, but in some languages, such as French, adjectives go after the noun: café chaud. Sometimes we put adjectives postpositively in English too. See here http://wordsmith.org/words/ad_litem.html , here https://wordsmith.org/words/manque.html , and here https://wordsmith.org/words/agonistes.html . You may preposition an adjective or postposition, but please don't proposition them, until you know them intimately. "What did Nazareth know? Thousands of verb endings. Tens of thousands of postpositions. She wanted to know what other women knew, and she had set about closing the gap." Suzette Haden Elgin; The Judas Rose; DAW; 1987. -------- Date: Thu Jan 27 00:01:05 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--apocryphal X-Bonus: I will remember that what has brought us up from savagery is a loyalty to truth, and truth cannot emerge unless it is subjected to the utmost scrutiny -- will you not agree that a society which has lost sight of that, cannot survive? -Learned Hand, jurist (27 Jan 1872-1961) This week's theme: Anti-words apocryphal (uh-PAH-kri-fuhl) adjective 1. Of dubious authorship or authenticity. 2. False; erroneous; fictitious. [From Latin apocryphus (secret), from Greek apokruphos (secret, hidden), from apokruptein (to hide away), from apo- (away) + kruptein (to hide). Earliest documented use: 1590.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/apocryphal "The stories, so richly portrayed in so many Byzantine churches, about Mary's birth to Joachim and Anna ... are not found in canonical scripture, but in the apocryphal Book of James." Geoffrey Rowell; How the Age of Reason Yielded to the Allure of Divine Mystery; The Times (London, UK); Sep 6, 2003. "The title 'When Pigs Fly' refers to an (apocryphal or not, you decide) episode in the late Crabtree's youth when a guidance counselor likened his chances of succeeding in show business to the likelihood of flying swine." Leah B. Green; Scaled-Down "Pigs" Proves That Size Doesn't Matter; The Seattle Times; Mar 4, 2005. -------- Date: Fri Jan 28 00:01:03 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--anergy X-Bonus: To a poet, silence is an acceptable response, even a flattering one. -Colette, author (28 Jan 1873-1954) This week's theme: Anti-words anergy (AN-uhr-jee) noun 1. Lack of energy. 2. The lack of an immune response to a foreign substance. [From an- (not) + ergon (work). Earliest documented use: 1890. The opposite of sense 1 is energy and the opposite of sense 2, allergy. Earliest documented use: 1890.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/anergy "The girl wondered if the man did not have the ability to react to the skin test because of anergy or inactivity of his immune system." William Lynes; 606 University; iUniverse; 2016. -------- Date: Mon Jan 31 00:01:02 EST 2022 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--waffle X-Bonus: To bear up under loss, to fight the bitterness of defeat and the weakness of grief, to be victor over anger, to smile when tears are close, to resist evil men and base instincts, to hate hate and to love love, to go on when it would seem good to die, to seek ever after the glory and the dream, to look up with unquenchable faith in something evermore about to be, that is what any man can do, and so be great. -Zane Grey, author (31 Jan 1872-1939) One morning the thought came to me that a waffle would be super useful as a Scrabble board while traveling. All tiles stay in place, snug, no matter how quickly the car is ac- or decelerating. Disclaimer: I do not recommend playing Scrabble on a waffle in a moving car, unless you have a CHAUFFEUR or a TESLA. You might think an UBER would work too, but no, it won't. I checked. https://scrabble.hasbro.com/en-us/tools#dictionary . https://scrabblewordfinder.org/dictionary/uber Anyway, I started thinking about waffles. What did this crispy, griddy thing do to deserve being turned into a negative verb? Maybe it couldn't make up its mind on how crispy it wanted to be when it grew up? Or it kept giving smarmy and syrupy speeches about its fine taste. Then I learned that waffle the noun has nothing to do with waffle the verb. These are two separate words with different origins. Two different words, same spelling and same pronunciation. The two are homonyms. Even though this is 2022 and even though we have cast off many of the biases and prejudices in the past where they belong, some churches still frown upon homonyms. We respect all words, always have, irrespective of their orientations. The noun waffle and the verb waffle want to lie next to each other? Fine with us! What they do in the privacy of the pages of the OED is entirely their business. This week we've picked five homonyms to share with you. May be more precise to say five pairs (or triads) of homonyms. Homophone: Same pronunciation, different spelling (aisle, isle, I'll) Homograph: Same spelling, different pronunciation (polish, Polish) Homonym: Same pronunciation and spelling, different meaning waffle (WAH-fuhl) noun: A crisp cake made by baking batter in an appliance with a gridlike pattern. [From Dutch wafel. Ultimately from the Indo-European root webh- (to weave; to move quickly), which also gave us weave, webster, wave, waver, wafer, wobble, and weft https://wordsmith.org/words/weft.html . Earliest documented use: 1744.] American English: verb intr.: To be indecisive or evasive; to waver. noun: Evasive speech or writing. British English: verb intr.: To talk or write idly or foolishly. noun: Pretentious or useless speech or writing. [Perhaps a frequentative of woff (to yelp), of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1298.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/waffle Waffles / No Waffles https://wordsmith.org/words/images/waffle_large.jpg Photo: Jim MacCormaic https://www.flickr.com/photos/113689866@N08/13287721294/ "Patrons had paid up to $1875 to hear the big man one last time. [Pavarotti] had been contracted to sing two performances of 'Tosca'; he arrived in New York, sang the dress rehearsal, and came down with what was described as 'influenza'. On both nights, he waffled, said no, said yes, then cancelled shortly before the curtain went up." Alex Ross; Journey's End; The New Yorker; May 27, 2002. "Brexit was always a bundle of contradictions held together by a shared hostility to the EU and a vague optimism about freedom. Mr [Boris] Johnson's taste for waffle and fudge made him the perfect leader of the movement as long as it was about protest." Tidying Boris Up; The Economist (London, UK); Dec 5, 2020.