A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Sat Jul 1 00:22:02 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--maverick X-Bonus: I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it. mav.er.ick n [perh. fr. Samuel A. Maverick d. 1870 Am. pioneer who did not brand his calves] (1867) 1: an unbranded range animal; esp: a motherless calf 2: an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party -------- Date: Sun Jul 2 00:20:44 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cyrenaic X-Bonus: Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular. Cy.re.na.ic n [L cyrenaicus, fr. Gk kyrenaikos, fr. Kyrene Cyrene, Africa, home of Aristippus, author of the doctrine] (1586): an adherent of the doctrine that pleasure is the chief end of life -- Cyrenaic adj -- Cy.re.na.icism n -------- Date: Mon Jul 3 00:20:10 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--billet-doux X-Bonus: Look after the molehills and the mountains will take care of themselves. bil.let-doux n, pl bil.lets-doux [F billet doux, lit., sweet letter] (1673): a love letter -------- Date: Tue Jul 4 00:21:39 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hortative X-Bonus: Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play. -Immanuel Kant hor.ta.tive adj [LL hortativus, fr. L hortatus, pp. of hortari to urge--more at yearn] (1623): giving exhortation: advisory -- hor.ta.tive.ly adv -------- Date: Wed Jul 5 00:20:48 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--beldam X-Bonus: This isn't right. This isn't even wrong. -Wolfgang Pauli bel.dam or bel.dame n [ME beldam grandmother, fr. MF bel beautiful + ME dam] (1580): an old woman -------- Date: Thu Jul 6 00:22:03 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--degustation X-Bonus: You simply *must* stop taking other people's advice. de.gus.ta.tion n [F degustation, fr. L degustation-, degustatio, fr. degustare to taste, fr. de- + gustare to taste--more at choose] (ca. 1656): the action or an instance of tasting esp. in a series of small portions -- de.gust vt -------- Date: Fri Jul 7 00:21:01 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--higgledy-piggledy X-Bonus: It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow. -Robert H. Goddard hig.gle.dy-pig.gle.dy adv [origin unknown] (ca. 1598): in a confused, disordered, or random manner -- higgledy-piggledy adj -------- Date: Sat Jul 8 00:20:33 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cloister X-Bonus: All my life I wanted to be someone; I guess I should have been more specific. -Jane Wagner clois.ter n [ME cloistre, fr. OF, fr. ML claustrum, fr. L, bar, bolt, fr. claudere to close--more at close] (13c) 1 a: a monastic establishment b: an area within a monastery or convent to which the religious are normally restricted c: monastic life d: a place or state of seclusion 2: a covered passage on the side of a court usu. having one side walled and the other an open arcade or colonnade cloister vt clois.tered ; clois.ter.ing (1581) 1: to seclude from the world in or as if in a cloister 2: to surround with a cloister <~ed gardens> -------- Date: Sun Jul 9 00:21:06 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--claque X-Bonus: Life is not so much a matter of position as of disposition. claque n [F, fr. claquer to clap, of imit. origin] (1864) 1: a group hired to applaud at a performance 2: a group of sycophants -------- Date: Mon Jul 10 00:25:49 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--yare X-Bonus: The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity. -Mark Twain yare adj [ME, fr. OE gearu; akin to OHG garo ready] (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: set for action: ready 2 or yar a: characterized by speed and agility: nimble, lively b: handy 1c, maneuverable -- yare adv, archaic -- yare.ly adv, archaic -------- Date: Tue Jul 11 00:20:30 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--embrasure X-Bonus: Computers are not intelligent. They just think they are. em.bra.sure n [F, fr. obs. embraser to widen an opening] (1702) 1: an opening with sides flaring outward in a wall or parapet of a fortification usu. for allowing the firing of cannon 2: a recess of a door or window -------- Date: Wed Jul 12 00:21:43 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--succulent X-Bonus: Love your enemies. It will make them crazy. suc.cu.lent adj [L suculentus, fr. sucus juice, sap; perh. akin to L sugere to suck --more at suck] (1601) 1 a: full of juice: juicy b: moist and tasty: toothsome c of a plant: having fleshy tissues that conserve moisture 2: rich in interest -- suc.cu.lent.ly adv succulent n (1825): a succulent plant (as a cactus) -------- Date: Thu Jul 13 00:21:46 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--belay X-Bonus: Innovation is hard to schedule. -Dan Fylstra be.lay vb [ME beleggen to beset, fr. OE belecgan, fr. be- + lecgan to lay] vt (1548) 1 a: to secure (as a rope) by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt b: to make fast 2: stop 3 a: to secure (a person) at the end of a rope b: to secure (a rope) to a person or object ~ vi 1: to be made fast 2: stop, quit--used in the imperative <~ there> 3: to make a line fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt belay n (1908) 1: the securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point (as during mountain climbing); also: a method of so securing a person or rope 2: something (as a projection of rock) to which a person or rope is anchored -------- Date: Fri Jul 14 00:20:48 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--camelot X-Bonus: One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. -Helen Keller Cam.e.lot n 1: the site of King Arthur's palace and court 2: a time, place, or atmosphere of idyllic happiness -------- Date: Sat Jul 15 00:22:26 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--paseo X-Bonus: It is better to have men ask why you have no statue, than why you have one. pa.seo n, pl pa.se.os [Sp, fr. pasear to take a stroll, fr. paso passage, step, fr. L passus] (1832) 1 a: a leisurely stroll: promenade b: a public walk or boulevard 2: a formal entrance march of bullfighters into an arena -------- Date: Sun Jul 16 00:24:33 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--chirk X-Bonus: Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize. -Elizabeth Harrison chirk vb [ME charken, chirken to creak, chirp, fr. OE cearcian to creak; akin to OE cracian to crack] (1843): cheer -------- Date: Mon Jul 17 00:21:32 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--imputation X-Bonus: Those who would have nothing to do with thorns must neve attempt to gather flowers. im.pu.ta.tion n (1581) 1: the act of imputing: as a: attribution, ascription b: accusation c: insinuation 2: something imputed -- im.pu.ta.tive adj -- im.pu.ta.tive.ly adv -------- Date: Tue Jul 18 00:23:28 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ort X-Bonus: We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse. ort n [ME, fr. MLG orte] (15c): a morsel left at a meal: scrap -------- Date: Wed Jul 19 00:21:26 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bleb X-Bonus: You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. -Mark Twain bleb n [perh. alter. of blob] (1607) 1: a small blister 2: bubble; also: a small particle -- bleb.by adj -------- Date: Thu Jul 20 00:20:27 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--os X-Bonus: Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods. -Albert Einstein os n, pl os.sa [L oss-, os--more at osseous] (15c): bone os n, pl ora [L or-, os--more at oral] (1737): mouth, orifice Os abbreviation osmium OS [L oculus sinister] abbreviation left eye; old series, old style, ordinary seaman, out of stock, operating system -------- Date: Fri Jul 21 00:20:33 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--roue X-Bonus: If you continually give you will continually have. roue n [F, lit., broken on the wheel, fr. pp. of rouer to break on the wheel, fr. ML rotare, fr. L, to rotate; fr. the feeling that such a person deserves this punishment] (1800): a man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure: rake -------- Date: Sat Jul 22 00:20:39 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--flay X-Bonus: We are born with our eyes closed and our mouths open, and we spend our whole lives trying to reverse that mistake of nature. -Dale E.Turner flay vt [ME flen, fr. OE flean; akin to ON fla to flay, Lith plesti to tear] (bef. 12c) 1: to strip off the skin or surface of: skin 2: to criticize harshly: excoriate 3: lash 1b -------- Date: Sun Jul 23 00:20:34 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--blarney X-Bonus: Action is eloquence. -William Shakespeare blar.ney n [Blarney stone, a stone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, held to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it] (1796) 1: skillful flattery: blandishment 2: nonsense, humbug -- blarney vb -------- Date: Mon Jul 24 00:20:35 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--triune X-Bonus: This president is going to lead us out of this recovery. It will happen. -Dan Quayle at a campaign stop tri.une n, often cap [L tri- + unus one--more at one] (1605): trinity 1 triune adj (1635): three in one: a often cap: of or relating to the Trinity b: consisting of three parts, members, or aspects -------- Date: Tue Jul 25 00:21:01 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--piazza X-Bonus: Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. -Seneca pi.az.za n, pl piazzas or pi.az.ze [It, fr. L platea broad street--more at place] (1563) 1 pl piazze: an open square esp. in an Italian town 2 a: an arcaded and roofed gallery b dial: veranda, porch -------- Date: Wed Jul 26 00:20:58 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--triumvir X-Bonus: When you are in it up to your ears, keep your mouth shut. tri.um.vir n, pl -virs also -vi.ri [L, back-formation fr. triumviri, pl., commission of three men, fr. trium virum of three men] (ca. 1580): one of a commission or ruling body of three -------- Date: Thu Jul 27 00:21:24 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lagniappe X-Bonus: Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. -Albert Camus la.gniappe n [AmerF, fr. AmerSp la napa the lagniappe] (1849): a small gift given a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase; broadly: something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure -------- Date: Fri Jul 28 00:20:51 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--rubric X-Bonus: The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring. -F.H. Bradley ru.bric n [ME rubrike red ocher, heading in red letters of part of a book, fr. MF rubrique, fr. L rubrica, fr. rubr-, ruber red] (14c) 1 a: an authoritative rule; esp: a rule for conduct of a liturgical service b (1): name, title; specif: the title of a statute (2): something under which a thing is classed: category c: an explanatory or introductory commentary: gloss; specif: an editorial interpolation 2: a heading of a part of a book or manuscript done or underlined in a color (as red) different from the rest 3: an established rule, tradition, or custom -- rubric or ru.bri.cal adj -- ru.bri.cal.ly adv -------- Date: Sat Jul 29 00:20:59 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--appellation X-Bonus: Men are wise in proportion, not to their experience, but to their capacity for experience. -George Bernard Shaw ap.pel.la.tion n (15c) 1: an identifying name or title: designation 2 archaic: the act of calling by a name 3: a geographical name (as of a region, village or vineyard) under which a winegrower is authorized to identify and market wine -------- Date: Sun Jul 30 00:22:48 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--somnolent X-Bonus: Life is too confusing for novices. We should let the experts take care of it. som.no.lent adj [ME sompnolent, fr. MF, fr. L somnolentus, fr. somnus sleep; akin to OE swefn sleep, Gk hypnos] (15c) 1: of a kind likely to induce sleep 2 a: inclined to or heavy with sleep: drowsy b: sleepy 2 <~ rivers> -- som.no.lent.ly adv -------- Date: Mon Jul 31 00:24:56 EDT 1995 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--avuncular X-Bonus: I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like his passengers. -Jim Harkins avun.cu.lar adj [L avunculus maternal uncle--more at uncle] (1831) 1: of or relating to an uncle 2: suggestive of an uncle esp. in kindliness or geniality <~ indulgence> -- avun.cu.lar.i.ty n -- avun.cu.lar.ly adv