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Jun 16, 2024
This week’s themeMisc words This week’s words lentitude virid coterminous salvific hyaline How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Kangaroo words ![]() The magic of words Send a gift subscription. It’s free. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() AWADmail Issue 1146A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageSponsor’s Message: OLD’S COOL is best cool. 100% Cotton Beautifully Made in America T-shirts. Wit you can wear. A fantastic gift. Shop Now. From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Interesting stories from the Net Artist Hopes to Reintroduce Cockney Rhyming Slang to Young Londoners The Guardian Permalink [Also see Cockney rhyming slang featured in A.Word.A.Day] More People Want to Learn Puerto Rico’s Swaggering Version of Spanish The New York Times Permalink From: Jess Sweeney (jesswe gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--lentitude When I was on a business trip to Colombia and was practicing my Spanish, a colleague once said to me, “Lentamente, slowly, like a lentil cooking.” I never forgot that. Jess Sweeney, Seattle, Washington From: Margaret Stein (stein_margaret bah.com) Subject: virid I love it when etymology takes you down a rabbit hole. Today’s word immediately called to mind the song from Wicked:
And since folks here to an absurd degree Seem fixated on your verdigris Would it be alright by you If I de-greenify you?” However, I found that the word verdigris comes from vert de Grece (Old French), though I assume there’s a connection [French vert goes back to the Latin viridis]. Also, Elphaba is surely better described as “bright green” than having “a green or bluish patina”. Margaret Stein, Omaha, Nebraska
Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy OLD’S COOL -- Fits traditionalistas to a Tee.
From: Marni Hancock (mrh330 gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--hyaline My first introduction to the word hyaline occurred in Aug of 1963, when the entire nation learned the word. John F. and Jackie Kennedy were expecting a baby and he was born 5 1/2 weeks prematurely. He died two days after he was born of hyaline membrane disease due to immature lungs. His death stimulated research into the disorder that led to treatments that made it possible for even more prematurely born babies to survive and thrive. Marni Hancock, Springfield, Oregon From: Paula Gillespie (pgillesp fiu.edu) Subject: Thank you Years ago, when I directed a writing center at Marquette University, a student of mine signed me up for AWAD. I have followed you ever since, and I’m so grateful that you add to my understanding of words I know and also add to my treasury of words. I share the best ones with loved ones and lately I’ve been sending interesting words to a little girl in my neighborhood through her mom. The three of us enjoy discovering new words. Thank you for your AI art. I love it. Paula Gillespie, Professor Emerita of English, Florida International University, Miami, Florida Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks lentitude Explanations I may have in plentitude For my lifestyle of leisurely lentitude. But don’t even try To question me: “Why?” I’m too tired and not in a venting mood. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) Some motorists tend to display Great lentitude, sorry to say. And I curse my bad luck When often I’m stuck Behind them when they drive this way. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) My friend John would quite often relax, in lentitude with cold six packs. In a nice pleasant haze, he would while away his days, Till his shirt wouldn’t fit, nor his slacks. -Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com) “Hey, Maisie, let’s put on some speed! A slowpoke is not what I need! Your lentitude’s showing! C’mon, let’s get going! They’ll be sold out of all of their weed!” -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “My models undress with such lentitude,” Sighed Gauguin; “I should call Avis Rent-A-Nude.” Said his English friend, “Guv, Ones from there won’t make love.” Paul replied, “That’s ok, I get plenty, dude.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) virid You could see by his virid complexion, After losing the ‘20 election, That envy did work To drive Donald berserk; And he started a failed insurrection. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) I live in the suburbs and know How rapidly lawns tend to grow. In no time at all The grass is real tall -- That virid expanse I must mow! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) There’s little doubt what drinking beer did: The boy felt all queasy and virid. “I’ll not have another,” He promised his mother, And then she embraced her poor, dear kid. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said Donald, with jealousy virid, “Hunter Biden is guilty? I’m livid! I was top-rated thug, Now they’ve pulled out the rug; In my cell he will not be permitted!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) coterminous I might have the best of all wives, As our marriage of years still survives. And that’s quite a feat Since we don’t often meet In our rarely coterminous lives. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) Coterminous words he amassed Until his collection was vast. And writers today Rely on Roget, The synonym pro unsurpassed! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Just walk a bit down here with me; We’re coterminous neighbors! You’ll see That my property ends At this line; next-door friends Are at any time welcome for tea! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) Samantha and Bob would agree On everything, it seemed to be. Coterminous souls, With similar goals. For good marriages, that is the key. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) They exist within boundaries coterminous, For their ethics are equally verminous. Alito and Thomas Have made us a promise: With Donald they’ll join as a Cerberus. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) salvific When confronted by something horrific, Your response should be fast and specific. You really should think Of having a drink. It would be a solution salvific. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) The preacher had talked about hell, A message he got across well: “Religion’s salvific, And heaven’s terrific -- Have faith, and then all will be swell.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) That stuff that he sells is horrific! He brags about how it’s salvific, But it stinks to the skies, And I’m telling no lies-- Doesn’t smell in the least scientific! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) To the faith healer’s huge meeting tent, The sinners would go to repent. But his powers salvific Were less than terrific; No one to the Pearly Gates went. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said Oog, “Here in age neolithic, Is no fair we lack figure salvific. How we wash away sin?” Answered Gleeg, “Is win-win; No dumb sermons, or prayer soporific.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) hyaline I can’t say that I really did care, When she gave me that hyaline stare With her cold, glassy eyes; Since I’m one of those guys With enough other girlfriends to spare. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) The hyaline “jewel” that she wore Had come from a five and dime store. Her asinine beau Said, “She’ll never know,” But he is her boyfriend no more. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “Your skin is so thin that it’s hyaline, But it happens with age; please don’t cry, Helene,” Said the doctor. “Sad truth!” She groaned, “Back in my youth, I was crowned as Hawaii’s Papaya Queen!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns I once lentitude-ollar bill to a friend and never got it back. Now I’m sorry because they don’t make them anymore. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Guine-virid-iculous flirting with Lancelot makes me angry,” said King Arthur. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “I can’t believe what Virid-id this year,” said Ms Wang’s envious competitor at the fashion show. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “For a beautiful white coterminous the best choice, Your Majesty,” suggested the monarch’s furrier. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “The over-the-counter stuff may not work. I can give you a stronger salvific-omes to that,” said the dermatologist. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Hyaline,” she called to her friend, “want to join us for lunch?” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Stepping on the scale this morning, I said to myself, “See ya later, carbs! Hyaline cuisine!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The [Nobel] prize is such an extraordinary honor. It might seem unfair,
however, to reward a person for having so much pleasure over the years,
asking the maize plant to solve specific problems and then watching its
responses. -Barbara McClintock, scientist, Nobel laureate (16 Jun 1902-1992)
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