A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 1146

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AWADmail Issue 1146

A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language

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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


This week’s theme: Misc words 1. Lentitude 2. Virid 3. Coterminous 4. Salvific 5. Hyaline	=	1. Sloth, uh is why I wait 2. Verdant like moss 3. Is connected 4. I use “redeem” 5. Vitric film	=	1. My inertia, sloth 2. I.e. verdant 3. Coincides with us 2 4. Redeem vow 5. Such filmiest silk
		-Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz)		-Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com)

	=	1. I won’t move 2. It’s emerald-hued 3. Fused with 4. I’m Christ-like 5. Envision ice crystals	=	1. Such slow wit 2. Vivid emerald 3. It touches 4. Fit to redeem sinners 5. Shiny like mica
		-Josiah Winslow, Franklin, Wisconsin (winslowjosiah gmail.com)		-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)

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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