A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 1170

A.Word.A.Day

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AWADmail Issue 1170

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

Sponsor’s Message: “Scrabble on steroids, with a thieving twist.” One Up! -- where stealing is the name of the game. “My daily dose of dopamine.” A wicked smart Christmas gift. Game on!

From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
Subject: Interesting stories from the Net

Can a Comma Solve a Crime?
The Dial
Permalink

Your Child, the Sophisticated Language Learner
MIT News
Permalink

Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy One Up! -- Perfectly-horrible holiday fun.

From: Henry M. Willis (hmw ssdslaw.com)
Subject: Autogamy

I have to confess -- I didn’t have the imagination to see the prurient meaning of autogamy, but now that you’ve explained it, I see what I was missing. You could translate this into a 21st Century initialism: GFY.

Which brings up an example of the process working in the other direction. Years ago I was having a conversation with a coworker about another (absent) coworker and said “If I were you I’d tell him GFY!” At which point my coworker’s older sister, who had been listening in, asked “Why would you tell him ‘Good for you’?” Some people may be too good for this world; I’m not.

Henry Willis, Los Angeles, California

From: Peter Jennings (peterj benlo.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--autogamy

When I saw the word autogamy, I was sure you were going to describe the recent trend of marrying oneself, but apparently that is called sologamy. The Independent does offer it as an alternative definition of autogamy, though.

Peter Jennings, St Catharines, Canada

From: SarahRose Werner (swerner nbnet.nb.ca)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--autogamy

Wayno’s cartoon offers a sly gender turnaround that may not be apparent at first glance. Worker bees are, of course, always female. And the stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower.

SarahRose Werner, Saint John, Canada

From: Paul Reno (paulreno me.com)
Subject: autogamy

Could your example of autogamy be termed pollen gamy?

Paul Reno, Seal Rock, Oregon

From: Ron Schneider (nowino gmail.com)
Subject: Autogamy

I dunno. Sounds too much like personal genesis, I mean parthenogenesis, and you cannot say that in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, ...

Ron Schneider, Napa, California

From: Fritz Keppler (via online comments)
Subject: autogamy

Also, the art of mating in one’s vehicle.

Fritz Keppler, Arlington, Virginia

From: Jim Tang (mauijt aol.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--autogamy

Limiting -gamy to its mating application might be a little too convenient for those with dirty minds. As we progress technologically, for instance, and autonomous planes and cars rapidly approach commercialization, the “auto” discreetly points out the lack of any physical human presence in the driver’s seat. And the “A” in AI could just as easily be autonomous rather than artificial.

Autogamy might soon be in for a more general application: an intimate and exclusive relationship with no one. The 4B movement has been getting a lot of press following the election. Autogamous women may become a lot more common in the near future, with IVF as the logical substitution for an in-person deposit.

Jim Tang, Kula, Hawaii

From: Robert Hamilton (bobbonedoc gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--autogamy

It is an old joke but relevant to today’s word.

An angry mom was explaining things to her irritating, homely, lonely son. “I know you know what a threesomε and twosome are. Now you can figure out why I always call you handsome.”

Robert Hamilton, MD, St Petersburg, Florida

From: Glenn Glazer (glenn.glazer gmail.com)
Subject: autogamy

One of the most well-known episodes of the original Star Trek series was The Trouble With Tribbles which featured a species, the tribbles, which were born pregnant, taking autogamy one step further.

Glenn Glazer, Felton, California

From: Bill Morgan (tickcutter sbcglobal.net)
Subject: autogamy

During most of their seasonal cycle, aphids give birth to live young which are female and already pregnant. But this is parthenogenesis (without fertilization) instead of autogamy (self-fertilization). This helps explain how they can so quickly become pests, especially in greenhouses, where natural controls are not in place.

Bill Morgan, East Lansing, Michigan

From: David Rubenstein (bulkmail thoughtful-action.com)
Subject: humans in groups

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
We haven’t yet learned how to stay human when assembled in masses. -Lewis Thomas, physician and author (25 Nov 1913-1993)

Yes, we do awful things in groups, but we do wonderful things in groups as well. Our view of right and wrong is established by the views of those around us -- our peers guide us to wrong and to right.

David Rubenstein, Washington, DC

From: Topi Linkala (nes iki.fi)
Subject: Human behavior in groups

Lewis Thomas clearly had not met any Finns. We are notorious about following rules even in groups when the restrictions make sense.

Once on a sweltering hot day at the Frankfurt airport, we were taken by bus to the Finnair plane leaving for Helsinki when the bus driver noticed that the plane was in the middle of refueling. So the bus needed to stop, and, of course, had no AC. A guy from the rear shouted to the driver to open the doors so air could circulate. The driver turned and asked if we were all Finns. When we confirmed, he opened the doors. No one left the bus as we knew we were not allowed to based on the hazard of the refueling.

Topi Linkala, Helsinki, Finland

From: Brian Beck (sardonic_007 yahoo.com)
Subject: nudifidian

This concept of faith alone is a Billy Grahamification where Christians are required to do nothing. They have faith! So we see abhorrent theology arise like the prosperity doctrine or Christian nationalism. It’s simply emptying the message Jesus sent, substituting power and wealth as desirable values.

Brian Beck, Phoenix, Arizona

From: Andrew Lloyd (knockroe gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--titman

Loudon Wainwright III had a concert in Dublin in 1974 and he sang “Rufus is a Tit Man” (lyrics, video, 3 min.) about his then newborn son Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright.

Andrew Lloyd, Borris, Ireland

From: David Policansky (davidpolicansky gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--titman

When I took a biology course from Paul Erhlich at Stanford many decades ago, he delighted in telling us about a paper in the journal Nature published in the late 1800s titled “My blue tιts in winter”. As he said at the time, he was not making that up.

David Policansky, Nantucket, Massachusetts

From: Lucas de Oliveira (fracarolli.lucas gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--titman

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. -Jimi Hendrix, musician, singer, and songwriter (27 Nov 1942-1970)

Love your work! For the first time, it seems to me that I have caught a possible imprecision in something you wrote (or, rather, attributed to someone). That quote by Jimi Hendrix is, at least according to Wikiquote, disputed.

Lucas Fracarolli, São Paulo, Brazil

Thanks for taking the time to let us know. We’ve added a note with the quotation on our website.
-Anu Garg

From: Pär & Margareta Dahlin (pomdah pomdah.se)
Subject: Cocky

The best illustration for that word is this one, given to us by you and made by the brilliant artist Leah Palmer Preiss.

Margareta Dahlin, Sollentuna, Sweden

From: Charlie Cockey (czechpointcharlie gmail.com)
Subject: Cocky

Imagine growing up as I did with the family name Cockey: the comments from classmates, the witless and the wags. What a difference an E makes.

In high school we had a drama teacher who simply couldn’t bring herself to SAY the word. I never figured out what repressed ridiculosity made it impossible for her, but she always added an L, and I became Charlie Cockley. Oh well, what the L.

Other people tried something more familiar, more geographically situated. They called me Cockney. My usual reply was “I hearken to NO bells” but that sailed over 90+% of their heads. I was always happy when somebody (anybody) got it.

Otherwise, a buncha cocky bastids.

Charlie Cockey, Bilovice nad Svitavou, Czech Republic

From: Vic Neilson (vneilson mweb.co.za)
Subject: Cοck of the fleet

I am a retired South African naval officer. When I enlisted in 1961, it was not long after the South African Navy took over Simon’s Town from the Royal Navy. Not surprising then that we had taken over many of the traditions as well.

“Cοck of the Fleet” refers to a rowing competition between the rowing teams of each vessel or unit in a particular harbour. The rowing boat is a standard “whaler” found on every ship. The course would be a long stretch of open water usually somewhere in the harbour. The winning crew would be awarded Cοck of the Fleet,

a cockerel trophy. I am still in touch with retired fellow officers but not any serving officers, so do not know if RN traditions are still in vogue in the modern SA Navy.

Vic Neilson, Himeville, South Africa

From: Margaret Furness ( mfu19130 bigpond.net.au)
Subject: cocky

Cocky in Australia was also used to mean a farmer -- trying to scratch a living from the soil, like a cockatoo. It’s not much used now, but most people would know that a cow cocky was a dairy farmer.

Margaret Furness, Strathalbyn, Australia

From: Susan Saunders (susansaunders2008 btinternet.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--cocky

In England we usually use the term cockerel for a male chicken, and when I was a child looking at my aunt’s flock of hens we called the male the cock. Americans seem to have found that a bit rude, and devised the euphemism rooster. In the first part of the 20th century “cock” was also a friendly way for men to address one another. “Mate” was used in a similar way.

Susan Saunders, Teddington, UK

From: Peter Roche (sunmtnsft aol.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--cocky

Cannot help but be reminded of this: “Don’t get pεnisy!” (video, 1 min.)

Peter Roche, Santa Fe, New Mexico

From: Beverly Taylor (blt4tdd aol.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--cocky

For the life of me, I cannot understand why many writers, when referring to a non-human animal, insist on using “its” instead of he or she, when it’s perfectly clear that they are describing a male or female. For example, you write: “If you’ve ever heard a rooster strutting its stuff and crowing like it owns the barnyard ...” Or, a writer describes a cow giving birth to her calf, but calls her “it”. Even when the sex is indeterminate, why not use he/she, him/her or his/her?

Beverly Taylor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Thanks for catching this. Fixed now.
-Anu Garg

From: Ian MacLeod (icmacleod telus.net)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--cocky

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Normal is the average of deviance. -Rita Mae Brown, writer (b. 28 Nov 1944)

I recall an economist saying in a speech that one should be careful about putting too much reliance on averages (i.e. normal). For example, she could state with absolute certainty that “The average adult has one breast and one testicle.”

Ian MacLeod, Richmond, Canada

From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: titman and cocky

I’ve tried to capture a recent coming-together on Trump’s private jet, The Donald holding court with Elon Musk, Donald Trump Jr., RFK Jr. and House Speaker Mike Johnson. For some reason Johnson wasn’t invited to join their McDonald’s chow-down. At 5’ 8”, Speaker Johnson is by far the most diminutive of the bunch.

Ahoy maties! Behold my reprise of Trump as the emperor with no clothes, in a shout-out to a memorable scene from the film Titanic. Admittedly, The Donald won the 2024 election, while the Republicans secured majorities in both the Senate and the House. This has vaulted Trump’s confidence and cockiness levels to new heights. Ultimately, will hubris be his Achilles heel?

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

Anagrams


This week’s theme: Words that sound dirty but aren’t 1. Autogamy 2. Nudifidian 3. Titman 4. Cocky 5. Pussivant	=	1. Key task that peas did 2. I’d vow bare faith 3. Stunted guy, runt 4. Sanctimonious 5. Constant tidier (why, mum?)	=	1. Androgynism 2. Tut-tut, it’s a work-shy Christian 3. Wee titch 4. A tad impudent 5. Monkey, fuss, and dive about
		-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)		-Robert Jordan, Lampang, Thailand (alfiesdad ymail.com))

	=	1. Two gametes inhabit one ma, no daddy 2. Strict faith saves 3. Runt, puny kid 4. Curt 5. Mess with you, taunt kid	=	1. Hydras 2. Nothin’ but faith emancipated my id, you 3. It mocks weak, stunted 4. Swag, vain, struts 5. To intrude
		-Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz)		-Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com)

Make your own anagrams and animations.

Limericks

autogamy

The botanists say it is true:
Autogamy’s not something new.
Some plants, like the pea,
Do not need a bee;
Self-fertilization will do.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Autogamy! You’d feel bereft --
A warp maybe sans its own weft!
Well, happily, Sue,
It’s for plant life -- not you!
Lots of options with which you are left!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

“Being chaste was such boring monotony,
But I’m pregnant, and not by autogamy,”
Said the nun. “Well, at least
The Church won’t blame the priest,
For they think that he’s more into sοdοmy.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

nudifidian

In Palm Beach in his own private den
He had faith that the day would come when,
As a true nudifidian
And sometime Floridian,
He’d make heaven great once again.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

Nudifidians, last that I checked,
Are not nakεd, as one might expect.
They follow the teaching
Of Protestant preaching:
Having faith is what counts in their sect.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

As the water grew hot, the amphibian
Was facing quite certain oblivion.
But he stayed in the pot,
For religion he’d got,
Thinking, “Prayer saves a true nudifidian.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

titman

She preferred to date men who were tall,
But fell head over heels for dear Paul --
A titman in size,
But what a surprise!
In his company she had a ball.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Poor Paul, he was small, just a titman.
He worked out each day. Now a fit man,
He got a good job,
Employed by the mob,
Becoming a most famous hitman.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“Oy gevalt, you’re half-size, such a titman!
I’m not sure you can count towards our minyan,”
Said the old Jewish man.
“But I’m hoping you can;
I must ask for the rabbi’s opinion.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

cocky

He had treated her to some souvlaki,
And they’d gone to a movie quite schlocky.
The date wasn’t the best,
Yet he seemed self-impressed --
Why on earth was he being so cocky?
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

“That Dan stole my Nancy,” said Rocky,
“T’ain’t right; that boy sure acted cocky.
I guess they’re both Greeks
And her language he speaks;
He done captured her heart with souvlaki.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

pussivant

I’m a nuisance, some say, and a boor.
My meddling they just can’t endure.
But when all’s said and done,
Pussivanting is fun;
And I’m hardly in need of a cure.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

“Don’t pussivant; don’t make a fuss!
Get out of my kitchen!” said Gus.
“Go watch some TV
And just leave things to me
When I’m cooking a dinner for us.”
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Mom’s sister was always a pushy aunt;
She’d nag us and meddle and pussivant.
As a psych PhD,
Though, it worked out for me,
For to study her, I got a cushy grant.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Puns

She folded the perfect paper car. She called it autogamy.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“I th-autogamy-n named Oliver Twist might be a good character for my next novel,” Dickens suggested to his publisher.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“I’ll go nudifidian-d Steve do too,” said the couple’s friend at the Hollywood hot tub party.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“What with one crime after another, my titman-aged to get caught in a wringer, so I ran for President again,” said Donald.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“Once I put all the eyes on the pea-cocky looked just like Argus,” said Hera.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“Pussivant to come home vid me?” Greta Garbo called to the stray kitten.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“My pussivant-s you to pet it,” Zsa Zsa reportedly told Johnny Carson.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

If God exists, I hope he has a good excuse. -Woody Allen, author, actor, and filmmaker (b. 1 Dec 1935)

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