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Feb 16, 2025
This week’s themeVerbs This week’s words insufflate spanghew peregrinate quetch nidify How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Words with multiple personas 
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AWADmail Issue 1181A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageSponsor’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: Verbs What are your favorite verbs? I asked this week. Here’s a selection from the responses:
My choice of verb is the verb to verb.
Usage: There ain’t no noun what can’t be verbed. -Stephen Phillips, Chirk, UK (stephen_l_phillips.t21 btinternet.com) A verb I’ve always loved is defenestrate, meaning to throw out of a window. In particular, when it means to unceremoniously get rid of someone -- say an officer of a large bureaucracy -- the image is delightful. -Charles Cole, Evanston, Illinois (seecee913 gmail.com) As one who likes to read late into the night, lucubrate is among my favorite verbs. Lucubrate: Write or study, especially by night. -David S. Goodman, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (davidgoodman fastmail.com) Insufflate, your word for today, blows my mind, although my faves are simply love and live. I suppose that’s what Johnny Mercer meant when he composed Something’s Got to Give. (Somethin’s Gotta Give, Somethin’s Gotta Give, Somethin’s Gotta Give!) -Mariana Warner, Asheville, North Carolina (marianaw6002 gmail.com) Especially in these days of political confusion, I remain amazed by the power and variability of the verb to act. to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative; to reach, make, or issue a decision; to operate or function in a particular way; to perform specific duties or functions; to behave or conduct oneself; to pretend; feign; to perform as an actor; to serve or substitute. You can act out of compassion or deep personal values (act heroically or with a sense of duty), act with decorum, or pretend to do something or be someone (perhaps deceptively or maliciously). -Richard Talley, Washington, DC (richard.talley nnsa.doe.gov) The writer Terry Tempest Williams liked verbs too: “This is my living faith, an active faith, a faith of verbs: to question explore, experiment, experience, walk, run, dance, play, eat, love, learn, dare, taste, touch, smell, listen, argue, speak, write, read, draw, provoke, emote, scream, sin, repent, cry, kneel, pray, bow, rise, stand, look, laugh, cajole, create, confront, confound, walk back, walk forward, circle, hide, and seek. To seek: to embrace the questions, be wary of answers.” -Winsome Brown, Fernside, New Zealand (winsome246 gmail.com)
Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy One Up! -- Perfectly-horrible holiday fun.
From: Janet Evans (jle-ipad ringnebula.com) Subject: Verbs In elementary school, our teacher would have students representing nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc., stand in front of the class. She would then read a sentence aloud and each student representative would JUMP when their part of speech was read. I was always a VERB and would jump with enthusiasm whenever a verb popped up. I am 76! Janet Evans, Sebastopol, California From: Mike Zim (mikewzim gmail.com) Subject: insufflate For my childhood earache, my father blew cigarette smoke into my ear, an old country (Poland) remedy. He used my mother’s cigarette. This was the only time I saw him use tobacco. “Blowing smoke into a child’s ear will do nothing to speed the resolution of an ear infection. However, it will not cause harm to the ear either. In real terms, the only thing blowing smoke into a child’s ear will do is increase the physical and emotional bonds between the parent and child. Unfortunately, smoking will also increase the risk of the parent acquiring lung disease.” (From the Department of Otolaryngology at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) Mike Zim, Columbus, Ohio From: John Kelly (jkelly umich.edu) Subject: Insufflation My favorite example was called Dutch fumigation and was an early notion of cardiac resuscitation, where smoke was collected in a leather bag or bladder, and introduced into the unfortunate patient’s rectum. I imagine some who weren’t moribund simply became animated by the sheer humiliation of the procedure. John Kelly, MD, MPH, Ann Arbor, Michigan From: Mike Wagner (mike wildcardvideo.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--insufflate I wonder if the idiom “to blow smoke up one’s nether region” (to lie to someone to flatter them) is an example of insufflation. Mike Wagner, Miami, Florida From: Liliana Hoton (Liliana.Hoton cra-arc.gc.ca) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--insufflate In Romanian, a insufla (to insufflate) rather means to inspire. For example, someone can insufflate respect, or love for something. More like in the example you used. In Romanian, the three meanings you list apply rather to the verb a sufla (to blow or breathe into). Liliana Hoton, Ottawa, Canada From: Richard Ruesch (deoconsulere gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--insufflate Every language that I learned, I started by buying a book on verbs and went on from there. I totally agree with you on the proper use of verbs. Richard Ruesch, Hebe, Pennsylvania From: Lori Provenzano (Silk3.14 gmail.com) Subject: insufflate Here’s a demonstration of a dolphin insufflating bubbles to its heart’s content. Lori Provenzano, Cranbrook, Canada From: Andrew Lloyd (knockroe gmail.com) Subject: spanghew The Venn diagram of etymology and ethology gets a novel intersection: Nobody really knows why killer whales occasionally spanghew harbour seals around the coasts of British Columbia. Andrew Lloyd, Borris, Ireland From: Paul Glover (pglover bulkley.net) Subject: spanghew There’s a cell-phone app called Send Me To Heaven that measures how high in the air you have thrown your phone. I think spanghew is the perfect-sounding word for such an activity. I don’t have a cell phone myself but am tempted to get one just so I can try that. Paul Glover, Smithers, Canada From: Roly Huebsch (rolyh sapo.pt) Subject: Spanghew
USAGE: “Spanghew his jacket, when you’ve riped [searched] his pockets.” Wilfrid Wilson Gibson; Krindlesyke; Macmillan; 1922. A pleasant surprise to see my grandfather’s name pop up in the quote for today’s word! I was brought up by my grandparents, Wilfrid and Geraldine Gibson, after my mother, their eldest daughter, died in an accident when I was a year old. He was from Northumberland in the north of England and his poems used many words from the local dialects (but I cannot remember him ever using this one!) Roly Huebsch, Portugal From: Mardy Grothe (drmardy drmardy.com) Subject: Lincoln quotation I’m afraid your Thought For Today is in error. Lincoln never said anything like this. It’s actually an abridgement of an observation from Robert G. Ingersoll, the great American lawyer and orator who is best remembered in history as The Great Agnostic. Ingersoll was a great admirer of our 16th president, and in an 1885 article about Lincoln, he wrote: “Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except upon the side of mercy.” For more, go to the Ingersoll entry here. Mardy Grothe, Southern Pines, North Carolina
Thanks for taking the time to send the correction. We have updated it
on the website now.
-Anu Garg From: Susan Saunders (susansaunders2008 btinternet.com) Subject: Quetch This word is very similar in sound and meaning to kvetch, a Yiddish word meaning to complain continually. That word apparently comes from a Middle High German word meaning “to pinch”. Is this a linguistic example of convergent evolution? Susan Saunders, Teddington, UK
Kvetch came to us (via Yiddish)
from Middle High German quetschen (to squeeze) while quetch is from
Old English cweccan. Both have similar sounds so it’s possible they
are related, but in absence of a confirmation we’ll need to suspend
judgment.
-Anu Garg From: William Politt (william.03281 gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--nidify Nidify dredged up from ancient memory two words learned in Prof. Duncan’s Ornithology class almost 60 years ago: Nidicolous: helpless and staying in the nest until they fledge and become independent; owls spring to mind. Nidifugous: literally fleeing the nest, capable of going off on their own shortly after hatching; gulls are a good example. William Politt, Weare, New Hampshire  
Subject: nidify and spanghew Bird nests come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, from the bald eagle’s gigantic nest constructed of large interlaced tree branches and twigs, to the pendulous, sack-like nests of orioles, weaver birds and bushtitis. Wrens, chatty, perky little brownish birds, build rather conventional rounded nests, mostly of twigs. But where they situate their nests is often in unconventional places... flower pots, abandoned mailboxes, discarded tires and unused outdoor grills. 
Our word “spanghew” inspired this scenario, leaning upon the familiar trope of throwing “stuff” against the wall and seeing what might stick. In this case, a handful of Trump’s recent 300+ executive orders and draconian diktats, many flouting the Constitution. Each day he’s smashing long-standing norms, “flooding the zone” with questionable edicts, abetted by his bestie Elon Musk. Trump promised to be a dictator solely on day one of his presidency. He lied... his dictatorship continues with no apparent end in sight. Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks Insufflate When a doctor examines your bun, Sigmoidoscopies aren’t great fun. While inserting a scope He insufflates with hope That of findings bizarre there’ll be none. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) When EMTs insufflate air, It’s life-saving breath that they share. Into mouths they will blow, And we’re glad that they know This vital emergency care. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “Your house I’ll huff, puff, and insufflate,” Said the wolf, “and you’ll suffer a tough fate.” Laughed the pigs, “Love your shtick! But this third house is brick; Try it here, and you’ll have it quite rough, mate.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Spanghew When I was a child of just three, My mother gave spinach to me. And surely she knew it, That I would spanghew it. I preferred having scones at high tea. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) It’s a silly tradition perhaps, But most graduates spanghew their caps. On this special day, It’s also okay If they take a few victory laps. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Just what will they spanghew today? Frogs? Birds? Have you heard? Tell me, pray, It’s beyond my own mind How people can find Any joy in this process; oy vey! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “The election results you must spanghew, Or my mob,” threatened Donald, “will hang you.” But Mike Pence wouldn’t bend; At a wall in the end, Donald’s ketchup, his fries, and a frank threw. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Peregrinate Like a gypsy, (oh, please do not frown), I simply can not settle down. It seems to be fate, That I peregrinate. It’s just boring to stay in one town. -Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com) If you peregrinate, then you know That when shoes don’t fit right they cause woe. I’m telling you, mister, You don’t want a blister -- So be sure they’re worn in ere you go. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) No wonder my friend’s always late. She’s never on time, which I hate. You see, she’ll meander, So many can’t stand her. She loves to just peregrinate. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) When the view I see’s not very great, To appointments I’m terribly late. For beauty I yearn, So off highways I turn And on scenic routes peregrinate. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Quetch Each morning at dawn he would quetch. He’d yawn very loudly and stretch. With moves he was makin’, His wife he’d awaken -- No wonder that she’d always kvetch. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) I thought at first I’d keep on kvetching, But now it is just minor quetching. What seemed at first major Is small, and I’ll wager Tomorrow, I’ll think my perm fetching! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) William Tell urged his son, “Please don’t quetch; I will shoot once this arrow I fletch.” But the boy answered, “Dad, If that feather is bad, I could die -- though I hate to kvetch. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Nidify Ancient instincts will somehow suggest, “It is high time that we build a nest.” Birds will nidify then And we’ll see once again Mother Nature is truly the best! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) I’ll nidify here for a spell Get cozy in my little shell, Wear slippers, not shoes And not read the news And just watch the whole world go to hell! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “The air in this house let’s humidify; It will then be more comfy to nidify,” Said the girl with a grin. “Then with moisturized skin, In our nest I’ll be ready to fiddle, guy.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “Insufflate-rms, Trump is rising for a fall,” predicted the pastry chef. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Ah! Zee-spanghew have ees a hunger to return to ze womb,” said the psychiatrist. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Your peregrinate my Fifi!” the hysterical toy poodle owner cried to the falconer. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Run run as fast as you can you can’t quetch me I’m the gingerbread man, “ read the little girl from her book of nursery rhymes. -Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com) “It’s Sas-quatch, not -quetch,” the exasperated Yeti repeated to the customer service representative. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “As a tiny arach-nidify I climb the water spout, rain may come down and wash me out,” worried the itsy-bitsy spider. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the
systematic organization of hatreds. -Henry Adams, historian and teacher
(16 Feb 1838-1918)
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