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Jul 12, 2026 This week’s theme Adverbs This week’s words somewhen dispositively yonder lubberly nigh How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Words with multiple meanings Wordsmith Games 🧩 Jigsaw Riddle The Elongated Muse 🌍 Langitude Trace gordian home AWADmail Issue 1254 A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language From: Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org) Subject: Interesting stories from the Net Learning Another Language Appears to Slow Brain Ageing, Scientists Say The Guardian Permalink A Bird’s Brain Holds Clues to the Sounds of Music The New York Times Permalink From: Kay Gunter (kay.gunter2 gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--somewhen Here’s a new adverb I (as far as I know) coined recently before a trip to a newly remodeled big-box store: “I know what I’m looking for will be somewhere, just not the samewhere.” Kay Gunter, Phoenix, Arizona From: Reg Levy (reglevy mac.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--somewhen I love somewhen. In German, we have irgendwo, irgendwer, irgendwas, and irgendwann: somewhere, someone, something, and sometime. Irgendetwas is a more formal equivalent of irgendwas, and irgendwelch- means roughly “some/any kind of”. Reg Levy, Los Angeles, California From: Richard Stallman (rms gnu.org) Subject: Somewhen and Whensday To refer to some unspecified future time, preferably not very soon, you can use whensday, as in “I’ll do it whensday.” Dr Richard Stallman, Boston, Massachusetts Email of the Week -- Brought to you by Oneupmanship Map: Google Maps From: Craig Fairhurst (teacher94 verizon.net) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--yonder Your discussion of the word yonder and how it is used to refer to a nonspecific location reminded me of three actual intersecting streets in Porters Lake, Canada, called This Street, That Street, and The Other Street. These three streets have the unique quality of being nonspecific descriptions and specific locations at the same time. Craig Fairhurst, Ridgewood, New York From: Grahame Young (gyoung francisburt.com.au) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--yonder I am inevitably reminded of “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key”, a folk song (4 min.) with words by Woody Guthrie and music by Billy Bragg, recorded by Billy Bragg and Wilco for the 1998 album Mermaid Avenue. Grahame Young, Wembley, Australia From: Nancy Meyer (Antares11 juno.com) Subject: Yonder Just seeing or hearing the word yonder starts a preserved “recording” in my head: the reedy voice of my grandma (1893-1983) singing a hymn from her youth, “When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” Nancy Meyer, Mundelein, Illinois From: Vinay Kashyap (kashyap.vinay gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--yonder Regarding your note about yonder being the world’s least precise indicator, I would say it is matched and surpassed by anon, which, besides being happily divested of any physical units, has one foot in “soon” and the other in “later”. Vinay Kashyap, Stoneham, Massachusetts From: Paul Calico (paulcalico gmail.com) Subject: nigh I remember my sister explaining the word nigh to me when I was quite young. The Christmas carol “Away in a Manger” has a verse ending “And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.” I sang it as “till morning is night” which to me meant to stay by the cradle for a long time. Paul Calico, Cincinnati, Ohio From: Pascal Pagnoux (pascal.pagnoux gmail.com) Subject: War A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The truth is that every morning war is declared afresh. And the men who wish to continue it are as guilty as the men who began it, more guilty perhaps, for the latter perhaps did not foresee all its horrors. -Marcel Proust, novelist (10 Jul 1871-1922) Another quote for the road, confirming and explaining that? All right then... 😂 “I think a curse should rest on me -- because I love this war. I know it’s smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment -- and yet -- I can’t help it -- I enjoy every second of it.” -Winston Churchill, in a letter to a friend, 1916 Pascal Pagnoux, Saint-Gaudens, France From: Steve Benko (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Subject: Adverbs “The Supreme Court has grossly overextended presidential power,” said Tom judiciously. Steve Benko, New York, New York From: Mitch Kramer (mbkramer510 yahoo.com) Subject: So many book sales In the link to the BBC article by David Robson in AWADmail Issue 1253, the author notes that Noah Webster’s American Spelling Book sales “eventually reached an estimated 100 million copies over the following century, comparable only to the Bible.” That made me cringe, as I have kept informal observation over the years of all the books that have been described as outselling everything but the Bible. There have been many claims, from Noah Webster to the works of Dickens to Harlequin Romances to Dr. Benjamin Spock’s Baby and Child Care. They can’t all have outsold everything but the Bible, can they? Surely this is an example of less-than-careful literary hyperbole. Is the Bible really the top-selling book? And what has sold more than anything but the Bible, do you think? And why does this tired claim continue to be printed as if it were something clever? Mitchell B. Kramer, PhD, Middlebury, Vermont From: Lester Carver (lac3b uvahealth.org) Subject: Re: A year of words More than 50 years ago, my father would not define a word for me if I asked. “Look it up. You will remember it,” he would say. He was a great father. He had an MS in social work, took part in civil rights marches when doing so could have meant assault or worse, and served as a Little League baseball coach and Boy Scout leader. I didn’t like being told to “look it up” at the time, but now I’m glad he did it. I love learning new words. Each week I try to weave all five words into a single sentence. It’s pretty interesting at times: So far this morning, I have oscitated, then pandiculated while giving a furtive nictation during a period of unabashed slummocking. Lester Carver, Remington, Virginia From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com) Subject: yonder and lubberly Many view hunting for Bigfoot aka Sasquatch as an intriguing mix of folklore and outdoor adventure, though the pursuit is often met with skepticism from the mainstream scientific community. While most researchers and enthusiasts focus on nonviolent documentation, such as gathering audio, video, and footprints, a much smaller segment adopts a trophy-hunting mentality. This latter mindset is increasingly discouraged in favor of a more humane approach. Trump appears dead set on destroying or undermining everything good and foundational about America. He continues to alienate our closest allies, discount scientific and medical research, weaken healthcare coverage, discourage tourism, bully universities and the media, and terrorize immigrants, all the while making over two billion in his corrupt family crypto scam. The ship of state under Trump has sprung multiple major leaks. Are we bound to sink to the depths of despotism, or will cooler, more even-keeled heads ultimately prevail? Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams This week’s theme: Adverbs Somewhen Dispositively Yonder Lubberly Nigh = In my sweet time Duly provided There Shows no big skills, even shabby Here -Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com) = In time, by & by Problem solved Over there Gawkish, unwieldy He’s sensed this -Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz) This week’s theme: Adverbs again Somewhen Dispositively Yonder Lubberly Nigh = Maybe soon Determinative laws Sky-high view, spot Blunderingly Sh ... here, beside ... -Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com) Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks somewhen Mow the lawn!” his dear wife would demand. “It has gotten too far out of hand.” “Yes, somewhen,” he’d say, “But just not today; Relaxation is what I have planned.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) There once was the silliest, dumb hen, Who’d lay all her eggs on the run, then The chicken would fret, Because she’d forget. Could she find them again? Maybe somewhen. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “You promise you’ll call again somewhen? You think that I’m really that dumb then?” Said the girl from the bar Getting out of Beck’s car. “MAGA sucks and you’re truly a bum, Glenn!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) dispositively Correct meter’s important, you know, Which good poems dispositively show. When words are too long And do not belong, Then they frequently cause poets woe. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Okay, It is done; my guy Paul Has agreed that he’ll go to the ball. Now the whole world will see Dispositively, My new beau isn’t ugly at all! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) The prince said dispositively, “Mom and Dad, act cooperatively! The girl I must find Left her slipper behind!” Soon the two became -- Mazel Tov -- three! -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) yonder The woman who lives over yonder I’ve noticed has grown ever blonder. I’m wondering why She feels she must dye -- It’s certainly something to ponder. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Whenever my mind seems to wander, I might close my eyes, and I’ll ponder, What wonderful things A new grandchild brings, With its future great joys ahead yonder. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “His absence does not make me fonder, So I’ll need a bedroom farther yonder,” Said Melania. Gold Wasn’t worth it, all told; At first he seemed nice, but he’d conned her. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) lubberly Not much of a sailor is he; He’s lubberly awkward at sea. When waves rock the boat, He says, and I quote, “I’m feeling as sick as can be.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) They sent that young man back to shore After lubberly actions galore. They found him unfit, Which bugged him a bit, But he’s glad he’s not there anymore. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) I’m not either graceful or prudent. Even way back in school days I couldn’t Keep up with the guys So there’s no great surprise When I lubberly do what I shouldn’t! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “Commanding your troops would be lubberly, So your offer I must refuse utterly,” Explained Robert E.; “I’m Virginian, you see.” Answered Lincoln, “You’re truly a nutter, Lee.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) nigh As midterm elections draw nigh, The Democrats really must try To give voters a choice In which we can rejoice -- Not guys with a past we’ll decry. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) From his nest in a tree way up high, The young birdie did wish he could fly. Said the mama bird, “Steady, You still aren’t ready, But soon you can try -- the time’s nigh.” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “To Tahiti again we draw nigh, For we’re rid of that jerk Captain Bligh,” Fletcher Christian declared. There some girls he ensnared; In the movie, though, he’s a nice guy. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “I usually take somewhen Mom suggests I move out and get a job,” said the stoner. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Four is the somewhen you add two plus two,” little Fred told his teacher. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “I can get arrested for flashing my breasts during Mardi Gras? Dispositively irks me,” said the Cajun reveler. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “The Grand Can-yonder-ives its name from being grand and a canyon,” explained the AI chatbot. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “I’m no sch-lubberly is more like it,” insisted the Jewish lumberjack. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Oh, wouldn’t it be lubberly!” sang Eliza Doolittle. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “One, two, fee, four, five, six, seben, eight, nigh, ten,” the little girl counted. -Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com) “You sure you don’t want to escape down the Nigh-le?” asked the handmaiden. “Nah, hand me the asp,” answered Cleopatra. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (12 Jul 1817-1862)

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