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Nov 1, 2026
This week’s themeEponyms from antiquity This week’s words epicurean Herodian Herodotean Odyssean priapean How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Words to describe people Wordsmith Games
AWADmail Issue 1270A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageFrom: James Watson (jwatson6 jhmi.edu) Subject: Re: Herodian To hear these attributes set to music, one may listen to Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, in Richard Strauss’s opera Salome. He rants and sputters, especially when his stepdaughter Salome says she’d like the head of John the Baptist as a reward for a little dance she has just performed. His equally debauched wife, Herodias, basically says “Good girl!” to this idea. Jim Watson, Pikesville, Maryland From: Yigal Levin (yigal.levin biu.ac.il) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--Herodian In Israel, while Herod is certainly remembered for his cruelty, Herodian does not usually have this negative connotation. It is mostly used to describe the monumental architecture of public building projects undertaken by Herod and his descendants. Much survives today, including the Temple Mount enclosure and its Western (or Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem, the enclosure above the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, and remains of the harbor at Caesarea. Yigal Levin, Tzur-Yigal, Israel From: Larry Turner (lturner2 aol.com) Subject: Herodotean When I was taking Western Civilization, we read Herodotus to stay awake and Thucydides to fall asleep. Larry Turner, Kelso, Washington From: Ron Macnaughton (macnaughton rogers.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--Herodotean I’ve given talks on “How Ancients Predicted Eclipses”. I quote Herodotus’s account of a battle interrupted by sudden darkness, an event he says the philosopher Thales had predicted for that year. The uncertainties in the account make me doubt that Thales successfully predicted the eclipse. I wonder whether the story was intended to emphasize his brilliance. According to Herodotus, the two armies stopped fighting and made peace. Ron Macnaughton, Bolton, Canada From: Kevin Moss (kevindmoss gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--Odyssean Here’s a real-life Odyssean trek in the news this week: After 28 Years Walking Across the Globe, He’s Almost Home The New York Times; Oct 29, 2026 Kevin Moss, Lafayette, California
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From: David Santangelo (dcsantangelo2005 comcast.net) Subject: Odyssean Odysseus goes through many trials on his long journey back to Ithaca, but the scene that stays with me most comes in Book 17, when the disguised Odysseus encounters his dog, Argos. Lying neglected on a pile of dung, Argos recognizes his master after twenty years, wags his tail, and then dies. This has always felt like the most emotionally powerful moment to me, even more so than the reunion with his wife, Penelope. David Santangelo, Stevens Point, Wisconsin From: Elise Mandel (elise.mandel gmail.com) Subject: Spelling Bees petrichor, abseil, demesne, endocanthion, hamartia, marcescence, inoculate, and absquatulate. These are a few of the words in Spellapalooza, an adult spelling bee in Frankfort, Kentucky, and a fundraiser for Thorn Hill Education Center. The center offers programs in GED preparation, ESL, and family literacy. My team of three won for the second year in a row! The audience gasped when they heard ectocanthion in the final round -- but my teammates and I had studied hard, so we were ready. I faithfully follow Wordsmith daily! I also teach a class on “Brain Power for Seniors” and offer many word (and some math!) challenges. So thanks for fascinating words each week! I always write them down. Elise Mandel, Lexington, Kentucky From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com) Subject: epicurean and Herodotean  
Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams 
Limericks epicurean Epicureans all can agree That a yacht is a fine place to be. Your chef will cook well, In comfort you’ll dwell, And in style you will set out to sea. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “I’m starved!” said the Roman centurion, “And the meal better be epicurean!” “I’m afraid here in Britain You may not be smitten,” The pub owner said, clearly worryin’. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Herodian Herodian leader so cruel, We’re suffering under your rule. Why has this come to pass? It’s because you’re an ass Who thinks that testosterone’s cool. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Pol Pot was extremely Herodian, And thus an abnormal Cambodian. While at Oxford I read All about him with dread In the library there, called the Bodleian. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Herodotean To himself Donald sings a grand paean And builds monuments Herodotean. They’re big and ornate; He thinks they are great, And I just can’t believe what I’m seein’. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) On Broadway, the show I was seein’ Was unbearably Herodotean. At long last, intermission Fulfilled my ambition To dash to the place where there’s peein’. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Odyssean Off he went on a trip Odyssean, And he saw lots of spots European. The voyage was thrilling, But now he’s home chilling, Recovering for the time bein’. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “I want a great trip!” yelled his wife, “To remember the rest of my life! I don’t want a wee one, But one Odyssean.” The subject would always cause strife. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “OMG! What a chase Odyssean! But finally the cat I am treein’!” Said the dog. “Well, at least No one’s hurt; I’m no beast That drops bombs like some dumb human bein’.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) priapean To Anu I offer a paean, For AWAD I find priapean. Canoodling with words Is a turn-on for nerds, At least me; are you readers agreein’? -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “In case you have an allergic reaction to something in the food, I’m here to administer an Epicurean,” Fleming’s publisher assured him as they discussed his next Bond novel over lunch. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “I’m no saint or herodian-a,” confessed Prince Charles when his wife confronted him about Camilla. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) The people who support Brown for Senate in Ohio believe in his S-herodian politics. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “James Bond books and films are a corrupting influence. Young people should not on a spy herodotean,” said Fleming’s pastor. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “English eccentricities being what they are, someone odyssean as quite normal,” wrote the Martian anthropologist. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “In Ca-priapean-ut sauce is hard to find due to the lack of Thai influence,” said the Mediterranean restaurant guide. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The wisest man is he who does not fancy that he is so at all. -Nicolas
Boileau-Despreaux, poet and critic (1 Nov 1636-1711)
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