Wordsmith.org
Posted By: wwh p. 131 - 06/13/03 06:08 PM
pointe 7pwant8
n.,
pl. pointes 7pwant8 5Fr, point6 Ballet (the position of being on) the tip of the toe

poise 1 7p.z8
n.
5ME pois, weight < OFr < VL *pesum < L pensum, something weighed < pendere, to weigh: see PENDANT6
1 balance; stability
2 ease and dignity of manner; self-assurance; composure
3 the condition of being calm or serene
4 carriage; bearing, as of the body or head
5 [Now Rare] a) a suspension of activity in a condition of balance b) suspense; irresolution; indecision
vt.
poised, pois4ing 5ME poisen < OFr poiser < peise, inflected form of peser, to weigh < VL pesare < L pensare, to weigh out < pensus, pp. of pendere6
1 to balance; keep steady
2 to suspend: usually passive or reflexive
3 [Rare] to weigh
vi.
1 to be suspended or balanced
2 to hover
—SYN TACT

poise 2 7p.z8
n.
5Fr, after J. L. M. Poiseuille (1799-1869), Fr anatomist6 the cgs unit of viscosity of a liquid, equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter: abbrev. P

poitrine 7pwD trcn$8
n.
5Fr6 the breast or chest; esp., a woman‘s bosom, when full and shapely

Poitrel (Page: 106)
Poi"trel (?), n. [OE. poitrel, F. poitrail, fr. L. pectorale a breastplate, fr. pectoralis, a. See Pectoral, a.] (Anc. Armor) The breastplate of the armor of a horse. See Peytrel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Sauce Poivrade. A sauce made of beef stock, vinegar, onions, & carrots


>poke[weed 7pbk4wcd#8
n.
5see POKE36 a North American plant (Phytolacca americana) of the pokeweed family, with clusters of purplish-white flowers, reddish-purple berries, and smooth leaves and stems: the roots and berry seeds are poisonous
adj.
designating a family (Phytolaccaceae, order Caryophyllales) of dicotyledonous trees, shrubs, and plants

polestar 7pbl4st9r#8
Polaris, the North Star: also Pole Star
n.
1 a guiding principle
2 a center of attraction
Everyone (in Norathern Hemispherere) should know how to recognize Stella Polaris, and teach it to their kids.

polarimeter n.
5POLARI(ZE) + 3METER6
1 an instrument for measuring the degree of polarization of light, or the amount of polarized light in a ray
2 a polariscope made esp. for measuring the optical activity of a substance, esp. a liquid
polarimetric 7pb lar#i me4trik8
adj.
polarime[try 73trc8
n.
pollard
n.
5prec. + 3ARD6
1 a hornless goat, deer, ox, etc.
2 a tree with its top branches cut back to the trunk, so as to cause a dense growth of new shoots
vt.
to change into a pollard
Here in southern California the trees in the city grow very well, but the tops grow faster than the root system can keep in balance, because of so much pavement. They become unhealthy, and have to be pruned so much I thought the
trees might be killed. I was amazed at how quickly they recovered, and branched so profusely the cut branch ends were invisible. I never before knew the meaning
of “pollardize”.

Pollyanna
n.
5name of the young heroine of novels by Eleanor H. Porter (1868-1920), U.S. writer6 an excessively or persistently optimistic person
I haven’t seen this used for many years.
polydactylous - having more than five fingers. I have seen a boy with two thumbs on each hand, but the extra ones could not be used, and were removed.

pomeridian = blooms after noon - e.g. four-o’clock

pompeil - a moderate to deep reddish brown
p




Posted By: of troy Re: p. 131 - 06/14/03 02:48 PM
Re:polydactylous - having more than five fingers.

Anne Boylen was alleged to be polydactylous, and to have an extra pink.. as were some of the Steward Kings (and would be Kings)

Jenny Radcliffe, the only daughter of Charles Radcliffe, the last Earl of Derwentwater (a name now corrupted into 'devil's water', near newcastle) in the north of England) was second cousin to Bonny Prince Charles,(wrong side of the blanket!) and, she too had the was polydactylous.

she immigrated to what was then virginia, and later moved to the 'frontier' (near south carolina /west virgina boarder.) --an area today, that is know for a slightly higher incidence of polydactylism! (she did have 8 children that survived to adulthood!)

Posted By: wwh Re: p. 131 - 06/14/03 04:56 PM
At the CMG in Lewiston,ME, I saw a man nicknamed "Fivefinger Joe" because he had no thumbs, an exta index finger replacing them. I was told that a few of his relatives had sme condition. Allegedly related to inbreeding.

Posted By: anchita Re: p. 131 - 06/15/03 07:46 PM
"pompeil - a moderate to deep reddish brown"

Is this related to 'Pompei'/'Pompeii,' the ancient city, by any chance?


Posted By: wwh Re: p. 131 - 06/15/03 10:26 PM
The spelling bee list did not define it, and I have been unable to find a definition of it with etymology.
I too wondered if that were the origin. I've seen pictrues of Pompeii, but never say any deep red or orange in the excavated lava. Fashion dictates poetic names for colors, and isn't scrupulous about veracity.

Posted By: of troy Re: p. 131 - 06/16/03 12:23 AM
just a WAG, but i would think its related to apples.. pommes in frence, and pommegranites (seed apples) and other pom(p) words..i know apples are not a big crop in italy, (generaly, apples like it cooler) but red/apple/pom seems a likely connection. there are many places with red clay -which is often red/brown, but i don't know of any red lava's.. (jasper is metamorphic right?)

Posted By: Coffeebean Re: p. 131 - 06/17/03 04:09 AM
but i don't know of any red lava

There are two towns in Northern California: Redding and Red Bluff, which are so named because of the red earth, which is of volcanic origin. Mount Shasta nearby is still technically an active volcano.

Squid! Are you there?

© Wordsmith.org