Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#70722 05/21/02 05:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
H
Hyla Offline OP
addict
OP Offline
addict
H
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
Spontaneous Polling will now commence. Please vote within 72 hours from the time of this posting, unless I arbitrarily change the deadline again.

a. (n) the degree to which cement has hardened, usually indicated by percent.

b. a painting technique thought to originate in North Africa using charcoal and marble chippings

c. A residue, primarily lead oxide, formed during refining silver

d. (n) secretion produced by a pulvillus of the fly

e. Leftovers

f. Still archaic, but more modern, form of letheage –solace gained by forgetting. “He is full lethaged of it”,
meaning he has completely forgotten the subject of his previous sorrow.

g. the sticky saliva that causes insects to adhere to the tongue of a frog

h. Slack created in anchor lines as knots tighten, particularly as a result of tidal forces.

i. weight in stone (Brit. unit of 14 lbs.)

j. The process of removing stones and other unwanted material such as stalks from the usable crop of cherries, prior to jam or juice manufacture.

k. unreadable facial expression

l. the speed at which an object sinks in water

m. the comparative weight of different paper types.

n. The rate of the drop in the use of directive articles in language as the language becomes more homogeneous. Known as the Economy of Usage scale, in 1959, S.I.Hayakawa gave english a lithage rating of + 76, indicating a high rate of diminishing diversity.


Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
I am not ready to cast my vote. I would just like to make an observation. It is so strange the number of entries that have a viscous substance of some sort--to some degree.

Just interesting. This kind of thing happens on Hogwash regularly. I mean, really. Think about it: lithage. That sure doesn't sound like such a viscous word, does it? Yet read those entries...lots of viscosity. I wonder why? Lith? That ain't viscous. Age? That ain't either...

Just plain interesting,
WW

PS: Now Hogwash. That's obviously viscous.
PPS: And, speaking of hogwash, did anyone see that family program last night that had a black pig that looked like a gorilla? It had long black gorrilla-like hair? What kind of pig was that?


Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
H
Hyla Offline OP
addict
OP Offline
addict
H
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
What kind of pig was that?

And we wonder how threads go astray...


Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
And we wonder how threads go astray, Hyla? At least I've learned one lesson and made sure the tangent had a different heading. Step by step, closer and closer...


#70726 05/21/02 10:29 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
OK. I'm ready to cast my vote, and none of 'em sound right to me, so I'm going to give my vote to n because it gave me the biggest laugh and burst of delight. This in no way means that I think it's correct. They all sound off-mark.

Leftovers was tempting for simplicity as was (related) the oxidized residue, which would be a kind of metallic leftover. And isn't there a baronium or something like that? Must get back in touch with the metallurgist inside of me, that is if metallurgist is a word.

But: A big vote for n 'cuz it's comical, although my daughter thinks it's stupid.

Best regards,
WW with a lithium rating of 142+


#70727 05/21/02 10:42 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
what's the word again?

[dizzy]


#70728 05/21/02 11:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
M
old hand
Offline
old hand
M
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
The word, AnnaStrophic was LITHAGE, although you'll never guess the definition in a million years. Even I had to see it on the list before I recognized the meaning. I'm considering withdrawing from the contest in order to give the less fortunate a chance to win. Also my goodbuddy Hyla let me put two definitions on the guess list, (j)- The process of removing stones and other unwanted material such as stalks from the usable crop of cherries, prior to jam or juice manufacture, and
(k) unreadable facial expression.
Also a hint...
The answer is not A or F or L.

Good Luck to you all,
Milo



#70729 05/21/02 11:44 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Hmmmmm. C then.

CC


#70730 05/22/02 12:47 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409

#70731 05/22/02 01:00 AM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
J
old hand
Offline
old hand
J
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
Mmmmmmmmmm . . . tastes good.


Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 442 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5