Word of the Day
Re: Word of the Day
I learned about frass from the 15th Nancy Drew game, where you examine the contents of frass jars under a microscope...then you find out what it is you've been touching.
"If you don't put enough commas in, you won't know where to breathe and will die of asphyxiation"
--Jasper Fforde
--Jasper Fforde
Re: Word of the Day
caducity
the infirmity or weakness of old age; frailty
Due to the patient's caducity, it would be wise to eliminate his exposure to significant amounts of frass.
the infirmity or weakness of old age; frailty
Due to the patient's caducity, it would be wise to eliminate his exposure to significant amounts of frass.
Re: Word of the Day
sally port - a secure, controlled entryway, as of a fortification or a prison
Between the fortifications of the sally port and the prisoner's caducity, there was no way he was going to be able to escape.
Between the fortifications of the sally port and the prisoner's caducity, there was no way he was going to be able to escape.
Re: Word of the Day
That's exactly what L'Abbé Faria wants you to think.Katya wrote:sally port - a secure, controlled entryway, as of a fortification or a prison
Between the fortifications of the sally port and the prisoner's caducity, there was no way he was going to be able to escape.
Re: Word of the Day
I'm assuming that's also related to the military term "sally forth."
Deus ab veritas
Re: Word of the Day
Right. A "sally" is "a sudden charge out of a besieged place against the enemy; a sortie."Marduk wrote:I'm assuming that's also related to the military term "sally forth."
Re: Word of the Day
I've been having fun looking up these terms in Italian. Studying various Romance languages is an eccellente way to improve one's English vocab.
Re: Word of the Day
Just parsed neonicotinoid wrong. As neon-i-cotinoid. Looking it up in another language (add an "e") and seeing the English definition underneath made me see the "nicotine" in there. TIL
Re: Word of the Day
apiarist = apicoltore, caducity = caducità, sally = sortita (as guessable from Katya's def up there), and then just to show we can use Germanic words, frass = escrementi (a verrry fancy word for excrement. Also didn't realize at first. Ha.)
Re: Word of the Day
Sockdolager
something that settles a matter; a decisive blow or answer
Apparently, it was one of the last words Abraham Lincoln heard before he was shot:
something that settles a matter; a decisive blow or answer
Apparently, it was one of the last words Abraham Lincoln heard before he was shot:
Our attack from the sally port will be the sockdolager that will finish this battle.In Tom Taylor’s play Our American Cousin, there occurs the line “Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, you sockdologising old man-trap”, and as the audience laughed, John Wilkes Booth fired the fatal shot.
Re: Word of the Day
Probity: the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Discovered in Harry Potter -- "Probity Probes" are used to detect magical concealment.
The discovery of his tax evasion was the sockdolager against his probity.
Discovered in Harry Potter -- "Probity Probes" are used to detect magical concealment.
The discovery of his tax evasion was the sockdolager against his probity.
Re: Word of the Day
fissiparous
Tending to break into parts.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin fissi- (cleft) + -parous (bearing, producing).
Despite John's exemplary probity, his fissiparous financial situation prevented him from making the rent on time.
Tending to break into parts.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin fissi- (cleft) + -parous (bearing, producing).
Despite John's exemplary probity, his fissiparous financial situation prevented him from making the rent on time.
Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
Re: Word of the Day
bugbear - a cause of obsessive fear, irritation, or loathing; archaic, an imaginary being invoked to frighten children, typically a sort of hobgoblin supposed to devour them
The bugbear's fissiparous nature—it could break into parts, each of which would chase a different child—made it even more terrifying.
The bugbear's fissiparous nature—it could break into parts, each of which would chase a different child—made it even more terrifying.
Re: Word of the Day
Demisexual: a person that is only sexually attracted to someone they have formed a deep emotional relationship with
The demisexual was in love with someone who she used to consider a bugbear until she got to know him better.
The demisexual was in love with someone who she used to consider a bugbear until she got to know him better.
"If you don't put enough commas in, you won't know where to breathe and will die of asphyxiation"
--Jasper Fforde
--Jasper Fforde
Re: Word of the Day
yonic
In the shape of a vulva or a vagina
(someone mentioned this as the opposite of 'phallic' -- perhaps it is.)
Demisexuals don't seek out pornography of either a phallic or yonic nature.
In the shape of a vulva or a vagina
(someone mentioned this as the opposite of 'phallic' -- perhaps it is.)
Demisexuals don't seek out pornography of either a phallic or yonic nature.
Re: Word of the Day
Yarjka, you killed the word of the day because no one else wants to use the word "yonic"!
groyne - a low wall or sturdy timber barrier built out into the sea from a beach to check erosion and drifting
The groyne was not yonic. (Also, no pun intended.)
groyne - a low wall or sturdy timber barrier built out into the sea from a beach to check erosion and drifting
The groyne was not yonic. (Also, no pun intended.)
Re: Word of the Day
Katya wrote:(Also, no pun intended.)
Good madam, I call foul. That pun is sublime.
Re: Word of the Day
bird colonel - A full colonel (as opposed to a lieutenant colonel), so called because of the eagle on their insignia
Source - An episode of M*A*S*H
The bird colonel inspected the groyne.
Source - An episode of M*A*S*H
The bird colonel inspected the groyne.
Re: Word of the Day
tortuous - full of twists and turns; excessively lengthy and complex
torturous - characterized by, involving, or causing excruciating pain or suffering
Source: Portia using the latter, causing me to realize they are different words. (I thought "tortuous" covered both meanings.)
The bird colonel led his unit through the tortuous mountain pass.
torturous - characterized by, involving, or causing excruciating pain or suffering
Source: Portia using the latter, causing me to realize they are different words. (I thought "tortuous" covered both meanings.)
The bird colonel led his unit through the tortuous mountain pass.
Re: Word of the Day
rhodomontade, rodomontade - Vain boasting; a rant; pretentious behaviour
Source: The preface of the 1975 Folio Society edition of Northanger Abbey.
I soon tired of his tortuous and torturous rhodomontade.
Source: The preface of the 1975 Folio Society edition of Northanger Abbey.
I soon tired of his tortuous and torturous rhodomontade.