GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

ampersand
Origin
late 18th century: alteration of and per se and '& by itself is and', chanted as an aid to learning the sign.

I'd wager it is derived from Flemish.

In bygone days a thin dusting of fine white sand was sprinkled around the Louvain-type stove, and hawking salesmen with pushcarts travelled the streets, loudly yelling "Moet-er-geen-zand-zijn?" (No need of sand?).

If my greatgrandmama were still alive, she would unhesitatingly confirm it. (grandma's house had coal-fueled central heating and a gas range)

Flemish people with limited means had to use the expensive white sand very sparingly. Those people with very little sand in their kitchen had "amper zand" (barely sand) available, hence "ampersand" designated poor families.

This is an elaborate, more expensive type of Louvain stove:

Erm? ... Did it come off yet?

P.S.
"Amper" is also used in Suid Afrikaans, as in:
"Amperbroekie", meaning "barely there panties"

[Algot Runeman]

enunciate

Pronunciation: /iˈnənsēˌāt/
verb
[with object]
1 Say or pronounce clearly: she enunciated each word slowly
1.1 Express (a proposition or theory) in clear or definite terms: a written document enunciating this policy
1.2 Proclaim: a prophet enunciating the Lord’s wisdom

Origin
mid 16th century (as enunciation): from Latin enuntiat- 'announced clearly', from the verb enuntiare, from e- (variant of ex-) 'out' + nuntiare 'announce' (from nuntius 'messenger').

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Enunciate! Be clear. Don't slur. Yet, you must recognize that people will only remember if you actually said something worth hearing.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

enunciate

I have the feeling that a Papal Nuntius can enunciate whatever he or the Pope may want, most people, except the clergy, won't pay much attention any more.

It seems the FIFA has more authority in its particular domain, even without enunciating any spoken words.

[Algot Runeman]

miasma

Pronunciation: /mīˈazmə, mē-/
noun (plural miasmas or miasmata /-mətə/)
literary
1 A highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor: a miasma of stale alcohol hung around him like marsh gas
1.1 An oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds or emanates from something: a miasma of despair rose from the black workshops

Origin
mid 17th century: from Greek, literally 'defilement', from miainein 'pollute'.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I was surrounded, yes, immersed in a miasma of uncertainty as I tried to come up with a graphic to illustrate today's word. Then, there it was!

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

miasma
...
I was surrounded, yes, immersed in a miasma of uncertainty as I tried to come up with a graphic to illustrate today's word. Then, there it was!

How about a 'pretend' miasma?

[Algot Runeman]

heteroglossia

Pronunciation: /ˌhetərōˈgläsēə/
noun
The presence of two or more voices or expressed viewpoints in a text or other artistic work.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Heteroglossia is an interesting literary technique.
No it isn't.
Yes, it is.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Phooey!
Bah!

[Is this an artistic work? It is, at least, a text.]

[Algot Runeman]

punctum

Pronunciation: /ˈpəNGktəm/
noun (plural puncta /-tə/)
technical
1 A small, distinct point.
1.1 Anatomy The opening of a tear duct.

Origin
late 16th century (figuratively, denoting a point): from Latin, literally 'a point'.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

All told, the result of his work was a punctum, but one of singular significance.

[Algot Runeman]

erroneous

Pronunciation: /iˈrōnēəs/
adjective
Wrong; incorrect: employers sometimes make erroneous assumptions

Origin
late Middle English: from Latin erroneus (from erro(n-) 'vagabond', from errare 'to stray, err') + -ous.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The erroneous prediction of a home team World Cup crumpled after the 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinal match on Tuesday.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

erroneous

Ever since Don Quixote, the founder of the Order of the Knights Errant, these philanthropic activists have been notorious for pursuing erroneous endeavours and redressing wrongfully perceived ... erm, wrongs.

[Algot Runeman]

conspicuous

Pronunciation: /kənˈspikyo͞oəs/
adjective
1 Standing out so as to be clearly visible: he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam’s apple
1.1 Attracting notice or attention: he showed conspicuous bravery

Origin
mid 16th century: from Latin conspicuus (from conspicere 'look at attentively', from con- (expressing intensive force) + spicere 'look at') + -ous.


Rob Nguyen

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It is amazing that in spite of being big, red, covered with flashing lights, people seem surprised when the fire truck roars up behind them. Being conspicuous in every way is apparently not enough for a fire truck to take attention away from texting while driving. It is neat to see the semi-conscious driver jump when the air horn blasts, though.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

conspicuous

I've been very conspicuously rescuing lots of maidens in distress on the internet.

But not a single one has ever rewarded me.

It's heartbreaking.

[Algot Runeman]

grammarian

Pronunciation: /grəˈme(ə)rēən/
noun
A person who studies and writes about grammar.

Origin
Middle English: from Old French gramarien, from gramaire (see grammar).

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Take care when you are marryin'
In case she's a grammarian.
Mean "I shall" and "I will" when you say "I do."
Then anything she asks, be sure you follow through.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

grammarian

Some grammarians are so overzealous they behave more like grammaniacs than lingo-purists.

[Algot Runeman]

wiseacre

Pronunciation: /ˈwīzˌākər/
noun
A person with an affectation of wisdom or knowledge, regarded with scorn or irritation by others; a know-it-all.

Origin
late 16th century: from Middle Dutch wijsseggher 'soothsayer', probably from the Germanic bases of wit2 and say. The assimilation to acre remains unexplained.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I'm a wiseacre from the United States. I admit it.
Now, If I were from Europe, I'd be much different. I'd be a wisehectare.

[Algot Runeman]

middlescent

Pronunciation: /ˌmidlˈesənt /
adjective
1 Middle-aged, but typically still maintaining the interests and activities of younger people.

Origin
1960s: blend of middle + adolescent.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I was never a middlescent person. I'm just an 18-year-old who is dressed up in the skin of a 68-year-old. Wicked awesome, right?

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

middlescent

I use a diverse assortment:
a tonic for my hair,
an aftershave for my jaw,
an eau de toilette for my chest,
a deodorant for my armpits,
an alum & lavender powder for my feet,
and last but not least, a middlescent for my navel.

[Algot Runeman]

and last but not least, a middlescent for my navel.

Puns know no age restrictions!

[Algot Runeman]

mogul [definition 1]

Pronunciation: /ˈmōgəl /
noun
1 informal An important or powerful person, especially in the motion picture or media industry.

2 (Mogul) A steam locomotive with three pairs of driving wheels and one pair of smaller wheels in the front.

Origin
late 17th century: figurative use of Mogul.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mark wanted to be a mogul.
But he had no show pull.
His movies were weak
No script, so to speak.

He kept at his trade.
Improved what he made
But nothing got better
'Till the academy's letter.

He had been selected
To have work protected
From copyright infringers
With tools from digital ninjas.

The trouble with that,
Fewer people sat
To endure his stuff
Yeah, life is sure tough.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

mogul

The sexy starlet was a delight to watch and she wasn't fazed at all.

She took the successive moguls one by one as they came at her.

She mercilessly eliminated all female competition and landed the prize.

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

nibs

Pronunciation: /nibz /
noun
(his nibs) informal
A mock title used to refer to a self-important man, especially one in authority.

Origin
early 19th century: of unknown origin; compare with earlier nabs, used similarly with a possessive adjective as in his nabs, on the pattern of references to the aristocracy such as his lordship.


mpclemens

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The aristocrat wasn't happy. He felt the praise was just his right. He didn't feel he needed to fight to be called "His Lordship" and not "His Nibs."

[Well, yes, "nibs" has more than one definition.]

[Algot Runeman]

prescind

Pronunciation: /priˈsind /
verb
[no object] (prescind from) formal
1 Leave out of consideration: we have prescinded from many vexing issues
1.1 [with object] Cut off or separate from something: his is an idea entirely prescinded from all of the others

Origin
mid 17th century (in the sense 'cut off abruptly or prematurely'): from Latin praescindere, from prae 'before' + scindere 'to cut'.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Before the sticky issues could come up, the board precinded consideration of environmental issues. They agreed to make decisions on the basis of finance, only.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

prescind

When his wife announced she wanted to go buy a couple of trout for lunch, Algot prescinded that idea.

Trout fishing season is in full swing, you know, and at 06:00 am he was out the door.

[Algot Runeman]

suffuse

Pronunciation: /səˈfyo͞oz /
verb
[with object]
Gradually spread through or over: her cheeks were suffused with color the first half of the poem is suffused with idealism

Origin
late 16th century: from Latin suffus- 'poured into', from sub- 'below, from below' + fundere 'pour'.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Spread the word."
Was what I heard.
Tell and show
Let people know.
And it will grow.

I know what's best,
(In total jest),
And I refuse
To to talk to youse
About the word suffuse.

I'll just hold back
And give no slack.
(I laugh with glee).
Nobody will see
A thing from me.

Come tomorrow.
There'll be sorrow.
Language blurred.
None has heard.
Not a single word.

You scream and shout
And call me a lout.
"Words you must spread
Lest language be dead!"
(Enough said).

And so I relent
Suffuse is sent.
Or say, "It's posted."
On a server, it's hosted.
My plan has been toasted.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

suffuse

HEATWAVE!

It's official: we have another tropical day in our weather statistics. The temperature has amply topped 30 C (86 F) in a large part of Western Europe.

Wherever there's no airco, Belgians, Germans, French and English are suffused with perspiration.

It's annoying.

Even though I'm not wearing trousers and I covered my leather desk chair with a soft bath towel, every time I stand up to get an iced tea refill my thin cotton briefs stick in my crack.

I tried it without briefs, but then the towel sticks.

[Algot Runeman]

No. I refuse to let imagery from that last post suffuse throughout my brain. I shall wall it off in the "Eeew!" corner of the cranium.