GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

betray

Pronunciation /bɪˈtreɪ/
verb
[with object]
1 Expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy.
1.1 Treacherously reveal (information)
1.2 Be gravely disloyal to.
2 Unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.

Origin
Middle English from be-‘thoroughly’ + obsolete tray ‘betray’, from Old French trair, based on Latin tradere ‘hand over’.

=========

Charles betrayed his ignorance...as a general rule.

[voralfred]

paradigm

(...)

The paradigm of these daily words is clear. Show (more or less) side by side the serious and silly aspects of the target term.
Therefore, observe this pair of dimes.

The revelation you just made constitutes no menace to this thread, and thus is not a betrayal in sense 1, 1.1 nor 1.2.
Moreover it is intentional, and thus does not fit in sense 2 of betrayal either.

One can thus consider this revelation as a paradigm of non-betraying revelation.

[Algot Runeman]

taihoa

Pronunciation /ˈtʌɪhəʊə/
exclamation
informal New Zealand
A request or instruction to delay or be patient; hold on.
verb
[no object]informal New Zealand
Delay or postpone an action.

Origin
Mid 19th century Maori.

==========

"Taihoa! I'll be right with you."
My daughter says, "Hold on!" at least once a day. She's always in the middle of something when we call out to her. I'm going to teach her this word.

[voralfred]

Taihoa is a paradigmatic case of words that lead to paradoxes in the WOTD thread :

In one writes

Taihoa, I'll post a sentence using this word as soon as I have the time to think about a good one

this is self-contradictory. It is similar to the paradox of Figaro, who shaves all men in Sevilla who do not shave themselves, and only those. Who shaves Figaro ?

[Algot Runeman]

delegate

Pronunciation /ˈdɛlɪɡət/ /ˈdɛlɪɡeɪt/
noun
1 A person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference.
1.1 A member of a committee.
verb
[with object]
1 Entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself.
1.1 with object and infinitive Send or authorize (someone) to do something as a representative.

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin delegatus ‘sent on a commission’, from the verb delegare, from de- ‘down’ + legare ‘depute’.

==========

Do not delegate responsibility to me. Thanks!

[Algot Runeman]

rhinoceros

Pronunciation /rʌɪˈnɒs(ə)rəs/
noun rhinoceros, rhinoceroses
A large, heavily built plant-eating mammal with one or two horns on the nose and thick folded skin, native to Africa and southern Asia. All kinds have become endangered through hunting.
Family Rhinocerotidae: four genera and five species

Origin
Middle English via Latin from Greek rhinokerōs, from rhis, rhin- ‘nose’ + keras ‘horn’.

==========

Terry whispered to his wife that he preferred to stay at a safe distance from any rhinoceros.

"Why are you whispering?" she asked.

"I don't want that one to notice that we are here," he replied.

[Algot Runeman]

modest

Pronunciation /ˈmɒdɪst/
adjective
1 Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.
2 (of an amount, rate, or level) relatively moderate, limited, or small.
2.1 Not large, elaborate, or expensive.
3 Dressing or behaving so as to avoid impropriety or indecency, especially to avoid attracting sexual attention (typically used of a woman)
3.1 (of clothing) not revealing or emphasizing a person's body.

Origin
Mid 16th century from French modeste, from Latin modestus ‘keeping due measure’, related to modus ‘measure’.

==========

Their lifestyle was modest,
Doing with less than the best.
To them it was quite natural
Not done at another's behest.

[Algot Runeman]

vitriol

Pronunciation /ˈvɪtrɪəl/
noun
mass noun
1 Bitter criticism or malice.
2 archaic, literary Sulphuric acid.
2.1 In names of metallic sulphates, e.g. blue vitriol (copper sulphate) and green vitriol (ferrous sulphate).

Origin
Late Middle English (denoting the sulphate of various metals): from Old French, or from medieval Latin vitriolum, from Latin vitrum ‘glass’.

===========

Arguments full of vitriol between the brothers occasionally lead to physical confrontation.

[Algot Runeman]

aggrieved

Pronunciation /əˈɡriːvd/
adjective
Feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated.

Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘distressed’): past participle of aggrieve, from Old French agrever ‘make heavier’, based on Latin aggravare (see aggravate).

==========

Workers commonly use May first to highlight how they feel aggrieved by the capitalist system.

[Algot Runeman]

puncture

Pronunciation /ˈpʌŋ(k)tʃə/
noun
1 A small hole in a tyre resulting in an escape of air.
1.1 A small hole in something such as the skin, caused by a sharp object.
verb
[with object]
1 Make a puncture in (something)
1.1 no object Sustain a puncture.
2 Cause a sudden collapse of (mood or feeling)

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin punctura, from punct- ‘pricked’, from the verb pungere. The verb dates from the late 17th century.

==========

At this very juncture
I do not wish to puncture
The rising balloon of your plan,
Though it's clear I easily can.

Instead let me just suggest
That you think what might be best,
Not just what is expedient,
For your ultimate ingredient.

Consider your intended guests
Yes, they've come expecting zests
But they're still seeking your best cooking.
It's not 'cause you're good looking.

So please hold off from excess
Avoid a terrible mess.
Sidetrack that full wheelbarrow
Of blazing hot habanero.

[voralfred]

I am sure that even a modest amount of vitriol (sense 2) can puncture a rhinoceros's skin.
But the poor animal would be terribly aggrieved by such a cruel action and feel betrayed

[Algot Runeman]

scungy

Pronunciation /ˈskʌndʒi/
adjective - scungier, scungiest
informal Australian, New Zealand
Dirty and disagreeable.

==========

Dave was determined to remain scungy for what was left of the day. He'd showered twice, only to be called again to do another dirty job. He would not let it happen again. Joan was understandably perturbed. She had guests coming for dinner. That they were her snooty friends had nothing to do with his decision.



It may be that this word is related to the word grungy which is popular in US English.

http://ibdof.com/viewtopic.php?f=1793&t=1434&p=1898399&hilit=grungy#p1898399

[Algot Runeman]

diligence2
Pronunciation /ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ns/
noun
historical
A public stagecoach.

Origin
Late 17th century from French, shortened from carrosse de diligence ‘coach of speed’.

diligence1
Pronunciation /ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ns/
noun
mass noun
Careful and persistent work or effort.

Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘close attention, caution’): via Old French from Latin diligentia, from diligent- ‘assiduous’ (see diligent).

==========

Don stepped up into the bus with his backpack in front of him and found a seat right behind the driver. Don thought it was a hoot that the historical novel he had just been reading in the station had the main character riding in a diligence, something like the cross-state bus he, himself, was riding.



[The diligent among forum readers will perhaps appreciate the deft method attempted, by which this word avoids too close a graze of a previously used word.]

[voralfred]

diligence2
(...)

diligence1
(...)

==========


[The diligent among forum readers will perhaps appreciate the deft method attempted, by which this word avoids too close a graze of a previously used word.]

I don't want to sound scungy, (second half of the definition, grungy I am not), but it is fortunate that you diligently gave this explanation. Otherwise one might have supposed this inversion was caused by your being wonky at the time you posted...

[Algot Runeman]

greenhouse

Pronunciation /ˈɡriːnhaʊs/
noun
A glass building in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown.

==========

The most salient fact is that a greenhouse isn't itself green but houses green things inside.

[voralfred]

greenhouse

Pronunciation /ˈɡriːnhaʊs/
noun
A glass building in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown.

==========

The most salient fact is that a greenhouse isn't itself green but houses green things inside.

(...)

On the other hand, the most salient result of a runaway greenhouse effect might be the destruction of all vegetation on earth, and leaving it a yellowish-brown desolate planet, deprived of anything green...
Let's hope it won't get to that horrifying extremity !

[Algot Runeman]

perplex

Pronunciation /pəˈplɛks/
verb
[with object]
1 Make (someone) feel completely baffled.
1.1 dated Complicate or confuse (a matter)

Origin
Late 15th century (as the adjective perplexed): from the obsolete adjective perplex ‘bewildered’, from Latin perplexus ‘entangled’, based on plexus ‘interwoven’, from the verb plectere.

==========

Hank thoughtfully reflects,
And his doubts, quickly rejects,
Realizing a good way to perplex
Is to make his explanation complex.

[voralfred]

The principle of this thread is that Algot writes a sentence usinf the current WOTD, then delegates to the other palyers (anmely, E.P.S and me) the responsibility to writing a second one.
Quite often, I am perplexed by this task. But sometimes I find inspiration in Algot's sentence, or the illustration thereof.

[Algot Runeman]

barricade

Pronunciation /ˌbarɪˈkeɪd/
noun
An improvised barrier erected across a street or other thoroughfare to prevent or delay the movement of opposing forces.
verb
[with object]
1 Block or defend with a barricade.
1.1 Shut (someone) into a place by blocking all the entrances.

Origin
Late 16th century from French, from barrique ‘cask’, from Spanish barrica; related to barrel (barrels often being used to build barricades).

==========

Bob's attempt to build a barricade to block the repossession of his car was probably in vain.

[Algot Runeman]

combustion

Pronunciation /kəmˈbʌstʃ(ə)n/
noun
mass noun
1 The process of burning something.
1.1 Chemistry Rapid chemical combination of a substance with oxygen, involving the production of heat and light.

Origin
Late Middle English from late Latin combustio(n-), from Latin comburere ‘burn up’.

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Bob's ever-smouldering online dictionary frustration burst into flame after reading the definition for "combustive" which merely said, "See combustion."

[voralfred]

The people of Paris is well-known to resort to building barricades when its anger reaches the point of combustion. Victor Hugo vigourously described one such occasion in his Les Misérables.

[Algot Runeman]

domesticity

Pronunciation /ˌdɒmɛˈstɪsɪti/ /ˌdəʊmɛˈstɪsɪti/
noun
mass noun
Home or family life.

==========

We dream of happy, comfortable domesticity. Sometimes we get it.

[voralfred]

Whaow ! This is a real "faux-ami" in french.
"Domesticité" means the set of servants. In movies inspired by books by Jane Austen, for instance, one often sees the entire domesticité gathered in front of the countryside mansion for inspection when the Master returns after a stay in the city.

[Algot Runeman]

abjugate

Pronunciation /ˈabdʒʊɡeɪt/
verb
rare
To unyoke, uncouple; to free.

Origin
Mid 18th century; earliest use found in Nathan Bailey (d. 1742), lexicographer and schoolmaster. From classical Latin abiugāt-, past participial stem of abiugāre to separate, unyoke from ab- + iugāre.

==========

Ben was acknowledged a dumb ox, but he was abjugated after the prosecutor confirmed his alibi was rock solid, and the police had another guy in custody whose finger prints matched the bloody set found at the scene.

[Algot Runeman]

embus

Pronunciation /ɪmˈbʌs/ /ɛmˈbʌs/
verbembuses, embusing, embused, embussing, embussed
Military
Board or put on to a bus.

=========

Anthony embussed along with the rest of his company so they could return to base. Later he planned to emjeep to the barracks and embed so he could get a good sleep.



[I simply cannot be overly serious about this word.]