GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

flounce

Pronunciation: /flouns/
verb
[no object]
1 Go or move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner: he stood up in a fury and flounced out
1.1 Move with exaggerated motions: she flounced around, playing the tart and flirting
noun
[in singular] Back to top
An exaggerated action, typically intended to express one’s annoyance or impatience: she left the room with a flounce

Origin
mid 16th century: perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian flunsa 'hurry', or perhaps symbolic, like bounce or pounce.

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Ulrich flounced around the room. Nobody cared.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

flounce

All her 16 years young life, she had arduously, almost desperately, been hoping to grow a-lot-of-folk-in-the-station.

Now that she had it, she not only flaunted it, she positively flaunced with it.

P.S.
a-lot-of-folk-in-the-station - translation of veel-volk-in-de-statie, Antwerpian slang meaning: a well endowed bosom.

[Algot Runeman]

tableau

Pronunciation: /ˌtaˈblō/
noun (plural tableaux /ˌtaˈblōz/)
A group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history; a tableau vivant.

Origin
late 17th century (in the sense 'picture', figuratively 'picturesque description'): from French, literally 'picture', diminutive of table (see table).

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The gruesome tableau spread before him. Dead littered the field. Not a single motion betrayed a living being. There was a single sheaf of wheat which had incongruously remained upright throughout the battle. The breeze made the nodding heads of grain slowly shake, as if in wonder and dismay.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

tableau

I could once again describe the tableau my grandma dearly loved to display for the delectation of grandpa.

But I shall not. I'm afraid it may be boring by now (except to grandpa). So no image either ...

[Algot Runeman]

megalopolis

Pronunciation: /ˌmegəˈläpələs/
noun
A very large, heavily populated city or urban complex.

Origin
mid 19th century: from megalo- 'great' + Greek polis 'city'.


Rambling Vegans and Marilyn M

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Compared to Lost Springs, Phillipsville was a megalopolis. In many ways, the people of Lost Springs also looked down on those in Phillipsville.

[Algot Runeman]

But I shall not. I'm afraid it may be boring by now (except to grandpa). So no image either ...

Grampas all over the world rejoice at the descriptions of your grandma's tableaux, and imagination often substitutes for lack of any actual images posted.

Never bored, no sir.

[Algot Runeman]

oodles

Pronunciation: /ˈo͞odlz/
noun
informal
A very great number or amount of something: if only I had oodles of cash

Origin
mid 19th century (originally US): of unknown origin.



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Unfortunately, having oodles of bills in certain currencies isn't worth much.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

oodles

My grandma often played a very private game of Strip Poker with grandpa.

And she cheated shamelessly, you know. She let grandpa win oodles of IOUs.

P.S.
Somewhere there must be oodles of photographs. I've been hunting for them, without success.
I guess they'll be *the* archeological treasure of the 23rd or so century ...

[Algot Runeman]

inimical

Pronunciation: /iˈnimikəl/
adjective
1 Tending to obstruct or harm: actions inimical to our interests
1.1 Unfriendly; hostile: an inimical alien power

Origin
early 16th century: from late Latin inimicalis, from Latin inimicus (see enemy).


Dave Fayram

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"Spy vs. Spy" epitomized antagonistic behavior. Though inimical, their relationship was also comical. I wonder if today, their meetings are scheduled with the ical calendar protocol. Will there ever be a musical based on their almost lyrical machinations?

[Is ODO being intentionally inimical to the broadening of our vocabulary. We used inimical very recently. Therefore, the challenge is to be as innovative or ingenious or inventive (not insulting nor insensitive) in the use of today's interminably iterative word.]

[Algot Runeman]

enchant

Pronunciation: /enˈCHant/
verb
[with object]
1 Fill (someone) with great delight; charm: Isabel was enchanted with the idea
1.1 Put (someone or something) under a spell: (as adjective enchanted) an enchanted garden

Origin
late Middle English (in the senses 'put under a spell' and 'delude'; formerly also as inchant): from French enchanter, from Latin incantare, from in- 'in' + cantare 'sing'.



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Strangely, the siren's song when sung by the police cruiser didn't attract or enchant. Most watched carefully from behind the edge of a shade or a lifted slat of the blinds.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

enchant

Grandma hated rain. It made her precious furs look seedy.

She often complained about the poor protection automobiles offered their passengers, especially when exposed to strong wind and horizontal rain.

When grandpa bought his 1923 Buick Sedan, grandma was quite enchanted and never again fretted about dishevelled arrivals at some fashionable event. She also always sat in the back, waited for grandpa to open the door and assist her in or out.

If some ignorant people thought him her private chauffeur, grandpa didn't mind. He gleefully observed the spectator's astonished stares when grandma gave him a quick kiss and possessively took his arm to be escorted to the venue.

Their car looked more or less like this one:

[Algot Runeman]

Now, there's a perfect example of an enchanting tale about your grandmother, E.P.S. She's a bright character in my mind even when you are not adding a new bit to the story.

If you were a car collector, I bet you would include that beauty and wish it were actually the one your grampa used to drive.

Thanks.

[Algot Runeman]

inkling

Pronunciation: /ˈiNGkliNG/
noun
A slight knowledge or suspicion; a hint: the records give us an inkling of how people saw the world

Origin
late Middle English (in the sense 'a mention in an undertone, a hint'): from the rare verb inkle 'utter in an undertone', of unknown origin.

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Sally had an inkling
Sue would do a rink thing.
She had no anticipation
The horse stuff was so stinking.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

inkling

The very first motor cars, aka automobiles, had no roof whatsoever. One can wonder why they had less passenger amenities than the horse drawn London cabs of the 19th century.
But the cars gradually evolved to feature an overhead canvas roof, but still without side windows, still an open cab, exposed to the weather's vagaries.

I guess that by 1923 the manufacturers must have got an inkling that my grandma was desperately pining for a fully enclosed cab.

Benz "Velo" model (1894) by German inventor Carl Benz

[Algot Runeman]

Sehnsucht

Pronunciation: /ˈzānˌzo͝oKHt/
noun
literary
Yearning; wistful longing.

Origin
German


Rakuten.com

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All the futbol (soccer) teams not in the round of 16 are enduring anguish or at least Sehnsucht.

[Algot Runeman]

ilk

Pronunciation: /ilk/
noun
[in singular]
1A type of people or things similar to those already referred to: the veiled suggestions that reporters of his ilk seem to be so good at there was music by Parry and Elgar and others of that ilk
1.1 (of that ilk) Scottish chiefly archaic Of the place or estate of the same name: Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk

Origin
Old English ilca 'same', of Germanic origin; related to alike.


Stefan Schlautmann

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People of her ilk
Exclusively wear silk.
Never polyester.
In winter, wool,
For undies, cotton.
Never nylon,
Friends would pile on.

[voralfred]

I thought that the ilk of the elk included the moose (élan vs orignal in french) but I found out that what you call an elk in the US is what we call a wapiti, of the same ilk as the (red) deer, which we just call cerf (sometimes : cerf élaphe). I didn't have an ilkling, sorry, an inkling....
This is how learning a WoTD can lead to a greater improvement of one's vocabulary.

[Algot Runeman]

ornery

Pronunciation: /ˈôrn(ə)rē/
adjective
North American informal
1 Bad-tempered and combative: some hogs are just mean and ornery
1.1 Stubborn: taking the singer’s ornery radicalism in a different direction

Origin
early 19th century: variant of ordinary, representing a dialect pronunciation.



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Alf's wife was ALWAYS ornery.
Alf always at pub at the corner, see?
She grimaced and frowned;
The scorn was real loud without even a sound.

Alf shrugged and slipped out.
He'd have just one stout.
Be back in a flash
With just a little less cash.

The a nap would be nice.
His second best vice.
The wife could pound sand.
Isn't life grand?

[Algot Runeman]

maestoso

Pronunciation: /mīˈstōsō, ˌmīe-, -ˈstōzō/
Music
adverb & adjective
(Especially as a direction) in a majestic manner.
noun (plural maestosos)
A movement or passage marked to be performed in a majestic manner.

Origin
Italian, 'majestic', based on Latin majestas 'majesty'.



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Is it even possible to play "Jingle Bells" maestoso?

That was the challenge for the student maestros. They strived and struggled as their instruments they juggled. The sound was rich, though not always on pitch.

[Algot Runeman]

germophobe

Pronunciation: /ˈjərməˌfōb/
(also germaphobe)
noun
A person with an extreme fear of germs and an obsession with cleanliness: I’m not a germophobe, but everyone knows that hotel remote controls are never cleaned and are probably filthy

Origin
late 19th century: from germ + -phobia.



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Sam had a love/hate relationship with the wipes he bought. He struggled because after the first swipe, he had to throw the wipe away. He couldn't be sure if the already-used side might fold over and touch his skin. He couldn't face the thought of a chicken salad sandwich. He was a card carrying germophobe. The index-stock card had been laminated, of course, and he made sure to wipe it down after showing it to anybody.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

germophobe

I think I'm a moderate germophobe.

I often eat toast. Since the slice(s) of bread I slip into the toaster is/are subjected to very intense heat (1,500.00 W) for several minutes, I'm convinced that any airborne spores or germs sticking to it/them are quite dead by the time the toast pops/toasts pop up.

As for hotel remotes, I never lick them.

No worries ...

[Algot Runeman]

As for hotel remotes, I never lick them.

It was always only a remote possibility.

How do you deal with the germ of an idea when it comes to you?
Do seeds creep you out because they germ-inate?

Keep smilin'.

--Algot

[Algot Runeman]

discomfit

Pronunciation: /disˈkəmfit/
verb (discomfits, discomfiting, discomfited)
[with object]
Make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed: he was not noticeably discomfited by her tone

Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'defeat in battle'): from Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire, based on Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + conficere 'put together' (see confection).



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The audience at Boston's Hatch Shell were discomfited when the lightning and thunder outdid the fireworks for the Fourth of July.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

discomfit

How do you deal with the germ of an idea when it comes to you?

If it is germane to the situation at hand, I welcome and develop it.

Do seeds creep you out because they germ-inate?

The whole seeds in coarse bread buns and baguettes are discomfiting when on the loo afterwards.
Those hard seeds don't digest, but they still need to creep out through a sensitive and reluctant anal sphincter.

[Algot Runeman]

ampersand

Pronunciation: /ˈampərˌsand/
noun
The sign & (standing for and, as in Smith & Co., or the Latin et, as in &c.


Photo Credit: Daniel Ramirez

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

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Make a choice. Use either the plus symbol or the ampersand, not both.