GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

What does an accomplice accomplish?

I often wonder, are you my accomplice, or am I yours?

[Algot Runeman]

(short) shrift

noun
1 barely adequate time for confession before execution
2a little or no attention or consideration
2b quick work - usually used in the phrase make short shrift of

-==0==-

Confession

My at-bats are always swift.
Of me, the pitchers make short shrift.
Because I lack any kind of hitting gift,
Every time at bat, three throws, three strikes, all whiffed.

[Algot Runeman]

discrete

adjective
dis·​crete di-ˈskrēt ˈdis-ˌ
1 constituting a separate entity : individually distinct
2a consisting of distinct or unconnected elements : noncontinuous
2b taking on or having a finite or countably infinite number of values

-==0==-

It is interesting, no matter how close they might seem, discrete is separated from and not the same as having discretion, good judgement.

[Algot Runeman]

excuse

verb
ex·​cuse ik-ˈskyüz imperatively often ˈskyüz
excused; excusing
transitive verb
1a to make apology for
1b to try to remove blame from
2 to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable
3a to grant exemption or release to
3b to allow to leave
4 to serve as excuse for : justify
noun
ex·​cuse ik-ˈskyüs
1 the act of excusing
2a something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused
2b excuses plural : an expression of regret for failure to do something
2c a note of explanation of an absence
3 justification, reason

-==0==-

Please excuse me. This is it. I have no further excuse.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

excuse

To find a reasonable excuse
I wracked my brain.
But it was all in vain,
He stuck the needle in a vein.

[Algot Runeman]

wangle

verb
wan·​gle ˈwaŋ-gəl
wangled; wangling ˈwaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ
intransitive verb
to resort to trickery or devious methods
transitive verb
1 to adjust or manipulate for personal or fraudulent ends
2 to make or get by devious means : finagle

-==0==-

Con artists wangle.
Good faith, they mangle.
They always have an angle
For the offers that they dangle.

[Algot Runeman]

doctrinaire

adjective
doc·​tri·​naire ˌdäk-trə-ˈner
stubbornly or excessively devoted to a doctrine or theory without regard to practical considerations
doctrinairism
ˌdäk-trə-ˈner-ˌi-zəm
noun
noun
one who attempts to put into effect an abstract doctrine or theory with little or no regard for practical difficulties

-==0==-

As a cost saving measure,
For the whole world's seating pleasure,
I plan to develop a two legged chair.
Now don't you fret; I'm no doctrinaire.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!"

[Algot Runeman]

rubric

noun
ru·​bric ˈrü-brik -ˌbrik
1a an authoritative rule
especially : a rule for conduct of a liturgical service
1b(1) name, title
specifically : the title of a statute
1b(2) something under which a thing is classed : category
1c an explanatory or introductory commentary : gloss
specifically : an editorial interpolation
2 a heading of a part of a book or manuscript done or underlined in a color (such as red) different from the rest
3 an established rule, tradition, or custom
4 a guide listing specific criteria for grading or scoring academic papers, projects, or tests

-==0==-

Five, Seven, Five: For All Seasons

There's a rubric for a haiku
Which tells exactly what to do.
It is simple in its form,
Making it easy to conform.
But simple as it seems,
There's scope to share our dreams.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

rubric

I used to be able to solve Rubric's cube without cheating.
But it's so long ago that now I've forgotten how.

[Algot Runeman]

adapt

verb
ə-ˈdapt a-
adapted; adapting; adapts
transitive verb
to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification
intransitive verb
to become adapted

-==0==-

In a changing world, one benefits from being adept at adapting by adopting different habits.

[Algot Runeman]

savant

noun
sa·​vant sa-ˈvänt sə-, -ˈväⁿ; sə-ˈvant, ˈsa-vənt
1 a person of learning
especially : one with detailed knowledge in some specialized field (as of science or literature)
2 a person affected with a developmental disorder (such as autism or intellectual disability) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music)
especially : autistic savant

-==0==-

As I do not qualify as a savant in any field, I will not try to explain the usefulness of this word.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

savant

There's little savantage in washing a savant, except for getting a clean savant.

[Algot Runeman]

hare

verb
hared; haring
intransitive verb
to go swiftly

-==0==-

In my daily chase
It's a hectic pace
New things keep snaring
And I go off haring.



(Routines are good, but only if you focus enough to do them.)

[Algot Runeman]

challah

noun
chal·​lah ˈḵä-lə ˈhä-
variants or less commonly challa or hallah
plural challoth or challot ˈḵä-ˌlōt -ˌlōth, -ˌlōs, ˈhä-
or challahs also challas ˈḵä-ləz ˈhä-
or halloth or hallot ˈḵä-ˌlōt -ˌlōth, -ˌlōs, ˈhä-
or hallahs ˈḵä-ləz ˈhä-
egg-rich yeast-leavened bread that is usually braided or twisted before baking and is traditionally eaten by Jews on the Sabbath and holidays

-==0==-

If hunger makes you your stomach feel hollah
Fill yourself up with a chunk of challah.
No need for a knife; just tear it instead.
That's why it is called "breaking bread".

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

challah

Who knows whether King T'Challa liked challah?

[Algot Runeman]

scrutinize

verb
scru·​ti·​nize ˈskrü-tə-ˌnīz
scrutinized; scrutinizing
transitive verb
to examine closely and minutely

-==0==-

Puzzles are designed so you need to carefully scrutinize the parts to figure out how they fit together (in some cases, it's how they come apart).

[Algot Runeman]

weal

ˈwēl
1 a sound, healthy, or prosperous state : well-being
2 obsolete : body politic, commonweal

-==0==-

Okay, friends, so here's the deal,
And for me it has great appeal.
We all want to achieve a weal
That we can approve with an official seal.

[Algot Runeman]

laden

adjective
lad·​en ˈlā-dᵊn
carrying a load or burden

-==0==-

Louise lifted the laden ladle,
Loading a bowl to put on the table.
It was the last
So she did it fast
To avoid letting it chill
And she still didn't spill.



[It was pleasing to see that ladle and laden were related words. It probably was something I had assumed in the very back of my mind, but it was good to get confirmation.]

[Algot Runeman]

flair

noun
ˈfler
1 a skill or instinctive ability to appreciate or make good use of something : talent
also : inclination, tendency
2 a uniquely attractive quality : style

-==0==-

Public Poet

Though I really have no flair
I'm still quite glad to share
Out here in a public square;
Not that you need to care.


[He's really holding that flare with some flair!]

[Algot Runeman]

trajectory

noun
tra·​jec·​to·​ry trə-ˈjek-t(ə-)rē
plural trajectories
1 the curve that a body (such as a planet or comet in its orbit or a rocket) describes in space
2 a path, progression, or line of development resembling a physical trajectory

-==0==-

Some see life as having a trajectory,
An arc from birth to an ultimate destiny.
But if we look closely, having enough nerve,
We notice life's path will twist and swerve.

[Algot Runeman]

besotted

adjective
be·​sot·​ted bi-ˈsä-təd bē-
1 blindly or utterly infatuated
2 intoxicated or stupefied especially with drink

-==0==-

The young lovers were besotted,
So quickly they got knotted.
And after they had long been married
Their deep affection serenely tarried.



{Two days of digging trenches in my personal web page code lead to two days of overlooking the WotD responsibility. I hope the slippage/skippage will be understood. I can hope it will not be a frequent oversight.}

[Algot Runeman]

gambit

noun
gam·​bit ˈgam-bət
1 a chess opening in which a player risks one or more pawns or a minor piece to gain an advantage in position
2a(1) a remark intended to start a conversation or make a telling point
2a(2) topic
2b a calculated move : stratagem

-==0==-

A word posted here each day
Gives us each a chance to play.
It's an opening sort of gambit,
But may take too much time, dammit!

[Algot Runeman]

high-flown

adjective
ˈhī-ˈflōn
1 exceedingly or excessively high or favorable
2 having an excessively embellished or inflated character : pretentious

After planning to share magniloquent
It should be expected I would repent,
As mavens of these words resent
When high-flown words we re-present.

So hark ye now as we devise
A similar word, to no surprise.
You still may want accuse me, see,
Of being highfalutin. Well, excuse me!

And if you wish to seem aghast,
Remember, I'm just having a blast
Filling up these posts quite fast
With lots of puffed up, arcane bombast.

[Algot Runeman]

impromptu

adjective
im·​promp·​tu im-ˈpräm(p)-(ˌ)tü -(ˌ)tyü
1 made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment : improvised
2 composed or uttered without previous preparation : extemporaneous
impromptu adverb
noun
1 something that is impromptu
2 a musical composition suggesting improvisation

-==0==-

Impromptu

If you think this rhyme is rough,
To you, it must seem off-the-cuff,
Completely filled with silly stuff,
Then, by now, you've had enough.

Doo, wah - doo, wah - doo, wah...

But, while it came out in a dash,
There's still a chance it'll make a splash,
And become a soaring, instant smash,
While making me a ton of cash!

Doo, wah - doo, wah - doo, wah...

There's nothing here but frippery.
My grasp on sense is slippery.
The final judgement's going to be
I've lost my grip, whoo-eee!



[Apologies to the eager WotD readers for the impromptu break for the recent days. Focus was elsewhere.]

[Algot Runeman]

cleave

verb (1)
ˈklēv cleaved ˈklēvd or clove ˈklōv also clave ˈklāv; cleaved; cleaving
intransitive verb
to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly

cleave verb (2)
cleaved ˈklēvd
also cleft ˈkleft or clove ˈklōv; cleaved also cleft or cloven ˈklō-vən; cleaving
transitive verb
1 to divide by or as if by a cutting blow : split
2 to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views
3 to subject to chemical cleavage
intransitive verb
1 to split especially along the grain
2 to penetrate or pass through something by or as if by cutting

Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleave

-==0==-

When, over time, words divide,
And have two meanings found inside,
They sure do feel broken,
And seem too often misspoken.

As a result, I grieve
When I hear them say "cleave".
It makes want to hurl,
As down the drain I swirl.

I don't know if they mean hold tight,
Or that I should run away in fright.
Should I, right beside them, sit,
Or decide it is time to split?