GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by voralfred »

Algot Runeman wrote:specie

/ˈspiːʃiː//ˈspiːʃi/
noun
mass noun
Money in the form of coins rather than notes.

Origin
Mid 16th century: from Latin, ablative of species ‘form, kind’, in the phrase in specie ‘in the actual form’.

==========

It is wise to note that the value of all money, whether digital bits, notes of rag paper or specie, is an agreement we make with one another. I could choose to deliver your salary in urns of salt, as was once apparently done.

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We already talked about coffee, but let us keep talking about hot drinks.
If you were Aztec, your salary (or, rather, your chocolatary) might be payed in cocoa beans instead of urns of salt...
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

bascule
(also bascule bridge)

/ˈbaskjuːl/
noun
1 A type of bridge with a section which can be raised and lowered using counterweights.
1.1 A movable section of road forming part of a bascule bridge.

Origin
Late 19th century: earlier denoting a lever apparatus of which one end is raised while the other is lowered, from French (earlier bacule), ‘see-saw’, from battre ‘to bump’ + cul ‘buttocks’.

==========

Bob pedaled along on his bicycle until he reached the bascule bridge. He crossed the slippery span, in its down position, on foot, pushing the bike, Then he continued rolling on home.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

fingerling

/ˈfɪŋɡəlɪŋ/
noun
1 A salmon parr.
2 US A variety of potato having a pink, yellow, blue, or light tan skin and flesh.

Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense ‘finger of a glove’): from finger + -ling.

==========

There's a palindrome-like life cycle for salmon: egg, fry, parr (fingerling), a trip to the ocean and back to a particular stream, where it's caught and fried for breakfast with some eggs. For the complete cycle, the fish bust barely avoid being eaten by a bear.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by E Pericoloso Sporgersi »

Algot Runeman wrote:fingerling
In Dutch, German and Flemish, fingerlings are called finger condoms, for an obvious reason.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

E.P.S.,

And the flower image at the center of the box cover seems a little more than vaguely indicative of the primary purpose of the "fingerlinges"!
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

alpinist

/ˈalpɪnɪst/
noun
A climber of high mountains, especially in the Alps.

==========

I wonder, was Sir Edmund Hillary an alpinist before he challenged Everest?

[Wikipedia does not mention the Alps among the mountains Hillary climbed.]

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by voralfred »

E Pericoloso Sporgersi wrote:
Algot Runeman wrote:fingerling
In Dutch, German and Flemish, fingerlings are called finger condoms, for an obvious reason.

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My german is not so good.

Does the writing on the box mean that these finger condoms are for people over 80, implying that people under 80 are still supposed to use another type of condoms ?
Spoiler: show
Of course I understand german well enough, the company Sander has been in the skin protection business for over 80 years, but I just could not resist.
Algot Runeman wrote:alpinist

/ˈalpɪnɪst/
noun
A climber of high mountains, especially in the Alps.

==========

I wonder, was Sir Edmund Hillary an alpinist before he challenged Everest?

[Wikipedia does not mention the Alps among the mountains Hillary climbed.]

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Well, I don't know whether the word himalayist exists, but on seeing the movie "Serial (Bad) Weddings 2" I learned that there is some notions called pyrénéisme in french, (probably "pyreneism" in english, but there is no Wiki page) that involves both mountain climbing, but in the Pyrénées rather than the alps, and writing about it.

Maybe if one can find something about that english word outside wikipedai, pyreneism could be a top-class WOTD next time ODO offers a repeated one ?
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

voralfred:

I was particularly taken with the Pyrénéisme « des hommes pour qui les Pyrénées signifient exclusivement casino ou grande douche. » which I believe translates roughly into "those for whom the Pyrenees mean only casinos or mineral bath spas." That's a far cry from the athletic sense of alpininism and fabled Sir Edmund Hillary.
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

guillemet

/ˈɡiːmeɪ//ɡijmɛ/
noun
Each of a pair of punctuation marks (« ») used as quotation marks in French and other European languages.

Origin
French, of uncertain origin; probably derived from the male forename Guillaume or the surname Guillemet.

==========

William (AKA Guillaume) wrote fluently in English and French. He was impeccable in his use of quotation marks when writing English dialog and likewise took care to use guillemets for French.

"Hello, friend!"
«Bonjour, mon ami!»

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

corporeity

/ˌkɔːpəˈreɪɪti//ˌkɔːpəˈriːɪti/
noun
mass noun
rare
The quality of having a physical body or existence.

Origin
Early 17th century: from French corporéité or medieval Latin corporeitas, from Latin corporeus ‘composed of flesh’, from corpus, corpor- ‘body’.

==========

It would seem that hard-core video game enthusiasts crave an artificial existence, embedded deeply into their digital realms, taking little consideration for their actual corporeity.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

ironize
(British ironise)

/ˈʌɪr(ə)nʌɪz/
verb
[with object]
Use ironically.

==========

It is not uncommon for the WotD sentences to ironize something or other. On the contrary, it is rare that someone lionizes me for the work.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by voralfred »

Algot Runeman wrote:ironize
(British ironise)

/ˈʌɪr(ə)nʌɪz/
verb
[with object]
Use ironically.

==========

It is not uncommon for the WotD sentences to ironize something or other. On the contrary, it is rare that someone lionizes me for the work.
I beg to differ. Calling you a proet was meant to lionize you for your numerous and remarkable efforts at proetry.

In a totally different direction, when I saw the WOTD ironize, I first thought that was something done to clothes to give them a neat appearance. I had to read the definition to realize my mistake....
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

voralfred,

You are, indeed, a rare individual!

(No ironizing occurring here.)

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

steamed

/stiːmd/
adjective

1 British informal predicative
Extremely drunk.

2 North American informal predicative
Angry; upset.

3 (of food) cooked by steaming.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day? Don't get steamed, especially if you have to work tomorrow. Also, don't be steamed if you have to work!

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by voralfred »

Steamed : one more word that I would have thought was associated with clothes, as your drawing anticipated.
I can imagine the small holes under the sole of this irish ironing iron.
Last edited by voralfred on Mon Mar 18, 2019 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

voralfred wrote:One more word that I would have thought was associated with clothes, as your drawing anticipated. I can imagine the small holes under the sole of this irish ironing iron.
It is in no way ironic that I did not draw a single hole in the sole. I was not up to doing a rotation to the right which would have shown the holes you've imagined. I'm steamed that my drawing talents generally don't reach that far.

As I'm thinking about it, I could have done a simple right had rotation pretty easily:

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The question may remain: "Is that the same draught of beer from this morning, or how many refills later?"

Feedback is fabulous.
Suggestions are superb.
Reactions are reasoned.
Comments are crucial.
Rhyming is not required.
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by voralfred »

Algot Runeman wrote: (...)
Image

The question may remain: "Is that the same draught of beer from this morning, or how many refills later?"

(...)
Let us consider the possibilities:

- if the owner of the mug is not of irish descent, it would be reasonable to be on one's first draught of beer at 3PM

- if the owner of the mug is of irish descent, it would be unthinkable to be on one's first draught of beer at 3PM on St Patrick's day, especially a year it falls on a sunday

- but what if the owner of the mug is an oenophile of irish descent, after 1930 : would he be considered a traitor if he chose to celebrate St Patrick's day with wine instead of beer ?


I have assumed the owner of the mug is on the forum's time. He (or she) could have been in a different time zone, of course...
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

simpering

/ˈsɪmpərɪŋ/
adjective

Affectedly coy or ingratiating.

==========

Sir, desist! I am neither a queen nor your girlfriend. Get off your knees and stop your inane simpering.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

taurine

/ˈtɔːriːn/
noun
mass noun
Biochemistry
An amino acid containing sulphur and important in the metabolism of fats.
Chemical formula: NH₂CH₂CH₂SO₃H

Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek tauros ‘bull’ (because it was originally obtained from ox bile) + -ine.

taurine2

/ˈtɔːrʌɪn/
adjective
1 Of or like a bull.
1.1 Relating to bullfighting.

Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin taurinus, from taurus ‘bull’.

==========

It tore us apart to realize we lost a full tureen of taurine from the lab.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by E Pericoloso Sporgersi »

Algot Runeman wrote:taurine...
It tore us apart to realize we lost a full tureen of taurine from the lab.
Go to Spain. There they have loads and lots of taurine Osborne silhouettes on hilltops and in liquor stores.
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

infernal

/ɪnˈfəːn(ə)l/
adjective
1 Relating to or characteristic of hell or the underworld.
2 informal attributive Irritating and tiresome (used for emphasis)

Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, from Christian Latin infernalis, from Latin infernus ‘below, underground’, used by Christians to mean ‘hell’, on the pattern of inferni (masculine plural) ‘the shades’ and inferna (neuter plural) ‘the lower regions’.

==========

That region called infernal
Elicits a sense of nocturnal.
Though, if you there retire,
It's thought you'll find just fire.

With that scene in your mind
I wonder why, in matching kind,
It's opposite, empyrean aerie,
Is also described as fiery.

[There's good news and bad news to be had here; WotD has traditionally had high standards. Words like empyrean have been used before (twice for that specific heavenly word, both by our early provider/arbiter, once in December 2004 and again on this very date, March 20, 2007). In the same historical perspective, up to this marvelous day, infernal has only appeared in a supporting role. The obvious conclusion: Today's word selector is leading the forum topic straight to hell!]

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

flexure

/ˈflɛkʃə/
noun
mass noun Anatomy Geology
technical
1 The action of bending or curving, or the condition of being bent or curved.
1.1 count noun A bent or curved part.

Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin flexura, from flectere ‘to bend’.

==========

The mountain range displayed a strange flexure
As if the bedrock below had very odd texture.
The view from overhead like an oxbow
As if it were a river down below.


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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by voralfred »

This mountain range, in our sublunary (hey ! a nice word next time ODO gives us a duplicate), but (not yet) quite infernal world seems to have the same flexure as that of the angel's wings in empyrean.
But they differ as far as corporeity is concerned.
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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

gunky

/ˈɡʌŋki/
adjective
informal
Unpleasantly sticky or messy.

==========

Avoid overdoing your minor wound treatment. In order of gunkiness, Aquaphor™ is least gunky, Petroleum jelly (Vaseline™) somewhere toward the middle and perhaps Cosmoline™ the most, and Cosmoline is NOT for skin application.

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Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

Post by Algot Runeman »

rheum

/ruːm/
noun
mass noun literary
A watery fluid that collects in or drips from the nose or eyes.

Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French reume, via Latin from Greek rheuma ‘stream’ (from rhein ‘to flow’).

==========

Keep your handkerchief handy. If you simply let the rheum drip, you will quickly clear the room.

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