The Internet Book Database of Fiction

Algot Runeman wrote: ↑Sat Nov 19, 2022 3:36 pm pell-mell

The soccer fans ran pell-mell (pêle mêle in French) to the only stand selling regular alcoholic beer, in Qatar quite illegally of course.

P.S. It does NOT in any way refer to Pelé, the legendary Brasilian soccer player.

scruple

noun
scru·​ple ˈskrü-pəl 
1 a unit of capacity equal to ¹/₂₄ Apothecaries' ounce
2 a minute part or quantity : iota
3 an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action
4 the quality or state of being scrupulous
5 mental reservation
verb
scrupled; scrupling ˈskrü-p(ə-)liŋ 
intransitive verb
1 to have scruples
2 to show reluctance on grounds of conscience : hesitate

-==0==-

Weighty Considerations

Kandor has few scruples, I'm told.
It is not, per se, that he is old.
It's just that most of his brains
Have escaped and gone down drains.



[Yes, yes, I know, the size of the standard weight on the left balance platform is *way* too large, but I wanted the label to be semi-legible.]

contempt

noun
con·​tempt kən-ˈtem(p)t 
1a the act of despising : the state of mind of one who despises : disdain
1b lack of respect or reverence for something
2 the state of being despised
3 willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body

-==0==-

We might wish to be exempt
From a landlord's harsh contempt
When it comes to money spent
Which should be saved to pay the rent.

precise

adjective
pre·​cise pri-ˈsīs 
1 exactly or sharply defined or stated
2 minutely exact
3 strictly conforming to a pattern, standard, or convention
4 distinguished from every other
preciseness noun

-==0==-

When you make a big decision,
One which can cause popular division,
I hope you will take this advice,
Be sure your measurements are precise.

Algot Runeman wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:16 am precise
When you make a big decision,
One which can cause popular division,
I hope you will take this advice,
Be sure your measurements are precise.

Précisément!

smooth

adjective
ˈsmüt͟h 
1a(1) having a continuous even surface
1a(2) of a curve : being the representation of a function with a continuous first derivative
1a(3) having or being a short even coat of hair
1b being without hair
1c glabrous
1d causing no resistance to sliding
2 free from difficulties or impediments
3 even and uninterrupted in flow or flight
4 excessively and often artfully suave : ingratiating
5a serene, equable
5b amiable, courteous
6a not sharp or harsh
6b free from lumps

-==0==-

"Not Smooth"

Our path might have many bumps.
Life is not apt to be free of lumps.
But that does not give us license
To constantly prove we are grumps.

restore

verb
re·​store ri-ˈstȯr 
restored; restoring
transitive verb
1 give back, return
2 to put or bring back into existence or use
3 to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : renew
4 to put again in possession of something

Normal word posting will be restored in the near future.

sustain

verb
sus·​tain sə-ˈstān 
sustained; sustaining; sustains
transitive verb
1 to give support or relief to
2 to supply with sustenance : nourish
3 keep up, prolong
4 to support the weight of : prop
also : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
5 to buoy up
6a to bear up under
6b suffer, undergo
7a to support as true, legal, or just
7b to allow or admit as valid
8 to support by adequate proof : confirm
noun
a musical effect that prolongs a note's resonance

-==0==-

By holding a note until they turn blue
Is something songsters will often do
Accolades they hope they will gain
By their prodigious use of sustain.



Music image: on a music notation staff, four notes descending in pitch, the first three are half notes. The fourth is a whole note, but above it is a "fermata" mark which indicates holding the last note longer than usual (at the discretion of the performer).

Illustrates the concept of a "sustain".

redundant

adjective
re·​dun·​dant ri-ˈdən-dənt 
1a exceeding what is necessary or normal : superfluous
1b characterized by or containing an excess
specifically : using more words than necessary
1c characterized by similarity or repetition
1d chiefly British : no longer needed for a job and hence laid off
2 profuse, lavish
3 serving as a duplicate for preventing failure of an entire system (such as a spacecraft) upon failure of a single component

In some cases, in particular situations, once in a while, Bob's writing is redundant.



In poker, Bob is always eager for specific redundancies.

comfort

noun
1 strengthening aid:
a assistance, support
b consolation in time of trouble or worry : solace
2a a feeling of relief or encouragement
2b contented well-being
3 a satisfying or enjoyable experience
4 one that gives or brings comfort

-==0==-

Most of us spend each day within our comfort zones.

Algot Runeman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 8:40 am comfort

In the movie "Wire Room" Bruce Willis stars as a federal agent handling telecommunications.

With the security surrounding the com building, his "wire room" is a kind of com fort.

motley

adjective
mot·​ley ˈmät-lē 
1 variegated in color
2 made up of many different people or things
noun
1 a woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries
2 a garment made of motley
especially : the characteristic dress of the professional fool
3 jester, fool
4 a mixture especially of incongruous elements

-==0==-

Bob bought a new label maker. He's marked each of his tool cabinet drawers with its contents: sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. And, because he loves weird words, that messy junk drawer is labeled "motley".

quiddity

noun
quid·​di·​ty ˈkwi-də-tē 
plural quiddities
1 whatever makes something the type that it is : essence
2a a trifling point : quibble
2b crotchet, eccentricity

-==0==-

Mona Lisa's smile is the quiddity about which most viewers remark when seeing the portrait.



["Irreverent" has been a tag word associated with WotD more than once. Today's image strengthens the connection.]

migrate

verb
mi·​grate ˈmī-ˌgrāt 
mī-ˈgrāt 
migrated; migrating; migrates
1 intransitive : to move from one country, place, or locality to another
2 intransitive : to pass usually periodically from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding
3 transitive : to relocate (information) from storage or operation on one computer or computer system to another
4 intransitive : to change position or location in an organism or substance

-==0==-

Some migrations are planned, others just happen.

roam

verb
ˈrōm 
roamed; roaming; roams
intransitive verb
1 to go from place to place without purpose or direction : wander
2 to travel purposefully unhindered through a wide area
3 to use a cellular phone outside one's local calling area
transitive verb
to range or wander over

-==0==-

If you seek a longer gloaming,
You cannot just go roaming.
Such a goal requires speed,
Really, really fast, indeed.
And if you know what's best
Head straight, and always toward the west.

Algot Runeman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 02, 2022 2:40 pm roam
...
If you seek a longer gloaming,
You cannot just go roaming.
Such a goal requires speed,
Really, really fast, indeed.
And if you know what's best
Head straight, and always toward the west.

That's a very verbose way to promote roaming.

It used to be just:

"Go West, young person!"

perceive

verb
per·​ceive pər-ˈsēv 
perceived; perceiving; perceives
transitive verb
1a to attain awareness or understanding of
b to regard as being such
2 to become aware of through the senses

-==0==-

Things beyond what we can perceive
Are things requiring that we retrieve
The evidence from instrumentation,
Not believing mere fervent protestation.

Science extends our physical senses
Seeking to grasp what merely presents as
Seemingly magical actions,
Though not ones described by dogmatic factions.

Our thanks go to Röntgen
And his time spent way back then
'Cause, today, most people praise
What can be "seen" using X-rays

Today we may search for quarks
As we once deeply studied sparks.
Neither of them is easily explained
Though our sparked fingers may have been pained.

While science discussions are often quite muddy
It is thankfully rare that they become bloody.
While it's often too easy to come to lethal grief
By rabidly following simple, unexamined belief.

deflate

verb
de·​flate di-ˈflāt 
ˌdē- 
deflated; deflating
transitive verb
1 to release air or gas from
2 to reduce in size, importance, or effectiveness
3 to reduce (a price level) or cause (a volume of credit) to contract
intransitive verb
to lose firmness through or as if through the escape of contained gas

-==0==-

There are some things I would change.
That my life could rearrange.
Would it not be great
If a tire did not deflate?

Algot Runeman wrote: ↑Sun Dec 04, 2022 10:38 am deflate

In software terms, deflate acquired the extra meaning:

4 to compress the contents of one or more files to make them smaller.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deflate

beckon

verb
beck·​on ˈbe-kᵊn 
beckoned; beckoning
intransitive verb
1 to summon or signal typically with a wave or nod
2 to appear inviting : attract
transitive verb
to beckon to

-==0==-

The king's wish or whim
Draws his henchmen to him,
But if the task is too grim
Happy volunteers are slim.

With a whistle or wave
He might summon the brave,
But beckoning's not enough
For those not so tough.

valid

adjective
val·​id ˈva-ləd 
1 having legal efficacy or force
especially : executed with the proper legal authority and formalities
2a well-grounded or justifiable : being at once relevant and meaningful
2b logically correct
3 appropriate to the end in view : effective
4 of a taxon : conforming to accepted principles of sound biological classification

-==0==-

Seeking a valid rhyme
Often takes some time
And it can make an author tense
Working also to make some sense.



(This rhyme has been self-approved by its own author, and may not be valid for you.

tearful

adjective
tear·​ful ˈtir-fəl 
1 flowing with or accompanied by tears
2 causing tears : teary

-==0==-

Following the beat of a different drummer
Does not require that one become glummer.
Likewise, failing to be always cheerful
Does not require one winds up tearful.



For what it's worth, Merriam-Webster offered lachrymose for us today.

vandalize

verb
van·​dal·​ize ˈvan-də-ˌlīz 
vandalized; vandalizing
transitive verb
to subject to vandalism : damage

-==0==-

It should come as no surprise
That I am here to advise
That it really isn't wise
To decide it's time to vandalize.

tongs

noun
ˈtäŋz,ˈtȯŋz
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
any of numerous grasping devices consisting commonly of two pieces joined at one end by a pivot or hinged like scissors

-==0==-

It is true that a hero longs
For a chance to right some wrongs.
But I've never before heard songs
Written about some kitchen tongs.

Ah, those tongs
Those handy grippy tongs.

(Second Verse)

Algot Runeman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 5:32 pm tongs

We might say not to touch it with 10 foot tongs instead of a pole ... ?

To not offend any Poles, you know.