The Internet Book Database of Fiction

improbity

Pronunciation: /imˈprōbitē/

noun
formal
wickedness or dishonesty.

Origin:
late 16th century: from Latin improbitas, from improbus 'wicked', from in- 'not' + probus 'good'. Compare with probity

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Mark's improbity lead to many tragedies...for others. His success as a hedge fund manager kept him far above their level, however.

Algot Runeman wrote:improbity

The impish way grandma liked to wear a fur coat with nothing else underneath may have seemed an improbity to some.

But let me assure you that she did that only for grandpa's delight in the total privacy of their home. Except for a few of her close female friends and my mom, nobody else knew.

Pantagruelian

Pronunciation: /ˌpantəgro͞oˈelēən/

adjective
rare
enormous: a Pantagruelian banquet

Origin:
late 17th century: from Pantagruel (the name of an enormous giant in Rabelais's Gargantua and Pantagruel) + -ian


Annie Nguyen

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Stan was still hungry after the Lilliputian dinner shared with his petite wife. He ventured out to the convenience store where he satisfied himself with a Panagruelian selection of snack cakes and candy bars. He did remember to bring home the milk his dear spouse had sent him to get. She indulgently brushed the dark cake crumbs from his shirt as the put the milk into the fridge.

[ Do I hear Brobdingnagian footsteps? ]

Algot Runeman wrote:Pantagruelian...
[ Do I hear Brobdingnagian footsteps? ]

I think you're hearing Gargantuan snoring ...

E Pericoloso Sporgersi wrote:

Algot Runeman wrote:Pantagruelian...
[ Do I hear Brobdingnagian footsteps? ]

I think you're hearing Gargantuan snoring ...

Does this exchange produce a Rabelaisian laugh or the kind of thin and bitter smile that a swiftian Modest Proposal would bring?

Pantagruel, Gargantua and more.
"Fee-fi-fo-fum!" said Blunderbore.
"Mention of these tiny guys is such a bore."

"Though not so small as silly Jack.
Their bones do so easily crack.
After marrow's gone, I'll add them to my stack."

galligaskins

Pronunciation: /ˌgaliˈgaskinz/

noun
British historical
loose-fitting breeches, trousers, or gaiters.

Origin:
late 16th century: perhaps an alteration (influenced by galley and Gascon) of obsolete French gargesque, from Italian grechesca, feminine of grechesco 'Greek'


Photo credit: YB 518 Percent

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The only(?) thing I don't like about modern day galligaskins is the proclivity to wear them below the buttocks.

I shudder at the idea of a cartoon where Wally Gator would wear walligaskins below the buttocks...

annul

Pronunciation: /əˈnəl/

verb (annuls, annulling, annulled)
[with object]
declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result):the elections were annulled by the general amid renewed protests
declare (a marriage) to have had no legal existence:her first marriage was finally annulled by His Holiness

Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French anuller, from late Latin annullare, from ad- 'to' + nullum 'nothing'

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Ann Ulle didn't want to stay married. Right away she tried to get the union annuled. Fortunately the judge carefully read the Ulle log and was able to find the dull details that enabled his decision.

satisfice

Pronunciation: /ˈsatisˌfīs/

verb
accept an available option as satisfactory: it talks about telling you not to just satisfice but to always look for the best

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Max settled for an ordinary life. He satisficed to be satisfied. He was a happy man.

Algot Runeman wrote:satisfice

"Now, miss, does this bikini have enough sex appeal?"

"Y-y-yes, I think it'll suffice."

"Well then, go let it satisfice and multiply!" said the exhausted salesman.

E.P.S. wrote: "Well then, go let it satisfice and multiply!" said the exhausted salesman.

Who plans to do multiplication tables after buying a bikini?

danseuse

Pronunciation: /dänˈso͝oz, -ˈsœz/

noun
a female ballet dancer.

Origin:
early 19th century: French, literally 'female dancer'


Gerald Pereira

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Joe heard that the French academy determined that danseuse was the official word for female dancer because saying "ballerina" would glorify the Spanish. Politics are a big part of some languages.

Delectable Delia donned her dancing shoes.
Her heartfelt hope was to be a danseuse.
She spun and she twirled on the well-polished floor.
And slipped on her keester and slid out the door.

Algot Runeman wrote:danseuse

Algot Runeman wrote:...
She spun and she twirled on the well-polished floor.
And slipped on her keester and slid out the door.

A fresh masseur is not allowed to touch the bruised keesters of aspiring danseuses.

Only a masseuse may knead danseuses' and chanteuses' derrières.

Though Delia asked to go get "ma soeur".

BTW, leaning or sliding out the door is dangerous too ...

Algot Runeman wrote:

E.P.S. wrote: "Well then, go let it satisfice and multiply!" said the exhausted salesman.

Who plans to do multiplication tables after buying a bikini?

Well, I think EPS understands "multiply" in a biblical sense... and a bikini with enough sex-appeal certainly is relevant for that
My question to EPS is, what does "satisfice" has to do with the quote. Except for "be fruitful", the only variant I found was "increase in numbers", and none sounds as "satisfice".

psst

Pronunciation: /pst/

exclamation
used to attract someone’s attention surreptitiously:Psst! Want to know a secret?

Origin:
1920s: imitative


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"Psst!"

Do I have your attention?
Too bad. I actually have nothing to say.

[ My mother used to say, "Hay is for horses," when I called out, "Hey!" I wonder if she had wise thoughts about psst. Of course, either one is better than the kid on Family Guy.]

Algot Runeman wrote:psst

Psst, Algot!
Not that I'm nosy, but what have you been doing Sunday that you missed the WotD, hmm?
Been critisizing Obama's latest speech, have you? Just whisper it in my ear, I won't tell ...

ignominy

Pronunciation: /ˈignəˌminē, igˈnäminē/

noun
public shame or disgrace: the ignominy of being imprisoned

Origin:
mid 16th century: from French ignominie or Latin ignominia, from in- 'not' + a variant of nomen 'name'

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Oh the ignominy.
I am such a ninny.
I missed the word.
And now you've heard.
Today's a double win-ie.

absence

Noun
The state of being away from a place or person.
An occasion or period of being away from a place or person.


Stuart Chalmers
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Shall I blame the absence of Tuesday's word on the lack of email from Oxford Dictionaries Online? If so, I also note that I didn't get the email for Wednesday, either. Ho, hum. I guess you word lovers will need to be satisfied with the "random" words I choose on my own until the email issue gets fixed.

Are any of you celebrating May 1? What's your context? (spring, International Workers' Day, the May Pole, Beltane, Walpurgis Night, just because you like the whole number five expressed as a fraction 5/1) Fess up!

Psst, Algot !
I know my too frequents absences are an ignominy, but it is not so often that I am able to find an entry to satisfice your Gargantuan appetite for new words.

PS: Pantagruel left the job of providing an interesting word to his father. He is off with quite a few danseuses, an appointment he was loath to annul

Algot Runeman wrote:absence...
Shall I blame the absence of Tuesday's word on the lack of email from Oxford Dictionaries Online?
...
Are any of you celebrating May 1?

Well, Tuesday was a special day with Willem-Alexander's coronation. Absences were not condoned, so everybody was either there or confined to watching it live on TV. There was simply no time for any WotD and its lack remained unnoticed.

Today, May 1st, was also a special day.
The Flemish politically engaged had their annual Labour Day rallies and parades, while all other people enjoyed a balmy summery day or went for an elaborate Fusion lunch (at least I did).
The usually industrious Dutch had no holiday, but a recovery day, nursing a hangover from yesterday's festivities.

Psst, Voralfred, can I have the address of that danse troupe?

berceuse

\bair-SOOZ\
noun
1
: a musical composition usually in 6/8 time that resembles a lullaby
2
: lullaby


Peileppe

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6/8 time
A silly rhyme
A short berceuse
And. Now. I. Snooze.

Algot Runeman wrote: berceuse

Instead of a berceuse give me a danseuse, or, à la rigueur, a masseuse. That'll keep me quiet any day and all day.
Though it won't put me to sleep ...

E.P.S.

Berceuse, the Blues.
Danceuse, you choose.
There will no doubt
Be no Dr. Seuss.

No snooze, but shmooze?
Alone, together, you still choose.
Each of us will hum or sing,
And really love our joyful thing.