The Internet Book Database of Fiction

recuperate

/rəˈko͞opəˌrāt/ /rəˈkupəˌreɪt/
verb
1 no object Recover from illness or exertion.
2 with object Recover or regain (something lost or taken)

Origin
Mid 16th century from Latin recuperat- ‘regained’, from the verb recuperare, from re- ‘back’ + capere ‘take’.

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In the event this word is late
It's because I wasn't feeling great.
I took a nap and woke up late.
I shall strive, now, to recuperate
At a really, really rapid rate.

grungy

/ˈɡrənjē/ /ˈɡrəndʒi/
adjective grungier, grungiest
1 informal Grimy; dirty.
2 Relating to or denoting a form of rock music characterized by a raucous guitar sound and lazy vocal delivery.
2.1 Relating to the fashion associated with grunge rock, including loose, layered clothing and ripped jeans.

Origin
1960s perhaps suggested by grubby and dingy.

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While I have no fear of dirt,
(How much can it hurt?),
There's no need to be grungy.
Just wipe down with a sponge, see!


(Homage to Charles Schultz character Pig-Pen from "Peanuts")

shackle

/ˈʃak(ə)l/
noun
1 shackles - A pair of fetters connected together by a chain, used to fasten a prisoner's wrists or ankles together.
1.1 A situation or factor that restrains or restricts someone or something.
2 A metal link, typically U-shaped, closed by a bolt, used to secure a chain or rope to something.
2.1 A pivoted link connecting a spring in a vehicle's suspension to the body of the vehicle.

verb
[with object]
1 Chain with shackles.
1.1 Restrain; limit.

Origin
Old English sc(e)acul ‘fetter’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schakel ‘link, coupling’.

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Only a fool will cackle
When you put him in a shackle.
If you put a few together,
They'll dance in any weather.

They'll jump and prance, whee!
To you entrance, see?
To any well-sung music.
It's a truly special trick.

Algot Runeman wrote:shackle

Though I haven't (yet) seen The Defiant Ones, just thinking of shackles gets my hackles up.

downhiller

/ˈdaʊnhɪlə/
noun
A skier or cyclist who takes part in downhill races.

==========

Was he a competitive downhiller or was he merely going down hill?

Algot Runeman wrote:downhiller

If there's still any doubt that a surfer is a downhiller too, regardless the height of the wave, watch the video:

feral

/ˈfɛr(ə)l/ /ˈfɪərəl/
adjective
1 (especially of an animal) in a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication.
1.1 Resembling or characteristic of a wild animal.
1.2 (of a young person) behaving in a wildly undisciplined and antisocial way.
noun
derogatory Australian
A person with an unconventional appearance and lifestyle, and anti-establishment views.

Origin
Early 17th century from Latin fera ‘wild animal’ (from ferus ‘wild’) + -al.

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Skippy dreamed of being his feral self.

eupepsia

/juːˈpɛpsɪə/
noun
mass noun rare
Good digestion; absence of indigestion.

Origin
Early 18th century from Greek eupepsia, from eupeptos (see eupeptic).

==========

You got eupepsia if you got Pepsi, huh?

aspersion

/əˈspəːʃ(ə)n/
noun
usually aspersions
An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something.

Origin
Late Middle English (denoting the sprinkling of water, especially at baptism): from Latin aspersio(n-), from aspergere (see asperse).

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Casting aspersions is like casting bait in the sense of baiting one's opponent.

Sorry for making a serious, rather than humorous one, but aspersion is a very strong "faux-ami" for frenchmen.

Merriam-Webster gives two definitions. The first one is the one above but it also gives

Merriam-Webster wrote:a sprinkling with water especially in religious ceremonies

Now in french, aspersion is just a spraying or sprinkling, of water or any other liquid, in a religious or, much more often, in a non-religious context.

It never has the meaning "attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something".

voralfred,

Your observation on aspersions suggests that someone became unhappy at the unwanted casting of water droplets. Maybe it happened when religious groups attempted to bring heathens into the fold.

Which leads us, as it often does, to the crime of rhyme:

Serious is superb.
It really don't disturb
When you comment on a word,
Be it noun, adjective or verb.

Linguists who have read
This thrilling, heady thread
(Those not still abed)
Might fill us in, instead.

---------

Maybe "casting aspersions" is something to sneeze at (especially in these corona times)?

feeble

/ˈfēbəl/ /ˈfibəl/
adjective feebler, feeblest
1 Lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
1.1 (of a sound) faint.
1.2 Lacking strength of character.
1.3 Failing to convince or impress.

Origin
Middle English from Old French fieble, earlier fleible, from Latin flebilis ‘lamentable’, from flere ‘weep’.

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Every day, Bob makes what usually turns out to be a feeble attempt to use a "new" word in an effective sentence. The result is commonly ineffectual.

I don't want to cast aspersions on poor Skippy, but he looks a bit feeble to be really feral ! Also I doubt that eating Skippy would even disturb the eupepsia of the wolf he was imagining.

Again on the serious mode, I always thought that feeble was related to the modern french word "faible" = weak, not on the latin "flebilis"= lamentable, till I just found out that "faible" also comes from "flebilis"

fellness

/ˈfɛlnəs/
noun
archaic, rare
With reference to a person or animal, their actions or attributes: fierceness, harshness, savagery; cruelty; malignity; an instance of this. In early use also: sternness, severity (obsolete).

Origin
Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). From fell + -ness.

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Covid exhibits fellness,
Attacking hard, out wellness.
And so we're stuck at home
And not allowed to roam.

Corona is archaic
Mutated to a new trick.
And like the '18 flu
Has caused a big to-do.



[Though archaic, this word's intent remains in the phrase "one fell swoop" when an all encompassing event happens.]

twaddle

/ˈtwɒd(ə)l/
noun
mass noun informal
Trivial or foolish speech or writing; nonsense.

verb
[no object]informal, archaic
Talk or write in a trivial or foolish way.

Origin
Late 18th century alteration of earlier twattle, of unknown origin.

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When I walk, I waddle
As I spout my routine twaddle.
So, here's advice to you:
Don't take me as your model.


[We may be accused of publishing twaddle, but we do it with great sincerity.]

theurgy

/ˈθiːəːdʒi/
noun
mass noun
1 The operation or effect of a supernatural or divine agency in human affairs.
1.1 A system of white magic practised by the early Neoplatonists.

Origin
Mid 16th century via late Latin from Greek theourgia ‘sorcery’, from theos ‘god’ + -ergos ‘working’.

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It happens to be coincidental that theurgy is a Sunday word offering. There was no supernatural cause.

Please don't act with fellness against me even if you consider a mere twaddle my suggestion that theurgy might have been at work in the choice of yesterday's WOTD.

diligent

/ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)nt/
adjective
Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.

Origin
Middle English via Old French from Latin diligens, diligent- ‘assiduous’, from diligere ‘love, take delight in’.

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Bob seemed to become diligent only in later life. In fact, he had always taken delight in his activities.

wonky

/ˈwäNGkē/ /ˈwɑŋki/
adjective wonkier, wonkiest
1 informal Crooked; off-center; askew.
1.1 (of a thing) unsteady; shaky.
1.2 Not functioning correctly; faulty.

Origin
Early 20th century fanciful formation.

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Wobbling wildly, John was in dire need of gyroscopic adjustment. Until then, he suffered being wonky.

Algot Runeman wrote:wonky

Wasn't there something wonky with a chocolate factory?

jangle

/ˈjaNGɡəl/ /ˈdʒæŋɡəl/
verb
1 Make or cause to make a ringing metallic sound, typically a discordant one.
1.1 with object (with reference to nerves) set on edge.
noun
in singular
A ringing metallic sound.

Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘talk excessively or noisily, squabble’): from Old French jangler, of unknown origin.

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After all was said and done, Wile E. Coyote was left with only a persistent jangling in his ears as the road runner, once again, ran off.


(Homage to Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese of "Looney Tunes" fame)

[E.P.S., Willy might have been wonky, as you suggest, but Wile E. is entirely whacked!]

Algot Runeman wrote:jangle

Jangle balls, jangle balls,
Jangle all the ...

When they're playing pétanque ...

cognition

/kɒɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
mass noun
1 The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
1.1 count noun - A perception, sensation, idea, or intuition resulting from the process of cognition.

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin cognitio(-), from cognoscere ‘get to know’.

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The voyage to cognition
Begins with sparked ignition
And with routine repetition
Becomes life's long condition,
You continue without attrition
Till you do complete the mission.

odometric

/ˌəʊdə(ʊ)ˈmɛtrɪk/
adjective
Of or relating to an odometer; especially designating or relating to measurements made using an odometer.

Origin
Late 19th century. From odometer + -ic see -metric.

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There's no need to be rash
Or take the chance to crash
The odometer in the dash
Works fine at slow speeds, too.

trifle

/ˈtrʌɪf(ə)l/
noun
1 A thing of little value or importance.
1.1 in singular A small amount of something.
2 British A cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream.
verb
[no object]
1 trifle with - Treat without seriousness or respect.
2 archaic Talk or act frivolously.
2.1 trifle something away with object Waste something, especially time, frivolously.

Origin
Middle English (also denoting an idle story told to deceive or amuse): from Old French trufle, by-form of trufe ‘deceit’, of unknown origin. The verb derives from Old French truffler ‘mock, deceive’.

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Let us not just trifle with today's word. Wait! Why not?
We can always do "serious" tomorrow.