GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

spark

/spɑːk/ [spark] or sometimes heard in New England [spahk]
noun
1 A small fiery particle thrown off from a fire, alight in ashes, or produced by striking together two hard surfaces such as stone or metal.
1.1 An electrical discharge that ignites the explosive mixture in an internal combustion engine.
verb
1 no object Emit sparks of fire or electricity.
1.1 with object - Ignite.

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Here in the winter, with the forced hot air heat on, it is common to shock oneself or even each other because of all the manmade fibers rubbing and building up static, making tiny sparks all around the house.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

spark
/spɑːk/ [spark] or sometimes heard in New England [spahk]
...

There's also Paul-Henri Spaak (pronounced "spahk"), a Belgian politician who helped spark the European Union.

[Algot Runeman]

jocular

/ˈdʒɒkjʊlə/ [jock-you-lar]
adjective
Fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.

Origin
Early 17th century from Latin jocularis, from joculus, diminutive of jocus (see joke).

===========

I considered approaching this word
Striving for a mood quite jocular.
But since no recent laughter's been heard
I'll just illustrate wth something more ocular.

[Algot Runeman]

swish

/swɪʃ/
verb
1 no object, with adverbial of direction Move with a hissing or rushing sound.
1.1 with object Cause to move with a hissing or rushing sound.
1.2 Aim a swinging blow at something.
2 Basketball - with object Sink (a shot) without the ball touching the backboard or rim.
noun
1 A hissing or rustling sound.
1.1 A rapid swinging movement.
2 Basketball - informal A shot that goes through the basket without touching the backboard or rim.
3 North American informal, offensive An effeminate male homosexual.
adjective
1 British informal Impressively smart and fashionable.
2 US informal, offensive (of a man) effeminate.

Origin
Mid 18th century imitative.

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The hissing swish of tires in the moderate rain also resulted in clouds of dense mist thrown up by the treads of tires. Tom found it difficult to judge the distance to the car in front of him in the twilight. He wished all vehicles had automatic or always-on lights. If not that, how about efficient road-grabbing tires which didn't also spew water back into the air. His knuckles ached from his grip on the steering wheel. "Please, God, no more semi-trailers in the next lane tonight!"

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

swish

The hound's tail swished left-right-left-right-left-right like a windshield wiper.
Not because it rained. It was just the dog's way to convey a jocular greeting.

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

syncretism

/ˈsɪŋkrɪtɪz(ə)m/
noun
mass noun
1 The amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
2 Linguistics
The merging of different inflectional varieties of a word during the development of a language.


Origin
Early 17th century from modern Latin syncretismus, from Greek sunkrētismos, from sunkrētizein ‘unite against a third party’, from sun- ‘together’ + krēs ‘Cretan’ (originally with reference to ancient Cretan communities).

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All our attempts at syncretism are predicated on the existence of the theory of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Each component is from very different origins, with different developmental processes, and yet, the combination represents one of the most widely accepted aggregations known to man.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

syncretism
... the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. ...
... one of the most widely accepted aggregations known to man. ...

IMHO it should read "one of the most widely suffered aggravations known to man."

Incorporating "syncretism" would only twist the dagger a bit deeper.

[Algot Runeman]

decant

/dɪˈkant/
verb
[with object]
1 Gradually pour (wine, port, or another liquid) from one container into another, typically in order to separate out sediment.
1.1 British Temporarily transfer (people) to another place.

Origin
Mid 17th century from medieval Latin decanthare, from Latin de- ‘away from’ + canthus ‘edge, rim’ (used to denote the angular lip of a beaker), from Greek kanthos ‘corner of the eye’.

==========

The number and variety of decanters on someone's dry bar is pesumably an indicator of their class...or perhaps their love of drink and maybe dey can't stop.

[Algot Runeman]

notorious

/nə(ʊ)ˈtɔːrɪəs/ [no-tory-us]
adjective
Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed.

Origin
Late 15th century (in the sense ‘generally known’): from medieval Latin notorius (from Latin notus ‘known’) + -ous.

==========

"A crook of note", the newspaper said.
"Notorious", the dictionary's 'stead.
No good news, only stuff of dread.
I just might decide to remain in bed.

[voralfred]

In France, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (nor peanut butter and jam sandwiches) are not that notorious. I don't know whether this form of syncretism has crossed the Atlantic to reach the UK, but even if it is the case, the Channel has kept the Continent isolated. Many Frenchmen would rather decant some red wine, and have nothing more for their breakfast. (I suppose Belgians do not decant beer before drinking it, that would spoil the "mousse").

Curiously enough I remember seeing once a Disney comics translated into French, where Donald's three nephews asked for "du beurre de cacahuète et des sandwiches à la confiture" which translated back would be "(peanut butter) and (jam sandwiches)", not "(peanut butter and jam) sandwiches", which would be "des sandwiches au beurre de cacahuète et à la confiture". So the translator was so ignorant of US mores in general, and in particular of the "most widly accepted syncretism" that he misunderstood the syntax of that phrase ! At that time, I knew enough to guess what the original was, but I suppose most French kids reading that would have wondered what on Earth "beurre de cacahuète" could be.

[Algot Runeman]

process

/ˈprəʊsɛs/ [pra-sess]
noun
1 A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.
1.1 A natural series of changes.
verb
Perform a series of mechanical or chemical operations on (something) in order to change or preserve it.

Origin
Middle English from Old French proces, from Latin processus ‘progression, course’, from the verb procedere (see proceed). Current senses of the verb date from the late 19th century.

==========

Creating a 3D object involves learning a tool like OpenSCAD to create a design. Then you let the printer go through the steps of the process to make the actual object.

[Algot Runeman]

incendiary

/ɪnˈsɛndɪəri/ [in-send-e-airy]
adjective
1 (of a device or attack) designed to cause fires.
2 Tending to stir up conflict.
2.1 Very exciting.
noun
incendiaries
1 An incendiary bomb or device.
2 A person who starts fires.
2.1 A person who stirs up conflict.

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin incendiarius, from incendium ‘conflagration’, from incendere ‘set fire to’.

==========

It dawns on me that some of these sample sentences may be incendiary, stirring up controversy in the smattering of those who actually read them.

[Algot Runeman]

jubilee

/ˈdʒuːbɪliː/ [joo-bih-lee]
noun
1 A special anniversary of an event, especially one celebrating twenty-five or fifty years of a reign or activity.
2 Judaism - A year of emancipation and restoration, kept every fifty years.
3 A period of remission from the penal consequences of sin, granted by the Roman Catholic Church under certain conditions for a year, usually at intervals of twenty-five years.

Origin
Late Middle English from Old French jubile, from late Latin jubilaeus (annus) ‘(year) of jubilee’, based on Hebrew yōḇēl, originally ‘ram's-horn trumpet’, with which the jubilee year was proclaimed.

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Joe, Jerry and Jubal joined jubilantly. if somewhat raucously, the judge's jubilee, twenty-five years on the bench (and on the wagon). They, themselves, did not hold back from a stout drink.

[Algot Runeman]

propensity

/prəˈpɛnsɪti/ [pro-pen-city]
noun - propensities
An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

Origin
Late 16th century from archaic propense (from Latin propensus ‘inclined’, past participle of propendere, from pro- ‘forward, down’ + pendere ‘hang’) + -ity.

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Leanings, penchants, tendencies, inclinations, proclivities, habits, routines, of these I have nothing; propensities suffice.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

propensity

For a long time, I've had a propensity for pedantry.
It's been hard to get rid of. But I managed, mostly ...

Just ask my sons, when they needlessly left the lights ON. "Dan was het kot te klein." (*)

(*) Flemish slang for: "Then the place was too small [for my dressing-down the culprit]".

[Algot Runeman]

enhance


/ɪnˈhɑːns/ /ɛnˈhɑːns/ [en-hance]
verb
[with object]
Intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.

Origin
Middle English (formerly also as inhance): from Anglo-Norman French enhauncer, based on Latin in- (expressing intensive force) + altus ‘high’. The word originally meant ‘elevate’ (literally and figuratively), later ‘exaggerate, make appear greater’, also ‘raise the value or price of something’. Current senses date from the early 16th century.

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These daily dalliances with words are designed to enhance, expand and enlarge everyone's vocabulary.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

enhance

In France these days, they've amplified enhanced the meaning of "strike"!

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

gawk

/ɡɔːk/ [gawk]
verb
[no object]
Stare openly and stupidly.
noun
An awkward or shy person.

Origin
Late 17th century (as a noun): perhaps related to obsolete gaw ‘to gaze’, from Old Norse gá ‘heed’.

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You would do well to heed the warning offered to all visitors: "Keep your eyes to the ground if you encounter the king."
Gawking at the unusual growth on his cheek is considered rude.

[Algot Runeman]

opulent

/ˈɒpjʊl(ə)nt/ [opp'-pew-lent]
adjective
1 Ostentatiously costly and luxurious.
1.1 Wealthy.

Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense ‘wealthy’): from Latin opulent- ‘wealthy, splendid’, from opes ‘wealth’.

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"Anything more than this is opulent," said Tom.
His guests looked around at the 800 square foot Manhattan loft space, painted entirely white, even the floors, empty, save for a white bench and a king-size bed.

[Algot Runeman]

goodwill

/ɡʊdˈwɪl/ [gud-will]
noun
mass noun
1 Friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude.
2 The established reputation of a business regarded as a quantifiable asset and calculated as part of its value when it is sold.

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While offering his children goodwill, he left all his money to The Church. The kids didn't think it was a good will.

[voralfred]

I do have to goodwill. Nothing would please me more than to enhance my participation to this game. Alas, too often I gawk at the WOTD without my propensity being able to initiate a process leading to a response. Please don't be too incendiary at this deplorable lack of opulentce of my posts.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

... too often I gawk at the WOTD ...

You can always go Good Will Hunting ...

P.S. I haven't seen that movie, but somehow its title stuck in my memory.
I've once read that easily remembering recollections of things long ago, but quickly losing memories of very recent events, is a symptom of something. Sadly I forgot what disorder it is.

[Algot Runeman]

pageant

/ˈpadʒ(ə)nt/
noun
1 A public entertainment consisting of a procession of people in elaborate, colourful costumes, or an outdoor performance of a historical scene.
1.1 Something regarded as a series of interesting and varied events.
1.2 historical A scene erected on a fixed stage or moving vehicle as a public show.
2 (also beauty pageant)
North American A beauty contest.

Origin
Late Middle English pagyn, of unknown origin.

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There was a lull in the pageant. Bob and Sam took the opportunity for a game of chess.

[Algot Runeman]

rejoice

/rɪˈdʒɔɪs/
verb
[no object]
1 Feel or show great joy or delight.
.1 rejoice in - British - Used ironically to draw attention to a strange characteristic, especially a name.
1.2 archaic with object Cause joy to.

Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘cause joy to’): from Old French rejoiss-, lengthened stem of rejoir, from re- (expressing intensive force) + joir ‘experience joy’.

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Re: Joyce (new baby),

In my too loud voice
I give you the choice
Use jubilant dance or song
When you rejoice.

[Algot Runeman]

reminisce

/ˌrɛmɪˈnɪs/
verb
[no object]
Indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events.

Origin
Early 19th century back-formation from reminiscence.

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I hug my brother and sis
It's family gathering bliss.
But when I try to reminisce
It's my memories I miss.