GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

hoarder

/ˈhɔːdə/
noun
A person who hoards things.(Accumulate (money or valued objects) and hide or store away.)

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GRIPE:
As continues to be typical of on line dictionaries, we were left with merely the "person who hoards things" phrase as its entire definition, expecting intrepid word explorers to determine the root verb (which has been added above for your convenience in parentheses). In our digital age, the extra effort really should belong to the dictionary. Then again, maybe the lexicographers were having a bit of fun, hoarding the underlying definition, as it were.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

hoarder

Now you're hoarding characters!

I'll let you guess which particular meaning of "character" I ..., er, mean.

[Algot Runeman]

folksy

/ˈfəʊksi/
adjective folksier, folksiest
1 Having the characteristics of traditional culture and customs, especially in a contrived or artificial way.
2 Informal and unpretentious.

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Tricked out might be a better description than folksy for an accountant from Texas who wears both a Stetson hat and fancy cowboy boots to his office.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

folksy

I'm sure you have somebody folksy in mind, but I'm not sure who.

Is it a folksy president? Perchance Ronald Reagan or Richard Nixon?

Or Dolly Parton in a folksy outfit? ... (Yeah! Puss in Boots! )

[Algot Runeman]

E.P.S.

In a small sense, I, myself, was either folksy with cowboy boots and hat or a poseur. For four years, I had the privilege to attend a summer camp for seven weeks out in Colorado. We had lots of activities, but riding horses was a focal element of the camp experience. We rode most days, learned to put our own saddles on the horses and some techniques of horse care along with the obvious chance to learn to ride comfortably. I wore both boots and a "cowboy" hat because the wide brim of the hat shielded the eyes from the sun while the boots allowed us to step into and stand in the saddle's stirrups. Flat-heeled shoes just did not work.

The experience is clearly far in the past. The well-worn boots went into the trash, and the hat was too dusty and stained to use: Gone.

I mostly think of John Travolta and Deborah Winger in "Urban Cowboy" for my models of the not-so-folksy fashion. Ronald Regan, for all his other faults, did have the excuse of being in all those American western movies, and he did actually ride a horse at his California ranch.

[Algot Runeman]

specify

/ˈspɛsɪfʌɪ/
verb specifies, specifying, specified
[with object]
1 Identify clearly and definitely.
1.1 with clause State a fact or requirement clearly and precisely.
1.2 Include in an architect's or engineer's specifications.

Origin
Middle English from Old French specifier or late Latin specificare (see specific).

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It is difficult to specify the exact degree to which the temperature will rise during the day. Early spring forecasters here typically say something like "It will be in the upper 40s." Of course in countries using metric temperatures, that is far from good news.

[Algot Runeman]

heinous

/ˈheɪnəs/ /ˈhiːnəs/
adjective
(of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked.

Origin
Late Middle English from Old French haineus, from hair ‘to hate’, of Germanic origin.

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Snidely Whiplash is famous in the cartoon world for the heinous crime of tying Nell Fenwick to the train tracks. He might have been seen as even nastier if he'd used chain!



[Ever spry, when that word was proposed by our DOC (dictionary of choice) or DOR (dictionary of record), your intrepid word wrangler quickly checked the LOA (list of alternates) to save the day. Saving even a single day is a good accomplishment in these trying times]

[Algot Runeman]

sovereignty

/ˈsɒvrɪnti/
noun sovereignties
mass noun
1 Supreme power or authority.
1.1 The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.
1.2 count noun A self-governing state.

Origin
Late Middle English from Old French sovereinete, from soverain (see sovereign).

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We live in times of uncertainty
With some asserting sovereignty.
Meanwhile, I'm searching for a certain tea
So I generally just settle for coffee.

[Algot Runeman]

grovel

/ˈɡrɒv(ə)l/ /ˈɡrʌv(ə)l/
verb grovels, grovelling, grovelled; US groveling, groveled
[no object]
1 Lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one's face downwards.
1.1 Act in an obsequious way in order to obtain someone's forgiveness or favour.

Origin
Middle English back-formation from the obsolete adverb grovelling, from obsolete groof, grufe ‘the face or front’ (in the phrase on grufe, from Old Norse á grúfu ‘face downwards’) + the suffix -ling.

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I won't make you grovel
When I write my novel
About a judge named Gravel
And his ever-pounding gavel.
If you want to read it,
Just tell me that you need it.

[Algot Runeman]

surplice

/ˈsəːplɪs/
noun
A loose white linen vestment varying from hip-length to calf-length, worn over a cassock by clergy and choristers at Christian church services.

Origin
Middle English from Old French sourpelis, from medieval Latin superpellicium, from super- ‘above’ + pellicia ‘fur garment’.

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The congregation was surprised when Father John entered the service with a large coffee stain on his surplice. His sermon explained that and much more.

[Algot Runeman]

egomaniac

/ɛɡə(ʊ)ˈmeɪnɪak/ /iːɡə(ʊ)ˈmeɪnɪak/
noun
A person who is obsessively egotistical or self-centred.

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It was oddly heartening to read the search response, "No suitable matches were found." when verifying that this word was available for WotD. It was good to feel that no egomaniacs are part of our beloved forum topic...until today.

[Algot Runeman]

exhaust

/ɪɡˈzɔːst/ /ɛɡˈzɔːst/
verb
[with object]
1 Make (someone) feel very tired.
2 Use up (resources or reserves) completely.
2.1 Expound on or explore (a subject or options) so fully that there is nothing further to be said or discovered.
3 Expel (gas or steam) from or into a particular place.
noun
mass noun
1 Waste gases or air expelled from an engine, turbine, or other machine in the course of its operation.
1.1 count noun The system through which exhaust gases are expelled.

Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense ‘draw off or out’): from Latin exhaust- ‘drained out’, from the verb exhaurire, from ex- ‘out’ + haurire ‘draw (water), drain’.

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At home we've been staked.
So we've cooked and we've baked.
All the cakes have been frosted,
So now I'm exhausted.
But before I relaxes,
I must do my taxes.

[Algot Runeman]

theologian

/θɪəˈləʊdʒ(ə)n/ /θɪəˈləʊdʒɪən/
noun
A person who engages or is an expert in theology.

Origin
Late 15th century from French théologien, from théologie or Latin theologia (see theology).

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Bob was never an expert in anything. It didn't keep him from holding forth, as if he were a theologian.

[Algot Runeman]

compel

/kəmˈpɛl/
verb compels, compelling, compelled
with object and infinitive
1 Force or oblige (someone) to do something.
1.1 with object Bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure.
1.2 literary with object and adverbial of direction Force to come or go in a particular direction.

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin compellere, from com- ‘together’ + pellere ‘drive’.

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The twins disagreed, but neither compelled Charlene. She made her own decision which way she would go.



Nobody is compelled to use, or even read, this word of the day. Each person provides their own compulsions.

[Algot Runeman]

merely

/ˈmɪəli/
adverb
Just; only.

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Citizens respond to criticism of their current buying habits, "We were merely following the store's guidance."

[Algot Runeman]

parish

noun
1 (in the Christian Church) a small administrative district typically having its own church and a priest or pastor.
1.1 British The smallest unit of local government, constituted only in rural areas.
1.2 US (in Louisiana) a territorial division corresponding to a county in other states.

Origin
Middle English from Anglo-Norman French and Old French paroche, from late Latin parochia, from Greek paroikia ‘sojourning’, based on para- ‘beside, subsidiary’ + oikos ‘dwelling’.

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Some of the population of the local parish were particularly poorish.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

parish

Then there's also the trojan prince Parish who, ignoring his speech impediment, wooed the beautiful Helen of Troy.

[Algot Runeman]

deploy

/dɪˈplɔɪ/
verb
[with object]
1 Move (troops or equipment) into position for military action.
1.1 no object (of troops) move into position for military action.
2 Bring into effective action.

Origin
Late 18th century from French déployer, from Latin displicare and late Latin deplicare ‘unfold or explain’, from dis-, de- ‘un-’ + plicare ‘to fold’. Compare with display.

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High command deployed mock planes and troop emplacements as a ploy to make the enemy move their real forces into the wrong place.

[Algot Runeman]

feather

/ˈfɛðə/
noun
1 Any of the flat appendages growing from a bird's skin and forming its plumage, consisting of a partly hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs.
1.1 feathersA fringe of long hair on the legs of a dog, horse, or other animal.
verb
1 with object Rotate the blades of (a propeller) about their own axes in such a way as to lessen the air or water resistance.
1.1 Vary the angle of attack of (rotor blades).

Origin
Old English fether, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch veer and German Feder, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit patra ‘wing’, Latin penna ‘feather’, and Greek pteron, pterux ‘wing’.

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Variety of birds' feathers in their length and color pattern is awesome.

[Algot Runeman]

ramble

/ˈramb(ə)l/
verb
[no object]
1 Walk for pleasure in the countryside.
2 Talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.
3 (of a plant) put out long shoots and grow over walls or other plants.
noun
A walk taken for pleasure in the countryside.

Origin
Late Middle English (in ramble (sense 2 of the verb)): probably related to Middle Dutch rammelen, used of animals in the sense ‘wander about on heat’, also to the noun ram.

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A recent rambling speech on TV reminded me of my youth (what doesn't), and the once popular American Rambler car model. I'm not sure if it came in orange, though.

[Algot Runeman]

headstrong

/ˈhɛdstrɒŋ/
adjective
Energetically wilful and determined.

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Harry was headstrong. He barged right into the fray.
Fortunately, his skull was also strong because he was decked almost immediately and slammed his head into the sidewalk.
Woozy, he remained wilful, arguing with the EMTs that he was just fine.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

ramble
... reminded me of my youth (what doesn't), and the once popular American Rambler car model.
...

You didn't say if you've actually driven a Rambler.
But a "rammelaar" (Dutch equivalent of the word rambler) you could only drive to frenzy.

Well, not you yourself exactly. Because a "rammelaar" is a buck, you'd need a doe to elicit his frenzy.

[Algot Runeman]

You didn't say if you've actually driven a Rambler.

Well, not exactly...though I did once kiss the daughter of our local Rambler dealership.

I was not invited, by either father or daughter, to any further test drives.

[Algot Runeman]

blatant

/ˈbleɪt(ə)nt/
adjective
1 (of bad behaviour) done openly and unashamedly.
1.1 Completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious.

Origin
Late 16th century perhaps an alteration of Scots blatand ‘bleating’. It was first used by Spenser as an epithet for a thousand-tongued monster produced by Cerberus and Chimaera, a symbol of calumny, which he called the blatant beast. It was subsequently used to mean ‘clamorous, offensive to the ear’, first of people (mid 17th century), later of things (late 18th century); the sense ‘unashamedly conspicuous’ arose in the late 19th century.

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Street signs are not subtle. Their purpose is intended to be obvious, even blatant. In spite of that some people seem to think this one means, "Slow down...a little...then goose it!", blatantly scoffing at the intent.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

blatant

But what do you do when a glaring mistake is a blatant error?