GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

scantling

Pronunciation /ˈskantlɪŋ/
noun
1 A timber beam of small cross section.
1.1 The size to which a piece of timber or stone is measured and cut.
2 often scantlings A set of standard dimensions for parts of a structure, especially in shipbuilding.
3 archaic A specimen, sample, or small amount of something.

Origin
Early 16th century (denoting prescribed size, or a set of standard dimensions): alteration of obsolete scantillon (from Old French escantillon ‘sample’), by association with the suffix -ling.

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American lumber is nominally measured like "a two by four" (inches) of a certain length in feet, but those are rough cut measurements. The actual scantlings of a 2X4 are 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches because of surfacing to produce smooth boards.

[Algot Runeman]

overwrite

Pronunciation /əʊvəˈrʌɪt/
verb
overwrote, overwritten
[with object]
1 Write on top of (other writing)
1.1 Computing Destroy or lose (data) by entering new data in its place.
2 Write too elaborately or ornately.
3 no object (in insurance) accept more risk than the premium income limits allow.

==========

Correction fluid like Liquid Paper™ was a student's go-to answer for typographic errors and other similar mistakes requiring overwriting in their essays...both handwritten and if typed. Then came word processors!

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

overwrite

The new insurance policy Bertram underwrote was excessively overwritten.

[Algot Runeman]

smite

Pronunciation /smʌɪt/
verb smote, smitten
1 literary with object Strike with a firm blow.
1.1 archaic Defeat or conquer (a people or land)
1.2 (especially of disease) attack or affect severely.
2 be smitten Be strongly attracted to someone or something.

Origin
Old English smītan ‘to smear, blemish’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch smijten and German schmeissen ‘to fling’.

==========

Smitty, feeling witty,
He smote the big kitty.
Nah, I am just lyin'
He would not hurt a lion.

[Algot Runeman]

connected

Pronunciation /kəˈnɛktɪd/
adjective
1 Brought together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established.
2 Associated or related in some respect.

==========

These days, most people have chosen to use mobile technology like cellphones to stay connected. Others may not have that choice.

[voralfred]

connected

Pronunciation /kəˈnɛktɪd/
adjective
1 Brought together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established.
2 Associated or related in some respect.

(...)

I feel as if I had just been smitten by a Two-by-Four scantling (even if it is only 1 1/2 by 3 1/2).

I had the feeling we were pleasantly connected by our common interest in words, but your conception of connection is just terrifying...

[Algot Runeman]

schlenter

Pronunciation /ˈʃlɛntə/
adjective
South African
Not genuine; counterfeit.
noun
South African
1 A fake diamond.
1.1 An illegal or dishonest scheme.
1.2 A confidence trickster.
verb
[with object]informal South African
Achieve or acquire by underhand means.

Origin
From Dutch and Afrikaans slenter ‘trick’. The sch- probably reflects Yiddish influence in the 19th century in diamond mining.

==========

This is schlenter money. I won't try to trick you. I have never lived in South Africa nor visited.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

schlenter
...

Flaunting your wealth like that, shows you're not afraid of attracting schlenters.

[Algot Runeman]

Flaunting your wealth like that, shows you're not afraid of attracting schlenters.

My wealth is in the comity and real friendship I share with those, near and far, who love this kind of wordplay.

[Algot Runeman]

doofer

Pronunciation /ˈduːfə/
noun
informal
An object or device of unspecified name or nature.

Origin
1930s perhaps an alteration of do for in phrases like that will do for now.

==========

Duct tape is the indispensable doofer of a handyman's toolbox.

[Algot Runeman]

compress

Pronunciation /kəmˈprɛs/ /ˈkɒmprɛs/
verb
[with object]
1 Flatten by pressure; squeeze or press.
1.1 no object Be squeezed or pressed together or into a smaller space.
1.2 Squeeze or press (two things) together.
1.3 Express in a shorter form; abridge.
1.4 Reduce the dynamic range of (a sound signal).
1.5 Computing Alter the form of (data) to reduce the amount of storage necessary.
noun
A pad of lint or other absorbent material pressed on to part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding.

Origin
Late Middle English from Old French compresser or late Latin compressare, frequentative of Latin comprimere, from com- ‘together’ + premere ‘to press’; or directly from compress- ‘pressed together’, from the verb comprimere.

==========

There need be no distress
From having to compress
The definition, here, for space,
'Cause we have lots of room in this expansive place...so I'll even mess with the rhyme...sublime!

[Algot Runeman]

satisfactory

Pronunciation /satɪsˈfakt(ə)ri/
adjective
1 Fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable, though not outstanding or perfect.
1.1 (of a patient in a hospital) not deteriorating or likely to die.
1.2 Law (of evidence or a verdict) sufficient for the needs of the case.

Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense ‘leading to the atonement of sin’): from Old French satisfactoire or medieval Latin satisfactorius, from Latin satisfacere ‘to content’ (see satisfy). The current senses date from the mid 17th century.

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Sid selected model 76 from the Satis Factory Collection. He considered it to be satisfactory for his office chair needs.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

satisfactory

Sometimes a satisfactory model turns out to be more than adequate. Lucky you!

[Algot Runeman]

sincere

Pronunciation /sɪnˈsɪə/
adjective sincerer, sincerest
1 Free from pretence or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings.
1.1 (of a person) saying what they genuinely feel or believe; not dishonest or hypocritical.

Origin
Mid 16th century (also in the sense ‘not falsified, unadulterated’): from Latin sincerus ‘clean, pure’.

==========

If you seek from sin to remain clear,
Then there is something you should hear.
There is a very good way to start:
Keep your dealings with others sincere.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

sincere

She: "Now give me your sincere opinion, does this make my butt look fat?"

He: "Well, if I have to be sincere ... yes, it does."

[Algot Runeman]

Sincere congratulations to Belgian cyclist, Wout van Aert, for his time trial stage win today in the Tour de France.

[Algot Runeman]

communicator

Pronunciation /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪtə/
noun
1 usually with adjective A person who is able to convey or exchange information, news, or ideas, especially one who is eloquent or skilled.
2 An apparatus used to exchange information between individuals, ships, planes, etc.

==========

John realized that if he had a more modern communicator, he could be a better communicator.

[voralfred]

A good modern communicator (definition 2) is a doofer that can compress information in a satisfactory way.

[Algot Runeman]

escapement

Pronunciation /ɪˈskeɪpm(ə)nt/ /ɛˈskeɪpm(ə)nt/
noun
1 A mechanism in a clock or watch that alternately checks and releases the train by a fixed amount and transmits a periodic impulse from the spring or weight to the balance wheel or pendulum.
2 A mechanism in a typewriter that shifts the carriage a small fixed amount to the left after a key is pressed and released.
3 The part of the mechanism in a piano that enables the hammer to fall back as soon as it has struck the string.

Origin
Late 18th century from French échappement, from échapper ‘to escape’.

==========

Edward escaped between the ticks of the tower's clock. The clack of the huge instrument's escapement obscured all of his scurrying noise.


(Image Credit - Chetvorno - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33176691)

[For what it's worth, we barely escaped the repeat of scapegrace from 2013...I also didn't want to be a scapegoat from 2019, either.]

[Algot Runeman]

titchy

Pronunciation /ˈtɪtʃi/
adjective titchier, titchiest
informal British
Very small.

==

Today's WotD is so titchy, there's just no room for an image.

[voralfred]

Paul Vance and Lee Julien Pockriss were Americans, not Brits. Otherwise they would certainly have used itty-titchy rather than itty-bitsy to describe a certain teenie weenie yellow polka dot doofer.

Indeed, it would have been very appropriate, considering the use of this whatchamacallit.

There was a WOTD post not so long ago, with many words of this undefined meaning, but I don't remember what was the WOTD itself and it is long enough ago I did not try to go back that far. Anybody remembers ? whatchamacallit is too short to be found by the search engine...

[Algot Runeman]

recant

Pronunciation /rɪˈkant/
verb
[no object]
Say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical.

Origin
Mid 16th century from Latin recantare ‘revoke’, from re- (expressing reversal) + cantare ‘sing, chant’.

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My opinion, strong,
They wanted me to recant.
But that would just be wrong.
Sorry, I simply can't.



[I must say that attempt at wordplay was slightly canted to the left. Wry, oh wry did you make me do it?]

[voralfred]

Paul Vance and Lee Julien Pockriss were Americans, not Brits. Otherwise they would certainly have used itty-titchy rather than itty-bitsy to describe a certain teenie weenie yellow polka dot doofer.

Indeed, it would have been very appropriate, considering the use of this whatchamacallit.

There was a WOTD post not so long ago, with many words of this undefined meaning, but I don't remember what was the WOTD itself and it is long enough ago I did not try to go back that far. Anybody remembers ? whatchamacallit is too short to be found by the search engine...

I recant of my advocating lazyness. I did go back and found the post on the WOTD whatsit. Two posts after Algot's first mention of this WOTD, it was noticed already that whatchamacallit is too common (rather than "too short") to be found by the search engine...

[Algot Runeman]

relevant

Pronunciation /ˈrɛləv(ə)nt/
adjective
1 Closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
1.1 Appropriate to the current time, period, or circumstances; of contemporary interest.

Origin
Early 16th century (as a Scots legal term meaning ‘legally pertinent’): from medieval Latin relevant- ‘raising up’, from Latin relevare.

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I suppose it is irrelevant that relevant has not been a word of focus, and neither has its negative, while germane has been. Words used are theoretically random. It is a notably loose theory, of course, with the heavy thumb of the present presenter routinely in play.



Today's pizza image is probably irrelevant, too.

[Algot Runeman]

anticipate

Pronunciation /anˈtɪsɪpeɪt/
verb
[with object]
1 Regard as probable; expect or predict.
1.1 Guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared.
1.2 Look forward to.
2 Act as a forerunner or precursor of.
2.1 Come or take place before (an event or process expected or scheduled for a later time)

Origin
Mid 16th century (in the senses ‘to take something into consideration’, ‘mention something before the proper time’): from Latin anticipat- ‘acted in advance’, from anticipare, based on ante- ‘before’ + capere ‘take’.

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For those who anticipate the arrival of the WotD post, your time is NOW!