GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

finicky

adjective
fin·​icky | \ ˈfi-ni-kē \
1 extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards
2 requiring much care, precision, or attentive effort

-==0==-

It's no fun to be tightly knit
When you prefer a looser fit.
So, let us not be finicky.
Rather, go for fancy free.

[Algot Runeman]

perquisite

noun
per·​qui·​site | \ ˈpər-kwə-zət \
1 a privilege, gain, or profit incidental to regular salary or wages especially : one expected or promised
2 gratuity, tip
3 something held or claimed as an exclusive right or possession

-==0==-

Playing piano in clubs is not exquisite,
But getting free drinks is a perquisite.
If you sometime think you'll get the chance
Come on by and pay me a visit.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

perquisite

Often a prerequisite to volunteering is the promise of a perquisite.

P.S. That looks like a Steinroad or a Brickway piano.

[Algot Runeman]

waggish

adjective
wag·​gish | \ ˈwa-gish \
1 resembling or characteristic of a wag
2 done or made in waggery or for sport : humorous

-==0==-

My bait was twisted licorice.
I went trolling for a hagfish
Which is really a very odd wish.
Except when I'm feeling waggish.

[Algot Runeman]

iconodule

noun
icon·​o·​dule | \ īˈkänəˌd(y)ül \
plural -s
one who venerates icons and defends their devotional use

-==0==-

I try, as a general rule
To avoid being an iconodule.
But I'll remind you fast,
I'm not a fierce iconoclast.



Today's dictionary playfulness involves the offered word iconoclast, but we've focused on iconoclasm in the past, too close for comfort. Search for an alternative...how about an antonym? I expected to find iconophile as the antonym, but was informed it is a word that does not exist. Digging down the suggested alternatives revealed today's word, certainly new to me.

[Algot Runeman]

catawampus

noun
cat·​a·​wam·​pus
plural -es
dialectal: an imaginary fierce wild animal : bogey
adjective
variants: or less commonly catawampous \ ¦⸗⸗¦⸗pəs \
1 dialectal: fierce, savage, destructive
2 dialectal: askew, awry, cater-cornered

-==0==-

Looking under the hood, the mechanic was flummoxed. The behemoth engine was mounted all catawampus in the car, but in spite of that, it ran smoothly, rumbling like a very fierce-looking, seriously-oversized kitten.



[I was musing the possibility of using today's word on offer, "muse", but wasn't bemused enough to try searching the forum topic for a four letter word.]

[Algot Runeman]

conscientious

adjective
con·​sci·​en·​tious | \ ˌkän(t)-shē-ˈen(t)-shəs \
1 meticulous, careful
2 governed by or conforming to the dictates of conscience : scrupulous

-==0==-

I'll try not to be pretentious
As I rhyme about conscientious.
Poems try hard to flow through us,
So please don't be contemptuous

Of this current, tiny effort
To explain with something short
How these things grow and sport
Off a word, to be this report.

[Algot Runeman]

custom

adjective
1 made or performed according to personal order
2 specializing in custom work or operation

-==0==-

This is not a custom definition. Wait, it is, but it is the standard one, available to everyone. It isn't tweaked just for you.

[Algot Runeman]

insignia

Pronunciation /ɪnˈsɪɡnɪə/
noun plural noun insignia, plural noun insignias
1 A distinguishing badge or emblem of military rank, office, or membership of an organization.
1.1 A sign or token of something.

Origin
Mid 17th century from Latin, plural of insigne ‘sign, badge of office’, neuter of insignis ‘distinguished (as if by a mark)’, from in- ‘towards’ + signum ‘sign’.

-==0==-

Jake proudly wore his shirt with the organization's embroidered insignia on the pocket.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

insignia

To himself, Jake's insignia were all but insignificant.

[Algot Runeman]

hummock

noun
hum·​mock | \ ˈhə-mək \
Definition of hummock

1 a rounded knoll or hillock
2 a ridge of ice
3 hammock in the sense of a fertile area in the southern U.S. and especially Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil

-==0==-

It may just be my foolish luck
To merely be a schmuck
Just lying here on a hammock
On the top of my very own hummock.

I might know, sooner or later,
That everything could be greater,
Though life might change for the worse
And I'll be visited, once more, by "Ol' Gator".



[Today was partially one of those "see elsewhere" definitions (#3). I took it upon myself to cheat you of the opportunity to check "entry 2 sense 2" of hammock. I carried that entry/sense over to this place. I apologize for being so self-serving an mean.}

[Algot Runeman]

noetic

/nōˈedik/
adjective, formal
of, relating to, or based on the intellect

-==0==-

Sid seldom suffered from noetic concerns, remaining effectively unconscious from strong drink.

[Algot Runeman]

ostentatious

adjective
os·​ten·​ta·​tious | \ ˌä-stən-ˈtā-shəs \
attracting or seeking to attract attention, admiration, or envy often by gaudiness or obviousness : overly elaborate or conspicuous : characterized by, fond of, or evincing ostentation

-==0==-

Fame, fortune, and all the associated trappings are desired by people who make ostentatious social media displays. (Er. Um...Well, other people. Not ME!)

[Algot Runeman]

brouhaha

noun
brou·​ha·​ha | \ ˈbrü-ˌhä-ˌhä, ˌbrü-ˌhä-ˈhä, brü-ˈhä-ˌhä \
hubbub, uproar

-==0==-

The audience all mumbled
As the main speaker stumbled
Through his most important speech
With his ideas just out of reach.

There was much dropping of jaw
Eventually a big brouhaha
When he ground to a halt
Without any gestalt.

In spite of the mess,
And the obvious stress,
When it came to the crunch,
No one left before lunch.

[Algot Runeman]

crabby

adjective
crab·​by | \ ˈkra-bē \
crabbier; crabbiest
informal
easily irritated : peevish and irritable : grouchy

-==0==-

We fear that George was crabby today.
There's little, here, we need to say.
It was way too hot outside, you see,
So he hadn't been allowed to go out to play.

[Algot Runeman]

crapulence

noun
crap·​u·​lence | \ ˈkrapyələn(t)s \
plural -s
1 archaic : sickness occasioned by intemperance (as in food or drink)
2 great intemperance especially in drinking

-==0==-

More than just one individual will suffer in the event of a person's crapulence.

[Algot Runeman]

frolic

adjective
frol·​ic | \ ˈfrä-lik \
full of fun : merry
verb
frolicked; frolicking
intransitive verb
1 to amuse oneself : make merry
2 to play and run about happily : romp
noun
1 a playful or mischievous action
2a an occasion or scene of fun : party
2b fun, merriment

-==0==-

Two weeks of fun and frolic,
Carved out of a life bucolic,
We look forward to our vacation,
Expecting a time of great elation.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

frolic

Frolic is well known in the BeNeLux as ... dog food:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=frolic+honden ... &ia=images
.
.

[Algot Runeman]

nebulous

adjective
neb·​u·​lous | \ ˈne-byə-ləs \
1 of, relating to, or resembling a nebula : nebular
2 indistinct, vague

-==0==-

In the cloud, knowing where your data is becomes nebulous.

[Algot Runeman]

brackish

adjective
brack·​ish | \ ˈbra-kish \
1 somewhat salty
2a not appealing to the taste
2b repulsive

-==0==-

I have a snack wish,
A salty pretzel perhaps,
One which loudly snaps,
But the drink to go with it
Should not be brackish.

[Algot Runeman]

agape

adjective or adverb
\ ə-ˈgāp also -ˈgap \
1 wide open : gaping
2 being in a state of wonder

-==0==-

Bob stood there, mouth agape,
Watching the exercise tape,
With athletes in filmy drape
Who were very much in shape.

[Algot Runeman]

adjudicate

verb
ad·​ju·​di·​cate | \ ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt \
adjudicated; adjudicating
transitive verb
to make an official decision about who is right in (a dispute) : to settle judicially
intransitive verb
to act as judge

-==0==-

Joe tried to dispute
My right to toot
Sprightly tunes in the night
On my flute.

But I wouldn't budge
And he has a grudge
So we decided
To call in a judge.

Sadly my fate
Was not too great.
The judge adjudicated,
"No tooting too late!"

[Algot Runeman]

eminently

adverb
em·​i·​nent·​ly | \ ˈe-mə-nənt-lē \
to a high degree : very

-==0==-

Edward is eminently qualified
And in that fact he takes much pride
The only thing that is not clear
Where's the work we're meant to cheer?

[Algot Runeman]

dismay

verb
dis·​may | \ dis-ˈmā, diz- \
dismayed; dismaying
transitive verb
1 to cause to lose courage or resolution (as because of alarm or fear)
2 upset, perturb
noun
1 sudden loss of courage or resolution from alarm or fear
2a sudden disappointment
2b perturbation

-==0==-

Elise noted, with dismay,
That the sky was uniformly gray.
No cloud edges shining crepuscular
At twilight, not even just for her.



[Merriam-Webster offered crepuscular today. A past post focused on crepuscule back in 2014, eliminating the variation offered. Some standard sneakiness slid the word in anyway.]

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

dismay

After two covid years without, I celebrated dismay the fourth with pomp and circumstance.