Word of the day

French stuff


Ennui- (sounds something like aan-wee) comes from French and means something like "the Blahs".
It describes an overall feeling of dissatisfaction, feeling like one is "in the doldrums", boredom,
lacking energy or enthusiasm- listlessness, lethargy, lassitude, languor- basically a fancy French term
for hanging out, with nothing going on in your life.

Laissez faire- Another word borrowed from French for "let be". It is used to describe an economic
or political system (free-market capitalism) where government intervention is discouraged and
businesses are free to make money based on self-interest.
Lately, on television, I have been hearing the term used in a non-political sense- How one raises a child,
has a romantic relationship, teaches sports, chooses reading material...
 
Some derogatory words and how they got their meaning.

Cretin- (not to be confused with cretan, a person from crete)
Cretin evolves from a Swiss-French word for "Christian" and was
originally used in a positive sense. It was originally used to refer
to inhabitants of the alps that had iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism.
Rather that ridicule and shun them as outcasts, they were referred to as
"Christians"-- basically meaning children of God who deserved respect.
Eventually, the positive association was forgotten and the word was
associated with people having mental and physical defects.

Dunce- is an eponym derived from John Duns Scotus who was a prominent
philosopher and theologian of the mediaeval period. He and his followers
wore pointy "hats" To give themselves a mystical look, like wizards. They
also believed the hats acted like funnels to pour knowledge into their brain.
By the time of the renaissance, Scotus and his followers were being ridiculed
for their narrow-minded beliefs. Eventually, the term "dunce" began to be used
in a more general sense to refer to the "mentally challenged". Some schools
punished slow learners by forcing them to wear "dunce caps", a practice that
remained common through the 1950s.

Moron- This is likely the most insidious of these 3 words. The word "moron"
was coined by Sir Francis Galton in 1910 (from a Greek word meaning "dull")
and was used to describe a person with a "mental age" between 7 and 10
or an IQ between 51-70. A movement began to "improve the population".
This eugenics movement became popular in the United States resulting in the
proliferation of racist ideas, banning of immigrants deemed unsuitable and
forcible sterilization.
 
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Edification

Instruction leading to improvement-
especially as to education or morality.

Reading through books of quotes can be an edification, in and of itself.
 
Panpsychism

is a philosophical theory that consciousness is a fundamental property of
the universe, inherent in all matter to one degree or another.

Enigmatology

is (basically) the study pf puzzles.
It studies the nature of puzzles and the mental
process of creating (and or) solving them as well as the
psychological need to solve problems and keep the brain alert.
Supposedly Will Shortz, Puzzle editor for the NYTs
holds the only degree in enigmatology
 
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Is it a rabbit or a hare?
Rabbits and hares, while both belonging to the same order (Lagomorpha), have distinct differences in size, physical features, and behavior. Hares are generally larger, with longer legs and ears, and are known for their speed and solitary nature. Rabbits, on the other hand, tend to be smaller, live in groups within burrows (warrens), and are more known for their burrowing behavior.
 
Veil vs Vale

A veil is a covering that obscures something, a cloth, for example, that
covers ones face at a wedding or religious rite, or funeral. It can also be
used more metaphorically to represent something that hides or obscures-
as in "a veil of mist formed below the waterfall" or "the plan was formulated
under a veil of secrecy".

A vale is a valley, especially a long, narrow valley with a picturesque stream-
mostly used to sound poetic or quaint, but it can also be used in a more metaphorical
sense as in "when he returned from war it was as if he wandered through a vale of sorrows".

Chrestomathy

A chrestomathy is a collection of writings by a writer- usually short stories, essays,
poetry and famous or noteworthy passages. In an episode of "The Gilmore Girls"
Rory was reading H L Mencken's Chrestomathy. A chrestomathy can also be
a selection of short passages in a foreign language that allows a person to practice
their reading skills.

Mile

Well, we have learned that the word "mile" is derived from the Roman/Latin word for
1,000. So, if a mile is the equivalent of 1,000 paces and a typical step is about 2 feet, then why isn't
a mile closer to 2,000 feet as opposed to 5,280? Well, apparently a roman "pace" was more like
5 feet- a step, and then another step so the soldier ended up on the same foot he started with.
Under those conditions a mile would equal about 5,000 feet.
In the late 1500s, the British parliament tried to standardize the mile as the equivalent of 8 furlongs
(660 X 8=5,280). Later on, much more sensible people invented the metric system.
 
Immigration vs emigration vs migration

Immigration is used from the point of view of a country where people are moving into-
starts with an "i" so think "i" for into. "many immigrants, in the past, first landed at Ellis Island".

Emigration is from the viewpoint of a country from which people are leaving- think "e" for exit.
"During the great potato famine, Irish people emigrated to other lands to avoid starvation".

Migration is a more general term that refers to people or animals moving from one place to another
for pretty much any reason or any length of time.


Crazy as a loon

Speaking of migration... Loons are migratory.

But, why are loons thought of as being "crazy". Well, over time, words can pick up various associations
and meanings from different sources and at different times.
Back around the 1400s there was a word in English,"Loun" that referred to a lout or idler and later evolved
to describe a person who was "simple" or "mad". OK, that's one possible explanation.

In Old Norse, Lomr was the word for a diving bird that evolved into "loon". Way back then, Lunar (of the moon) came to mean
"mentally unbalanced" because the moon was thought to affect people with a sort of craziness- as in "lunatic".
In this sense, where one word sound like another word, they begin to share blended meanings. So, that is
another possible explanation.

Loons, themselves, are awkward on land and can barely walk because of the location of their feet and they
are known for making weird, crazy-sounding noises. And this is another possible way that loons are
associated with craziness.

Canada

So, why did Canada start calling their dollars "loonies". Well, in Canada, the loon is considered a graceful,
dignified bird as long as it is in water and not trying to walk on land. So, when it came time to mint new coins
(I forgot the year) the designer put the figure of a loon on one side, and the Canadians started calling them "loonies".
They also have a two dollar coin with a polar bear design (worth 2 loonies) that they call a "toonie".
 
Punnet
Punnet is the British term for a small, lightweight basket of small fruits- usually berries.

So, if you spend about $700.00 for a flight to London and (depending on day and area) say around $600.00
for tickets, and lodging (maybe $1,000.00) then, between games, you might just get a really good deal
on a punnet of strawberries and cream for 2.75 pounds (around $3.75). Yum.
In the USA we call a punnet a "berry basket".
 
Topper

I just happen to be watching Topper Returns and although the
character is named Cosmo Topper, topper also means drunk, dipsomaniac, inebriate,
tippler, sot, lush, souse, boozer,tosspot, juicehead... well, there was lots of drinking in the movie.
The best thing about the topper series was in the first one, and it was the car.

 
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Cartouche

A cartouche is an oblong flattened out Egyptian drawing or tablet- depicting a scroll most often
having a name inscribed inside a protective loop with the name of a Pharoah or a god.

The word "cartouche" comes from the French word for "cartridge" because the shape reminded
Napoleon's troops of a paper cartridge. Carte comes from latin for "paper". rather than load
their rifles with gunpowder, wadding, and bullet separately, they were prepared ahead of time
and wrapped in paper to hold everything together.

During the various times Egypt became popularized by various discoveries, jewelry in the
style of Egyptian motifs became faddish and necklaces were sold with a cartouche-shaped pendant.

 
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Catharsis

Catharsis, from ancient Greek means a purification, cleansing, or purging,
and is often mentioned in reference to the Greek plays.

Greek plays were often performed in association to "spas", therapeutic, healing, centers
named for Asclepius (god of medicine and healing).
Much like spas today they would have areas devoted to exercise, intellectual discussion, mud and thermal baths,
aromatic oils, as well as theaters where tragedies were designed to release repressed emotions.
Some of the Greek terms found their way into Freudian-style psychoanalysis and therapy.
 
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Polymath (from Greek for "one who knows many things")
is a person with extensive knowledge or expertise in many areas, just as
Leonardo da Vinci was masterful in art, technology, physiology...

Inculcate means to teach or instill a habit or way of thinking into someone
through teaching or constant repetition or pressure. "The cult tried to inculcate
its beliefs into members through various forms of peer pressure.

Elicit means to draw forth or evoke a response or reaction.
"The hypnotist tried to elicit a childhood memory of his patient
through hypnotic regression.

Soubriquet (so-bri-quet)
is basically just a "nickname".
Ever since the age of three, Euphemia Shintalgo has been known
to her friends and family as "Pookie".

Agnomen is a word added to someone's real name that also
acts as a sort of nickname or epithet- things like "Stonewall" Jackson, Alexander "The Great"
or "Iron" Mike Tyson.
 
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noun: avarice


extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
"he was rich beyond the dreams of avarice"

Origin

(Latin) avarus (greedy) > (Latin) avaritia > (Old French) avarice (Middle English)
 
Odds and ends

Philtre A philtre is a potion, especially a love potion.



Reductio ad absurdum In a logical argument or debate a reductio ad absurdum
is the taking of an idea or assertion to its ultimate conclusion- which is then
shown to be ridiculous.

 
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Stigmata (or even "stigma" or "stigmatize")

Basically stigmata can be used in 2 ways- 1, as a "mark", something that a person is associated with
that tends to skew the way others see that person. Because Blaine had made certain statements
on X, he acquired the stigmata of being a racist and lost his job as weatherman on the local news,
or- was "stigmatized" by being seen as a racist.

A stigmata can also be an actual physical mark- usually due to a sort of religious mana where the person
develops scar-like marks that mimic those of Jesus in the Bible, and may show nail-like scars on palms
or thorn-like scratches on forehead- sometimes thy may be "faked" by self-mutilation.

 
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Holy Toledo

I heard someone say "holy Toledo" on TV the other day, but why?
Are they referring to the Ohio town itself? Somehow I doubt it.

Terms like "Holy Toledo" are referred to as "minced oaths" and
a minced oath is a euphemism (from Greek for "good speaking)
for some other term that might be offensive to the hoi polloi.

There are many guesses about where holy Toledo became a thing.
Most likely it does not refer to Toledo Ohio, but rather Toledo Spain
that was once called "The holy city of Toledo" where Christian, Muslim and
Jewish cultures coexisted for centuries.

Other minced oaths beginning with "holy" include-

Holy Moly (or Molly- substituting for "Mary, mother of Jesus")
Holy guacamole- a portmanteau
Holy Cow
Holy mackerel
Holy smokes

More???
 
Ghoti
Some languages are "phonetic". That means that you can look at a word and know how to say it.
English is not phonetic. You cannot always look at an English word and know how to say it.
You cannot always hear an English word and know how to spell it.

Consider the following question as an example:

How do we pronounce the word "ghoti"?

The answer is "fish".

How can "ghoti" and "fish" sound the same?

  • gh = f as in rouGH
  • o = i as in wOmen
  • ti = sh as in naTIon
Of course, this is a joke*. The word "ghoti" is not even a real word. But it shows the inconsistency of English spelling.

What follows is a comic doing a routine about a similar aspect of word pronunciation--

 
Koan

The concept of a Koan originated in China and traveled to
Japan where it meant something like "matter for public thought".
The Koan might be a simple question, a statement, a story, a dialogue
and such that provokes the student of Buddhism to think "outside the box",
so to speak. It is form of meditation where there is no clearly correct
answer or response, but just to ponder nature, reality and the relation of
object and perceiver.
So, the most basic, well known koan, is "what is the sound of one hand clapping?".
The master does not want a logical, analytical essay, but something
more like a sigh of understanding, or maybe a slap to the face (very iffy), or
maybe a closing of eyes and groping in the dark.
Consider how you’d react if asked you which color you like better, purple or orange.
Then think about what you’d think if asked which color you like better, purple or seven.
You’d likely scoff and reply that seven is not a color. Yet there might be a moment
where you had to pause and consider context. That moment of doubt, where you’d
need to stop to think things through, is the driving factor behind the koan.
Below are a few typical Koans, but there are hundreds, once you start looking.

Two hands clap and there is a sound. What is the sound of one hand?

If you meet the Buddha, kill him.

Without thinking of good or evil, show me your original face before your mother and father were born.

Two monks are arguing about a flag. One says, “The flag is moving.” The other, “The wind is moving.”
A third walks by and says, “Not the wind, not the flag; the mind is moving.”

British-American philosopher Alan Watts discovered a kindred spirit between Zen writings, haiku,
and koans with beat poetry. Watts writes that it’s not about impressing the listener or conveying a
grand meaning, but rather “to evoke something in the listener.” Self-discovery is the goal, he
continues, which you do not reach by seeking.
 
Caveat

A caveat is a sort of warning, stipulation, condition or limitation.

For example, a product might be sold with the caveat that the guarantee
would be invalid if not notarized within 15 days of the sale. Or, someone may be hires for a job,
with a caveat that they could be dismissed if you fail to show up 3 times
within the period of a year.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
an·ti·no·mi·an
/ˈan(t)ēˌnōmēən/
noun
plural noun: antinomians
  1. a person holding antinomian beliefs.
Antinomianism (from Greek "against law" is a theological view that rejects the necessity of obedience to
moral law for salvation, arguing that Christians are freed from the law by divine grace.

The term originated during the Protestant Reformation when many clashes and accusations flung about.
Essentially, it's the belief that Christians are not obligated to follow any moral or legal laws because faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
Aside from its religious meaning, it also can refer to secular situation where one may oppose laws for various reasons.
The laws may be biased, racist, Draconian, outdated...

The opposite side to antinomianism is "legalism" which argues that strict adherence to religious laws for salvation.

 
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Nothingburger

Well, with a large heading like that, the information
below it should be of special interest, but in reality it's
pretty much a nothingburger. Nothingburger, a term that
originated in the early 1950s, refers to anything that is hyped
up to be great, but in reality is no big deal, fails to
meet expectations, fizzles out, disappoints, is unworthy
of notice...

The new CEO of the company was supposed to be an
organizational Einstein, but he turned out to be a nothingburger.
 
Aura farming

(I just copied this definition straight from Google)

Aura farming" refers to the act of deliberately or unconsciously projecting an aura of coolness and confidence, often by appearing unbothered or effortlessly stylish. It's a term that combines gaming terminology (farming for experience points) with the idea of cultivating a desirable persona, especially within online communities. In essence, it's about trying to look cool and collected, often in a way that can be perceived as either effortlessly stylish or trying too hard, depending on the execution.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Core Concept: Aura farming is about creating and projecting a specific image or vibe, often one of coolness, confidence, and nonchalance. It can involve seemingly small actions or behaviors that are intended to be noticed and admired, but done in a way that appears natural and unforced.

Gaming Connection: The term "farming" is borrowed from video games, where players repeatedly perform tasks to gain experience points, items, or other rewards. In the context of aura farming, this translates to repeatedly engaging in actions or adopting behaviors that are perceived as contributing to one's "aura" or perceived level of coolness.

Examples:
    • Effortless coolness:
      Someone standing silently at a party, yet still commanding attention, or casually completing a task without drawing attention to themselves.
    • Cultivating an aesthetic:
      Aligning one's clothing, social media presence, and even friendships with a specific desired look or persona.
    • Performing actions for perceived cool points:
      A singer doing a specific dance move that's popular, or someone performing a magic trick at a party.
Cringe Factor: Aura farming can be perceived as "cringe" or "trying too hard" when the effort to appear cool becomes too obvious or excessive. For example, someone constantly trying to show off a trick or a story at a party could be seen as aura farming in a negative way.
 
Aboulomania
Is a psychological condition where the person has extreme difficulty
making decisions- even simple ones. They may exhibit high levels of anxiety and uncertainty.
They may tend to think and rethink excessively, in a loop of doubt and anxiety.

Analysis paralysis

well, sometimes even people without psychological problems find it difficult to decide.
Sometimes situations are so complex, interconnected, or convoluted, that it is impossible to
make a perfect decision.

Terms that describe situations so complicated that decision-making becomes difficult include:

  • Decision paralysis: This describes a state where an individual is overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of choices, causing an inability to make a decision. It is also known as analysis paralysis.
  • Analysis paralysis: This happens when overthinking or over-analyzing a situation leads to difficulty making a decision or taking action.
  • Choice overload (or overchoice): This refers to the paradoxical situation where having too many choices can be detrimental to decision-making processes, leading to feelings of anxiety, stress, and indecision.
  • Cognitive overload: This refers to the point when the mental effort required to process information and make a decision exceeds our cognitive capacity, leading to decreased focus, retention, and overall performance.
  • Decision fatigue: This refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual over a given period, according to the American Medical Association. It's caused by the mental and emotional exhaustion that results from excessive or relentless decision-making.
  • Wicked problems: These are complex, ill-defined problems with no clear or easy solutions, often involving contradictory and changing requirements. They are common in areas like social policy and urban planning.
  • Dilemma: A situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
  • Predicament: A difficult, perplexing, or trying situation.
  • Quandary: A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
Phrases emphasizing complexity
  • Can of worms: A situation that, once started, is likely to create many additional, unforeseen problems.
  • Gordian knot: A complex or unsolvable problem.
  • Labyrinthine: Something complicated and intricate, like a maze.
  • Wheels within wheels: A complex situation involving many interconnected parts or influences.

Here is a quote that I will also put in the quotation section:

Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well informed
just to be undecided about them- (Laurence J Peter)
 
Yam

The things you buy at the local supermarket are most probably not yams.
They are sweet potatoes with orange flesh.

So, why do we (most people here in the US) call them yams?
Well, yams are not native to the US, They are native to Africa and Asia.
A yam is a tuber and a sweet potato is a root.

When African slaves were brought to the US and were fed sweet potatoes
they called them yams because they resembled the yams they
knew from before

Additionally, in the 1930s, a new variety of sweet potato was introduced,
that was larger and sweeter- with soft orange flesh. to distinguish them
from run-of-the-mill sweet potatoes, the producers called them yams.

Neither yams nor sweet potatoes are "potatoes". All 3 are distinct vegetables.

 
Fey

Fey, a word that evolved out of an old English or Scottish root
for "fated" or doomed. Words meanings do tend to change over time.
Today, fey refers to someone or something whimsical, odd or eccentric,
but can also mean clairvoyant or having supernatural powers, otherworldly,
fairy or fairy-like.

Here is a trailer abous a French film called La Fee (same root as Fey))
that has some cute moments.

 
Starts with a "T"

Turbid, torpid, turpid, tumid

Torpid means lethargic, mentally and physically inactive, sluggish.
After finishing Thanksgiving dinner plus two desserts uncle Joe became
a torpid blob, ready to hibernate for the near future.

Turbid means cloudy and thickly opaque with suspended matter.
The SCUBA diver was looking for his left flipper that he lost in the
shallow waters near seal rock, however the playful seals caused the
water to to stir up and become a turbid, muddy mess. he never found
that flipper.

Turpid (turpitude is the more common form), means foul, base, shameful,
wicked, morally depraved,or having the quality of behaving in a way contrary
to moral, standards.The criminals soon became aware that it was unwise to trust anyone
with such turpitude as their cohort, "Lucky Jimmy" the with any amount
of untraceable loot.

Tumid means (especially in reference to the body) swollen.
After being hit in the eye by a tennis ball, the tumid skin turned the color of
Welch's grape juice and took on the general shape of a squinty, purple clam.
 
Punkawallah

Sounds a little bit like Bagumbawalla.


A "punkawallah" is a term originating from South Asia, referring to a servant who manually operated a punkah, a large, swinging fan, often used in colonial households to provide relief from the heat. This manual labor was a common part of everyday life, particularly during hot weather, until more modern cooling methods became widespread.


Key aspects of a punkawallah:
  • Operated the punkah:
    Their primary role was to pull a cord or rope connected to the punkah, causing it to swing back and forth and create airflow.

    • Historical significance:
      Punkawallahs were a notable feature of households and public spaces in India and other areas under British colonial influence.
    • Etymology:
      The term is a combination of "punkah," referring to the fan, and "wallah," a suffix often used in South Asia to denote a person associated with a particular trade or activity.
    • Modern usage:
      While the traditional role of a punkawallah is largely obsolete due to modern air conditioning, the term can sometimes appear in contemporary contexts, such as naming a pet or in artistic references, as seen in various media or online content.

 
Trope

Well, I was just going to define "trope", but then I thought about examples, then I found this page-
so I just copied it. Some need further explanation and examples, but it's a start.

Tropes​

Tropes are words or phrases whose contextual meaning differs from the manner or sense in which they are ordinarily used.

  • Accismus: expressing the want of something by denying it.
  • Adynaton: an extreme form of hyperbole (exaggeration). It the opposite of understatement.
  • Allegory: a metaphoric narrative in which the literal elements indirectly reveal a parallel story of symbolic or abstract significance.
  • Allusion: covert reference to another work of literature or art.
  • Anacoenosis: posing a question to an audience, often with the implication that it shares a common interest with the speaker.
  • Analogy: a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
  • Anapodoton: leaving a common known saying unfinished.
  • Antanaclasis: a form of pun in which a word is repeated in two different senses.
  • Anthimeria: transformation of a word of a certain word class to another word class: such as a noun for a verb and vice versa.
  • Anthropomorphism: ascribing human characteristics to something that is not human, such as an animal or a god (see zoomorphism).
  • Antiphrasis: a name or a phrase used ironically such that it is obvious of what the true intention is: see verbal irony.
  • Antonomasia: substitution of a proper name for a phrase or vice versa.
  • Aphorism: briefly phrased, easily memorable statement of a truth or opinion, an adage.
  • Aporia: faked or sincere puzzled questioning.
  • Apophasis: (Invoking) an idea by denying its (invocation), also known as occupatio or paralipsis.
  • Apostrophe: when an actor or speaker addresses an absent third party, often a personified abstraction or inanimate object.
  • Bathos: pompous speech with a ludicrously mundane worded anti-climax.
  • Catachresis: blatant misuse of words or phrases.
  • Cliché: overused phrase or theme.
  • Dysphemism: substitution of a harsher, more offensive, or more disagreeable term for another. Opposite of euphemism.
  • Ekphrasis: lively describing something you see, often a painting.
  • Epanorthosis: immediate and emphatic self-correction, often following a slip of the tongue.
  • Euphemism: substitution of a less offensive or more agreeable term for another.
  • Hyperbole: use of exaggerated terms for emphasis.
  • Hypocatastasis: an implication or declaration of resemblance that does not directly name both terms.
  • Hypophora: answering one's own rhetorical question at length.
  • Illeism: the act of referring to oneself in the third person instead of first person.
  • Innuendo: having a hidden meaning in a sentence that makes sense whether it is detected or not.
  • Irony: use of word in a way that conveys a meaning opposite to its usual meaning.
  • Kenning: using a compound word neologism to form a metonym.
  • Litotes: emphasizing the magnitude of a statement by denying its opposite.
 
And more...
  • Malapropism: using a word through confusion with a word that sounds similar.
  • Meiosis: use of understatement, usually to diminish the importance of something.
  • Merism: type of synecdoche referring to two or more contrasting parts to describe it's whole
  • Metalepsis: figurative speech is used in a new context.
  • Metaphor: an implied comparison between two things, attributing the properties of one thing to another that it does not literally possess.
  • Metonymy: a thing or concept is called not by its own name but rather by the name of something associated in meaning with that thing or concept.
  • Nosism: the practice of using the pronoun we to refer to oneself when expressing a personal opinion.
  • Non sequitur: statement that bears no relationship to the context preceding.
  • Onomatopoeia: words that sound like their meaning.
  • Oxymoron: using two terms together, that normally contradict each other.
  • Parable: extended metaphor told as an anecdote to illustrate or teach a moral lesson.
  • Paradiastole: extenuating a vice in order to flatter or soothe.
  • Paradox: use of apparently contradictory ideas to point out some underlying truth.
  • Paraprosdokian: phrase in which the latter part causes a rethinking or reframing of the beginning.
  • Parody: humouristic imitation.
  • Paronomasia: pun in which similar-sounding words but words having a different meaning are used.
  • Pathetic fallacy: ascribing human conduct and feelings to nature.
  • Personification: attributing or applying human qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena.
  • Pleonasm: the use of more words than is necessary for clear expression.
  • Procatalepsis: refuting anticipated objections as part of the main argument.
  • Proslepsis: extreme form of paralipsis in which the speaker provides great detail while feigning to pass over a topic.
  • Proverb: succinct or pithy, often metaphorical, expression of wisdom commonly believed true.
  • Pun: play on words that has two meanings.
  • Rhetorical question: asking a question as a way of asserting something. Asking a question that already has the answer hidden in it, or asking a question not to get an answer, but to assert something (or to create a poetic effect).
  • Satire: humoristic criticism of society.
  • Sesquipedalianism: use of long and obscure words.
  • Simile: comparison between two things using like or as.
  • Snowclone: alteration of cliché or phrasal template.
  • Syllepsis: the use of a word in its figurative and literal sense at the same time or a single word used in relation to two other parts of a sentence although the word grammatically or logically applies to only one.
  • Synecdoche: form of metonymy, referring to a part by its whole, or a whole by its part.
  • Synesthesia: description of one kind of sense impression by using words that normally describe another.
  • Tautology: superfluous repetition of the same sense in different words Example: The children gathered in a round circle
  • Zeugma: use of a single verb to describe two or more actions.
  • Zoomorphism: applying animal characteristics to humans or gods.
 
Etui

An etui is a (sort of) fashion accessory popular, for those who could afford one,
from about the 1600s through the 1800s.
In a way it was sort of like an oldies version of a Swiss army knife- basically an
ornamental what-not box to hold useful items- perfume, scissors, thread,
thimbles, pencils and other handy items. Additionally, it was an item that indicated status,
prestige, wealth.

Below is a short video (where they pronounce etui and show another use that I was
unaware of.


Now that I think of it, in Japan, when Kimonos were worn, they had no pockets
and in inro was used in a similar way to the etui, the inro was hung over the obi with
an ornamental "hook" called a netsuke and filled with similar sorts of handy things.

 
Penthouse and appendix share the same etymology

The words "appendix" and "penthouse" share a common etymological root.

Explanation

  • Both words ultimately derive from the Latin verb appendere, meaning "to hang (from something)," "to be attached to," or "to weigh out".
  • Appendix: Came into English directly from the Latin appendix, meaning "an addition, continuation, something attached," according to the Online Etymology Dictionary.
  • Penthouse: It evolved from the Old French apentis (meaning "attached building" or "appendage"), which in turn came from Medieval Latin appendicium and ultimately from the same Latin appendere.
Over time, apentis entered Middle English as pentis and later became "penthouse" through folk etymology, influenced by the Middle French word pente (meaning "slope") and the English word "house". Initially, "penthouse" referred to a shed or structure attached to a main building, often with a sloping roof. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the term became associated with luxurious apartments on the top floor of tall buildings.

This is not earthshaking information. but, under certain circumstances might be something you can throw into the conversation
 
Words you might never use

Gnomon- On a sundial, the (often triangular) part that casts the shadow over the time markers is the gnomen.


Planchette- A planchette is lightweight, flat, wood or plastic- often with small casters or disks of felt
to facilitate it's movement across a table or Ouija board. The planchette moves by the use of muscular
movements that are not consciously controlled. On a Ouija board it moves across printed letters to spell
messages. Another type has a pencil pointed downward to enable "automatic" writing.


Widdershins- Widdershins means the opposite of normal- especially in reference to movement.
For example if Mars revolves around the sun in a counter-clockwise manner, there is a point in its orbit where
it seems to move backwards (retrograde) widdershins. to tighten a bolt turn it clockwise, to loosen it
turn it widdershins. When the Sun moves West to East (widdershins) it is a bad omen.


By the way Ouija is pronounced by most people as Wee-gee, however, the word is
actually a portmanteau- in this case oui (yes in French) and ja (yes in German) so others
pronounce it more like wee- yah- take your pick.
 
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Tragedy

Well, I think we know what someone means when they say something is a tragic.
In a Greek play, or a work that follows the pattern of a Greek play, a tragedy
involves the story of a main character who's downfall comes as a result of hubris,
or overweening pride, arrogance- a feeling that one cannot be touched, that results
in suffering and downfall.

in a more general sense, tragedy can mean almost any unhappy ending dealing with
suffering and loss.

OK, that much is fairly straightforward, but why is it called "tragedy"?
Tragedy, the word comes from Greek roots that together mean "goat-song"
And why are goats associated with tragedy?

Ancient Greek plays were often part of a spa-like experience where people would go
for revitalization, relaxation, massage, games, emotional cleansing and so on, often in celebration
of festivals related to the gods.

One of those gods was Dionysus who was associated with wine, festivity, fertility, lack or restraint.
and goats- who were also associated with unrestrained sexuality.

My guess is that this sort of lack of restraint can result in a feeling of ecstatic freedom from restriction
or catharsis and regret over unrestrained behavior.

Sounds kind of Freudian in a way.
 
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Random words- mostly from crosswords

Alms- Alms are offerings to the poor- especially in the form of food or money.
A person or institution that provides alms is an almer.

Chattel- is a word that means personal possessions and can be anything except real estate or buildings
on that estate. At one time (and even today) women, especially wives were treated as chattel by the husband.

Syllogism- Is a word that applies to formal system of deductive logic used to formulate an argument or a formal
proof. Birds are bipeds, birds can fly. Humans are also bipeds, therefore humans can fly- is an example of
something with the structure of a syllogism but none of the logic.

Yclept- is an old word that simply means "by the name of" or "known as"-- as in "Alexander the Great
owned a famous horse yclept "Bucephalus".
 
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More random crossword-type words

Baleful- means ominous, menacing, foreshadowing evil. The ship's crew fell into an odd silence as baleful
clouds massed in the western sky. The judge cast a baleful look toward the defendant and called for the jury's verdict.

Afoot- In a Sherlock Holms story you might read something like, "the game is afoot" with "afoot" meaning
something like "starting", "stirring" or "brewing". Holms noticed the newsboys congregating on the sidewalk and knew that something tricky
was afoot.

Lagomorph- Lagomorph might be a good word to know if you are a contestant on Jeopardy and they
want to know the order for animals including the rabbit, hare and pika.

Toxophilite- in 1584 a book having that title was published about archery from roots meaning "lover of the bow",
and the word has come to mean "relating to archers or archery". side note, the "toxo" part is related to "poison" which
was sometimes smeared on arrow tips.

Diadem- In addition to being the name of a tennis and pickleball company, a diadem is a jeweled crown or headband
symbolizing royal power,

Red herring- A red herring is a bit of information that is used to to mislead or distract from the truth.
In a mystery novel, for example, the culprit may leave behind fake footprints to fool the detective into
following the wrong escape route. In politics a red herring is a form of logical fallacy used (for example) when answering a
question to ignore the truth and bring up some misleading or distracting statements.
 
Eponym
An eponym is a word that is derived from a person's name- someone who discovered something,
invented something, is known for something... or even a fictional character that is associated with
some quirk, or behavior.

Lynching,
for example is a word that (most likely) originated around the time of the American revolution when a
a guy named Charles Lynch (who was a justice of the peace) took it on himself to ignore law and harass
and torment those in his community who sided with the British. Though he is not known to have hanged anyone,
he called his self-appointed punishments "Lynch laws". Later the KKK in the Southern states adopted a
similar mentality.

Malapropism
This word comes from a fictional character in a play, The Rivals, where a character, Mrs Malaprop tended
to use words incorrectly (sort of like Archie Bunker in the TV show).

Sierpinski triangle
A sierpinski triangle is a fractal pattern of equilateral triangles created by a simple repetitive technique.

 
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wimble​


[wim-buhl]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun​

  1. a device used especially in mining for extracting the rubbish from a bored hole.
  2. a marbleworker's brace for drilling.
  3. any of various other instruments for boring.
 
Born on third base

-A baseball-related metaphor applied to someone born into
wealth and advantage- like starting out on third without having to
work your way through first and second bases.
"Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth", is a similar saying that
indicates being born into wealth like "trust fund baby" or "nepo baby".
 
Random Words

Antipode- An antipode is a point directly opposite on the Earth's surface if a line is drawn from your location through
the Earth's center to the other side. The Antipodes islands got their name because it was thought that they were almost
antipodal to London.


Scree- if you have ever been hiking up a steep slope and your feet were slipping and sliding on smallish stones
that are the result of years (and years) of erosion.

Schist- If instead of gravel- like scree, the rock is more flat, like roofing tiles that have become disconnected and are
crunching and sliding under foot- that might be schist.


Twee- Twee comes from baby-talk pronunciation for the word "sweet"- something or someone that is excessively
cutesy, and affected that it seems cloying, sickeningly sweet.

 
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Olallieberry

An olallieberry is a cross between a loganberry (blackberry-raspberry hybrid)
and a youngberry.

If you want an olallieberry pie, you may be able to find some frozen berries,
but if you want something a bit more fresh, you may need to come to California.
It may be worth the trip, just for that. They may be available in other cities, but
Cambria (a small costal village) does have olallieberry pie (can't remember the name of the place).
Get it with vanilla ice-cream.

Heteronym(s)

Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same, but when pronounced
differently they have different meanings- like "tear"- to rip, or "watery drop from eye".

Quirt
A quirt is a "riding stick", a short whip for horses, usually with a braided "lash"
for urging the horse faster, or, maybe, just because it seemed "cool" to carry it around.
My great-great grandfather had one that concealed a long, slender, pointed shaft
that might have used for self-defense back in the old west.

Maven
A maven is someone who is an acknowledged expert in a particular area.
It is derived from a Yiddish word meaning "one who understands".
So, on a show like "Pawn Stars", when their knowledge is not enough, they call in
someone who is an expert in their field-- a book-maven or guitar expert, possibly
the "beard of knowledge" (mavens). When it comes to tennis, major tournaments are often
attended by Anna Wintour, considered a maven of the fashion world
 
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waylay​

verb​

way·lay ˈwā-ˌlā

waylaid ˈwā-ˌlād ; waylaying; waylays
Synonyms of waylay
transitive verb

1
: to lie in wait for or attack (someone) from ambush
… he had been waylaid, bound hand and foot, and thrown into a marsh. But he got out again, somehow, to cause a great deal of trouble yet.—Charles Dickens


2
: to temporarily stop the movement or progress of (someone or something)
The barkeeper, Tony, would come out of his saloon and wait to waylay the men going home. He could always entice a man with a full pocket into his saloon.—Meridel Le Sueur

I can get waylaid by tangential thoughts and associations in mid-sentence, and this leads to parentheses, subordinate clauses, sentences of paragraphic length. I never use one adjective if six seem to me better and, in their cumulative effect, more incisive.—Oliver Sacks
 
A funicular (/fjuːˈnɪkjʊlər, f(j)ʊ-, f(j)ə-/ few-NIK-yoo-lər, f(y)uu-, f(j)ə-)<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a>, or funicular railway, is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, which is looped over a pulley at the upper end of the track.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-Giessbach-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-TCQSM-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a> The result of such a configuration is that the two carriages move synchronously: as one ascends, the other descends at an equal speed. This feature distinguishes funiculars from inclined elevators, which have a single car that is hauled uphill.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-Giessbach-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-TCQSM-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-Pyrgidis-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a>

The term funicular derives from the Latin word funiculus, the diminutive of funis, meaning 'rope'.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a>
 
Piquant is normally used in reference to food that is pleasantly sharp, pungent, tangy, spiced, intriguing or zesty.
Grant discovered a wonderfully piquant cheese that meshed perfectly with the roasted garlic, low-salt Triscuits
he bought by accident last week.

In addition to food, piquant can also refer to something that sharply affects the mind or some other sense, like vision
in a way that is pleasant, stimulating, interesting. When Grant asked his wife what she wanted to do after dinner,
she responded with a piquant wink and a smile.

Sui generis- (Sounds like "swee-generous) comes from Latin roots that mean something like "of its own kind", unique, peculiar, in a class by itself.
In his hippie days Grant's character and personality was sui generis, "I'm just doing my own thing, man, he
would reply."

In Law, sui generis would apply to a person, thing or legal situation that has no precedent in standard legal procedure,
and must be dealt with as a unique instance- as, for example, certain special patents.

Plectrum- A plectrum is a device for striking or plucking a string to produce a well defined note. Many guitar
players, depending on their style, just use a triangular piece of flat plastic with rounded corners, but other instruments
have their own requirements. The harpsichord, unlike a piano that "hammers" the string, has little plectra that pluck.

 
A cockpit or flight deck<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a> is the area, on the front part of an aircraft, spacecraft, or submersible, from which a pilot controls the vehicle.


The cockpit of an aircraft contains flight instruments on an instrument panel, and the controls that enable the pilot to fly the aircraft. In most airliners, a door separates the cockpit from the aircraft cabin. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, all major airlines fortified their cockpits against access by hijackers.

Etymology​

edit
The word cockpit seems to have been used as a nautical term in the 17th century, without reference to **** fighting. It referred to an area in the rear of a ship where the cockswain's station was located, the cockswain being the pilot of a smaller "boat" that could be dispatched from the ship to board another ship or to bring people ashore. The word "cockswain" in turn derives from the old English terms for "boat-servant" (coque is the French word for "shell"; and swain was old English for boy or servant).<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> The midshipmen and master's mates were later berthed in the cockpit, and it served as the action station for the ship's surgeon and his mates during battle. Thus by the 18th century, "cockpit" had come to designate an area in the rear lower deck of a warship where the wounded were taken. The same term later came to designate the place from which a sailing vessel is steered, because it is also located in the rear, and is often in a well or "pit".<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-Cockpit-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a>

However, a convergent etymology does involve reference to **** fighting. According to the Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, the buildings in London where the king's cabinet worked (the Treasury and the Privy Council) were called the "Cockpit" because they were built on the site of a theater called The Cockpit (torn down in 1635), which itself was built in the place where a "cockpit" for ****-fighting had once stood prior to the 1580s. Thus the word Cockpit came to mean a control center.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a>

The original meaning of "cockpit", first attested in the 1580s, is "a pit for fighting cocks", referring to the place where cockfights were held. This meaning no doubt influenced both lines of evolution of the term, since a cockpit in this sense was a tight enclosure where a great deal of stress or tension would occur.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-Cockpit-4"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a>

From about 1935,<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a>[<em><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (April 2014)">citation needed</span></a></em>] cockpit came to be used informally to refer to the driver's cabin, especially in high performance cars,<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a> and this is official terminology used to describe the compartment<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a> that the driver occupies in a Formula One<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a> car.

In an airliner, the cockpit is usually referred to as the flight deck, the term deriving from its use by the RAF for the separate, upper platform in large flying boats where the pilot and co-pilot sat.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a>[<em><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text near this tag may need clarification or removal of jargon. (August 2017)">clarification needed</span></a></em>]<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a>[<em><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text near this tag may need clarification or removal of jargon. (August 2017)">clarification needed</span></a></em>] In the USA and many other countries, however, the term cockpit is also used for airliners.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-Express-13"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a>

The seat of a powerboat racing craft is also referred to as the cockpit.<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a>
 
Words that I actually came across in an essay (from the 1920s)

Acroamatic- is a sort of specialized word that refers to teaching that is communicated
orally- especially to a select (chosen few) group and not for the general public. It
originally referred to the way Aristotle taught his students.

Brummagem- means a cheaply made (mass-produced) product made to resemble something
conventionally made, or handmade of high quality.
The word may be a corruption of Birmingham, a British city known at the time for Knock-offs
of high-priced goods.
In modern times there are certain websites that are associated with inferior quality products.
I once bought razor blades from such a place because Gillette blades were so expensive.
My face still regrets the experiment. Maybe we could create a new word for cheap stuff.

Dephlogisticate- is an outmoded term used by the scientist Joseph Priestly (who sort of discovered oxygen).
He believed that something called a phlogiston inhibited burning. Actually, rather than discovering
something that made burning more difficult, he discovered oxygen (per Antonine Lavoisier)
that helped the oxidization process.
In the context where I read it the word was used to explain the hocus-pocus used by politicians in an election
year to make meaningless promises- "to make the rich poor, to remedy the irredeemable, to succor the
unsuccorable, to unscramble the unscrambleable, to dephlogisticate the undephlogisticatable.

Pedagogy- is probably a more useful word than acroamatic. it simply means, or refers to, the art and science
of teaching- especially children, rather than adults. A pedagogue is a teacher- especially a strict, pedantic one.
Pedantic- refers to a teacher who comes across as pretentions, tedious, overly focused on small details.
 
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Coinkydink- is a cutesy-sounding word for a coincidence that may have some cute element involved.
Maybe two women meet as they are entering a nice restaurant- each with the other's former boyfriend.
"What a coinkydink," one might say, I guess no introductions are needed.

Adventitious- means happening by chance or accident- rather than something planned.
"It was completely adventitious that while hiking I fell in a stream and found a gold nugget."

Platitude- means an overused saying with a simplistic moral message, like "Every ending is a new beginning,"
(from the first paragraph of a book I decided not to read).

Otorhinolaryngologist- is a doctor specializing in diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting
the ears, nose, throat, head and neck- often just called ENTs for ear, nose and throat.

Aporia- is a word that basically means a paradoxical leading to questions or doubts from which no easy resolution seems possible.
Rene' Magritte painted a picture of a pipe, but below the pipe is written, "This is not a pipe." As a kind of paradox, that
is a sort of aporia- causing on to stop and think. More often we find aporia in writing or speaking where a character finds himself
in a difficult conundrum- possibly a "damned if I don't, damned if I do sort of situation.

This video has a couple examples-

 
Jugulate- means about what you might expect if you know of O J Simpson.
It means to kill someone by cutting the throat.

Quotidian- mean ordinary in the sense that it is something that happens every day, mundane.
He prepared for his quotidian train ride to work by pocketing a mystery novel and a
tuna sandwich.

Faux pas- A faux pas (pronounced something like foe-pa) means a mistake, especially
an embarrassing social blunder, maybe like calling someone by the wrong name or wearing
miss-matched socks to a fancy dinner party.

Baldric- A baldric is a strap worn across the chest from shoulder to opposite hip- usually for holding
something like a sword, or a bugle. A Bandolier- is a similar strap specifically used for carrying
ammunition. A riband is a large ribbon also worn diagonally across the chest that represents
a European order of chivalry or merit. A Sash- or shoulder sash is another (general) name for a decorative fabric
band worn for a ceremony or formal occasion.

Hedonic adaptation- is the tendency for humans to return a stable level of happiness after having
experienced some great positive or negative event like winning the lottery or losing a loved one.

 
sundry
/ˈsʌndri/

Pronunciation

British pronunciation
Sounds like
suhn·dree


noun
plural noun: sundries
  1. 1.
    various items not important enough to be mentioned individually.
    "a drugstore selling magazines, newspapers, and sundries"

  2. 2.
    Australian English•Cricket
    a run scored other than from a hit with the bat, credited to the batting side rather than to a batter; an extra.
Origin
e8cde21a8634995e2a861fc16970236a98fa0265ad1debe863ce280747256c22.png

Old English syndrig ‘distinct, separate’; related to sunder.
 
Occam's razor- is a term that is used now and then to suggest that the simplest and most straightforward
explanation for something should be considered first, before delving into more complex explanations.
It's an old philosophical principal dating back to philosopher/theologian William of Occam
and even early Greek philosophers.

In detective mysteries the detective will sometimes refer to Occam's razor to dispose of confusing details
designed to throw investigators off the track.

I vaguely remember that when the Sun and planets were believed to rotate around a fixed Earth, complex
formulas involving the planets making smaller circular motions, during their larger orbit, were created to explain why they
seemed to sometimes reverse course. Turns out there was a much simpler explanation.

"Principal of parsimony" is a term sometimes used to refer to the same concept.

 
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