GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
In Lord of Chaos (Wheel of Time Book 6), the Salidar Aes Sedai are looking for their rebel Amrylin Seat, and conclude that they would be wise to elect a "biddable child." There belief that Egwene fits the bill turns out to be erroneous. "Stupid child" perhaps, after Crossroads of Twilight, but hardly biddable.
Word of the Day for Monday April 4, 2005
amanuensis \un-man-yoo-EN-sis\, noun; plural amanuenses, \-seez\: A person employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts.
The chore of actually writing the words in the end fell to a hand-picked amanuensis.
--Austin Baer, "River of Desire," Atlantic, October 1996
On this blue day, I want to be
nothing more than an amanuensis
to the birds, transcribing all the bits
and snatches of song riding in on the wind.
--Barbara Crooker, "Transcription (Poem)," Midwest Quarterly, March 22, 2003
When it comes to literature, the French count the largest number of Nobel Prizes; their authors include one who wrote a whole book without using the letter `e' and another who, suffering from `locked-in syndrome' after a severe stroke, dictated a memoir by blinking his eye as an amanuensis read through the alphabet.
--Jonathan Fenby, France on the Brink
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Amanuensis comes from Latin, from the phrase (servus) a manu, "slave with handwriting duties," from a, ab, "by" + manu, from manus, "hand."
amanuensis \un-man-yoo-EN-sis\, noun; plural amanuenses, \-seez\: A person employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts.
The chore of actually writing the words in the end fell to a hand-picked amanuensis.
--Austin Baer, "River of Desire," Atlantic, October 1996
On this blue day, I want to be
nothing more than an amanuensis
to the birds, transcribing all the bits
and snatches of song riding in on the wind.
--Barbara Crooker, "Transcription (Poem)," Midwest Quarterly, March 22, 2003
When it comes to literature, the French count the largest number of Nobel Prizes; their authors include one who wrote a whole book without using the letter `e' and another who, suffering from `locked-in syndrome' after a severe stroke, dictated a memoir by blinking his eye as an amanuensis read through the alphabet.
--Jonathan Fenby, France on the Brink
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Amanuensis comes from Latin, from the phrase (servus) a manu, "slave with handwriting duties," from a, ab, "by" + manu, from manus, "hand."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
Word of the Day for Tuesday April 5, 2005
shibboleth \SHIB-uh-lith; -leth\, noun: 1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons from another. 2. A word or saying identified with a group or cause; a slogan; a catchword. 3. A saying or belief identified with a particular group and usually regarded by outsiders as meaningless or untrue. 4. A custom, practice, behavior, etc. regarded as distinctive of a particular group.
In the late '60s, however, the loud, open use of the "F" word became a true shibboleth, dividing the student radicals from the Establishment "pigs" they delighted in tweaking.
--Elizabeth Austin, "A small plea to delete a ubiquitous expletive: can't we all get along without the 'f' word?" US News & World Report, April 6, 1998
Newspapers accused the West of trying to foment anti-Russian feelings and revive the cold war, substituting the old "Soviet threat" with the new shibboleth "Russian mafia."
--Michael Satchell, "Kremlin gilt - or is it guilt?" US News & World Report, September 20, 1999
Most cases, she says, involve the charges of secular humanism -- a "shibboleth invented by far-right organizations and others who object to textbooks, library books and curriculum materials that do not promote their particular brand of religion."
--Thomas S. Elliott, "Fight heats up over censoring schoolbooks," US News & World Report, February 20, 1984
Class size is another shibboleth: First, small class sizes do not increase learning, and, second, class sizes have become quite small anyway.
--Jay Nordlinger, "The Anti-Excusers," National Review, October 27, 2003
This could not be stated, because the doctrines in the name of which the revolution was carried out -- and which, ironically enough, the revolution did so much to expose and discredit -- were too strongly ingrained as official radical shibboleths to which lip-service was still paid.
--Isaiah Berlin, The Sense of Reality
Christmas church attendance will be the last shibboleth of Christian devotion in Europe to fall: it has a wealth of sentiment, mid-winter cheer and good tunes to keep pulling the crowds.
--Madeleine Bunting, "Paralysed by panic," Guardian, December 20, 2004
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Shibboleth is from Hebrew shibboleth, "stream, flood," from the use of this word in the Bible (Judges 12:4-6) as a test to distinguish Gileadites from Ephraimites, who could not say 'sh' but only 's' as in 'sibboleth'.
shibboleth \SHIB-uh-lith; -leth\, noun: 1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons from another. 2. A word or saying identified with a group or cause; a slogan; a catchword. 3. A saying or belief identified with a particular group and usually regarded by outsiders as meaningless or untrue. 4. A custom, practice, behavior, etc. regarded as distinctive of a particular group.
In the late '60s, however, the loud, open use of the "F" word became a true shibboleth, dividing the student radicals from the Establishment "pigs" they delighted in tweaking.
--Elizabeth Austin, "A small plea to delete a ubiquitous expletive: can't we all get along without the 'f' word?" US News & World Report, April 6, 1998
Newspapers accused the West of trying to foment anti-Russian feelings and revive the cold war, substituting the old "Soviet threat" with the new shibboleth "Russian mafia."
--Michael Satchell, "Kremlin gilt - or is it guilt?" US News & World Report, September 20, 1999
Most cases, she says, involve the charges of secular humanism -- a "shibboleth invented by far-right organizations and others who object to textbooks, library books and curriculum materials that do not promote their particular brand of religion."
--Thomas S. Elliott, "Fight heats up over censoring schoolbooks," US News & World Report, February 20, 1984
Class size is another shibboleth: First, small class sizes do not increase learning, and, second, class sizes have become quite small anyway.
--Jay Nordlinger, "The Anti-Excusers," National Review, October 27, 2003
This could not be stated, because the doctrines in the name of which the revolution was carried out -- and which, ironically enough, the revolution did so much to expose and discredit -- were too strongly ingrained as official radical shibboleths to which lip-service was still paid.
--Isaiah Berlin, The Sense of Reality
Christmas church attendance will be the last shibboleth of Christian devotion in Europe to fall: it has a wealth of sentiment, mid-winter cheer and good tunes to keep pulling the crowds.
--Madeleine Bunting, "Paralysed by panic," Guardian, December 20, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shibboleth is from Hebrew shibboleth, "stream, flood," from the use of this word in the Bible (Judges 12:4-6) as a test to distinguish Gileadites from Ephraimites, who could not say 'sh' but only 's' as in 'sibboleth'.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
Shouldn't the "un" in "un-man-yoo-EN-sis" be "uh"? So that the pronunciation would be "uh-man-yoo-EN-sis"?Ghost wrote:amanuensis \un-man-yoo-EN-sis\
Or would you prefer to "un-man-you-an'-sis"?
Or if we flipped the "EN" around: "uh-man-EN-yoo-sis."
"A writer's chosen task is to write well and professionally. If you can't keep doing it, then you're no longer a professional, but a gifted amateur." L. E. Modessit, jr.
Word of the Day for Wednesday April 6, 2005
complement \KOM-pluh-muhnt\, noun: 1. Something that fills up or completes. 2. The quantity or number required to make up a whole or to make something complete. 3. One of two parts that complete a whole or mutually complete each other; a counterpart.
transitive verb: To supply what is lacking; to serve as a complement to; to supplement.
He was four years older than Lewis, whom he had once commanded in the army; less formally educated, but with more practical experience and a steadier yet more outgoing personality -- a friend, but also a perfect complement in both training and temperament to the man who was inviting Clark to make history with him.
--Dayton Duncan, Lewis & Clark
There was also a tennis court, a riding stable, a five-car garage, and a full complement of servants.
--Carol Felsenthal, Citizen Newhouse
The two points of view are not contradictory; they complement each other.
--Feançoise Gilot, "The Maid Was Ugly, the Meals Were Bad...," New York Times, October 7, 1970
Smart, athletic, blond, with a "bubbly" -- that's the word Ed uses to describe Sue when she's not around -- personality that complements his perpetually calm outlook.
--Martin Dugard, Knockdown
The wine complemented the food perfectly.
--Mary Sheepshanks, Picking Up the Pieces
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Complement is from Latin complementum, from complere, "to fill up," from com- (intensive prefix) + plere, "to fill."
Usage note: Complement and compliment ("an expression of admiration or praise") are sometimes confused because they are pronounced the same. A good way to remember which is which is to make a connection between the spelling of complement and complete.
complement \KOM-pluh-muhnt\, noun: 1. Something that fills up or completes. 2. The quantity or number required to make up a whole or to make something complete. 3. One of two parts that complete a whole or mutually complete each other; a counterpart.
transitive verb: To supply what is lacking; to serve as a complement to; to supplement.
He was four years older than Lewis, whom he had once commanded in the army; less formally educated, but with more practical experience and a steadier yet more outgoing personality -- a friend, but also a perfect complement in both training and temperament to the man who was inviting Clark to make history with him.
--Dayton Duncan, Lewis & Clark
There was also a tennis court, a riding stable, a five-car garage, and a full complement of servants.
--Carol Felsenthal, Citizen Newhouse
The two points of view are not contradictory; they complement each other.
--Feançoise Gilot, "The Maid Was Ugly, the Meals Were Bad...," New York Times, October 7, 1970
Smart, athletic, blond, with a "bubbly" -- that's the word Ed uses to describe Sue when she's not around -- personality that complements his perpetually calm outlook.
--Martin Dugard, Knockdown
The wine complemented the food perfectly.
--Mary Sheepshanks, Picking Up the Pieces
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Complement is from Latin complementum, from complere, "to fill up," from com- (intensive prefix) + plere, "to fill."
Usage note: Complement and compliment ("an expression of admiration or praise") are sometimes confused because they are pronounced the same. A good way to remember which is which is to make a connection between the spelling of complement and complete.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
His composed and competent yet complacent and compliant companion compiled the compulsory complement of commuter comlinks and components with comprehension and without complication, offering the occasional complimentary comment as he did so.
"Thanks, compadre," he commiserated. "Gotta hit the commode - I'll be back."
(sorry if these communications are becoming commonplace. I just can't shake the damn alliteration addicition...)
"Thanks, compadre," he commiserated. "Gotta hit the commode - I'll be back."
(sorry if these communications are becoming commonplace. I just can't shake the damn alliteration addicition...)
Colourless green ideas sleep furiously
Felon: Perhaps another helping of allegory a la mode will alleviate your alliterative affliction ?I just can't shake the damn alliteration addicition...
-
laurie
- Spelling Mistress
- Posts: 8164
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:52 am
- Location: The part of New York where "flurries" means 2 feet of snow to shovel
Can't spell it, either.felonius wrote:I just can't shake the damn alliteration addicition...)
Felonius
With best regards,
The Spelling Mistress
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." -- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"So where the hell is he?" -- Laurie
"So where the hell is he?" -- Laurie
Brad wrote:Felon: Perhaps another helping of allegory a la mode will alleviate your alliterative affliction ?
Not paralyzed in a Christopher Reeves quadriplegic kind of way, but more or less in the way that left him wholly unable to act ... and by acting I’m not referring to acting in a thespian (not to be confused with lesbian) sense, but acting in a sense of actually being able to decide what to do.
Excellent medicine - thanks a bunch. Speaking of similes, I read one the other day that was damn good: ...Anna's face was guilelessly open, sorrow stamped on it like a black bootprint...laurie wrote:Can't spell it, either.
Now I know I'm slipping. How embarassing... 
Colourless green ideas sleep furiously
Word of the Day for Thursday April 7, 2005
maudlin \MAWD-lin\, adjective: Tearfully or excessively sentimental.
The lonesome tones of Willie Nelson rise on the Texas air and roll off into the darkness, making the odd deer feel unaccountably maudlin and causing lone jackrabbits to be overcome by a sudden desire to sink a whiskey and cry into the empty glass.
--John Connolly, "Irishman's Diary," Irish Times, September 6, 1997
He was a bad drunk and became maudlin and weepy and would often have to be carried home by his friends.
--Barry Miles, Jack Kerouac, King of the Beats
A film about blindness could easily get maudlin or, at the other extreme, cynically heartless.
--Desson Howe, " 'Proof,' " Washington Post, June 5, 1992
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Maudlin is an alteration of (Mary) Magdalene, who in paintings was often represented with eyes red and swollen from weeping
The misspelling malcontent maudlin man (felonious) meandered through the mosaic mosque.
maudlin \MAWD-lin\, adjective: Tearfully or excessively sentimental.
The lonesome tones of Willie Nelson rise on the Texas air and roll off into the darkness, making the odd deer feel unaccountably maudlin and causing lone jackrabbits to be overcome by a sudden desire to sink a whiskey and cry into the empty glass.
--John Connolly, "Irishman's Diary," Irish Times, September 6, 1997
He was a bad drunk and became maudlin and weepy and would often have to be carried home by his friends.
--Barry Miles, Jack Kerouac, King of the Beats
A film about blindness could easily get maudlin or, at the other extreme, cynically heartless.
--Desson Howe, " 'Proof,' " Washington Post, June 5, 1992
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Maudlin is an alteration of (Mary) Magdalene, who in paintings was often represented with eyes red and swollen from weeping
The misspelling malcontent maudlin man (felonious) meandered through the mosaic mosque.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
-
laurie
- Spelling Mistress
- Posts: 8164
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:52 am
- Location: The part of New York where "flurries" means 2 feet of snow to shovel
You'd be crying too if everybody called you a whore ...Ghost wrote:Maudlin is an alteration of (Mary) Magdalene, who in paintings was often represented with eyes red and swollen from weeping.
The first time I made that connection was when a friend was studying for his MPhil at Magdalen College, Oxford. To begin with, I thought it was odd that a college was named after Mary Magdalene (School for Scandal, anyone?), but when he told me it was pronounced Maud-lin, I thought that was hilarious.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." -- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"So where the hell is he?" -- Laurie
"So where the hell is he?" -- Laurie
Word of the Day for Friday April 8, 2005
Panglossian \pan-GLOSS-ee-uhn\, adjective: Excessively or naively optimistic.
He is not peddling a Panglossian view of the world, or denying that there are problems that merit action.
--Jon Jewett, "Enviro-skepticism," Policy Review, December 2001/January 2002
But only the most Panglossian among us can doubt that in this fevered political climate more silencings will come.
--Gloria Cooper, "The Censors," Columbia Journalism Review, July/August 2004
What we are witnessing in large part is the debris of the collapsed illusions of the 80s, when the Panglossian president's natural optimism made it impossible for him to admit that America had any problems.
--Mortimer B. Zuckerman, "The politics of trivial pursuit," US News & World Report, April 13, 1992
Despite its excesses, the French critique of the modern world -- of our varieties of bad faith, our idolatrous consumerism, and our Panglossian faith in progress and other Enlightenment values -- has helped make it possible for men and women to live examined lives.
--Jay Tolson, "The Passion of Michel Foucault," National Review, February 15, 1993
I wonder, though, if her argument does not commit her to a deep optimism about human nature which, despite its emotional pull, may strike some readers as slightly Panglossian.
--David McCabe, "Democracy on Trial," Commonweal, February 10, 1995
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Panglossian derives from Pangloss, the optimistic tutor in Voltaire's Candide.
Candide, penetrated with so much goodness, threw himself at his feet, crying, "Now I am convinced that my Master Pangloss told me truth when he said that everything was for the best in this world; for I am infinitely more affected with your extraordinary generosity than with the inhumanity of that gentleman in the black cloak and his wife."
--Voltaire, Candide
Panglossian \pan-GLOSS-ee-uhn\, adjective: Excessively or naively optimistic.
He is not peddling a Panglossian view of the world, or denying that there are problems that merit action.
--Jon Jewett, "Enviro-skepticism," Policy Review, December 2001/January 2002
But only the most Panglossian among us can doubt that in this fevered political climate more silencings will come.
--Gloria Cooper, "The Censors," Columbia Journalism Review, July/August 2004
What we are witnessing in large part is the debris of the collapsed illusions of the 80s, when the Panglossian president's natural optimism made it impossible for him to admit that America had any problems.
--Mortimer B. Zuckerman, "The politics of trivial pursuit," US News & World Report, April 13, 1992
Despite its excesses, the French critique of the modern world -- of our varieties of bad faith, our idolatrous consumerism, and our Panglossian faith in progress and other Enlightenment values -- has helped make it possible for men and women to live examined lives.
--Jay Tolson, "The Passion of Michel Foucault," National Review, February 15, 1993
I wonder, though, if her argument does not commit her to a deep optimism about human nature which, despite its emotional pull, may strike some readers as slightly Panglossian.
--David McCabe, "Democracy on Trial," Commonweal, February 10, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panglossian derives from Pangloss, the optimistic tutor in Voltaire's Candide.
Candide, penetrated with so much goodness, threw himself at his feet, crying, "Now I am convinced that my Master Pangloss told me truth when he said that everything was for the best in this world; for I am infinitely more affected with your extraordinary generosity than with the inhumanity of that gentleman in the black cloak and his wife."
--Voltaire, Candide
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams
-
ausfi
- Literature Addict
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:54 am
- Location: view to the fjord
- Contact:
Word of the Day for Saturday April 9, 2005
supervene \soo-pur-VEEN\, intransitive verb:
1. To take place or occur as something additional, extraneous, or unexpected (sometimes followed by 'on' or 'upon').
2. To follow immediately after; to ensue.
After all, doctors outside the hospital can pick up the pieces and readmission is always possible, provided death doesn't supervene.
--Theodore Dalrymple, "How to win a million pounds," New Statesman, April 7, 2003
Sympathy will weaken; the anger of American public opinion will be uncontainable; doubt -- and the usual conflict of differing interests -- will supervene.
--"The terrible swift sword," Daily Telegraph, September 13, 2001
We must recognize that it is often unwise to change procedures long in place, lest unintended adverse consequences supervene.
--William Anderson, "It Is Ended," Weekly Standard, March 31, 2005
Perhaps it was inevitable that, after the magical extravaganza of the Eighties, a day-after-the-feast mood should supervene.
--Robert McCrum, "The Booker," The Observer, September 26, 1999
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Supervene comes from Latin supervenire, from super-, "over, above" + venire, "to come."
supervene \soo-pur-VEEN\, intransitive verb:
1. To take place or occur as something additional, extraneous, or unexpected (sometimes followed by 'on' or 'upon').
2. To follow immediately after; to ensue.
After all, doctors outside the hospital can pick up the pieces and readmission is always possible, provided death doesn't supervene.
--Theodore Dalrymple, "How to win a million pounds," New Statesman, April 7, 2003
Sympathy will weaken; the anger of American public opinion will be uncontainable; doubt -- and the usual conflict of differing interests -- will supervene.
--"The terrible swift sword," Daily Telegraph, September 13, 2001
We must recognize that it is often unwise to change procedures long in place, lest unintended adverse consequences supervene.
--William Anderson, "It Is Ended," Weekly Standard, March 31, 2005
Perhaps it was inevitable that, after the magical extravaganza of the Eighties, a day-after-the-feast mood should supervene.
--Robert McCrum, "The Booker," The Observer, September 26, 1999
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Supervene comes from Latin supervenire, from super-, "over, above" + venire, "to come."
Prograstination is the grave of opportunity.
Word of the Day for Monday April 11, 2005
malapropos \mal-ap-ruh-POH\, adjective: Unseasonable; unsuitable; inappropriate.
adverb: In an inappropriate or inopportune manner; unseasonably.
Such malapropos wise cracks are driven home with a relentlessly upbeat soundtrack which serenades scenes of human tragedy with bouncy, Disneyesque melodies.
--Steve Rabey, "'Noah's Ark' hits bottom: Miniseries suffers from lack of accuracy," Arlington Morning News, May 2, 1999
As an on-air radio pronouncer, I am quite familiar with the hazard of opening the mouth before the brain is in gear. It is very easy to fire-off a malapropos statement in the heat of trying to make a point and the result is some funny things are said, but perhaps not meant.
--Gerry Forbes, "Foot-in-Mouth Afflictions," Calgary Sun, March 18, 2001
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Malapropos comes from French mal à propos, "badly to the purpose."
malapropos \mal-ap-ruh-POH\, adjective: Unseasonable; unsuitable; inappropriate.
adverb: In an inappropriate or inopportune manner; unseasonably.
Such malapropos wise cracks are driven home with a relentlessly upbeat soundtrack which serenades scenes of human tragedy with bouncy, Disneyesque melodies.
--Steve Rabey, "'Noah's Ark' hits bottom: Miniseries suffers from lack of accuracy," Arlington Morning News, May 2, 1999
As an on-air radio pronouncer, I am quite familiar with the hazard of opening the mouth before the brain is in gear. It is very easy to fire-off a malapropos statement in the heat of trying to make a point and the result is some funny things are said, but perhaps not meant.
--Gerry Forbes, "Foot-in-Mouth Afflictions," Calgary Sun, March 18, 2001
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Malapropos comes from French mal à propos, "badly to the purpose."
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you,
S Adams
S Adams