The Internet Book Database of Fiction

tactile

/ˈtaktʌɪl/
adjective
1 Of or connected with the sense of touch.
1.1 Perceptible by touch or apparently so; tangible.
1.2 Designed to be perceived by touch.
1.3 (of a person) given to touching other people, especially as an unselfconscious expression of sympathy or affection.

Origin
Early 17th century (in the sense ‘perceptible by touch, tangible’): from Latin tactilis, from tangere ‘to touch’.

==========

Tacky tactile trickiness
Trying to avoid the stickiness
Of the creaky old parole,
"something about a ten foot pole."

(Of course, now I have failed to avoid it!)



[It might seem uncannily fortuitous that ODO/Lexico should select today's word from it's vast collection so as to immediately follow the peckish comment from E.P.S. And yet, that is the brilliance of coincidence.]

inroad

/ˈɪnrəʊd/
noun
1 usually make inroads in/into/on - An instance of something being encroached on or reduced by something else.
2 A hostile attack; a raid.

Origin
Mid 16th century (in inroad (sense 2 of the noun)): from in+ road (from an early use in the sense ‘riding’).

==========

The duke and his trusted henchmen crossed into the neighboring region on the day after their lord died, planning to "offer condolences and support" to the ten-year-old successor. In fact the duke planned a regency through which he might make inroads and assume control of the land.

sustenance

/ˈsʌst(ə)nəns/ /ˈsʌstɪnəns/ [suss-tin-ence]
noun
mass noun
1 Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment.
1.1 The maintaining of someone or something in life or existence.

Origin
Middle English from Old French soustenance, from the verb soustenir (see sustain).

==========

There are times when I feel I need no other sustenance than chunky peanut butter, on toast, of course!

Algot Runeman wrote:sustenance

Sometimes I don't feel really hungry, but just for sustenance I make a few inroads in my cupboard/pantry.

dalliance

/ˈdalɪəns/ [dally-ance]
noun
1 A casual romantic or sexual relationship.
1.1 A period of brief or casual involvement with something.

Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘conversation’): from dally+ -ance.

==========

Ron's brief dalliance with college physics was quickly replaced with a study of Spanish and rowing for the school's crew.

codify

/ˈkəʊdɪfʌɪ/
verb - codifies, codifying, codified
[with object]
1 Arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code.
as adjective - codified
1.1 Arrange according to a plan or system.

==========

Attempts to codify our behavior are fraught with confusion. Then, it must be said, our natural confusion is difficult to organize in a logical way.

entomologist

/ˌɛntəˈmɒlədʒɪst/ [en-toe-mollo-jist]
noun
A person who studies or is an expert in the branch of zoology concerned with insects.

==========

"Don't bug me about it, Dad! I've already decided to be an entomologist."

interfaith

/ˈɪntəfeɪθ/ /ɪntəˈfeɪθ/ [inter-faith]
adjective
Relating to or involving different religions or members of different religions.

==========

Making a marriage interfaith
Is joining together two people
(Sometimes even under a steeple)
With hopes of familial bliss
Sealed strong by the "I do" kiss
Though, they may eventually be haunted
Far more than anyone wanted
By some passed family member's wraith.

legume

/ˈlɛɡjuːm/ [leg-guum]
noun
1 A leguminous plant (member of the pea family), especially one grown as a crop.
1.1 A seed, pod, or other edible part of a leguminous plant, used as food.
1.2 Botany The long seed pod of a leguminous plant.

Origin
Mid 17th century (denoting the edible portion of the plant): from French légume, from Latin legumen, from legere ‘to pick’ (because the fruit may be picked by hand).

==========

Peas understand that it amazes me that we have bean sew off our feed here that we have not picked legume for our word harvest before today.
(Perhaps you want to give thanks for that after reading the sample sentence. Frankly, I think I nailed it!)

Algot Runeman wrote:legume...
Peas understand that it amazes me that we have bean sew off our feed here that we have not picked legume for our word harvest before today.
...

Peastly puns. They curdle my tofu.

disillusion

/ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒ(ə)n/ [diss-eloo-shun]
noun
mass noun
Disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.
verb
[with object]
Cause (someone) to realize that a belief they hold is false.

==========

I hate to disillusion you, but this word is not usually about magic or card tricks.

navigable

/ˈnavɪɡəb(ə)l/ [nav-ig-ubble]
adjective
1 (of a waterway or sea) able to be sailed on by ships or boats.
1.1 (of a track or road) suitable for vehicles.
2 (of a website) easy to move around in.

Origin
Early 16th century from French navigable or Latin navigabilis, from the verb navigare ‘to sail’ (see navigate).

The ranch roads were generally navigable, even without an SUV, but Joe had to get out at every gate to open it, drive through and then close it again.

Taking the risk to disillusion you, I would argue that the body of water on which Ron has a dalliance with rowing is not navigable for an SUV.

An entomologist would argue that if there are enough gerridae and veliidae on that water, an SUV might try its luck, but if you ask my opinion, I'd claim that this is pure nonsense.

Like most of my interventions on this thread, I'm afraid

appreciation

/əpriːʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ /əpriːsɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ [uh-pree-she-ay-shun]
noun
mass noun
1 Recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
1.1 Gratitude.
1.2 count noun A written assessment of an artist or piece of work, typically a favourable one.
2 A full understanding of a situation.
3 mass noun Increase in monetary value.

Origin
Late 15th century from French appréciation, from late Latin appretiatio(n-), from the verb appretiare ‘set at a price, appraise’ (see appreciate).

==========

Today's a day of appreciation
All across the US nation.
For most, as well, it's a mini vacation
Partly spent at an airport or maybe a gas station.

Whether you raise bread with yeast
Or simply bake it flat,
I wish for you "Good Harvest Feast"
Or something much like that.

Algot Runeman wrote:appreciation

Just replace "love" by "appreciate", then these lyrics are perfectly applicable to ... you, dear Algot.

affluence

/ˈaflʊəns/ [aff-loo-ence]
noun
mass noun
The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.

==========

Comfort need not require affluence. Sharing routine, along with special, events with a loving family is the best evidence of that.

massive

/ˈmasɪv/ [maa-siv]
adjective
1 Large and heavy or solid.
2 Exceptionally large.
2.1 Very serious.
2.2 informal - Very successful or influential.

Origin
Late Middle English from French massif, -ive, from Old French massis, based on Latin massa (see mass).

==========

A massive murder of crows gathered in the trees and on the ground outside the movie theater showing a retrospective of Hitchcock films.



[Before today's post, massive had been used an almost surprising thirty times without being the word in focus. The massive oversight has finally been rectified.]

Algot Runeman wrote:affluence

/ˈaflʊəns/ [aff-loo-ence]
noun
mass noun
The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.

==========

Comfort need not require affluence. Sharing routine, along with special, events with a loving family is the best evidence of that.

Curiously, your image does evoke "affluence" to the frenchman that I am. It is what is called a "faux-ami". French "affluence" means "crowd, attendance" in english while english "affluence" would be "richesse".

Algot Runeman wrote:massive

/ˈmasɪv/ [maa-siv]
adjective
1 Large and heavy or solid.
2 Exceptionally large.
2.1 Very serious.
2.2 informal - Very successful or influential.

Origin
Late Middle English from French massif, -ive, from Old French massis, based on Latin massa (see mass).

==========

A massive murder of crows gathered in the trees and on the ground outside the movie theater showing a retrospective of Hitchcock films.



(...)

It looks more like a massive unkindness (or unpleasantness) of ravens to me.

Which I find in fact more frightening than a murder of crows, wouldn't you think so ?

limpid

/ˈlɪmpɪd/ [lim-pid]
adjective
1 (of a liquid) completely clear and transparent.
1.1 (of a person's eyes) unclouded; clear.
1.2 (especially of writing or music) clear and accessible or melodious.

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin limpidus; perhaps related to lymph.

==========

The sun is rising in a limpid sky
Though soon thick clouds will be coming by
Filling most with a sense of dread
For the forecast of a big storm ahead.

Algot Runeman wrote:limpid

This morning I replaced the used oil in my deep frier with new limpid liquid lipid.
And I had Venison Stew with Belgian Fries for lunch.

And I had Venison Stew with Belgian Fries for lunch.

OK, "I'll bite", as the phrase goes. What makes a Belgian fry different from a French fry?

(Love the "limpid lipid", of course!)

Algot Runeman wrote: OK, "I'll bite", as the phrase goes. What makes a Belgian fry different from a French fry?

"French fry" is a misnomer.

https://www.expatica.com/be/about/cuisi ... ow-101986/

delight

/dɪˈlʌɪt/ [dee-light]
verb
[with object]
1 Please (someone) greatly.
1.1 delight in - no object - Take great pleasure in.
noun
mass noun
1 Great pleasure.
1.1 count noun A cause or source of great pleasure.

Origin
Middle English from Old French delitier (verb), delit (noun), from Latin delectare ‘to charm’, frequentative of delicere. The -gh- was added in the 16th century by association with light.

==========

It snowed seven inches overnight.
I admit, to my great delight.
I'm a kid at heart, though now my toy
Is a snow blower, not the sled of a boy.

For me the forecast is good,
More snow to come. It should,
.They say, be light until lunch.
After that, it may snow a bunch.

It may be colder still tonight,
To change all that moisture to white.
So tomorrow morning, once more
The blower will down the driveway roar.

sibling

/ˈsɪblɪŋ/
noun
Each of two or more children or offspring having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.

Origin
Old English, in the sense ‘relative’ (see sib, -ling). The current sense dates from the early 20th century.

==========

Though the word sibling via "sib" is of unknown origin, the same cannot be said of any pair of siblings. Just ask their mother!

newcomer

/ˈnjuːkʌmə/
noun
1 A person who has recently arrived in a place.
1.1 A novice in a particular activity or situation.

==========

It can be fun to stay up late
But morning time is really great.
Inspiring here, I must relate,
Another word for you to rate.

Far more than lurking slummers
Visiting more than in hot summers
Whether songsters or just hummers,
We seek contributing newcomers.