GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

jibber-jabber

/ˈdʒɪbədʒabə/
verb
[no object]
Talk in a rapid and excited way that is difficult to understand.
noun
mass noun
Rapid and excited speech that is difficult to understand.

Origin
Early 19th century related to gibber, jabber.

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Given that you can slow down to any pace while reading, jibber-jabber dialog can be difficult for an author to write.

[Algot Runeman]

regimen

/ˈrɛdʒɪmən/
noun
1 A prescribed course of medical treatment, diet, or exercise for the promotion or restoration of health.
2 archaic A system of government.

Origin
Late Middle English (denoting the action of governing): from Latin, from regere ‘to rule’.

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Why can't I get any doctor to prescribe a regimen of donuts and naps?

[Algot Runeman]

repartee

/ˌrɛpɑːˈtiː/
noun
mass noun
Conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies.

Origin
Mid 17th century from French repartie ‘replied promptly’, feminine past participle of repartir, from re- ‘again’ + partir ‘set off’.

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Repartee requires responsive actions.
It is one of the main attractions.
The concept can get really bogged down, though,
By participants' turgid reactions.

[Algot Runeman]

hulking

/ˈhʌlkɪŋ/
adjective
informal
(of a person or object) very large, heavy, or clumsy.

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Dr. Banner was green with envy for his hulking alter ego.

[Algot Runeman]

milquetoast

/ˈmɪlktəʊst/
noun
informal North American
A timid or feeble person.
adjective
informal North American
Feeble, insipid, or bland.

Origin
1930s from the name of a cartoon character, Caspar Milquetoast, created by H. T. Webster in 1924.

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I resist being a milquetoast
Crunchy peanut butter on my toast!
On this I'll make my stand,
Though I'll ne'er be more than bland.

[Algot Runeman]

skirmish

/ˈskəːmɪʃ/
noun
1 An episode of irregular or unpremeditated fighting, especially between small or outlying parts of armies or fleets.
1.1 A short argument.
verb
[no object]
Engage in a skirmish.

Origin
Middle English (as a verb): from Old French eskirmiss-, lengthened stem of eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning ‘defend’.

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Though these words you may abhor
Let us not go to war.
It is, too, my fervent wish
That we not even skirmish.

[Algot Runeman]

uphold

/ʌpˈhəʊld/
verb
upheld
[with object]
1 Confirm or support (something which has been questioned)
1.1 Maintain (a custom or practice)

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Bob enjoyed life, in part because he had very few standards to uphold.
[YMMV - Your mileage may vary.]

[Algot Runeman]

respite

/ˈrɛspʌɪt/ /ˈrɛspɪt/
noun
mass noun
1 A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
1.1 A short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out.

Origin
Middle English from Old French respit, from Latin respectus ‘refuge, consideration’.

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You are granted no respite. There is, indeed, another word for today!

[Algot Runeman]

meteoric

/ˌmiːtɪˈɒrɪk/
adjective
1 Relating to meteors or meteorites.
1.1 (of the development of something) very rapid.
2 Geology
Relating to or denoting water derived from the atmosphere by precipitation or condensation.

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Hans Arneson was considered a shooting star after his meteoric rise in the winter sport of biathlon.

[Algot Runeman]

pigeonhole

/ˈpɪdʒɪnhəʊl/
noun
1 A small recess for a domestic pigeon to nest in.
2 Each of a set of small open-fronted compartments in a workplace or other organization where letters or messages may be left for individuals.
2.1 A compartment built into a desk for keeping documents in.
3 A category, typically an overly restrictive one, to which someone or something is assigned.
verb
[with object]
1 Assign to a particular category, typically an overly restrictive one.
2 Put (a document) in a pigeonhole.
2.1 Put aside for future consideration.

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Bob loved the old writing desk from his mother with it's many interesting pigeonholes.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

pigeonhole

Don't confuse a doughnut with a pigeonhole!

[Algot Runeman]

conduit

/ˈkɒndjʊɪt/ /ˈkɒndɪt/
noun
1 A channel for conveying water or other fluid.
1.1 A person or organization that acts as a channel for the transmission of something.
2 A tube or trough for protecting electric wiring.

Origin
Middle English from Old French, from medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere ‘bring together’ (see conduct).

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Here's hoping that WotD provides you a conduit to a better, more dynamic vocabulary. Thanks for participating.

[Algot Runeman]

malcontent

/ˈmalkəntɛnt/
noun
A person who is dissatisfied and rebellious.
adjective
Dissatisfied and complaining or rebellious.

Origin
Late 16th century from French, from mal ‘badly, ill’ + content ‘pleased’.

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The malcontent coffee shop barristas attempted a counter-revolution when asked to deliver the la-la-la-latés to people waiting at individual tables. Their leader complained, "I didn't sign up to work at a truck stop, after all." His name is "Albert, not just Al", he was quick to point out. He is working hard to pay the bills while studying acting. He has an audition at three-thirty this afternoon, just after his shift is over.

[Algot Runeman]

relax

/rɪˈlaks/
verb
Make or become less tense or anxious.

Origin
Late Middle English from Latin relaxare, from re- (expressing intensive force) + laxus ‘lax, loose’.

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Rest, repose
Yes, both of those
Lean back in your slacks
And just relax.
Remove your shoes
And take a snooze.

[Oh, as for those slacks, leave them on in case of an unexpected video conference.]

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

relax

What with the Covid-19 lock-down, many people in Belgium are forced to RELAX.

No visits to elderly people's rest homes, hospital visitors are denied access, pubs and restaurants are compelled to close, cinema and theater shows are cancelled, sports events are postponed, conferences must be held online and many other compulsory annoyances for the duration of the corona virus crisis.

To April 3rd anyway, at the very least.

[Algot Runeman]

succotash

/ˈsʌkətaʃ/
noun
mass noun
An American dish of maize and lima beans boiled together.

Origin
Mid 18th century from Narragansett msiquatash (plural).

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I love corn, especially on the cob. I love lima beans, too. I do not believe I've ever eaten succotash. Of course, I doubt has Sylvester either.


Homage to Friz Freleng, the creator of Sylvester the Cat and many other tremendous comic characters.

[Algot Runeman]

tizzy

/ˈtɪzi/
(also tizz)
noun tizzies
informal in singular
A state of nervous excitement or agitation.

Origin
1930s (originally US): of unknown origin.

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Bob got himself into a tizzy
Once he bought his first tin lizzie.
I'd work on a rhyme more fizzy,
But right now I'm much to busy.

[Algot Runeman]

helm

/hɛlm/
noun
the helm
1 A tiller or wheel for steering a ship or boat.
1.1 A position of leadership.
1.2 Nautical A helmsman.

Origin
Old English helma; probably related to helve.

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Stephanie enjoyed her time at the helm of the family sailboat. She did bristle a bit at the term "helmsman".

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

helm
... She did bristle a bit at the term "helmsman".

I don't much care whether it's a helmsman, -woman, -boy, -girl, -lad, -lass, helmsgal or even a helmschimp.
As long as there is someone at the helm überhaupt.

[Algot Runeman]

euphemism

/ˈjuːfəmɪz(ə)m/
noun
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Origin
Late 16th century from Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmizein ‘use auspicious words’, from eu ‘well’ + phēmē ‘speaking’.

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Bob has often been described as quirky, but that's probably just a euphemism for wacko!

[Algot Runeman]

tattered

/ˈtatəd/
adjective
Old and torn; in poor condition.

Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘dressed in decoratively slashed or jagged clothing’): apparently originally from the noun tatter ‘scrap of cloth’ + -ed; later treated as a past participle.

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Bob's reputation has been tattered. He writes ever sillier sample sentences. Subscribers suffer, though, sadly, mostly in silence.

[Algot Runeman]

bygone

/ˈbʌɪɡɒn/
adjective
Belonging to an earlier time.
noun
usually bygones
A thing dating from an earlier time.

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Of you I am not fanish.
With you I am not clanish.
I wish that you would vanish.
Be gone! Become a bygone.



The image disturbs me.
I'm the one who made it.

Closing our national borders disturbs me.

Closing our dwelling doors in fear disturbs me.

Closing our hearts to others disturbs me most of all.

Be kind to one another, please!

A Proposal, full and formal:
Be, to each other, kind.
Make that our normal,
Not a rare find.

[Algot Runeman]

penide

/ˈpɛniːd/
noun
historical
A piece or stick of boiled sugar resembling barley sugar, formerly used especially as a remedy for colds, or in treating other medical conditions. Usually in plural.

Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in Lanfranc's Science of Cirurgie. From Anglo-Norman and Middle French penide, penides (plural; mid 13th cent. in Old French as penides, 1272 as penidiés, penidiez (plural, in two Old French texts showing Italian influence); French †pénide; compare Old Occitan penis) and its etymon post-classical Latin penidium (usually in plural penidia) piece or stick of boiled sugar, used as a remedy

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I suspect Ricola™ is just a short, easier to wrap version of penides.

[Algot Runeman]

fanciful

/ˈfansɪfʊl/ /ˈfansɪf(ə)l/
adjective
1 Over-imaginative and unrealistic.
1.1 Existing only in the imagination.
2 Highly ornamental or imaginative in design.

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It is fair to say that every single illustration I've done for WotD has been fanciful, even when attempting verisimilitude.

[Algot Runeman]

harmonize

/ˈhɑːmənʌɪz/
(British harmonise)
verb
[with object]
1 Add notes to (a melody) to produce harmony.
1.1 no object Sing or play in harmony.
2 no object Produce a pleasing visual combination.
3 Make consistent or compatible.

Origin
Late 15th century (in the sense ‘sing or play in harmony’): from French harmoniser, from harmonie (see harmony).

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Do your part
Right from the start.
Look out for others.
Harmonize your heart.