GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

criticism

noun
crit·​i·​cism | \ ˈkri-tə-ˌsi-zəm \
1a the act of criticizing usually unfavorably
1b a critical observation or remark
1c critique
2 the art of evaluating or analyzing works of art or literature also : writings expressing such evaluation or analysis
3 the scientific investigation of literary documents (such as the Bible) in regard to such matters as origin, text, composition, or history

-=-=-

It is an artist's hope not to suffer from harsh criticism...unless it winds up making people pay more for the work!

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

criticism
...

Example of a gruff criticism.

[Algot Runeman]

askance

adverb
\ ə-ˈskan(t)s \
variants: or less commonly askant \ ə-​ˈskant \
1 with disapproval or distrust : scornfully
2 with a side-glance : obliquely

-=-=-

Joe called aloud, "Here, Kitty, Kitty!"
Because he thought that she was pretty.
The cat just looked at him askance
And then commenced a twirling dance.
She jumped up high and seemed to float
Then disappeared, someplace remote.



[Cats are effectively alien creatures, I think.]

[Algot Runeman]

consider

verb
con·​sid·​er | \ kən-ˈsi-dər \
considered; considering\ kən-​ˈsi-​d(ə-​)riŋ \
1 to think about carefully: such as
a to think of especially with regard to taking some action
b to take into account
2 to regard or treat in an attentive or kindly way
3 to gaze on steadily or reflectively
4 to come to judge or classify : deem
5 regard
6 suppose
7 reflect, deliberate

-=-=-

Bob deems it necessary to consider the suitability of "deem" as Word of the Day.



It would appear that this word only got preview status yesterday on the forum. My apologies. The bonus, of course should be that there will be two words for your perusal today! At you discretion, you may deem that a success or a failure.

[Algot Runeman]

fortnight

noun
fort·​night | \ ˈfȯrt-ˌnīt \
a period of 14 days : two weeks

--=-=--

Frank was fortunate to be able to spend a fortnight in the fort. Two weeks exposed to the angry native population was the very scary alternative.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

fortnight

We have 70 Nights to go for the Fort of July.
Though only 5 Fortnights.

[Algot Runeman]

minimum

noun
min·​i·​mum | \ ˈmi-nə-məm \
plural minima\ ˈmi-​nə-​mə \ or minimums
1 the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible
2 the least of a set of numbers specifically : the smallest value assumed by a continuous (see continuous sense 2) function defined on a closed (see closed sense 3b) interval
3a the lowest degree or amount of variation
3b the lowest speed allowed on a highway

-=-=-

Mark managed to make a minimum of mess while manufacturing his morning meal. He still moaned, "Mmm..." while munching every morsel.



[I also went to a minimal effort to verify that the noun form this word has not been a focus on the forum topic. Before this post, the search tool revealed 301 prior uses of "minimum", but some spot checking of the entries showed none were in bold letters. If one of the other topic junkies wants to visit each and every one of the 300+ mentions, I shall willingly accept the abuse appropriate to misusing a prior "Word of Focus". As a further aside, it is true that nobody has called me a minimalist when it comes to making side comments.]

[[Is today's illustration too subtle?]]

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

minimum
...

...
Is today's illustration too subtle?

Do you mean a mini mum = a very short soccer mom?

[Algot Runeman]

Do you mean a mini mum = a very short soccer mom?

Well, almost. That waving character is supposed to bring Minnie Mouse to mind, making the reference "Minnie Mum".

[Algot Runeman]

cerebral

adjective
ce·​re·​bral | \ sə-ˈrē-brəl, ˈser-ə-, ˈse-rə- \
1a of or relating to the brain or the intellect
1b of, relating to, affecting, or being the cerebrum
2a appealing to intellectual appreciation
2b primarily intellectual in nature

-=-=-

Thoughtful interaction is common around the words we share, even if it isn't always cerebral.

[Algot Runeman]

jerk

verb
jerked; jerking; jerks
transitive verb
to preserve (meat) in long sun-dried slices
salt junk
noun
dried salted beef

-=-=-

Joe was not seen as a jerk, though he sold both traditional air-dried beef jerky along with the sailor's tradition of jerked beef preserved in salt.



[Today's offering is a double. Merriam-Webster offered "salt junk" and it seemed like a sneaky opportunity to insert another four letter word into the topic. Even more interesting is the use of the term "junk" which derives from a term to describe chunks of rope past their prime, no longer useful as lines or stays, but kept aboard for other, less demanding uses.]

[Algot Runeman]

scheme

noun
\ ˈskēm \
1 a plan or program of action especially : a crafty or secret one
2 a systematic or organized configuration : design color scheme
3 a concise statement or table : epitome
4a a graphic sketch or outline
4b archaic
(1) : a mathematical or astronomical diagram
(2) : a representation of the astrological aspects of the planets at a particular time
verb
schemed; scheming
intransitive verb
to form plans also : plot, intrigue
transitive verb
to form a scheme for

-=-=-

"Distracted"

I had a scheme,
Or was it a dream?
I laid out my plan...
...
Uh, what was I saying, again?

[Algot Runeman]

endure

verb
en·​dure | \ in-ˈdu̇r, -ˈdyu̇r, en- \
endured; enduring
intransitive verb
1 to continue in the same state
2 to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding
transitive verb
1 to undergo especially without giving in : suffer
2 to regard with acceptance or tolerance

-=-=-

In spite of its being a weekend, you must endure another word today.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

endure
...
In spite of its being a weekend, you must endure another word today.

In spite of, or just because of, its being a *national holiday*, you must endure many words today, by way of speeches from governing politicians, opposition's politicians, party leaders, climate activists and sundry crackpots.

[Algot Runeman]

leviathan

noun
le·​vi·​a·​than | \ li-ˈvī-ə-thən \
1a often capitalized : a sea monster defeated by Yahweh in various scriptural accounts
1b a large sea animal
2 capitalized : the political state especially : a totalitarian state having a vast bureaucracy
3 : something large or formidable

-=-=-

As a sumo wrestler, they called him a formidable giant. When he went swimming, they called him a leviathan.

[Algot Runeman]

piggyback

verb
variants: or less commonly pickaback
piggybacked also pickabacked; piggybacking also pickabacking; piggybacks also pickabacks
transitive verb
1 to carry up on the shoulders and back
2 to haul (something, such as a truck trailer) by railroad car
3 to set up or cause to function in conjunction with something larger, more important, or already in existence or operation
intransitive verb
to function or be carried on or as if on the back of another

-=-=-

Walter always succeeded by piggybacking his deals on bigger ones.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

piggyback

Calling it piggyback would be somewhat irreverent, even denigrating.

[Algot Runeman]

flexible

adjective
flex·​i·​ble | \ ˈflek-sə-bəl \
1 : capable of being flexed : pliant
2 : yielding to influence : tractable
3 : characterized by a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or changing requirements

-=-=-

Fran felt comfortably flexible as she began her daily exercises.

[voralfred]

You must probably look askance at me for my absence during not just a full fortnight, but two sequential ones. I certainly elicit gruff criticism from you.
I won't pretend I came back, piggybacking the Leviathan after a resurrection.
How can I justify this minimum of my cerebral activity, my total absence of funambulism (meaning 2) ?

[Algot Runeman]

aspiration

noun
as·​pi·​ra·​tion | \ ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən \
1a a strong desire to achieve something high or great an aspiration to become famous —usually plural
1b an object of such desire An acting career is her aspiration.
2 a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: such as
a : the act of breathing and especially of breathing in
b : the withdrawal (as by suction) of fluid or tissue from the body the aspiration of stomach fluids
c : the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current problems caused by the aspiration of fluids into the patient's lungs
3 linguistics a : audible breath that accompanies or comprises a speech sound

-=-=-

"Suck it up!" admonished Sally, who had no aspirations to gentile language.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

aspiration

Modern dentistry makes ample use of what all professionals call the "high volume suction tube".

But the technical (engineering) term is "high speed aspiration cannula".

[Algot Runeman]

platitude

noun
plat·​i·​tude | \ ˈpla-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd \
1 the quality or state of being dull or insipid
2 a banal, trite, or stale remark

-=-=-

"Easily Mollified"

Bob was feeling fiercely fractious
And that could be really bad for us.
But we can assuage his dark attitude
By offering up a pointless platitude.

[Algot Runeman]

fruitless

adjective
fruit·​less | \ ˈfrüt-ləs \
1 unsuccessful
2 lacking or not bearing fruit

-=-=-

Trying to get my wife to enjoy fruit in her daily intake is a fruitless effort.

[Algot Runeman]

discern

verb
dis·​cern | \ di-ˈsərn, -ˈzərn \
discerned; discerning; discerns
transitive verb
1a : to detect with the eyes
1b : to detect with senses other than vision
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : discriminate
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally
intransitive verb
to see or understand the difference

-=-=-

Jeff carefully perused the artwork, striving to discern the perspective of the creator.

[Algot Runeman]

orientate

verb
ori·​en·​tate | \ ˈȯr-ē-ən-ˌtāt, -ˌen- \
orientated; orientating
intransitive verb
to face or turn to the east
transitive verb
chiefly British
orient

-=-=-

To change directions, it is best,
If you have only been headed west.
Orientate yourself to the east,
And prepare yourself, at least.



[For no particular reason, I prefer to reorient myself.]