GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

Male/Female, no matter, still a rugrat. Still unable to stand.

I was actually thinking of Ralphie's brother, Randy, in Jean Shepard's "A Christmas Story" movie when I went looking for an illustrative image.

Boy (or girl, if you prefer), do I miss Jean Shepard telling stories. My favorite may have been the story of fishing for crappies with his dad and dad's buddy, Zudock. The good news is that checking up for this comment has lead me to recordings of Jean Shepard on archive.org, so I'll get to revisit some of those stories, I guess.

Thanks, laurie!

[Algot Runeman]

iniquity

Pronunciation: /ɪˈnɪkwɪti/

noun (plural iniquities)
[mass noun]
immoral or grossly unfair behaviour: a den of iniquity [count noun]: the iniquities of British taxation

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French iniquite, from Latin iniquitas, from iniquus, from in- 'not' + aequus 'equal, just'



$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0$$$$$-0

Some things are not equal. Iniquities abound. Maybe we should just live with it.

[laurie]

Hmmmm... The Monopoly guy has gained a few pounds.

[Algot Runeman]

The Monopoly guy has gained a few pounds

Pounds, Euros, Yen. It's all the same to the den if iniquity. As long as their is a gain, all is well.

[Algot Runeman]

bedlam

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛdləm/

noun
1 [mass noun] a scene of uproar and confusion: there was bedlam in the courtroom
2 archaic an asylum.

Origin:
late Middle English: early form of Bethlehem, referring to the hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem in London, used as an asylum for the insane


Remo Cassella
Dick Schmitt



Go to bed, Lamb. I'll brook no bedlam at bedtime. Mum's manoevering the mosh pit and will kiss you when she comes home.

[laurie]

My Mum actually called me a bedlamite when I wouldn't go to bed.

Mum picked up the vocabulary from too many historical novels...

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

bedlam

When listing the virtues of grandma, grandpa used to describe her devotion to him as:
"She just fakes "demure", you know. Out of bed a lamb, but in it a riot!"

[Algot Runeman]

subfusc

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbfʌsk, sʌbˈfʌsk/

adjective
literary
dull; gloomy: the light was subfusc and aqueous

noun
[mass noun] British
the dark formal clothing worn for examinations and formal occasions at some universities.

Origin:
early 18th century: from Latin subfuscus, from sub- 'somewhat' + fuscus 'dark brown'


Ross Parker

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

Sal sat for the exam in traditional subfusc, realizing it would be easier to then immediately move on. Failing the exam would lead promptly to his funeral. Such is "life", he said.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

subfusc

Graduation Day class picture.

The girl, second person from the left, front row, thinks:
"I'm glad the silly subfusc nicely hides that my arm's in a sling."

The fourth girl thinks:
"This thing is the wrong size. It doesn't fit at all!"

And the fifth girl:
"Drat. They all wear black shoes."

[Algot Runeman]

Can humor be dark and gloomy?
If humor can be subfusc, does it qualify as humor?
Can you wear white shoes after August? Even if they're sneakers?

[laurie]

Can humor be dark and gloomy?
If humor can be subfusc, does it qualify as humor?
Can you wear white shoes after August? Even if they're sneakers?

Yes, yes, and no

Not necessarily in that order.

Ms. White Shoes is obviously an American exchange student, book smart but socially and culturally subfusc.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

... Ms. White Shoes is obviously an American exchange student, book smart but socially and culturally subfusc.

Yes, she also tries to obfuscate the issue.

[Algot Runeman]

frenemy

Pronunciation: /ˈfrɛnəmi/

noun
(plural frenemies) informal
a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry.

Origin:
1950s: blend of friend and enemy


Randall Munroe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark and Matt both dated Mary years ago. She married Bob.
Mark and Matt are now friends intead of frenemies.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

frenemy

No jibe or frenmity implied, but it seems to me this cartoon is a candidate for the "Find the Error(s)" quiz in de Sunday newspaper's game and comic section.

BTW. In the first frame, the back of the chair is missing.

[Algot Runeman]

Missing chair back aside, It surprised me to see two recent words of the day in the cartoon.
Randall's cartoon style is minimalistic, but he always makes me think.
His cartoon and bizarro are in widgets on my computer desktop.
I wonder if they are frenemies, friends, aquaintences, or just both cartoonists.

[Algot Runeman]

tummler

Pronunciation: /ˈtʊmlə/

noun
US
a professional comedian or entertainer, especially one whose function is to encourage an audience, guests at a resort, etc. to participate in the entertainments or activities.

Origin:
1960s: Yiddish, from German tummeln 'to stir'


Alex Folkes

➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜➜

Are the warmup speakers at a political rally tummlers?
Nick Clegg, in the photo, doesn't have a tie. Did pols ever wear subfusc on the stump?
Are the current stumps all made of boards? Do they ever requre ramps for ?
Why do Americans run for elections while Brits stand?
Does this list of questions make you ache to participate in WotD?
If so, does that make me a tummler, too?

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

tummler
...
If so, does that make me a tummler, too?

I would agree, if I may.

But weren't the first tummlers guys with trumpets or horns who made the walls of Jericho come tummlin' down?

Spoiler: show

Boğaziçi University Music Club Jazz Choir

Mini Concert in Istanbul Metro, Turkey!

BUMC Jazz Choir returned back to Turkey with 1 second prize, 2 third prizes and 3 GOLD diplomas from WORLD CHOIR GAMES 2010 which is considered the biggest and the most prestigious choral music event, being held with nearly 40000 participants from 90 countries all over the world.

Read more here.

(Reminds me of "Sister Act 2")

[Algot Runeman]

collude

Pronunciation: /kəˈl(j)uːd/

verb
[no object]
come to a secret understanding; conspire: the president accused his opponents of colluding with foreigners

Derivatives
colluder
noun

Origin:
early 16th century: from Latin colludere 'have a secret agreement', from col- 'together' + ludere 'to play'


Mark Nockleby

✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜✜

Referees colluded to control careening collisions, canceling cranial contusions.
Contenstants created conflicting conditions, carelessly causing crashes.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

collude

Grandma magnanimously condoned colluding sweethearts.

Except for collusions between grandpa and herself, those she unconditionally connived to convivially conjure. Of course grandma wouldn't do it with so many words.
She would simply say: "Embrasse-moi, idiot!" (Kiss me, you idiot!)

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

higgler

Pronunciation: /ˈhɪɡlə/

noun
West Indian
a person who travels around selling small items; a pedlar.


兵庫胡志明倶楽部 (Image Credit - in Japanese for a Wikimedia Commons image)



Hilee hiked the yoke over his shoulder and started off down the road. This week's visit to Marville had been less fruitful than usual. The life of a higgler was always best when the yoke got lighter.

[voralfred]

Is one supposed to haggle with a higgler?

[laurie]

Marvin Hagler was quite successful at haggling with the higglers.

Marvin did have an advantage, though...

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

schnitzel

Pronunciation: /ˈʃnɪtz(ə)l/

noun
a thin slice of veal or other light meat, coated in breadcrumbs and fried: they are known for their soups and schnitzels a chicken schnitzel

Origin:
from German Schnitzel, literally 'slice'


Ian Britton

⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌⚌

Sid sat silently, slicing his schnitzel into little rectangles. He preferrred to think of them as squares, but his accuracy wasn't that good.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

schnitzel

I'm used to calling that a Wiener Schnitzel.
But I guess that the Wiener part has an unappropriate connotation to Americans.

[Algot Runeman]

Wiener Schnitzel - Is there any connection to Wien (Vienna)?

Wiener vs. Frankfurter or Hamburger sandwiches?

Or, are these things Urban Legends?