GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

oleiferous

/ˌəʊlɪˈɪf(ə)rəs/
adjective
Botany
(of seeds, glands, etc.) producing oil.

Origin
Early 19th century: from Latin oleum ‘oil’ + -ferous.

Until recent times, olives were the chief commercial oleiferous crop. Corn and safflower and other oil-producing plants now are competitive.

[Algot Runeman]

nympholepsy

/ˈnɪmfə(ʊ)ˌlɛpsi/
noun
mass noun - literary
1 Passion aroused in men by beautiful young girls.
2 Wild frenzy caused by desire for an unattainable ideal.

Origin
Late 18th century: from Greek numpholēptos ‘caught by nymphs’, from numphē ‘nymph’ and lambanein ‘take hold of’, on the pattern of epilepsy.

-=-=-=-=-

Ned nodded, drifting off to a nap in spite of the noise. The other men were unusually excited, collectively afflicted with nympholepsy. They were all drunk, of course. Though the score was close, the group were all ogling the cheerleaders more than watching the game. In their inebriated state, the men imagined the cheerleaders were all nymphomaniacs, too.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

nympholepsy

An ellipsis is a triple repetition, symbol … , meaning an omission to be filled by the imagination of the reader.

Whereas a nympholepsis is a double repetition, symbol °° . Its meaning is self-explanatory, I think (cfr Boobs).

[Algot Runeman]

The lurking croc says, "That's very interesting."
(Ꙭ)
Ꙍ

...and slips away into the swamp.

[Algot Runeman]

hidrosis

/hɪˈdrəʊsɪs/
noun
mass noun
Medicine
The action of sweating.

Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek hidrōsis, from hidrōs ‘sweat’.

-=-=-=-

Public hidrosis is considered in a negative light. Of course, if the light is negative, how does anyone notice you are sweating in the first place.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

hidrosis

When last in England, I asked the pretty petrol station attendant if she could also check my coolant level.

I thought I heard her reply : "Sure, no hidrosis!".

Very well-spoken young lady.

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

correspondent

/kɒrɪˈspɒnd(ə)nt/
noun
1 A person who writes letters on a regular basis.
2 often with adjective or noun modifier A person employed to report for a newspaper or broadcasting organization.
adjective
corresponding

Origin
Late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French correspondant or medieval Latin correspondent- ‘corresponding’, from the verb correspondere (see correspond).

-=-=-=-=-

Hemingway was a war correspondent and wrote novels, too.

[Algot Runeman]

incunabulum

/ˌɪnkjʊˈnabjʊləm/
noun
An early printed book, especially one printed before 1501.

Origin
Early 19th century: from Latin incunabula (neuter plural) ‘swaddling clothes, cradle’, from in- ‘into’ + cunae ‘cradle’.

-=-=-=-=-=-

I might have a first edition of a book or two. I do have some books signed by the authors, but I own not a single incunabulum.

[Algot Runeman]

murage

/ˈmjʊərɪdʒ/
noun
mass noun - British
historical
Tax levied for building or repairing the walls of a town.

Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French from mur ‘wall’, from Latin murus.

-=-=-=-

Who needs a wall and the murage tax when you can spend billions on the military?

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

murage...
Who needs a wall and the murage tax when you can spend billions on the military?

Trump?

[Algot Runeman]

To be fair on this one, I'd say the description of the murage excess fits any recent US administration.

[Algot Runeman]

Pinoy

/ˈpɪnɔɪ/
adjective
Relating to the Philippines or the Filipinos.
noun
A person of Filipino origin or descent; a Filipino.

Origin
Tagalog.


-=-=-=-=-

According to the Wikipedia entry, Pinoy is considered a derogatory term, so saying "Filipino" is more acceptable.

[Algot Runeman]

coccyx

/ˈkɒksɪks/
noun
A small triangular bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and some apes, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae.

Origin
Late 16th century: via Latin from Greek kokkux ‘cuckoo’ (because the shape of the human bone resembles the cuckoo's bill).

-=-=-=-=-

Sitting comfortably is difficult if you fracture your coccyx.

[Algot Runeman]

chuck
[just the first of SIX definitions]

/tʃʌk/
verb
[WITH OBJECT]informal
1 Throw (something) carelessly or casually.
1.1 Cricket (of a bowler) deliver (a ball) with an unlawful action.
1.2 often chuck something away/out Throw (something) away.
2 End a relationship with (a partner)
2.1 Give up (a job or activity)
2.2 chuck it dated Stop doing something.

Charles chucked the chalk after he finished writing his maths solution on the board. He was cool with his "drop the mic" behavior.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

chuck
[just the first of SIX definitions]
...

I wonder how many British think Chuck, when they mean crown prince Charles.

[Algot Runeman]

telamon

/ˈtɛləməʊn//ˈtɛləmən/
noun
Architecture
A male figure used as a pillar to support an entablature or other structure. (Compare to female cariatid)

Origin
Early 17th century: via Latin from Greek telamōnes, plural of Telamōn, the name of a mythical hero.

-=-=--=-=-

The museum was especially proud of its telamon columns, though they could only be seen from the park at rear. The street side had plain columns.

[Algot Runeman]

imagineer

/ɪˌmadʒɪˈnɪə/
noun
A person who devises and implements a new or highly imaginative concept or technology, in particular one who devises the attractions in Walt Disney theme parks.
verb
[WITH OBJECT]
often as noun imagineering
Devise and implement (a new or highly imaginative concept or technology)

Origin
1940s: from imagine, on the pattern of engineer.

-=-=-=-=-

The saddest element of imigineering is the clutch/death grip of corporate copyright.

[Algot Runeman]

fordo
(also foredo)

/fɔːˈduː/
verb
[WITH OBJECT]
archaic
Kill; destroy.

Origin
Old English fordōn; related to Dutch verdoen and German vertun, and ultimately to for and do.

-=-=-=-=-

While it has not been the stated purpose of colonization to fordo native culture, it has been the general result.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

fordo
...

In your illustration, why did you forgo cow and horse droppings?
Or did you fordo them?

[Algot Runeman]

dahabeeyah

/ˌdɑːhəˈbiːjə/
noun
A large passenger boat used on the Nile, typically with lateen sails.

Origin
Mid 19th century: from Arabic, literally ‘golden’, denoting the gilded state barge formerly used by the Muslim rulers of Egypt.

-=-=-=-=-

Ted enjoyed his visit to the Mediterranean and the Nile where he took a ride on a traditional dahabeeyah.

[Algot Runeman]

humblebrag

/ˈhʌmb(ə)lbraɡ/
noun
informal
An ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud.
verb
[NO OBJECT]
informal
Make an ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement with the actual intention of drawing attention to something of which one is proud.

Origin
Early 21st century: from humble + brag.

--=---=--

Combining a secure ego, having a solid belief in oneself, with an outward humility which encourages others to work hard is the most difficult thing to accomplish. Few managers accomplish it. Humblebragging doesn't do it.

[Algot Runeman]

plafond

/plaˈfɒ̃(d)/
noun
1 An ornately decorated ceiling.
1.1 A painting or decoration on a ceiling.

Origin
French, from plat ‘flat’ + fond ‘bottom, base’.

-=-=-=-=-

The mansion's ballroom was spacious and elegant, even having a spectacular plafond. Though, those who tried to dance and look up at the same time often got very dizzy.

[Algot Runeman]

pogonophobia

/pɒɡənəˈfəʊbɪə/
noun
mass noun
humorous
Extreme dislike of beards.

Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek pōgōn ‘beard’ + -phobia.

----====----

If you suffer from pogonophobia, you will not want to meet me "face to face".

[Algot Runeman]

subtweet

/ˈsʌbtwiːt/
noun
informal
(on the social media application Twitter) a post that refers to a particular user without directly mentioning them, typically as a form of furtive mockery or criticism.

Origin
Early 21st century: blend of subliminal and tweet.

-=-=-=-=-

Sam substituted 'that golfer' when subtweeting about Tiger Woods.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

subtweet

So a subtweet is kind of a subtle tweet, isn't it?

I think I would prefer to call it a tweetle.

If I had a Twitter account, that is ...

Spoiler: show