Okay, I am glad to announce the opening of the "Word of the Day Thread". I got the idea from www.dictionary.com and from the "word of the day" created on the Quoteland MSN Group, Started by DuDette and Harv. Actually It was Daniellelynn and I.
So I thought I'd bring it on to General Discussion. It’s a great way to expand your vocabulary.
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Word of the Day: Sardonic
sardonic \sar-DON-ik\, adjective: Derisive, mocking, scornful, or bitterly sarcastic.
Clive gave a sardonic account of a publicly subsidized "concert" in a nearly deserted church hall, in which the legs of a piano were repeatedly struck with the broken neck of a violin for over an hour. --Ian McEwan, Amsterdam
Emery was a strange man: highly intelligent, witty in a sardonic way, and a snob, who didn't consider me worth bothering about until I became music director of the Royal Opera in London. --Georg Solti, Memoirs
The sardonic historian, whose rule it is to exhibit human nature always as an object of mockery. --Isaac Taylor, Natural History of Fanaticism
The favourite drama of the Burattini appears to be a sardonic farce, in which the chief character... deludes other... puppets into trusting him, and then beats them. --William Howells, Venetian Life
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Sardonic comes from French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Greek sardonios, sardanios.
I asked Jesus, "How much do you love me?". Jesus answered, "This much" as He stretched His arms and died on the cross for me. -- Unknown, (Author / Orator unknown or unconfirmed)Full story here
[This message was edited on 07-08-03 at 08:24 AM.]
Posts: 3320 | Location: London | Registered: 02-20-03
What about sardonical? or sardonicafied? or sardoniferous? yay for word morphage-afiying
Neat idea
-Forever Lex
"Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit." -Ansel Adams
At this very early juncture in this new thread I'd like to ask a question, if I may?
Is this supposed to be taken seriously or flippantly?
I think a thread such as this would be very useful to a lot of people, particularly young and aspiring authors, poets etc.
My personal opinion, for what it's worth, is that it should be fairly seriously contributed towards. And, futhermore, that we stick to the said word of the day and not its derivatives.
Just a thought!
littera scripta manet the written word remains. (the saying continues: 'The weak word perishes')
"Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit." -Ansel Adams
Sardonic humor...which can be best understood by the company it keeps:any humor which is considered;... contemptuous, disdainful, scornful; derisive, jeering, mocking, saturnine, sneering; caustic, corrosive, sarcastic, satiric.
Posts: 4943 | Location: my enchanted forest | Registered: 09-14-02
The island of Sardinia, consisting chiefly of marshes and mountains, has from the earliest period to the present been cursed with a noxious air, an ill-cultivated soil, and a scanty population. The convulsions produced by its poisonous plants gave rise to the expression of sardonic smile, which is as old as Homer (Odyssey, xx. 302).—Mahon: History of England, vol. i. p. 287.
The explanation given by Mahon of the meaning of “sardonic smile” is to be sure the traditional one, and was believed in by the late classical writers. But in the Homeric passage referred to, the word is “sardanion” ([greek]), not “sardonion.” There is no evidence that Sardinia was known to the composers of what we can Homer.
It looks as though the word was to be connected with the verb [greek], “show the teeth;” “grin like a dog;” hence that the “sardonic smile” was a “grim laugh.”
littera scripta manet the written word remains. (the saying continues: 'The weak word perishes')
ADJECTIVE: 1.Tenaciously unwilling to yield: bullheaded, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obstinate, perverse, pigheaded, stiff-necked, tenacious, willful. See RESIST. 2. Difficult to alleviate or cure: obstinate, persistent, stubborn.
From the Latin Pertinex.
An excerpt from Chapter 134 – ‘The Chase – Second Day’ from Moby Dick……………… "Turn up all hands and make sail! he travels faster than I thought for;--the top-gallant sails!--aye, they should have been kept on her all night. But no matter--'tis but resting for the rush." Here be it said, that this pertinacious pursuit of one particular whale, continued through day into night, and through night into day, is a thing by no means unprecedented in the South sea fishery. For such is the wonderful skill, prescience of experience, and invincible confidence acquired by some great natural geniuses among the Nantucket commanders; that from the simple observation of a whale when last descried, they will, under certain given circumstances, pretty accurately foretell both the direction in which he will continue to swim for a time, while out of sight, as well as his probable rate of progression during that period.
I too can be extremely pertinaciouswhen I have an idea in my head, and will see all projects through to their end and can be as stubborn as a mule.
littera scripta manet the written word remains. (the saying continues: 'The weak word perishes')
Yes, this thread is serious. It is primarily to improve the vocabulary of quotelanders.
I think, in an effort to avoid this thread becoming "a mess", that not "just anyone" should contribute there word of the day.
For the time-being, I'll contribute the word of the day. I have a bad feeling that this thread will be ruined by random posting of everyones personal word of the day.
Except from that, all users should feel free to reply to the thread, about there opinions on the word, where they might have heard the word, etc.
I asked Jesus, "How much do you love me?". Jesus answered, "This much" as He stretched His arms and died on the cross for me. -- Unknown, (Author / Orator unknown or unconfirmed)Full story here
Posts: 3320 | Location: London | Registered: 02-20-03
Adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design; perversely persistent; stubbornly unyielding or tenacious pertinaciousness, pertinacity-nouns pertinaciously-adverb synonym-obstinate
Posts: 4943 | Location: my enchanted forest | Registered: 09-14-02
desuetude \DES-wi-tood, -tyood\, noun: The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice, custom, or fashion.
The gradual desuetude of old observances. --Charles Lamb, Essays of Elia
The exercise of rights which had practically passed into desuetude. --John Richard Green, Short History of the English People
Probably only one in a hundred girls who give birth clandestinely even knows that an edict of King Henry II, now fallen into desuetude, once made their action punishable by death. --Nina Rattner Gelbart, The King's Midwife: A History and Mystery of Madame du Coudray
Desuetude comes from Latin desuetudo, disuse, from desuesco, desuescere, to become unaccustomed.
I asked Jesus, "How much do you love me?". Jesus answered, "This much" as He stretched His arms and died on the cross for me. -- Unknown, (Author / Orator unknown or unconfirmed)Full story here
Posts: 3320 | Location: London | Registered: 02-20-03
The word Egalitarian was used in Fav. Q. "Quote Game - June Edition - Pg. 4"
Egalitarian: \i-gal-a-'ter-e-an\ adj [F égalitaire, fr. égalité equality, fr. L aequalitat-, aequalitas, fr. aequalis]: asserting, promoting, or marked by egalitarianism - egalitariann
Egalitarianism: \e-a-,niz-am\ n1: a belief in humna equality esp. with respect to social, political, and econimic rights and privileges 2: a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among men.
Money is the most egalitarian force in society. It confers power on whoever holds it. ~Roger Starr~
There is a powerful tension in our relationship to technology. We are excited by egalitarianism and anonymity, but we constantly fight for our identity. ~David Owens~
PS: There is a "Word of the Day" thread in the MSN/QL site, but not too many members are posting.
"Do all things with love." Og Mandino
Posts: 4747 | Location: The Official "Surf City, USA" | Registered: 10-12-01
malapropism \mal-uh-PROP-iz-uhm\, noun: The usually unintentionally humorous misuse of a word, especially by confusion with one of similar sound; also, an example of such misuse.
At 15, Rachel, the whiny would-be beauty queen who "cares for naught but appearances," can think only of what she misses: the five-day deodorant pads she forgot to bring, flush toilets, machine-washed clothes and other things, as she says with her willful gift for malapropism, that she has taken "for granite." --Michiko Kakutani, "'The Poisonwood Bible': A Family a Heart of Darkness," New York Times, October 16, 1998
He also had, as a former colleague puts it, "a photogenic memory"--a malapropism that captures his gift for the social side of life, his Clintonian ability to remember names of countless people he has met only briefly. --Eric Pooley and S.C. Gwynne, "How George Got His Groove," Time, June 21, 1999
A malapropism is so called after Mrs. Malaprop, a character noted for her amusing misuse of words in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's comedy The Rivals.
I asked Jesus, "How much do you love me?". Jesus answered, "This much" as He stretched His arms and died on the cross for me. -- Unknown, (Author / Orator unknown or unconfirmed)Full story here
Posts: 3320 | Location: London | Registered: 02-20-03
Schmoozing schmooze or schmoose also shmooze ( P )
Pronunciation Key (shmz) Slang v. schmoozed, or schmoosed also shmoozed schmooz·ing, or schmoos·ing shmooz·ing schmooz·es or schmoos·es shmooz·es v. intr. To converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.
v. tr. To engage in schmoozing with: “how to be a professional artisthow to be a businessperson, how to schmooze the collectors” (Paige Powell).
n. The act or an instance of schmoozing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Yiddish shmuesn, possibly from shmues, a chat, pl. of shmue, rumor; akin to Hebrew mû‘â, rumor. See m in Semitic Roots.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- schmoozer n. schmoozy adj.
ratiocination • \rat-ee-oh-suh-NAY-shun\ • noun *1 : the process of exact thinking : reasoning 2 : a reasoned train of thought
Example sentence: In the mid-1600s British legal scholar Sir Matthew Hale noted, "There are some truths so plain and evident, and open, that need not any process of ratiocination to evidence or evince them."
* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
Did you know? Edgar Allan Poe is said to have called the 1841 story The Murders in the Rue Morgue his first "tale of ratiocination." Many today agree with his assessment and consider that Poe classic to be the world's first detective story. Poe didn't actually use "ratiocination" in Rue Morgue, but the term does appear three times in its 1842 sequel, The Mystery of Marie Roget. In Marie Roget, the author proved his reasoning ability ("ratiocination" traces to "ratio," Latin for "reason" or "computation"). The second tale is based on an actual murder, and as the case unfolded after the publication of Poe's work, it became clear that his fictional detective had done an amazing job of reasoning through the crime. Source~Merriam-Webster, Incorporated 2003~
"Do all things with love." Og Mandino
Posts: 4747 | Location: The Official "Surf City, USA" | Registered: 10-12-01
Nuance is everything. When your friend asks how your family is doing, that's NOT schmoozing. When the office supplies salesrep asks - THAT'S schmoozing.
In general (at least in the NY/yiddish meaning of the word) the most important part of the definition that Harv gave was: " especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection"
When you go to the deli to get your morning coffee & bagel with a schmear (a little bit of cream cheese, rather than the 1/4lb they'd put on if you just asked for a bagel & cream cheese), the counterman will schmooze with you while he's making your order. (Which he probably started as soon as you walked in and said "the regular, Sy. Thanks").
When you're looking for raffle prizes for the school dance/philanthropic dinner/PTA bowling night - you go into the local stores and schmooze the owners until they give in.
ob·se·qui·ous ( P ) Pronunciation Key (b-skw-s, b-) adj. Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Middle English, from Latin obsequisus, from obsequium, compliance, from obsequ, to comply : ob-, to; see ob- + sequ, to follow; see sekw-1 in Indo-European Roots.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ob·sequi·ous·ly adv. ob·sequi·ous·ness n.
\Ob*se"qui*ous\, a. [L. obsequiosus, fr. obsequium compliance, fr. obsequi, fr. obsequi: cf. F. obs['e]quieux, See Obsequent, and cf. Obsequy.] 1. Promptly obedient, or submissive, to the will of another; compliant; yielding to the desires of another; devoted. [Obs.]
His servants weeping, Obsequious to his orders, bear him hither. --Addison.
2. Servilely or meanly attentive; compliant to excess; cringing; fawning; as, obsequious flatterer, parasite.
There lies ever in ``obsequious'' at the present the sense of an observance which is overdone, of an unmanly readiness to fall in with the will of another. --Trench.
3. [See Obsequy.] Of or pertaining to obsequies; funereal. [R.] ``To do obsequious sorrow.'' --Shak.
adj 1: attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery [syn: bootlicking, fawning, sycophantic, toadyish] 2: attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; "obsequious shop assistants"
Word of the Day for Friday July 18, 2003 encumbrance \en-KUHM-brun(t)s\, noun: 1. A burden, impediment, or hindrance. 2. A lien, mortgage, or other financial claim against a property.
As Prince of Wales, George V had himself taken his wife on several foreign or imperial tours, without the encumbrance of their young children. --Ben Pimlott, The Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth II
He . . . will have to overcome the encumbrance of space gloves to reattach electrical cables and install a hatch. --"Mir Cosmonaut's Heart Ills Cast Doubt on Repair Effort," New York Times, July 15, 1997
Liberated from the encumbrances of Washington, the editor and his creation were free to embark on the happiest period of their history. --Edward L. Widmer, Young America
But she knew that each family needed a son to inherit the property and encumbrances and to carry on the name for at least one more generation. --Annabel Davis-Goff, The Dower House
Encumbrance is from Old French encombrance, from encombrer, "to block up," from en-, "in" (here used intensively) + combre, "dam, weir, hence hindrance."
Harv Stella Splendens December 22, 1985-March 27, 2003
Posts: 4454 | Location: Earth, Milky Way | Registered: 11-29-01
improvident \im-PRAHV-uh-dunt; -dent\, adjective: Not provident; lacking foresight or forethought; not foreseeing or providing for the future; negligent; thoughtless.
Elizabeth's husband... had been a reckless, improvident man, who left many debts behind him when he died suddenly of a consumption in September 1704. --David Nokes, Jane Austen: A Life
Lily is spoiled, pleasure-loving, and has one of those society mothers who are as improvident as a tornado. --Elizabeth Hardwick, Sight-Readings: American Fictions
He called the decision "an exercise in raw judicial power" that was "improvident and extravagant." --Linda Greenhouse, "White Announces He'll Step Down From High Court," New York Times, March 20, 1993
Improvident derives from Latin improvidens, improvident-, from im- (for in-), not + providens, provident-, present participle of providere, to see beforehand, to provide for, from pro-, before, forward + videre, to see.
I believe though I do not comprehend, and I hold by faith what I cannot grasp with the mind. -St. Bernard (1090-1153)- French Theologian and Reformer
Posts: 3320 | Location: London | Registered: 02-20-03
incorrigible • \in-KOR-uh-juh-bul\ • adjective: incapable of being corrected, amended, or reformed : delinquent, unruly
Example sentence: Neil was such an incorrigible slob that his parents eventually gave up nagging him about cleaning his room and simply told him to keep the door closed.
Did you know? "Incorrigible" has been part of English since the 14th century. It derives in part from the Latin "corrigere," meaning "to correct," which in turn derives from "regere," meaning "to lead straight." In its early uses "incorrigible" was primarily used to describe people who were morally depraved, but now it is most often applied to people who merely have bad habits that seemingly cannot be broken. The word can also be used as a noun to refer to a person who possesses such habits. ~Source~Merriam-Webster, Incorporated 2003~
"Do all things with love." Og Mandino
Posts: 4747 | Location: The Official "Surf City, USA" | Registered: 10-12-01
An extension if I may, Phrase of the day, or idea of the day. Today for example mine would be.... The Power Of Dreams.
However, in keeping with the original spirit of this thread, the word of the day is a simple one -- Beauty, this word may need explaining which I will do at a later date, but I will leave you for the time being to offer your own thoughts on thiss word and what it's meaning is to you.
Posts: 15 | Location: England | Registered: 07-19-03
yay for word morphage-afiying 
"Do all things with love."
