When I was a young (non-grizzled) reader, I would often come across this word. Being too lazy (at the time) to stop and look it up, I inferred from context that it meant a scruffy looking older man. Since now I am grizzled to the nth degree, it's comforting to know I'm not scruffy looking (although ...

Thanks. I always check the Good Word dictionary before submitting, and sometimes do a forum search. No sense taking up space for nothing.

con·ge·ries    /kɒnˈdʒɪəriz, ˈkɒndʒəriz/ [kon-jeer-eez, kon-juh-reez] –noun(used with a singular or plural verb) a collection of items or parts in one mass; assemblage; aggregation; heap: From the airplane the town resembled a congeries of tiny boxes. Origin: 1610–20; < L: a heap, equiv. to conger- ...

Some of my friends would say it describes the contents of my head and has nothing to do with beer. I like your interpretation better.

Actually, I'm fascinated by quantum physics, though I can grasp only its most elementary concepts. Hence, vacuumfoam.

Here's to symposia of all ilk (but especially #4). https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Symposium ___________________ sym·po·si·um    /sɪmˈpoʊziəm/ [sim-poh-zee-uhm] –noun,plural-si·ums, -si·a  /-ziə/ [-zee-uh] 1. a meeting or conference for the discussion of some subject, esp. a meeting a...

I always thought this word had more to do with age. I was unaware of the title or property aspect. See what researching for Good Word suggestions does for one's knowledge? dow·a·ger    /ˈdaʊədʒər/ Show Spelled[dou-uh-jer] –noun 1. a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, e...

I've always liked this word. hie    /haɪ/ verb,hied, hie·ing or hy·ing. –verb (used without object) 1. to hasten; speed; go in haste. –verb (used with object) 2. to hasten (oneself): Hie yourself down to this once-in-a-lifetime sale! Origin: bef. 900; ME hien, hyen, OE hīgian to strive; c. D hijgen ...

Quite probably. That's the only one I recall ever hearing him say, anyway.

BTW, the Marceau comment came about this way:

"What he said." --> mimic --> mime --> Marceau

The mind works in mysterious ways. (At least mine does.)

Who said? Marcel Marceau?

dit·to (dĭt'ō) n. pl. dit·tos 1. The same as stated above or before. 2. A duplicate; a copy. 3. A pair of small marks ( " ) used to indicated that the word, phrase, or figure given above is to be repeated. adv. As before. tr.v. dit·toed, dit·to·ing, dit·tos To duplicate (a document, for example...

Maybe it's my Texas upbringing, but I always associated raucous with ruckus, a noisy commotion; fracas; rumpus. The hoarse meaning came as a surprise to me also.

rau·cous /ˈrɔkəs/ [raw-kuhs] –adjective 1. harsh; strident; grating: raucous voices; raucous laughter. 2. rowdy; disorderly: a raucous party. Origin: 1760–70; < L raucus hoarse, harsh, rough; see -ous —Related forms rau·cous·ly, adverb rau·cous·ness, rau·ci·ty  /ˈrɔsɪti/ [raw-si-tee], noun —Synonyms...

Yep, I grew up saying the same thing. I later read that such usage was common in the south, although for the life of me, I can't remember where I read it. (Maybe the Playboy Advisor?) Anyway, odds are that such usage has fallen out of favor, given the loosening of standards in the mass media over th...

Maybe he said Hico, small town about 60 miles NW of Waco along state highway 6. Of course, if he was saying Waco and it came out Whyco, he ain't no native.

I guess my attempt at facetiousness fell flat. Aye, me.