Search found 8120 matches

by Slava
Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:36 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Velutinous
Replies: 0
Views: 13

Velutinous

The fuzzy GW for 4/10/24: • velutinous • Pronunciation: vê- lut -ên-ês • Hear it! [/url] Part of Speech: Adjective Meaning: Velvety, covered with a fine, soft, silky fiber. Notes: Today's Good Word is one that botanists have been hiding from us for centuries; it is most frequently used to refer to s...
by Slava
Wed Apr 10, 2024 8:07 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Maundy
Replies: 1
Views: 6200

Re: Maundy

For more on maundy money, see here.
by Slava
Wed Apr 10, 2024 5:33 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Volitant
Replies: 1
Views: 2690

Re: Volitant

On an infamous note, Volare was also used as the name of a Plymouth automobile that didn't have a great reception.

I remember well some summer eves, walking among the volitant swallows swooping about, gobbling up the pesky mosquitos.
by Slava
Tue Apr 09, 2024 9:14 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Bibelot
Replies: 1
Views: 2878

Re: Bibelot

For a double entendre , "Randy Gauntlet was quite taken with the little bibelot he picked up in the airport." I think I have a strange spell-check dictionary, neither entendre nor bibelot was in there until I put them there. There's probably some pun to be made with bibe-a-lot, too, but I ...
by Slava
Tue Apr 09, 2024 6:19 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Avast
Replies: 1
Views: 2553

Re: Avast

Speaking of pirates, there is a gag holiday called Talk Like a Pirate Day. It's on September 19, and next year will be its 30th anniversary.

Avast the word is quite popular with crossword constructors, too.
by Slava
Mon Apr 08, 2024 4:18 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Eclipse
Replies: 1
Views: 1025

Re: Eclipse

I don't usually reply first to my own suggestions, but as I just got back from experiencing totality, I figured I'd share. The difference between 99 and 100 percent is literally like turning out the only light in the room. Or more like turning a 3-way bulb down, if you could. Lights are on; go down ...
by Slava
Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Bunny
Replies: 1
Views: 3018

Re: Bunny

Bunny is at least a cutsey sounding term of endearment. I watched a movie yesterday, Cover Girl, where Gene Kelly's character called his girlfriend, Rita Hayworh, 'chicken'. Weird. :shock:
by Slava
Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:24 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Manipulate
Replies: 1
Views: 2850

Re: Manipulate

The relationship to hand goes further, too. After all, isn't a handler one who manipulates? Back in the day, when I got my first job at a pizzeria, we actually measured the ingredients for the sauce by hand. 3 cans of sauce, a manipule of X, a small manipule of Y, 3 more of Q, etc. Of course, we did...
by Slava
Sun Apr 07, 2024 10:24 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Kowtow
Replies: 1
Views: 2513

Re: Kowtow

Kowtowing is not a popular activity in the US

Except among certain conservative republicans, that is. :|
by Slava
Sun Apr 07, 2024 6:56 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Morass
Replies: 1
Views: 2391

Re: Morass

I like morassic. If the US government ever becomes functional again, we could look back and call this the morassic age. :cry:
by Slava
Sat Apr 06, 2024 6:38 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Connive
Replies: 1
Views: 3118

Re: Connive

I wondered in an old post if a contrivance were pejorative. Now I'd say that it can be, but if the contriving isn't nice, connivance would be the better word to use. And vice-versa.
by Slava
Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:48 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Torch
Replies: 1
Views: 64

Re: Torch

Yes, in case you thought it too, having seen the Modern German word, queer is a relative.
by Slava
Fri Apr 05, 2024 7:57 am
Forum: Good Word Suggestions
Topic: ute/Ute
Replies: 1
Views: 68

Re: ute/Ute

Well, the first one is a trimming of utility, covered in utile. Not related to futile, by the by. Perhaps a suggestible word for the Agora?

The Utes, however, seem to have a murky etymology. The closest I got was a 'perhaps from'.
by Slava
Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:59 am
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Nacreous
Replies: 1
Views: 2406

Re: Nacreous

Even having read this way back when it first came out, and several times since then, I can't seem to break myself of the habit of pronouncing it with a 'knack'. Sigh.
by Slava
Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:16 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Etagere
Replies: 4
Views: 114

Re: Etagere

Would putting the decoration on the first letter alter the pronunciation to 'ay'? I took 4 years of French in high school, but that was a couple of years back, and I never used it either.

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