Funny, isn't it? We have no trouble putting the emphasis on the third syllable of Aberration.

But remembering the original construction of aberrant, ab + errant, encourages me to go with emphasis on the first and the second.

Enjoyed your primary school story, Debby. Very impressive. I was moved to google 'high-priced courtesan' and discovered this extraordinary story from the Reno Gazette Journal. https://www.rgj.com/story/news/local/leader-courier/2020/01/09/nevadas-highest-paid-sex-worker-based-lyon-county/4426565002/...

So are we saying that Cupid and Psyche were brother and sister - or half-siblings? Either way, creepy indeed.

Moved by bnj's comments under Saltate and his being reminded of Saltimbocca, I note another great Italian dish, Caponata, which resembles Ratatouille in its ingredients (if not in its word origins) but with a bit of sweet/sour/spicy to pep it up. Delicious. Or as bnj might say in Tokyo, oishii.

"There are times...". Really, Slava! It's not just some times - it's all the time(s).

Scoring points against the opposition is the Government's main business. Who cares about the interests of the people or the country?

I despair.

Certainly, but maybe such usage was a metaphorical extension from an orbit origin? Still trying.

Lugubrious is not all that far from Forlorn. viewtopic.php?t=5499

Extraordinary! And yes, very sad.

Not sure why, but I have always associated kilter with orbits. If something is on its correct repetitive path, it is in kilter. A bicycle wheel with some loose spokes is out of kilter; it has that wobble as it rotates. Is there some possible association with another word in this area? A kilt can swi...

So how did the prefix 'hip hip' develop? It seems to be an invocation to those around to join in the congratulatory noises. But whence did it come?

On bnj's point about tone of voice, here in Australia the word (if I can be forgiven for using it) Bastard, is often used as a term of endearment - "You old b..." usually accompanied by a slap on the back. It can be used to express envy of someone's good fortune - "You lucky b..."...

I shall be very stroppy if Wordle uses SAMEY. Terrrible word. A bit like this week's Wordle choice of LEGGY. I know we can have Toey and Heady and Nosey and Handy but they have meanings beyond the original word. Leggy - bah! I just wanted to get that off my chest. Perhaps I am being chesty.

It's not the first time I have lost my keys. Perhaps they are forelorn

Thanks for the Gwendolyn research, Slava. Interesting. Yes, Debby, handsome is somehow a deeper quality than mere skin-deep beauty. Elegance and bearing are in there somewhere. More of an overall package. Either way, I am afraid I can't currently lay claim to any of these qualities. I ran to catch t...