Search found 621 matches
- Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:00 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Factotum
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4704
Re: Factotum
The first time I heard this word was in an office where I used to work. I was at least a generation younger than almost everyone else there, and one older gentleman described himself as a "supernumerary and general factotum." He really was a jack-of-all-trades. I guess he counted himself a...
- Wed Jan 08, 2020 5:50 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Cahoot
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3462
Re: Cahoot
I was reading an article on Arabic-derived words in English and Spanish, and came across this definition of the Spanish word alcahuete (pronounced ahl-ca-weh-teh ): alcahuete : Accomplice, a person who helps another in a love affair, specially an illicit one; gossipy person. Alcahuete comes from His...
- Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:57 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Burke
- Replies: 10
- Views: 14324
Re: Burke
I was about to say I've never heard of "Burke" but I know "berk," and now I see from your note that apparently it's the same term just a different spelling.
- Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:55 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Chutzpah
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3340
Re: Chutzpah
Love the story explaining/demonstrating the word.
- Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:52 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Svelte
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3629
Re: Svelte
I would have guessed a Scandinavian origin for this.
- Mon Jan 06, 2020 12:50 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Remunerate
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3659
Re: Remunerate
Are you sure municipium wasn't just a city that took its residents' money through fees, taxes, and such?
- Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:10 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Thigmotropism
- Replies: 8
- Views: 10513
Re: Thigmotropism
If I burst into tears (as I do) at the first scene of sentimentality in a movie, does that make me thigmotropic? I am certainly moved by touching things.
- Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:21 am
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Nihilism
- Replies: 8
- Views: 9867
Re: Nihilism
I read a description once that a nihilist will look on passively while the world collapses around him, but move his food dish two inches and he'll cry bloody murder.
- Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:05 am
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Tranche
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4184
Re: Tranche
Never heard this one before, at least I don't think so.
- Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:04 am
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Caconym
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5232
Re: Caconym
A few years ago I had a coworker, a temp actually, who everyone called Percy. I assumed his name was Percival. Not exactly a caconym but quite unusual these days. Our manager "outed" him when she came around asking, "Has anyone seen Pericles?"
- Mon May 27, 2019 1:12 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Charivari
- Replies: 8
- Views: 10374
Re: Charivari
Learned a new word! :) Some time ago, going through my Dad's music as I used to do from time to time :mrgreen: I found a Grover Washington Jr. album with a song called "Shivaree Ride." I had no idea what a shivaree was, but now I know it probably referred to the sounds of cans and such att...
- Mon May 27, 2019 12:49 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Soliloquy
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4330
Re: Soliloquy
The q-u-y letter combo looks odd, probably because it's uncommon in English.
- Mon May 27, 2019 12:44 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Rinky-Dink
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3354
Re: Rinky-Dink
Whenever I see the word rinky-dink it brings to mind an old Dave "Baby" Cortez instrumental. Not "Rinky-Dink," strangely enough, but "The Happy Organ": https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=tcpel ... ture=share
- Mon May 27, 2019 12:39 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Usurp
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3244
Re: Usurp
I can relate to the bedroom usurpation. My living room (and television, and refrigerator) have been usurped. Good word, though!
- Mon May 27, 2019 12:33 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Raucous
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4147
Re: Raucous
I commented awhile back about Johnny Carson's reporting on an argument at a political gathering in the 80s, calling it a "raucous Dukakis caucus fracas."