Search found 7448 matches
- Thu Mar 14, 2024 9:01 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Relic
- Replies: 0
- Views: 227
Relic
• relic • Pronunciation: re -lik • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: 1. An object or idea that has survived history in ways others in their class have not, a remnant. 2. An object or idea cherished for its association with a famous historical or religious figure, a memento. Notes: Today's word...
- Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:53 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Funambulism
- Replies: 0
- Views: 221
Funambulism
• funambulism • Pronunciation: fê- næm -byê-li-zêm • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: 1. Rope or wire walking, tightrope or slack-rope, highwire, or skywalk. 2. A delicate complicated maneuver requiring a balancing act between two opposing forces. Notes: I love words that lead us down the gar...
- Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:49 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Hypocorism
- Replies: 3
- Views: 335
Hypocorism
• hypocorism • Pronunciation: hai-pê- kor -ri-zêm • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: 1. A pet name, a nickname, an unofficial affectionate label. 2. The use of such names. Notes: Here is the word for all shortened names and some labels, including diminutive nicknames like Billy or Jimmy , or ...
- Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:33 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Furlong
- Replies: 0
- Views: 233
Furlong
• furlong • Pronunciation: fêr -lawng • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: A unit of length measuring 660 feet, 220 yards, 1/8 of a mile or 201 meters. Notes: Here is a word that is bit dated but still available. If you are a horse-racing fan, you hear it often. It is unrelated to furlough , so...
- Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:48 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Apricity
- Replies: 2
- Views: 278
Apricity
• apricity • Pronunciation: ê- pri -si-ti • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: The light or warmth of the sun, especially in winter. Notes: Here is a pretty word with a pleasant meaning that has been crushed under the wheels of time. Actually, before it became a victim of chronology back in the...
- Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:48 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Luftmensch
- Replies: 4
- Views: 809
Re: Luftmensch
Monika Freund sent this comment about luftmensch : In German there is a similar expression: Luftnummer . It means, if someone promises something that, upon closer inspection, turns out to be impossible, that is also a „Luftnummer“. “Das ist eine Luftnummer,” is what people say, for example, when som...
- Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:58 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Meritocracy
- Replies: 2
- Views: 269
Meritocracy
• meritocracy • Pronunciation: mer-ri- tah -krê-si • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: Governance by people chosen on the basis of merit, for their competence rather than birth, wealth or other criteria. Notes: This word, parallel to democracy , comes with the same full panoply of derivational...
- Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:28 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Lambaste
- Replies: 2
- Views: 297
Lambaste
• lambaste • Pronunciation: læm- bayst • Hear it! Part of Speech: Verb, transitive Meaning: No, today's word has nothing to do with basting lamb, not even if you are on the lam: it means 1. to beat or thrash thoroughly or 2. to scold or chastise furiously. Notes: Today's Good Word is a lexical orph...
- Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:34 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Steeplejack
- Replies: 0
- Views: 255
Steeplejack
• steeplejack • Pronunciation: stee -pêl-jæk • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: Someone who works on spires, steeples, smokestacks, and other tall structures. Notes: Today we have a word that reached the height of its popularity in 1940 according to Google Books Ngrams. It is a lovely lexical...
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:12 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Fruition
- Replies: 0
- Views: 249
Fruition
• fruition • Pronunciation: fru- i -shên • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun, mass Meaning: 1. Successful completion, fulfillment, materialization, intended results. 2. Enjoyment of something possessed. 3. The action of bearing fruit. Notes: Today's word and fruit are other examples of the English habi...
- Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:24 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Gargantuan
- Replies: 3
- Views: 267
Gargantuan
• gargantuan • Pronunciation: gahr- gæn -chu-ên • Hear it! Part of Speech: Adjective Meaning: Huge, colossal, gigantic. Notes: Today we have a large word referring to extra large objects. It is the adjective made from an archaic word, Gargantua "a giant". A gargantuist at one time referre...
- Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:32 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Hyperbole
- Replies: 1
- Views: 137
Hyperbole
• hyperbole • Pronunciation: hai- pêr -bê-lee • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: A figure of speech that exaggerates for emphasis, metaphoric overstatement. Notes: Today's Good Word belongs to a large and widespread family. The use of hyperboles is hyperbolism, which you get when you hyperbol...
- Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:17 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Geek
- Replies: 1
- Views: 147
Geek
• geek • Pronunciation: geek • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: 1. (US Slang) A socially awkward person who devotes all his or her time to some scientific pursuit, usually involving computers. 2. (US Slang) A serious intellectual better adapted to thinking than mingling with his or her peers....
- Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:23 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Farce
- Replies: 0
- Views: 755
Farce
• farce • Pronunciation: fahrs • Hear it! Part of Speech: fahrs Meaning: 1. Stuffing, filling, force-meat. 2. An exaggerated parody of base humor, an artistic work with no redeeming social value that usually resorts to slapstick humor. Notes: Today's noun may be used as a verb in its first sense, a...
- Wed Feb 28, 2024 11:27 pm
- Forum: Good Word Discussion
- Topic: Courtesan
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1851
Re: Courtesan
My answer had been "a high priced courtesan". Brilliant reply and reasoning. So how did we get to the verb “to court,” Again, the legitimate behavior in regal courts. The legal court got its name from the time when royal justice was measured out in regal courts. When the word of a king wa...