Search found 7417 matches

by Dr. Goodword
Wed Mar 13, 2024 6:53 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Funambulism
Replies: 0
Views: 129

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:49 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Hypocorism
Replies: 3
Views: 261

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 ...
by Dr. Goodword
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:33 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Furlong
Replies: 0
Views: 136

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Sun Mar 10, 2024 10:48 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Apricity
Replies: 2
Views: 228

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Sat Mar 09, 2024 2:48 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Luftmensch
Replies: 4
Views: 728

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:58 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Meritocracy
Replies: 2
Views: 209

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Thu Mar 07, 2024 11:28 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Lambaste
Replies: 2
Views: 240

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:34 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Steeplejack
Replies: 0
Views: 156

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Mon Mar 04, 2024 6:12 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Fruition
Replies: 0
Views: 154

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:24 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Gargantuan
Replies: 3
Views: 187

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:32 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Hyperbole
Replies: 1
Views: 109

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:17 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Geek
Replies: 1
Views: 115

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....
by Dr. Goodword
Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:23 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Farce
Replies: 0
Views: 661

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Wed Feb 28, 2024 11:27 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Courtesan
Replies: 7
Views: 1792

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...
by Dr. Goodword
Wed Feb 28, 2024 6:06 pm
Forum: Good Word Discussion
Topic: Courtesan
Replies: 7
Views: 1792

Courtesan

• courtesan • Pronunciation: kor -tê-zên • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun Meaning: 1. A mistress supported by a member of the nobility. 2. A sophisticated prostitute with an elite, if not courtly clientele. Notes: Today's word refers to a highly successful entrepreneuse in the world's oldest profess...

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