Could red-heads be described as having cupreous locks? Poetically, I'm sure, but they'd probably deck you if you used in to their face. Along those lines, how does the Agora feel about the use of they and their to avoid he/she and his/her? It seems to be becoming quite common, though at times it doe...

While not a "nice" word in its meanings, it's still a good word. If you say it with a little "burp," it feels much like what it means. I'm not sure if we can come up with many fun ways to use it, but I'm quite sure there are plenty of uses today, especially when speaking of polit...

Hi,

I haven't gotten my word the last two days. Is anyone else suffering from withdrawal?

Meaning, is it just me? I'd hate to re-sign up and then start getting two, and have to resign, and then not get any, and so on back and forthing ad nauseum.

Slava

Yes, this is the one with the patricide punishment. Rather gruesome, no? I've read the first two in the series, and should be getting more any day now. A new one is coming out this month, and I've already ordered it, so when it's published I'll get it and all the others I'm missing. Regards, Slava

What I was thinking of here was an explication for the recipients of the general e-mail. While most of the Agorans are probably well aware of the difference, I thought perhaps others might be wondering why the Poles need a lustration rather than a catharsis. Which leads me to be a bit weird: After w...

Thanks for the responses. While I may have read Macbeth, it would have been many years ago, and I didn't memorize it. It seems Shakespeare did pretty much everything first, eh? I should have used one of my larger dictionaries, too. Then I would have seen that it is actually two words. Regards, Slava

Actually, Mark Bailey's post is what I was thinking of for the Have You Read..? suggestion. As he noted, this idea was Books on Woids, i.e.: Horsefeathers - Funk, Charles Earle & Charles Earle, Jr. A wonderful romp through some 600 curious words and their origins. I first read this book as a chi...

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get around to this, but here's a shot: "Roman Blood" is Saylor's first novel, and a beauty. If you are a fan of mystery stories set in the past, this is one for you. It's not a new novel, it first came out in 1991, but it is set in ancient Rome. The...

I recently saw this used to mean hilt, as in the blade had been shoved in up to the dudgeon. My dictionary says it is of unknown origin, and I'd never seen it used this way. What do you all think? Have you come across this usage? Or is your experience only with "in high dudgeon?" Nice word...

A word that is getting some play in the news these days, so perhaps a review of whence it came and how it differs from catharsis would be interesting?

Slava

As a separate idea from a literary book discussion section, how about a section on discussing Books on Words? I'm just finishing "Eats, Shoots & Leaves," which is what makes me think of this. I've read a couple of other trivia books and collections of weird words, as I'm sure most of t...

While not strictly word-related, would the Agora welcome a board section for discussing books recently read? It could be about how the author uses certain words. How well, or poorly, written people consider it. Is it worth reading? The population of the Agora seems well-behaved, so I shouldn't imagi...

A good word to use instead of under-age or adolescent.

By the way, why aren't people in their nonage called nonagenarians?

Yuk, yuk.

Sorry,

Slava

When we post a new post, at the bottom is the option of creating a poll. What is this for? I haven't been aware of one being used, though I've never really looked.

Thanks in advance,

Slava

A nice word, with an interesting etymology. In a way, it should mean something like coming off half-baked.

Slava