closure

closure – n - The act of closing; the state of being closed; a bringing to an end; conclusion.

Much modern commentary is just so much white noise. The use and misuse of words like today's is a prime attribute of this meaningless chatter. For example, Harper Collins recently fired Judith Regan. The reason given was that she had made anti-Semitic remarks; the real reason was that she had brokered a deal for O. J. Simpson's speculative memoir If I Did It (cute title). They were all set to publish the book until public outrage changed their corporate minds. Clearly, someone's head had to roll, and Judith drew the short straw. She claimed that she had only been trying to bring about closure! Hauling in big bucks had been the furthest thing from her mind.

When I lived in Colorado Springs, a hiker was lost in the mountains. After a long search his body was found, prompting some Journalism major to state that closure had been reached and the family could now begin the mourning process. The mourning process! Words fail me.

Maybe we could market a more general version of Dilbert's Buzzword Bingo. I'll get it started: caring, compassionate, tolerant, diversity, misspoke (meaning I accidentally said what I was really thinking or I inadvertantly told the truth), and celebrate (applied to anything but Christmas or birthdays).

(Speaking of anti-Semitism[TM], Joseph Sobran wittily and correctly pointed out that an anti-semite used to be someone who didn't like Jews, but now it's someone Jews don't like.)

mufti

mufti – n - Civilian clothes, in contrast with military or other uniforms, or as worn by a person who usually wears a uniform.

I'm surprised this one didn't occur to me sooner.

wassail

wassail - noun - An expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to someone; the liquor used for a wassail, especially a beverage formerly much used in England at Christmas and other festivals, made of ale (or wine) flavored spices, sugar, toast, roasted apples, etc.


Or, in my case, hot apple cider with red hot candies melted therein. Although, I've been led to believe the addition of rum to such a concoction really 'spices' it up nicely. I've never tried it that way, so I guess I've never had a true wassail.

purblind

purblind - –adj - Nearly or partially blind; dim-sighted; slow or deficient in understanding, imagination, or vision.

sub rosa

sub rosa – n - Confidentially; secretly; privately.

flibbertigibbet

flibbertigibbet - n - A silly, flighty, or scatterbrained person, especially a pert young woman with such qualities.

For once I'm going to use Dictionary.com's word of the day. My mother often described my sister as a flibbertigibbet, and, until today, I thought it was a word she'd invented! Live and learn.

Let me wish my WoD colleagues a Joyous Kwanzaa, a Happy Hannukah, and a very Merry Holiday. (Just kidding. Merry Christmas to the Van Zandts and Bowmans and a very Happy New Year!)

(The Nativity scene at the top was painted by Carravaggio sometime around 1600. The angel is holding a streamer labeled "Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest).")

malaise

malaise - noun - a vague feeling of discomfort in the body, as at the onset of illness; a general feeling of depression or unease.

Beginning last week this was me. After a week of trying to fight it off, I chose to investigate my options in chemistry and went to see the doctor, who prescribed an antibiotic. Now this feeling is mostly gone. Better living through better chemistry works.

trammel

trammel – n - Usually, trammels. a hindrance or impediment to free action.

I'm up to my nostrils in work, so brevity continues to be the soul of wit.

pule

pule - verb - to whimper; to whine

ergo: last week was a tough week, I just couldn't stay caught up with work or word entries. Now I'm sick and I have to take off work to go to the doctors office.

fungible

fungible – adj - Being of such nature or kind as to be freely exchangeable or replaceable, in whole or in part, for another of like nature or kind.

For example, wheat stored in a silo or money in a bank.

farrago

farrago – n - A confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley.

He who makes an animal of himself loses only the pain of being a man. - Samuel Johnson

inkhorn

inkhorn - adj - affectedly or ostentatiously learned; pedantic

endemic

endemic – adj - Natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous; belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place.

Here's another of JJK's favorite poems.





The Emperor of Ice-Cream, by Wallace Stevens (1879-1955)

Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

assonant

assonant - noun - resemblance of sounds, especially of the vowel sounds in words

chanson de geste

chanson de geste –n - An epic poem written in assonant verse or rhyme about historical or legendary events or figures.

Literally, "song of deeds." A prime example would be the Song of Roland (12th Century?).

Dead is Roland; his soul with God.
While to Roncesvalles the Emperor rode,
Where neither path nor track he found,
Nor open space nor rood of ground,
But was strewn with Frank or heathen slain,
"Where art thou, Roland?" he cried in pain:
"The Archbishop where, and Olivier,
Gerein and his brother in arms, Gerier?
Count Otho where, and Berengier, I
von and Ivor, so dear to me;
And Engelier of Gascony;
Samson the duke, and Anseis the bold;
Gerard, of Roussillon, the old;
My peers, the twelve whom I left behind?"
In vain! - No answer may he find.
"O God," he cried, "what grief is mine
That I was not in front of this battle line!"
For very wrath his beard he tore,
His knights and barons weeping sore;
Aswoon full fifty thousand fall;
Duke Naimes hath pity and dole for all.

accolade

accolade - noun - any award, honor or laudatory notice.

For example, in my case, I've been nominated for Sailor of the Year.

sham

sham – n - Something that is not what it purports to be; a spurious imitation; fraud or hoax.

Natalie says she'll be back in January.

soubrette

soubrette – n - A maidservant or lady's maid in a play, opera, or the like, esp. one displaying coquetry, pertness, and a tendency to engage in intrigue; an actress playing such a role; any lively or pert young woman.

I suppose Nat might fit the third definition. For rhe primary definition, I think of Paquette in Voltaire's novel and Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide. (By the way, I can't recommend the soundtrack to Candide too highly, especially the 1956 original cast recording. It's interesting that Bernstein was working on Candide at the same time he was composing West Side Story. One Hand, One Heart, originally in C was moved to WSS, while Oh Happy We was moved from WSS to C.)

dictum

dictum - noun - an authoritative statement; a formal pronouncement

stentorian

stentorian – adj - Very loud or powerful in sound.

I have returned.

unguent

unguent - noun - a salve for sores, burns or the like; an ointment

M. D'Artagnan was given a miraculous potion which he used to overcome certain wounds and which he offered to Athos at their first meeting. It's not recorded in the story, but after the duel with the Cardinals Guards, I wonder if Athos made use of it.

nuptial

nuptial - adj - of or relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony; characteristic of or occurring in the breeding season

I have a friend who left for Las Vegas NV last night (maybe...). She is going out there to watch some rodeo finals or something like that. She is also trying to coerce her SO to get married while there. Conniving woman!