polyglot

polyglot - adj - able to speak or write several languages; multilingual; containing, composed of, or written in several languages

Somehow I missed submitting this one after polymath, but it seems appropriate today after yet more examples written in comments on yesterdays word by Jack.

fiat

fiat - noun - an arbitrary or authoritative command or order; formal or official authorization or sanction

Arbitrary -or- authoritative? That combination seems odd. Besides, isn't this just a small red car? -wink-

fib

fib – n - A small or trivial lie; minor falsehood.

A simple word for today. I don't think I've heard it anywhere but New York. Is it used elsewhere?

appellation

appellation - noun - the word by which a particular person or thing is called and known; name; title; designation; the act of naming


Why is the name of the color blue? And how is it so universally understood? My son, recently asked (again) why certain things are named the way they are. Of course, he picked the simple and universal ones. Those are always the hardest to answer, if they can indeed be answered.

lacuna

lacuna - n - A gap or missing part, as in a manuscript, series, or logical argument; hiatus.

A particularly frustrating example of lacunae is the Annals of Tacitus (A.D 55-117), which has large gaps, especially in his lives of Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula. It's enough to make stones weep and turnips bleed.

polymath

polymath - noun - a person of great or varied learning; one acquainted with various subjects of study


Earlier in the list appears the word Autodidact describing a person who is self-taught. This word seems to go hand-in-hand with it. Good examples from history: Leonardo da Vinci, Julius Ceaser, Benjamin Franklin, Jack....

transubstantiation

transubstantiation - n - The changing of one substance into another; the changing of the elements of the bread and wine, when they are consecrated in the Eucharist, into the body and blood of Christ (a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church).

I can't believe this hasn't already been used. The Catholic doctrine in question has been controversial since before the Reformation. John Wycliffe, to mention a prominent example, denied the real prescence of Christ in the bread and wine. In the 17th Century, Thomas Hobbes derided "transubstantiation" as a nonsense word promulgated by "deceived and deceiving Schoolmen." The Catholics, Orthodox, and some Protestant denominations maintain the doctrine today.

delectation

delectation - noun - great pleasure, delight, enjoyment

Something I wish I could get out of my job, and which I hope everyone else is getting. I have a couple of opportunities which may offer more in the way of this word, but I haven't heard when I can present myself for consideration for them yet.

avuncular

avuncular - adj - Of or having to do with an uncle; regarded as characteristic of an uncle, especially in benevolence or tolerance.

insuperable

insuperable - adj - incapable of being passed over, surmounted or overcome; unsurmountable


Related to my current job, I am (unfortunately) no longer programming. The company has purchased what is (I think) a wonderful piece of software to allow non-technical users to develop fully working business plans (BPM). However, from the developer perspective, there isn't much to keep the interest. So, I'm sure I'll be in the job market again since I insist on being either a programmer or a manager of programmers.

Junoesque

Junoesque - adj - Having the stately bearing and imposing beauty of the goddess Juno.

andante

andante – adj, adv - Moderately slow and even.

Jeff, you missed this one, so I'm muscling in on your musical turf.

vitiate

vitiate - verb - to make faulty or imperfect; to render defective; to impair; to corrupt morally; to debase; to render ineffective

Is this inline with your opinion mentioned in your word today John?

demography

demography - n - The science of vital and social statistics, as of the births, deaths, diseases, marriages, etc., of populations.

I wish I could remember who first said that demography is destiny. It's one of those propositions that's so obviously true that it becomes a full-time job pretending it's not. Diversity, as the word is currently understood, has never been any nations greatest strength ever, anywhere or anytime. If the Bush-Kennedy amnesty passes congress, it will be the end of what's left of the United States.

flagitious

flagitious - adj - disgracefully or shamefully criminal; wicked; guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate

internecine

internecine - adj - Of or relating to conflict within a nation, an organization or a group; mutually destructive; involving or accompanied by mutual slaughter; deadly; destructive

Armageddon comes to mind.

I was reading this article (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm) today which talks about patent Armageddon, a situation in which companies sue each other into oblivion over patent infringement issues.

In some ways the precipitation of hostilities during the Cold War could have been described in the same way.

Dire, no matter how you cut this one.

cui bono

cui bono - n - Utility, advantage, or self-interest considered as the determinant of value or motivation.

I couldn't find a really satisfactory definition. This is generally seen as a question and might best be translated as, "Who benefits?" or "Who profits?"

I'm campaigning for a new holiday: Siete de Junio, commemorating the French army's occupation of Mexico City in 1863.

doughty

doughty - adj - Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave

Back to the words.

redound

redound - verb - to have a consequence or effect; to return; to rebound; to reflect; to become added or transferred; to accrue


This word seems appropriate in light of the news of Natalie's impending departure for Houston as her husbands career moves to the next stage. Congratulations to both of them!

termagant

termagant - noun - a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; a shrew

Can't think of anyone who would actually qualify, but a certain movie adapted from a play by Wm. Shakespeare does come to mind.

A 17th Century Exquisite

This just in from the art world: today's painting was long thought to show King Charles II's mistress Nell Gwynne. New evidence suggests that the woman portrayed was an earlier mistress, Barbara Villiers, justly considered one of the great beauties of the day.

dirndl

dirndl – n - A woman's dress with a close-fitting bodice and full skirt, commonly of colorful and strikingly patterned material, fashioned after Tyrolean peasant wear.

I'm back.