eremite

eremite - noun - a hermit, especially a religious recluse

I'll defer to John to discuss this word. For what ever reason though, this word is too close to termite for me not to have some humorous moments with it.

licentious

licentious - adj - Lacking moral discipline or ignoring logal restraint, especially in sexual conduct.

What can I possibly say? Except maybe that "If it feels good, do it" will always be an easier sell than Samuel Johnson's "He who makes an animal of himself loses only the pain of being a man."

And now for another of Johnny Kavanagh's favorite poems! This one's by Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931); it's called General William Booth Enters Into Heaven. I'd have preferred to use The Congo, but my nerve failed me.

(NB: Lindsay's poems are meant to be performed.)

General William Booth Enters into Heaven
[To be sung to the tune of The Blood of the Lamb with indicated instrument]

I
[Bass drum beaten loudly.]

Booth led boldly with his big bass drum --
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
The Saints smiled gravely and they said: "He's come."
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
Walking lepers followed, rank on rank,
Lurching bravoes from the ditches dank,
Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale --
Minds still passion-ridden, soul-powers frail: --
Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath,
Unwashed legions with the ways of Death --
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

[Banjos.]

Every slum had sent its half-a-score
The round world over. (Booth had groaned for more.)
Every banner that the wide world flies
Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes.
Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang,
Tranced, fanatical they shrieked and sang: --
"Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"
Hallelujah! It was queer to see
Bull-necked convicts with that land make free.
Loons with trumpets blowed a blare, blare, blare
On, on upward thro' the golden air!
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)

II
[Bass drum slower and softer.]

Booth died blind and still by Faith he trod,
Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.
Booth led boldly, and he looked the chief
Eagle countenance in sharp relief,
Beard a-flying, air of high command
Unabated in that holy land.

[Sweet flute music.]

Jesus came from out the court-house door,
Stretched his hands above the passing poor.
Booth saw not, but led his queer ones there
Round and round the mighty court-house square.
Then in an instant all that blear review
Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new.
The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled
And blind eyes opened on a new, sweet world.

[Bass drum louder.]

Drabs and vixens in a flash made whole!
Gone was the weasel-head, the snout, the jowl!
Sages and sibyls now, and athletes clean,
Rulers of empires, and of forests green!

[Grand chorus of all instruments. Tambourines to the foreground.]

The hosts were sandalled, and their wings were fire!
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
But their noise played havoc with the angel-choir.
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
O shout Salvation! It was good to see
Kings and Princes by the Lamb set free.
The banjos rattled and the tambourines
Jing-jing-jingled in the hands of Queens.

[Reverently sung, no instruments.]

And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer
He saw his Master thro' the flag-filled air.
Christ came gently with a robe and crown
For Booth the soldier, while the throng knelt down.
He saw King Jesus. They were face to face,
And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

piebald - adj - having spots and patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled; mixed; composed of incongruous parts

I always think of horses when I come across this word. Wikipedia suggests this word is used to especially describe horses.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pookie.jpg

abet

abet - v. - to actively second and encourage (as an activity or plan), forward; to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose

animus

animus - noun - Basic attitude or animating spirit; disposition; intention; a feeling of ill will; animosity; in Jungian psychology, the inner masculine part of the female personality

malevolent

malevolent - adj. - having, showing, or arising from intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred; productive of harm or evil

Muuuuaaaaaaaaaahhhahahahaaaa!

fray

fray - n - A suffle; a brawl.

Speaking of frays, here's a piece of Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene I. Romeo's friend Mercutio has been mortally wounded by Juliet's brother Tybalt. Romeo had been trying to prevent the swordplay.

MERCUTIO
I am hurt.A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing?

BENVOLIO
What, art thou hurt?

MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

Exit Page

ROMEO
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.

MERCUTIO
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o'both your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? Iwas hurt under your arm.

ROMEO
I thought all for the best.

MERCUTIO
Help me into some house, Benvolio,Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!They have made worms' meat of me: I have it,And soundly too: your houses!

redoubtable

redoubtable - adj - Arousing fear or awe; formidable; worthy of respect or honor.


Like this character here. Vlad Tepes (Tee-pish, 1431-1476), also known as Vlad the Impaler (don't ask), was Bram Stoker's inspiration for the character Dracula.

acrid

acrid - adj - unpleasantly sharp, pungent or bitter to the taste or smell; caustic in language or tone

dogged

dogged - adj. - marked by stubborn determination; obstinate

I realize that this doesn't have a whole lot to do with my word, but when I opened my backdoor to go outside last night...I found a cute little dog on my back porch! It was so exciting! I returned her to our new neighbors soon after finding her but it was fun to play with her for a little bit.

transducer

transducer - noun - a substance or device, such as a piezoelectric crystal, microphone or photoelectric cell that converts input energy of one form into output energy of another.

abate

abate - v. - to put an end to, nullify; to reduce in degree or intensity, moderate; to reduce in value or amount; omit; deprive

ostracon

ostracon - noun - An inscribed potsherd.

The greeks used this tool to get rid of politicians. It was actually quite a painful process. The assembly (read: the citizens) would enscribe the name of the politician they wanted out of office on a piece of pottery and drop it in a bowl in the senate. When the shards of pottery were counted, if the appropriate number was met, the politician was banished from Athens for 10 years.

-- source: History channel, wikipedia

redolent

redolent - adj. - exuding fragrance, aromatic; full of a specified fragrance, scented

Happy 2 year Anniversary to Word of the Day!

pantheon

pantheon - noun - a circular temple in Rome, completed in 27 B.C. and dedicated to all the gods; a group of persons most highly regarded for contributions to a field or endeavor.

forlorn

forlorn - adj. - bereft, forsaken; being in poor condition, miserable, wretched; nearly hopeless

"...the horn sounds so forlorn..." Isn't that some sort of Christmas song? I've never heard it except for on You've Got Mail.

blintz

blintz - n - A thin pancake folded around a filling and fried or baked.

This is a very New Yorkish word. The fillings I mostly saw advertised were cheese, potato, and blueberry.

repetition - n - the act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated...

repitition - noun - the act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated; a recitation or recital, especially of prepared or memorized material

repitition - noun - the act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated; a recitation or recital, especially of prepared or memorized material

repitition - noun - the act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated; a recitation or recital, especially of prepared or memorized material

repitition - noun - the act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated; a recitation or recital, especially of prepared or memorized material

repitition - noun - the act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated; a recitation or recital, especially of prepared or memorized material

commensurate

commensurate - adj - Of the same size, extent, or duration as another; Corresponding in size or degree; proportionate; Measurable by a common standard.

I'm surprised this one hasn't been used already. I believe we could keep WoD going for two centuries if need be.

mouse-potato

mouse-potato - n. - someone who spends an inordinate amount of time using a computer

This is great...absolutely great! How come I can't ever come up with these things? It's going to be a while before another word can top this one (in my opinion, anyway).