descant \DES-kant\, noun:
1. (Music) (a) A melody or counterpoint sung above the plain
song of the tenor. (b) The upper voice in part music.
2. A discourse or discussion on a theme.
\DES-kant; des-KANT; dis-\, intransitive verb:
1. (a) To sing or play a descant. (b) To sing.
2. To comment freely; to discourse at length.
[T]hese to their nests,
Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;
She all night long her amorous descant sung.
--John Milton, [1]Paradise Lost
When they start on one of their polarised descants, whether
on state education, water rates, crime, the BBC or
whatever, they sound like a bumble bee and a wasp fighting
in a jam jar.
--Gillian Reynolds, "The biggest things to hit radio,"
[2]Daily Telegraph, May 14, 1999
Mr. Ackroyd's descant on "Great Expectations" is the work
of a master.
--Alison Lurie, "Hanging Out With Hogarth," [3]New York
Times, October 11, 1992
In a custom associated with Athenian gatherings but almost
certainly followed elsewhere as well, a myrtle branch was
passed around the room, and each of the assembled would
descant as the wine flowed.
--David Barber, "Children of Orpheus," [4]The Atlantic,
June 10, 1998
The police amusingly descant on these jottings: "I can't
believe he'd ever write a sentence like 'I shall be
compelled to take steps to silence you!'"
--Christopher Buckley, "The Chekhov of Coldsands-on-Sea,"
[5]New York Times, November 16, 1997
_________________________________________________________
Descant is derived from Medieval Latin discantus, "a refrain,"
from Latin dis- + cantus, "song," from the past participle of
canere, "to sing."
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Friday, August 26, 2005
Word of the Day for Friday August 26, 2005
bagatelle \bag-uh-TEL\, noun:
1. A trifle; a thing of little or no importance.
2. A short, light musical or literary piece.
3. A game played with a cue and balls on an oblong table
having cups or arches at one end.
Don't worry about that, a mere bagatelle, old boy!
--Eric Ellis, "Error Message," [1]Time, February 10, 2000
You know how it often happens; these strifes and disputes
frequently originate from a mere bagatelle.
--Alessandro Manzoni, [2]I Promessi Sposi
Excepting the regulars, the troops were raw as were
likewise most of their officers; and this march of
twenty-seven miles, which a year later would have been
considered a bagatelle, was now a mighty undertaking.
--James Ford Rhodes, [3]History of the Civil War
So if you eat at his restaurant every day -- off the menu,
of course -- and slosh the grub down with a 1966 Chateau
Margaux (£800-£1,000 a bottle in a restaurant), even a Ritz
bill will seem a mere bagatelle.
--"Do you take cash?" [4]The Guardian, December 23, 1999
_________________________________________________________
Bagatelle derives from Italian bagattella, "a trifling matter;
a bagatelle," perhaps ultimately from Latin baca, "a berry."
1. A trifle; a thing of little or no importance.
2. A short, light musical or literary piece.
3. A game played with a cue and balls on an oblong table
having cups or arches at one end.
Don't worry about that, a mere bagatelle, old boy!
--Eric Ellis, "Error Message," [1]Time, February 10, 2000
You know how it often happens; these strifes and disputes
frequently originate from a mere bagatelle.
--Alessandro Manzoni, [2]I Promessi Sposi
Excepting the regulars, the troops were raw as were
likewise most of their officers; and this march of
twenty-seven miles, which a year later would have been
considered a bagatelle, was now a mighty undertaking.
--James Ford Rhodes, [3]History of the Civil War
So if you eat at his restaurant every day -- off the menu,
of course -- and slosh the grub down with a 1966 Chateau
Margaux (£800-£1,000 a bottle in a restaurant), even a Ritz
bill will seem a mere bagatelle.
--"Do you take cash?" [4]The Guardian, December 23, 1999
_________________________________________________________
Bagatelle derives from Italian bagattella, "a trifling matter;
a bagatelle," perhaps ultimately from Latin baca, "a berry."
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Word of the Day for Thursday August 25, 2005
peccadillo \peck-uh-DIL-oh\, noun:
A slight offense; a petty fault.
No peccadillo is too trivial: we learn that the mogul once
blew his top because his laundry came back starched
("'Fluff and fold!' he screamed").
--Eric P. Nash, "High Concept," [1]New York Times, May 10,
1998
And besides, "what do they say? 'Don't judge lest you be
judged.' Everybody has their peccadilloes."
-- "Tyson has a friend in his corner," [2]Irish Times,
October 21,1999
Child of a dominant mother, victim of a guilt-ridden
conscience, [St. Augustine] wrote bewilderingly haunted
'Confessions,' in which infantile peccadilloes like
stealing apples and adolescent fumblings with instinctive
sexuality are bewailed with all the anguish of a frustrated
perfectionist.
--Geoffrey Parker, "True Believers," [3]New York Times,
June 29, 1997
_________________________________________________________
Peccadillo comes from Spanish pecadillo, "little sin,"
diminutive of pecado, "sin," from Latin peccatum, from
peccare, "to make a mistake, to err, to sin." It is related to
impeccable, "without flaw or fault."
A slight offense; a petty fault.
No peccadillo is too trivial: we learn that the mogul once
blew his top because his laundry came back starched
("'Fluff and fold!' he screamed").
--Eric P. Nash, "High Concept," [1]New York Times, May 10,
1998
And besides, "what do they say? 'Don't judge lest you be
judged.' Everybody has their peccadilloes."
-- "Tyson has a friend in his corner," [2]Irish Times,
October 21,1999
Child of a dominant mother, victim of a guilt-ridden
conscience, [St. Augustine] wrote bewilderingly haunted
'Confessions,' in which infantile peccadilloes like
stealing apples and adolescent fumblings with instinctive
sexuality are bewailed with all the anguish of a frustrated
perfectionist.
--Geoffrey Parker, "True Believers," [3]New York Times,
June 29, 1997
_________________________________________________________
Peccadillo comes from Spanish pecadillo, "little sin,"
diminutive of pecado, "sin," from Latin peccatum, from
peccare, "to make a mistake, to err, to sin." It is related to
impeccable, "without flaw or fault."
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Word of the Day for Wednesday August 24, 2005
expatiate \ek-SPAY-shee-ayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To speak or write at length or in considerable detail.
2. To move about freely; to wander.
He had told her all he had been asked to tell--or all he
meant to tell: at any rate he had been given abundant
opportunity to expatiate upon a young man's darling
subject--himself.
--Henry Blake Fuller, [1]Bertram Cope's Year
At the midday meal on fair day, a large one (meat loaf,
boiled potato, broccoli), Mrs. Lucas, married to the man
with the earache, expatiates on the difficulties of caring
for a parakeet her daughter has unloaded upon her and
which, let out of its cage for an airing, has escaped
through the door suddenly opened by Mr. Lucas.
--William H. Pritchard, [2]Updike: America's Man of Letters
His relationship with his family was for many years an
unhappy one, and he does not care to expatiate upon it.
--Barbara La Fontaine, "Triple Threat On, Off And Off-Off
Broadway," [3]New York Times, February 25, 1968
_________________________________________________________
Expatiate is from Latin expatiari, "to walk or go far and
wide," from ex-, "out" + spatiari, "to walk about," from
1. To speak or write at length or in considerable detail.
2. To move about freely; to wander.
He had told her all he had been asked to tell--or all he
meant to tell: at any rate he had been given abundant
opportunity to expatiate upon a young man's darling
subject--himself.
--Henry Blake Fuller, [1]Bertram Cope's Year
At the midday meal on fair day, a large one (meat loaf,
boiled potato, broccoli), Mrs. Lucas, married to the man
with the earache, expatiates on the difficulties of caring
for a parakeet her daughter has unloaded upon her and
which, let out of its cage for an airing, has escaped
through the door suddenly opened by Mr. Lucas.
--William H. Pritchard, [2]Updike: America's Man of Letters
His relationship with his family was for many years an
unhappy one, and he does not care to expatiate upon it.
--Barbara La Fontaine, "Triple Threat On, Off And Off-Off
Broadway," [3]New York Times, February 25, 1968
_________________________________________________________
Expatiate is from Latin expatiari, "to walk or go far and
wide," from ex-, "out" + spatiari, "to walk about," from
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Word of the Day for Tuesday August 23, 2005
tyro \TY-roh\, noun:
A beginner in learning; a novice.
It's difficult to imagine a tyro publishing a book on
medical procedures or economic theory.
--Philip Zaleski, "God Help the Spiritual Writer," [1]New
York Times, January 10, 1999
He was a sensitive, fine soul alert to the pleasures of
being green, a tyro, an amateur, unwilling to close his
mind before it had been tempted.
--Paul West, Sporting With Amaryllis
And, though we were mere tyros, beginners, utterly
insignificant, he was invariably as kind and considerate
and thoughtful, and as lavish in the gift of his time, as
though he had nothing else to do.
--Leonard Warren, Joseph Leidy: The Last Man Who Knew
Everything
_________________________________________________________
Tyro is from Latin tiro, "a young soldier, a recruit," hence
"a beginner, a learner."
A beginner in learning; a novice.
It's difficult to imagine a tyro publishing a book on
medical procedures or economic theory.
--Philip Zaleski, "God Help the Spiritual Writer," [1]New
York Times, January 10, 1999
He was a sensitive, fine soul alert to the pleasures of
being green, a tyro, an amateur, unwilling to close his
mind before it had been tempted.
--Paul West, Sporting With Amaryllis
And, though we were mere tyros, beginners, utterly
insignificant, he was invariably as kind and considerate
and thoughtful, and as lavish in the gift of his time, as
though he had nothing else to do.
--Leonard Warren, Joseph Leidy: The Last Man Who Knew
Everything
_________________________________________________________
Tyro is from Latin tiro, "a young soldier, a recruit," hence
"a beginner, a learner."
Monday, August 22, 2005
Word of the Day for Monday August 22, 2005
vicissitude \vih-SIS-ih-tood; -tyood\, noun:
1. Regular change or succession from one thing to another;
alternation; mutual succession; interchange.
2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation.
3. A change in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability
in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one
condition to another).
This man had, after many vicissitudes of fortune, sunk at
last into [1]abject and hopeless poverty.
--Thomas Macaulay
Max had rescued his father's gold watch through every
vicissitude, but as it didn't go I took it to a watchmaker.
--Edith Anderson, [2]Love in Exile: An American Writer's
Memoir of Life in Divided Berlin
It has come about that this writer, who at the beginning
might have appeared in unique occupation of a marginal and
peripheral world, is instead writing from the center of a
historical vicissitude, utterly contemporary.
--Elizabeth Hardwic, "Meeting [3]V. S. Naipaul"
_________________________________________________________
Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim, in
turn, probably from vices, changes.
Synonyms: alternation, inconstancy, fluctuation. [4]Find more
at Thesaurus.com.
1. Regular change or succession from one thing to another;
alternation; mutual succession; interchange.
2. Irregular change; revolution; mutation.
3. A change in condition or fortune; an instance of mutability
in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one
condition to another).
This man had, after many vicissitudes of fortune, sunk at
last into [1]abject and hopeless poverty.
--Thomas Macaulay
Max had rescued his father's gold watch through every
vicissitude, but as it didn't go I took it to a watchmaker.
--Edith Anderson, [2]Love in Exile: An American Writer's
Memoir of Life in Divided Berlin
It has come about that this writer, who at the beginning
might have appeared in unique occupation of a marginal and
peripheral world, is instead writing from the center of a
historical vicissitude, utterly contemporary.
--Elizabeth Hardwic, "Meeting [3]V. S. Naipaul"
_________________________________________________________
Vicissitude comes from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim, in
turn, probably from vices, changes.
Synonyms: alternation, inconstancy, fluctuation. [4]Find more
at Thesaurus.com.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Word of the Day for Sunday August 21, 2005
schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\, noun:
A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.
That the report of Sebastian Imhof's grave illness might also have been tinged with Schadenfreude appears not to have crossed Lucas's mind.
--Steven Ozment, Flesh and Spirit
He died three years after me -- cancer too -- and at that time I was still naive enough to imagine that what the afterlife chiefly provided were unrivalled opportunities for unbeatable gloating, unbelievable schadenfreude.
--Will Self, How The Dead Live
Somewhere out there, Pi supposed, some UC Berkeley grad students must be shivering with a little Schadenfreude of their own about what had happened to her.
--Sylvia Brownrigg, The Metaphysical Touch
The historian Peter Gay -- who felt Schadenfreude as a Jewish child in Nazi-era Berlin, watching the Germans lose coveted gold medals in the 1936 Olympics -- has said that it "can be one of the great joys of life."
--Edward Rothstein, "Missing the Fun of a Minor Sin," New York Times, February 5, 2000
Schadenfreude comes from the German, from Schaden, "damage" + Freude, "joy." It is often capitalized, as it is in German.
A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.
That the report of Sebastian Imhof's grave illness might also have been tinged with Schadenfreude appears not to have crossed Lucas's mind.
--Steven Ozment, Flesh and Spirit
He died three years after me -- cancer too -- and at that time I was still naive enough to imagine that what the afterlife chiefly provided were unrivalled opportunities for unbeatable gloating, unbelievable schadenfreude.
--Will Self, How The Dead Live
Somewhere out there, Pi supposed, some UC Berkeley grad students must be shivering with a little Schadenfreude of their own about what had happened to her.
--Sylvia Brownrigg, The Metaphysical Touch
The historian Peter Gay -- who felt Schadenfreude as a Jewish child in Nazi-era Berlin, watching the Germans lose coveted gold medals in the 1936 Olympics -- has said that it "can be one of the great joys of life."
--Edward Rothstein, "Missing the Fun of a Minor Sin," New York Times, February 5, 2000
Schadenfreude comes from the German, from Schaden, "damage" + Freude, "joy." It is often capitalized, as it is in German.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Word of the Day for Saturday August 20, 2005
truculent \TRUCK-yuh-luhnt\, adjective:
1. Fierce; savage; ferocious; barbarous.
2. Cruel; destructive; ruthless.
I ask whether impeachment will become still another arrow
in the quiver of the warrior class of ever more truculent
partisan politicians in Washington.
--"Former Watergate Prosecutors See Censure as Alternative
in Clinton's Case," [1]New York Times, December 9, 1998
...officers mistook his father's cursing and argumentative
reception of five men with guns for the actions of a
truculent fugitive.
--Frank J. Murray, "Media can't join police raids of homes,
high court decides," [2]Washington Times, May 25, 1999
Those bamboozled into believing palpable untruths that are
recognized as such by the larger community are likely in
time to develop an attitude of truculent resentment and
outright paranoia rather than self-esteem.
--Thomas M. Disch, [3]The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of: How
Science Fiction Conquered the World
_________________________________________________________
Truculent derives from Latin truculentus, from trux, truc-,
rough, savage, fierce.
1. Fierce; savage; ferocious; barbarous.
2. Cruel; destructive; ruthless.
I ask whether impeachment will become still another arrow
in the quiver of the warrior class of ever more truculent
partisan politicians in Washington.
--"Former Watergate Prosecutors See Censure as Alternative
in Clinton's Case," [1]New York Times, December 9, 1998
...officers mistook his father's cursing and argumentative
reception of five men with guns for the actions of a
truculent fugitive.
--Frank J. Murray, "Media can't join police raids of homes,
high court decides," [2]Washington Times, May 25, 1999
Those bamboozled into believing palpable untruths that are
recognized as such by the larger community are likely in
time to develop an attitude of truculent resentment and
outright paranoia rather than self-esteem.
--Thomas M. Disch, [3]The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of: How
Science Fiction Conquered the World
_________________________________________________________
Truculent derives from Latin truculentus, from trux, truc-,
rough, savage, fierce.
Detailed Work on the Wedding Cake made by Julie Walsh from England!
Detailed Work on the Wedding Cake made by Julie Walsh from England!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
cheftami.blogspot.com/
Amenity from the Amenities Class at the World Pastry Forum 2005!
An Amenity is often given to a guest at a hotel to make up for something that went wrong for the guest. This certainly would do the trick!
Wedding Cake by Julie Walsh at the World Pastry Forum 2005.
Sugar Showpiece I watched constructed piece by piece.
Sugar Showpiece by Stephane Glacier at the World Pastry Forum 2005.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Macintosh G5, Macintosh Powerbook 17 inch, iPod Photo, iPod 40GB Click Wheel, iPod Mini!
Macintosh G5, Macintosh Powerbook 17 inch, iPod Photo, iPod 40GB Click Wheel, iPod Mini!
Originally uploaded by taminsea1.
Birthday Eve, Tiara and Red Roses!
Self-Portrait of me and the Red Roses, decided to where the Tiara, because it was on the table.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
The place I call the Den, actually my family room!
My little TV with Tivo, DVD, and VCR. I created this little area in my house for rest.
Trying on a Tiara!
Tiara purchased for top of a wedding cake I designed. I would like to make more wedding cakes in the future.
More Photographs from the Cupcake Competition!
Taken by my friend J, we met on Flickr, than in person at the World Pastry Forum in July 2005. We had been talking since April 2005 on Flickr, I am so impressed with his photographs from his experience going to the French Pastry School in Chicago.
Another Entry From the Cupcake Competition!
Phoenix, Arizona Food Network Cupcake Competiton should air soon!
Cupcake Competition for the Food Network!
My friend J on Flickr took this photo while in Phoenix at the World Pastry Forum. I was in classes during the competition and did not get a shot of these cupcakes.
Monday, August 15, 2005
2005 ICES Convention
This cake is so theatrical and musical, the colors are so bold. This photo was taken by Cake Fun. I have yet to seen such a unique cake design. The cake has a geometric look, but it works and flows do to it's own colorful, bold, striking and different cake style. I like the painted face masks and the musical instruments and feel that adds to the interestingness of the cake.
2005 ICES Convention
This is a beautiful Wedding Cake from the Convention taken by my friend Cake Fun on Flickr. I just love the detailed work and the fact that it is completely white and traditional with a modern feel.
2005 ICES Convention
I really love this cake photo taken by Cake Fun. It is perfectly balanced and the colors are so serene. My favorite color is green. I love the pink and the way the large rose is accompanied by the smaller more intricate flowers.
Quote by Lu Yu
Tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens the thought and prevents drowsiness.
Quote by Lu Yu
Quote by Lu Yu
Quote by Virginia Woolf
One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.
Quote by Virginia Woolf
Quote by Virginia Woolf
Quote by Orson Welles
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people.
Quote by Orson Welles
Quote by Orson Welles
Word of the Day for Monday August 15, 2005
tryst \TRIST; TRYST\, noun:
An appointment (as between lovers) to meet; also, an appointed
place or time of meeting.
intransitive verb:
To mutually agree to meet at a certain place; to keep a tryst.
And it bothers me that I begin to worry if she's planning a
tryst with my handsome neighbour.
--Anita Nair, [1]The Better Man
Having left a "[2]Dear John" letter for her husband on the
kitchen table, she set off to the airport, where she
waited, and waited. Of course, Henry had entirely forgotten
about the tryst, and she had to return home crestfallen.
--"The serial seducer who took Amis's wife," [3]Times
(London), May 17, 2000
Once Nick goes into the kitchen to tryst with Martha, it is
Ms. Kurtz's turn to let loose with some fireworks.
--Frank Rich, [4]Hot Seat
Scientists are hoping the cosmos will bear witness to a
romantic rendezvous today as a spacecraft attempts a
Valentine's Day "tryst" with an asteroid called Eros.
--Nigel Hawkes, "Eros beckons spacecraft for cosmic tryst,"
[5]Times (London), February 14, 2000
_________________________________________________________
Tryst is from Middle English triste, tryste, "a station to
which game was driven (in hunting)," from Old French triste,
"a station to which game was driven, a watch post," probably
of Scandinavian origin.
An appointment (as between lovers) to meet; also, an appointed
place or time of meeting.
intransitive verb:
To mutually agree to meet at a certain place; to keep a tryst.
And it bothers me that I begin to worry if she's planning a
tryst with my handsome neighbour.
--Anita Nair, [1]The Better Man
Having left a "[2]Dear John" letter for her husband on the
kitchen table, she set off to the airport, where she
waited, and waited. Of course, Henry had entirely forgotten
about the tryst, and she had to return home crestfallen.
--"The serial seducer who took Amis's wife," [3]Times
(London), May 17, 2000
Once Nick goes into the kitchen to tryst with Martha, it is
Ms. Kurtz's turn to let loose with some fireworks.
--Frank Rich, [4]Hot Seat
Scientists are hoping the cosmos will bear witness to a
romantic rendezvous today as a spacecraft attempts a
Valentine's Day "tryst" with an asteroid called Eros.
--Nigel Hawkes, "Eros beckons spacecraft for cosmic tryst,"
[5]Times (London), February 14, 2000
_________________________________________________________
Tryst is from Middle English triste, tryste, "a station to
which game was driven (in hunting)," from Old French triste,
"a station to which game was driven, a watch post," probably
of Scandinavian origin.
Quote by Dave Barry
Eating rice cakes is like chewing on a foam coffee cup, only less filling.
Quote by Dave Barry
Quote by Dave Barry
Quote by Desiderius Erasmus
When I get a little money, I buy books. And if there is any left over, I buy food.
Quote by Desiderius Erasmus
Quote by Desiderius Erasmus
Quote by Marcel Boulestin
Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.
Quote by Marcel Boulestin
Quote by Marcel Boulestin
Quote by Miss Manners
The dinner table is the center for the teaching and practicing not just of table manners but of conversation, consideration, tolerance, family feeling, and just about all other accomplishments of polite society exept the minuet.
Quote by Judith Martin known as "Miss Manners"
Quote by Judith Martin known as "Miss Manners"
Quote by Duncan Hines
Nearly everyone wants at least one outstanding meal a day.
Qoute by Duncan Hines
Qoute by Duncan Hines
Chinese Proverbs
A good breakfast is no substitute for a large dinner.
When going to an eating house, go to one that is filled with customers.
Chinese Proverbs
When going to an eating house, go to one that is filled with customers.
Chinese Proverbs
Quote by Josh Billings
Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first.
Quote by Josh Billings
Quote by Josh Billings
Quote by Gracie Allen!
When my mother had to get dinner for 8 she'd just make enough for 16 and only serve half.
Quote by Gracie Allen
Quote by Gracie Allen
Outside the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace.
In Las Vegas at the Forum Shops located at Caesar's Palace.
Blurry Flower Arrangement Photograph!
I liked the flowers in the lobby, but took such a quick shot it ended up blurry.
Cactus in Phoenix, Arizona!
I liked this Cactus, so I took a quick photo of it early in the morning on my trip to Phoenix, Arizona for the World Pastry Forum!
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Dad, Mom and I at the Wynn Resort & Casino Las Vegas!
Wynn Coffee Shop after seeing the actual Mr. Wynn and Tony Bennett in front of the hotel!
Hummer Stretch Limo on the Strip!
Maybe I will rent a Hummer Stretch for my graduation from Business School in October!
Lion Sleeping!
This Lion looked like a giant baby sleeping on this rock near the waterfall at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Word of the Day for Thursday August 11, 2005
nugatory \NOO-guh-tor-ee; NYOO-\, adjective:
1. Trifling; insignificant; inconsequential.
2. Having no force; inoperative; ineffectual.
Tygiel's forte as a historian is his eye for what may
appear nugatory or marginal but, when focused upon,
illuminates the temper of a given moment.
--Roberto Gonzlez Echevarria, "From Ruth to Rotisserie,"
[1]New York Times, July 2, 2000
Jacoby's offense was no offense -- or an error so nugatory
as to demand no more than a one-sentence explanation.
--Lance Morrow, "In Boston, a Foolish Consistency of Little
Minds," [2]Time, July 19, 2000
Socialism no longer restrains; trade unions do so much less
than they did; moral inhibitions over the acquisition and
display of wealth are nugatory.
--John Lloyd, "If not socialism, what will persuade the
rich willingly to pay more taxes to help the poor and
preserve a decent society?" [3]New Statesman, August 2,
1996
_________________________________________________________
Nugatory comes from Latin nugatorius, from nugari, "to
trifle," from nugae, "jests, trifles."
1. Trifling; insignificant; inconsequential.
2. Having no force; inoperative; ineffectual.
Tygiel's forte as a historian is his eye for what may
appear nugatory or marginal but, when focused upon,
illuminates the temper of a given moment.
--Roberto Gonzlez Echevarria, "From Ruth to Rotisserie,"
[1]New York Times, July 2, 2000
Jacoby's offense was no offense -- or an error so nugatory
as to demand no more than a one-sentence explanation.
--Lance Morrow, "In Boston, a Foolish Consistency of Little
Minds," [2]Time, July 19, 2000
Socialism no longer restrains; trade unions do so much less
than they did; moral inhibitions over the acquisition and
display of wealth are nugatory.
--John Lloyd, "If not socialism, what will persuade the
rich willingly to pay more taxes to help the poor and
preserve a decent society?" [3]New Statesman, August 2,
1996
_________________________________________________________
Nugatory comes from Latin nugatorius, from nugari, "to
trifle," from nugae, "jests, trifles."
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Word of the Day for Wednesday August 10, 2005
sojourn \SOH-juhrn; so-JURN\, intransitive verb:
To stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time.
noun:
A temporary stay.
Though he has sojourned in Southwold, wandered in
Walberswick, dabbled in Dunwich, ambled through Aldeburgh
and blundered through Blythburgh, Smallweed has never set
foot in Orford.
--Smallweed, "The trouble with hope," [1]The Guardian,
April 14, 2001
Yet he is now an accomplished student and speaker of
English, a literary editor and television producer, someone
who has sojourned in Paris and attended the International
Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
--William H. Gass, "Family and Fable in Galilee," [2]New
York Times, April 17, 1988
As chance would have it, Degas's five-month sojourn in New
Orleans coincided with an extraordinarily contentious
period in the stormy political history of the city.
--Christopher Benfey, [3]Degas in New Orleans
During that long sojourn in Sligo, from 1870 to 1874, he
had lessons from a much loved nursemaid, Ellie Connolly;
later he received coaching in spelling and dictation from
Esther Merrick, a neighbour who lived in the Sexton's house
by St John's, and who read him quantities of verse.
--R. F. Foster, [4]W.B. Yeats: A Life
_________________________________________________________
Sojourn comes from Old French sojorner, from (assumed) Vulgar
Latin subdiurnare, from Latin sub-, "under, a little over" +
Late Latin diurnus, "lasting for a day," from Latin dies,
"day."
To stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time.
noun:
A temporary stay.
Though he has sojourned in Southwold, wandered in
Walberswick, dabbled in Dunwich, ambled through Aldeburgh
and blundered through Blythburgh, Smallweed has never set
foot in Orford.
--Smallweed, "The trouble with hope," [1]The Guardian,
April 14, 2001
Yet he is now an accomplished student and speaker of
English, a literary editor and television producer, someone
who has sojourned in Paris and attended the International
Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
--William H. Gass, "Family and Fable in Galilee," [2]New
York Times, April 17, 1988
As chance would have it, Degas's five-month sojourn in New
Orleans coincided with an extraordinarily contentious
period in the stormy political history of the city.
--Christopher Benfey, [3]Degas in New Orleans
During that long sojourn in Sligo, from 1870 to 1874, he
had lessons from a much loved nursemaid, Ellie Connolly;
later he received coaching in spelling and dictation from
Esther Merrick, a neighbour who lived in the Sexton's house
by St John's, and who read him quantities of verse.
--R. F. Foster, [4]W.B. Yeats: A Life
_________________________________________________________
Sojourn comes from Old French sojorner, from (assumed) Vulgar
Latin subdiurnare, from Latin sub-, "under, a little over" +
Late Latin diurnus, "lasting for a day," from Latin dies,
"day."
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Word of the Day for Tuesday August 9, 2005
captious \KAP-shuhs\, adjective:
1. Marked by a disposition to find fault or raise objections.
2. Calculated to entrap or confuse, as in an argument.
The most common among those are captious individuals who
can find nothing wrong with their own actions but
everything wrong with the actions of everybody else.
--"In-Closet Hypocrites," [1]Atlanta Inquirer, August 15,
1998
Mr Bowman had, I think, been keeping Christmas Eve, and was
a little inclined to be captious: at least, he was not on
foot very early, and to judge from what I could hear,
neither men nor maids could do anything to please him.
--M. R. James, [2]The Haunted Dolls' House and Other
Stories
Most authors would prefer readers such as Roiphe over
captious academic critics.
--Steven Moore, "Old Flames," [3]Washington Post, November
26, 2000
With the imperturbablest bland clearness, he, for five
hours long, keeps answering the incessant volley of fiery
captious questions.
--Thomas Carlyle, [4]The French Revolution
_________________________________________________________
Captious is derived from Latin captiosus, "sophistical,
captious, insidious," from captio, "a taking, a fallacy,
sophism," from capere, "to take, to seize."
1. Marked by a disposition to find fault or raise objections.
2. Calculated to entrap or confuse, as in an argument.
The most common among those are captious individuals who
can find nothing wrong with their own actions but
everything wrong with the actions of everybody else.
--"In-Closet Hypocrites," [1]Atlanta Inquirer, August 15,
1998
Mr Bowman had, I think, been keeping Christmas Eve, and was
a little inclined to be captious: at least, he was not on
foot very early, and to judge from what I could hear,
neither men nor maids could do anything to please him.
--M. R. James, [2]The Haunted Dolls' House and Other
Stories
Most authors would prefer readers such as Roiphe over
captious academic critics.
--Steven Moore, "Old Flames," [3]Washington Post, November
26, 2000
With the imperturbablest bland clearness, he, for five
hours long, keeps answering the incessant volley of fiery
captious questions.
--Thomas Carlyle, [4]The French Revolution
_________________________________________________________
Captious is derived from Latin captiosus, "sophistical,
captious, insidious," from captio, "a taking, a fallacy,
sophism," from capere, "to take, to seize."
Monday, August 08, 2005
Word of the Day for Monday August 8, 2005
somniferous \som-NIF-uhr-uhs\, adjective:
Causing or inducing sleep.
He has gone outside the usual channels of stodgy academic
journals and somniferous lectures.
--David Gibson, "Separating Christ from Christianity,"
[1]The Record (Bergen County, NJ), June 9, 1996
And some cities are [2]eschewing the somniferous art museum
to invent newer, hipper institutions that honor our
fascination with contemporary culture: technology, space
flight, and even rock 'n' roll.
--Heidi Landecker, "Art Transplant," [3]Architecture, March
1998
Filmed on location in England and using quotes from letters
and other documents of Pilgrim leaders, this video is rich
in detail and information. Its major drawback--and one that
may affect its effectiveness with its intended student
audience--is that it's as dull as dillweed, primarily due
to a somniferous narration.
--J. Carlson, "The Mayflower Pilgrims," [4]Video Librarian,
November 11, 1996
_________________________________________________________
Somniferous comes from Latin somnifer, "sleep-bringing," from
somnus, "sleep" + ferre, "to bring."
Causing or inducing sleep.
He has gone outside the usual channels of stodgy academic
journals and somniferous lectures.
--David Gibson, "Separating Christ from Christianity,"
[1]The Record (Bergen County, NJ), June 9, 1996
And some cities are [2]eschewing the somniferous art museum
to invent newer, hipper institutions that honor our
fascination with contemporary culture: technology, space
flight, and even rock 'n' roll.
--Heidi Landecker, "Art Transplant," [3]Architecture, March
1998
Filmed on location in England and using quotes from letters
and other documents of Pilgrim leaders, this video is rich
in detail and information. Its major drawback--and one that
may affect its effectiveness with its intended student
audience--is that it's as dull as dillweed, primarily due
to a somniferous narration.
--J. Carlson, "The Mayflower Pilgrims," [4]Video Librarian,
November 11, 1996
_________________________________________________________
Somniferous comes from Latin somnifer, "sleep-bringing," from
somnus, "sleep" + ferre, "to bring."
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Word of the Day for Sunday August 7, 2005
Word of the Day for Sunday August 7, 2005
castigate \KAS-tuh-gayt\, transitive verb:
To punish severely; also, to chastise verbally; to rebuke; to
criticize severely.
It was not good enough to castigate him for his sins.
--Frank Deford, "Knight is too easy a target," [1]Sports
Illustrated, May 25, 2000
Out in the world they marvelled that they were found
acceptable to others, after years of being castigated as
unsatisfactory, disappointing.
--Anita Brookner, [2]Falling Slowly
Though castigated by the Catholic Church, illegitimacy was
scarcely an unusual feature of Austrian country life.
--Ian Kershaw, [3]Hitler: 1889-1936: Hubris
For my lack of missionary zeal, I have been castigated by a
few militant atheists, who are irritated by my
disinclination to try persuading people to abandon their
faith that God exists (while some religious people regard
me as a militant atheist intent on promoting worship of
unspecified "secular idols").
--Wendy Kaminer, [4]Sleeping With Extra-Terrestrials
_________________________________________________________
Castigate comes from Latin castigare, "to purify, to correct,
to punish," from castus, "pure."
Synonyms: punish, chastise, rebuke, reprove, reprimand.
castigate \KAS-tuh-gayt\, transitive verb:
To punish severely; also, to chastise verbally; to rebuke; to
criticize severely.
It was not good enough to castigate him for his sins.
--Frank Deford, "Knight is too easy a target," [1]Sports
Illustrated, May 25, 2000
Out in the world they marvelled that they were found
acceptable to others, after years of being castigated as
unsatisfactory, disappointing.
--Anita Brookner, [2]Falling Slowly
Though castigated by the Catholic Church, illegitimacy was
scarcely an unusual feature of Austrian country life.
--Ian Kershaw, [3]Hitler: 1889-1936: Hubris
For my lack of missionary zeal, I have been castigated by a
few militant atheists, who are irritated by my
disinclination to try persuading people to abandon their
faith that God exists (while some religious people regard
me as a militant atheist intent on promoting worship of
unspecified "secular idols").
--Wendy Kaminer, [4]Sleeping With Extra-Terrestrials
_________________________________________________________
Castigate comes from Latin castigare, "to purify, to correct,
to punish," from castus, "pure."
Synonyms: punish, chastise, rebuke, reprove, reprimand.
Word of the Day for Saturday August 6, 2005
waylay \WAY-lay\, transitive verb:
1. To lie in wait for and attack from ambush.
2. To approach or stop (someone) unexpectedly.
When his mother praised certain well-behaved and neatly
dressed boys in the village, Jung was filled with hate for
them, and would waylay and beat them up.
--Frank McLynn, [1]Carl Gustav Jung
He returned to her night after night, until his brother,
Frank, waylaid him one evening outside Harriet's cabin and
beat him bloody.
--Lynne Olson, [2]Freedom's Daughters
Furious and humiliated, the boy waylaid Martha after
school.
--Julian Barnes, [3]England, England
The women, who hold wicker baskets filled with flowers and
incense, are out to waylay tourists and to entice them into
buying the blooms and scents.
--Jacob Heilbrunn, "Mao More Than Ever," [4]New Republic,
April 21, 1997
_________________________________________________________
Waylay comes from way (from Old English weg) + lay (from Old
English lecgan).
Synonyms: ambush, assail, bushwhack, set upon. [5]Find more at
Thesaurus.com.
1. To lie in wait for and attack from ambush.
2. To approach or stop (someone) unexpectedly.
When his mother praised certain well-behaved and neatly
dressed boys in the village, Jung was filled with hate for
them, and would waylay and beat them up.
--Frank McLynn, [1]Carl Gustav Jung
He returned to her night after night, until his brother,
Frank, waylaid him one evening outside Harriet's cabin and
beat him bloody.
--Lynne Olson, [2]Freedom's Daughters
Furious and humiliated, the boy waylaid Martha after
school.
--Julian Barnes, [3]England, England
The women, who hold wicker baskets filled with flowers and
incense, are out to waylay tourists and to entice them into
buying the blooms and scents.
--Jacob Heilbrunn, "Mao More Than Ever," [4]New Republic,
April 21, 1997
_________________________________________________________
Waylay comes from way (from Old English weg) + lay (from Old
English lecgan).
Synonyms: ambush, assail, bushwhack, set upon. [5]Find more at
Thesaurus.com.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Word of the Day for Wednesday August 3, 2005
affable \AF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing
with them in a free and friendly manner.
2. Gracious; benign.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Leon stated in the
warrant that I was good-looking, cheerful and affable, they
exhorted me to make myself appear to be taciturn,
melancholy and ugly.
--Susana Rotker (Editor), [1]The Memoirs of Fray Servando
Teresa De Mier
Johnny's father, while strict with his children, usually
was affable and relaxed.
--Paul C. Nagel, [2]John Quincy Adams
There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon;
he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood.
--"Presley Treats Fans to His Best," [3]New York Times,
July 21, 1975
_________________________________________________________
Affable is from Latin affabilis, from affari, "to speak to,"
from ad-, "to" + fari, "to speak."
1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing
with them in a free and friendly manner.
2. Gracious; benign.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Leon stated in the
warrant that I was good-looking, cheerful and affable, they
exhorted me to make myself appear to be taciturn,
melancholy and ugly.
--Susana Rotker (Editor), [1]The Memoirs of Fray Servando
Teresa De Mier
Johnny's father, while strict with his children, usually
was affable and relaxed.
--Paul C. Nagel, [2]John Quincy Adams
There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon;
he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood.
--"Presley Treats Fans to His Best," [3]New York Times,
July 21, 1975
_________________________________________________________
Affable is from Latin affabilis, from affari, "to speak to,"
from ad-, "to" + fari, "to speak."
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
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