Words
30
You want a palinode with that Epopee?
The two most recent words from “Wordsmith” are more than a little obscure. As an engineer, I don’t expect to...
Dad • Words • 08/30/06 • 0 commentsOld, Older
When is "older" younger than "old"?
Patrick • Words • 03/01/06 • 2 commentsCaptious
Tending to find fault and make trivial and excessive criticisms
Patrick • Words • 02/27/06 • 0 commentsThe first Boycott
Bet you didn't know that "boycott" is the name of a real person.
Dad • Words • 01/30/06 • 2 commentsSomewhere, beyond the pale
One of his characters is a mysterious man who is ostensibly the last wandering story teller in Ireland.
Dad • Words • 01/26/06 • 0 commentsUnnegative Words
"It had been a rough day, so when I walked into the party I was very chalant, despite my efforts to appear gruntled and consolate."
Patrick • Words • 01/16/06 • 3 commentsAptronym (charactonym)
An aptronym is a name that suits one's profession, which is why I try to drive my students crazy with my teaching.
Patrick • Words • 10/22/05 • 1 commentsDo Icebergs Itch?
Sometimes, I think I'm just scratching the tip of the iceberg.
Dad • Words • 07/31/05 • 3 commentsE. Brunswick wins again!
It's the first time East Brunswick is a two-peat.
Dad • Words • 05/03/05 • 0 commentsfait divers
In this provisional universe, our axioms have only the value of a _fait-divers_. --E. M. Cioran.
Patrick • Words • 03/08/05 • 1 commentsSchlimazel
Schlemiel, schlemazel, hosenpepper incorporated!
Patrick • Words • 11/06/04 • 0 comments“Looking it up” to save your life
Use those reference books. They may just save your life. They saved Neil Peart's.
Patrick • Connections/Words • 10/03/04 • 1 commentsTrepfverten / Trepverter
What do you call the perfect comeback that you think of too late?
Patrick • Words • 10/03/04 • 8 commentsSchadenfreude
Do you delight in others' misfortunes? You just might have _schadenfreude_.
Patrick • Words • 10/03/04 • 5 commentsLast gristle
How come the gristle's always in the last bite of the burger/taco?
Patrick • Observations/Words • 09/25/04 • 2 commentsLumpen
If you don't like 'em, lumpen!
Patrick • Words • 09/15/04 • 1 commentsOenomel
You're so strong and sweet, you oenomel, you!
Patrick • Words • 09/15/04 • 1 commentsDocent
Docent (lecturer or museum guide), where have you been all my life?
Patrick • Words • 08/29/04 • 1 commentsReclude
Reclude: to open or to close.
Patrick • Words • 08/25/04 • 1 commentsRISING UP AND RISING DOWN
...his first novel, ''You Bright and Risen Angels,'' ... narrated the endless struggle, down through history, between insects and electricity.
Dad • Reviews/Words • 04/25/04 • 0 commentsCasuistry
Trying to convince somebody of an ethical or moral claim? Try casuistry!
Patrick • Words • 04/22/04 • 0 commentsPetrichor
The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell.
Patrick • Words • 04/07/04 • 0 commentsCommon Mispronunciation
"Common Mispronunciation" is full of idiotspeak that we Maddens frown on down on. Some is just nitpicking, but hey.
Dan • Words • 03/31/04 • 4 commentsPetroleum
Petra=rock, oleum=oil. Why did this never click before?
Patrick • Connections/Words • 03/18/04 • 1 commentsPiggies and Toadies
I’ve been reading Arianna Huffington’s book Pigs at the Trough in which she exposes the abuses of power that are...
Dad • Words • 03/09/04 • 1 commentsWoman/Women
How come changing an a to an e makes the o sound different?
Patrick • Words • 03/04/04 • 3 commentsIllation
illation (n) is not a late-twentieth-century rapper neologism.
Patrick • Words • 01/27/04 • 2 commentsEnigmaramus
I've discovered a new word, enigmaramus, which, the Internet tells me, has been used only in the naming of a Chilean lacewing, and which, logic tells me, has a bright future as an insult.
Patrick • Words • 01/01/04 • 2 commentsHopefully, I will be able to
During my instant messaging conversation with Matt about ESPN polls I told him not to kill anything when he gets...
Dan • Words • 11/25/03 • 2 commentsAnomy (or anomie)
According to dictionary.com and the American Heritage Dictionary: 1. Social instability caused by erosion of standards and values. 2. Alienation...
Patrick • Words • 11/22/03 • 1 comments