Words I love

I read this in a news article, describing the attributes of an ideal hockey player.

truc-u-lent   –adjective

1. fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.
2. brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing: his truculent criticism of her work.
3. aggressively hostile; belligerent.

Origin:
1530–40; < L truculentus, equiv. to truc-, s. of trux savage, pitiless + -ulentus -ulent

Forwarded to me by a friend… You’ll note a personal reference in there as well.

Zebras are African equids. The unique stripes and behaviors of zebras make these among the most familiar animals to people. They can be found in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, coastal hills, San Jose and the Shark Tank. They are generally social animals and can be seen in small harems to large herds. Zebras have not been truly domesticated. The name “zebra” comes from the Old Portuguese word zevra which means “wild ass”

Let’s just say Jo knows KITSCH!

kitsch –noun
something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.

[Origin: 1925–30; < G, deriv. of kitschen to throw together (a work of art)]

—Related forms
kitschy, adjective

Let’s start with “K” – suggested by kazaa42, and seconded by keksi2k. Hey- I’m sensing a pattern here!

How about we pick a letter, and everyone choose a word beginning with that letter? Then the last person to post chooses the next letter.

Who’s in?

One of my favorite phrases is “a series of misadventures and a confluence of unfortunate events,” which is J-speak for “Things got all f-ed up.”

con·flu·ence
[kon-floo-uhns] –noun

1. a flowing together of two or more streams, rivers, or the like: the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
2. their place of junction: St. Louis is at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
3. a body of water formed by the flowing together of two or more streams, rivers, or the like.
4. a coming together of people or things; concourse.
5. a crowd or throng; assemblage.

Also, con·flux

[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME (< MF) < LL confluentia; see confluent, -ence]

—Synonyms 4. union, joining, meeting.

I heard Donovan’s “Atlantis” on the radio today. It used to be one of my favorites, (um, quite awhile ago) the main reason being Donovan’s lovely narration of the legend of this mythical land. I also realized today that (not being a biblical scholar) I have rarely seen this word used in any other context.

an·te·di·lu·vi·an
[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn] –adjective

1. of or belonging to the period before the Flood. Gen. 7, 8.
2. very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive: antediluvian ideas.

–noun
3. a person who lived before the Flood.
4. a very old or old-fashioned person or thing.

[Origin: 1640–50; ante- + L dīluvi(um) a flood, deluge + -an]

I first saw this word in a magazine, used to describe cosmetics in pretty packagings. I thought the usage was a little strange, since it seemed the word referred to books. So I looked it up, and here’s what it means. Actually, both definitions apply.

bi·be·lot

(bÄ“’bÉ™-lō’, bÄ“-blō’) -noun
1. A small decorative object; a trinket.
2. A miniature book, especially one that is finely crafted.

[French, from Old French beubelet, from a reduplication of bel, beautiful, from Latin bellus, handsome; see belle.]

Strange day today, my mind is wandering. And it wandered to this word, introduced to me by my Latin professor, Dr. Wencis, who was famous for woolgathering.

wool·gath·er·ing
[wool-gath-er-ing] –noun
1. indulgence in idle fancies and in daydreaming; absentmindedness: His woolgathering was a handicap in school.
2. gathering of the tufts of wool shed by sheep and caught on bushes.

[Origin: 1545–55; wool + gathering]

I never knew about definitions #3 and #4 until I looked it up. I guess that’s because I don’t live where rivers freeze.

de·ba·cle

[dey-bah-kuhl, bak-uhl, duh] –noun
1. a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout: The revolution ended in a debacle.
2. a complete collapse or failure.
3. a breaking up of ice in a river. Compare embacle.
4. a violent rush of waters or ice.

[Origin: 1795–1805; < F débâcle, deriv. of débâcler to unbar, clear, equiv. to dé- dis-1 + bâcler to bar ≪ L baculum stick, rod]