Continuing to ramble
Word of the Day
ascetic
Pronunciation /əˈsɛtɪk/
adjective
Characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
noun
A person who follows an ascetic life.
Origin
Mid 17th century from medieval Latin asceticus or Greek askētikos, from askētēs ‘monk’, from askein ‘to exercise’.
==========
Bob totally knew that he was not destined to seek out an ascetic life.
Word of the Day
impede
Pronunciation /ɪmˈpiːd/
verb
[with object]
Delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder.
Origin
Late 16th century from Latin impedire ‘shackle the feet of’, based on pes, ped- ‘foot’. Compare with impeach.
==========
Do not impede me, I implore you, but if you must, be fair about controlling others, too.
Word of the Day
delve
Pronunciation /dɛlv/
verb
[no object]
1 Reach inside a receptacle and search for something.
1.1 Research or make painstaking inquiries into something.
2 archaic Dig; excavate.
Origin
Old English delfan ‘dig’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch delven.
==========
We enjoy delving into slang, and we ask the question, “Can you dig it?” (Those who were around in the 1070s would say yes.)
Word of the Day
megabucks
Pronunciation /ˈmɛɡəbʌks/
plural noun
informal
A very large amount of money.
==========
Marty managed to maintain his megabucks.
He accomplished that by owning trucks.
He hired only unionized drivers.
All were self-acknowledged strivers
Who helped to weed out lazy losers,
And they got the goods on time to users.
Word of the Day
tink
Pronunciation /tɪŋk/
verb
[no object]Knitting
Undo a row of knitting one stitch at a time, in order to correct a mistake.
Origin
1990s reversal of knit.
==========
If you want to quickly tink
And make your hard work really shrink
Walk to the kitchen to get a drink
Leaving the knitting where the cat can get at it.
Word of the Day
loanword
Pronunciation /ˈləʊnwəːd/
noun
A word adopted from a foreign language with little or no modification.
==========
I have always thought of “pajamas” (US) or “pyjamas” (UK) as a loanword.
“The word pajama comes from the Hindi “pae jama” or “pai jama,” meaning leg clothing.”
(image on loan from Wikipedia)
Word of the Day
underdungers
Pronunciation /ˈʌndədʌŋəz/
plural noun
informal New Zealand
Underpants.
Origin
1980s from under(pants) + dunga(ree)s, with a possible pun on dung.
==========
Dan decided to make sure he wore his freshly washed underdungers even if his dungarees weren’t.
Word of the Day
hallowed
Pronunciation /ˈhaləʊd/
adjective
1 Made holy; consecrated.
1.1 Greatly revered and honored.
==========
If a priest says “Bless you!” when you sneeze, has he hallowed you?
Word of the Day
dopester
Pronunciation /ˈdəʊpstə/
noun
informal North American
A person who collects and supplies information, typically on sporting events or elections.
==========
Dopesters are abundant on sports TV shows ahead of the American football weekends. They are not always right. Last night the Raiders won the game.
Word of the Day
needful
Pronunciation
needful
/ˈniːdfʊl/ /ˈniːdf(ə)l/
adjective
1 formal Necessary; requisite.
2 dated Needy.
==========
James jumped jauntily but effectively because it was needful if he wished to cross the stream with dry feet.
