balance

Word of the Day

balance

noun
bal·​ance | \ ˈba-lən(t)s \
1a physical equilibrium
1b the ability to retain one’s balance
2a stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis when the two sides of the scale are in balance
2b equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements

[Snipped the much longer definition entry from Merriam-Webster in the interest of space…or possibly to save time…or just being lazy.]

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It is often tricky to achieve writing balance, somewhere between verbosity and concise clarity.

disarray

Word of the Day

disarray

noun
dis·​ar·​ray | \ ˌdis-ə-ˈrā \
1 a lack of order or sequence : confusion, disorder
2 disorderly dress : dishabille
verb
disarrayed; disarraying; disarrays
transitive verb
1 to throw into disorder
2 undress

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Here is what I have to say:
You can benefit from disarray
When you decide it’s time to play.
So disarrange your life today.

Wordle

Working on Wordle
Can be a big hurdle
Unless by mere chance
The word comes at a glance.

I admit to being hooked on the daily word puzzle Wordle™ and often struggle to reorganize the “good but in wrong place” letters. My daughter, who also plays every day, is convinced that success is almost purely guesswork.

Good luck with your own puzzling experience.

conclave

Word of the Day

conclave

noun
con·​clave | \ ˈkän-ˌklāv \
1 a private meeting or secret assembly especially : a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals secluded continuously while choosing a pope
2 a gathering of a group or association

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The group’s moderators met in conclave to share their experiences, successes and gripes.

orientate

Word of the Day

orientate

verb
ori·​en·​tate | \ ˈȯr-ē-ən-ˌtāt, -ˌen- \
orientated; orientating
intransitive verb
to face or turn to the east
transitive verb
chiefly British
orient

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To change directions, it is best,
If you have only been headed west.
Orientate yourself to the east,
And prepare yourself, at least.

Retrospect

Sometimes when I look back
At my life’s strange, wandering track,
I think that I have failed to be
What others may have wanted to see.

Then, once again, I realize,
And with less and less surprise,
That I’ve been happier than many
And, for me, that seems like plenty.

discern

Word of the Day

discern

verb
dis·​cern | \ di-ˈsərn, -ˈzərn \
discerned; discerning; discerns
transitive verb
1a : to detect with the eyes
1b : to detect with senses other than vision
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : discriminate
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally
intransitive verb
to see or understand the difference

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Jeff carefully perused the artwork, striving to discern the perspective of the creator.

fruitless

Word of the Day

fruitless

adjective
fruit·​less | \ ˈfrüt-ləs \
1 unsuccessful
2 lacking or not bearing fruit

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Trying to get my wife to enjoy fruit in her daily intake is a fruitless effort.

platitude

Word of the Day

platitude

noun
plat·​i·​tude | \ ˈpla-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd \
1 the quality or state of being dull or insipid
2 a banal, trite, or stale remark

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“Easily Mollified”

Bob was feeling fiercely fractious
And that could be really bad for us.
But we can assuage his dark attitude
By offering up a bland platitude.

aspiration

Word of the Day

aspiration

noun
as·​pi·​ra·​tion | \ ˌa-spə-ˈrā-shən \
1a a strong desire to achieve something high or great an aspiration to become famous —usually plural
1b an object of such desire An acting career is her aspiration.
2 a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: such as
a : the act of breathing and especially of breathing in
b : the withdrawal (as by suction) of fluid or tissue from the body the aspiration of stomach fluids
c : the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current problems caused by the aspiration of fluids into the patient’s lungs
3 linguistics a : audible breath that accompanies or comprises a speech sound

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“Suck it up!” admonished Sally, who had no aspirations to gentile language.