noun
living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae.
I posted this for two very similar reasons. The first is that I helped Leah move this past weekend and every time we walked past the windowsill where her plants were we would say "plants" aloud to remind us that they were still there so we would not forget them in the move. The second reason is that one of Leah's favorite words is "pants" and "plants" has a very similar ring to it. Also its Leah's birthday tomorrow so I am pretty much shouting this post out to her.
Happy Birthday Girl
Gingham
noun
a cloth made from carded or combed, medium or fine yarns, where the coloring is on the warp yarns and always along the grain. Gingham has no right or wrong side regarding color.
a cloth made from carded or combed, medium or fine yarns, where the coloring is on the warp yarns and always along the grain. Gingham has no right or wrong side regarding color.
Chagrin
Noun
A keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event
A keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event
Ludicrous
adjective.
amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity.
I like this word. There's no mistaking it's greatness. However I really only posted it so I could post this picture of Ludacris (the rap star). Good Words blog just got gangsta'.
Time to get real Merriam Webster Man. Rap it out.
amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity.
I like this word. There's no mistaking it's greatness. However I really only posted it so I could post this picture of Ludacris (the rap star). Good Words blog just got gangsta'.
Time to get real Merriam Webster Man. Rap it out.
Midwifery
noun
The techniques and practice of a midwife
This is another Tara O'Brien shout out post as per she mentioned this word to me the other day. Midwifery, it sounds like it should be pronounced MID-WIFE-ERY but in actuality it is pronounced MID-WIFF-ERY. Bizarre.
The techniques and practice of a midwife
This is another Tara O'Brien shout out post as per she mentioned this word to me the other day. Midwifery, it sounds like it should be pronounced MID-WIFE-ERY but in actuality it is pronounced MID-WIFF-ERY. Bizarre.
Word of the Year, 2008
Okay, okay, I know all I do is link to shows/segments on NPR member station, WHYY, but they are just always talking about WORDS!
Check out this clip from Radio Times in anticipation of the American Dialect Society's vote next week on the Word of the Year for 2008. List of nominations. I personally like "meh" tied for number ten.
And because we like the Merriam-Webster website so much, here is their list from 2008, with "bailout" coming in at number one.
Check out this clip from Radio Times in anticipation of the American Dialect Society's vote next week on the Word of the Year for 2008. List of nominations. I personally like "meh" tied for number ten.
And because we like the Merriam-Webster website so much, here is their list from 2008, with "bailout" coming in at number one.
Eggcorn
noun.
an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect (wikipedia)
I came across the term eggcorn from this story on All Things Considered and I think it is a great example of how interesting it is to watch the evolution of language!
Some eggcorns you are probably familiar with:
•for all intensive purposes instead of for all intents and purposes
•old timers' disease instead of Alzheimer's disease
•boggled instead of bogged
and so much more at The Eggcorn Database!
an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect (wikipedia)
I came across the term eggcorn from this story on All Things Considered and I think it is a great example of how interesting it is to watch the evolution of language!
Some eggcorns you are probably familiar with:
•for all intensive purposes instead of for all intents and purposes
•old timers' disease instead of Alzheimer's disease
•boggled instead of bogged
and so much more at The Eggcorn Database!
Regalia
noun.
special dress
nothing like a man from South Philly in full Mummers regalia!
happy new year!
special dress
nothing like a man from South Philly in full Mummers regalia!
happy new year!
Blustery
noun
a violent boisterous blowing
This is what it felt like today and what i feel like what it will be like for the next few months, oh bother.
a violent boisterous blowing
This is what it felt like today and what i feel like what it will be like for the next few months, oh bother.
Emoticon
Noun.
A group of keyboard characters (as :-)) that typically represents a facial expression or suggests an attitude or emotion and that is used especially in computerized communications (as e-mail)...Thanks Merriam-Webster.
Technically I posted this word before. But! It was a side thought in another words shout-out (I'll let you figure out which word) and seriously this word is too good to not have it's own blog. So way to go EMOTICON!
Bring on the emoticons!!!!
P.S. This word was introduced to Merriam-Webster in 1987. Gosh I love new words that are sooooooo specific, and awesome, of course.
P.P.S OMG! An emoticon specific keyboard! Seriously, whose that lazy!?!?!?!?!
A group of keyboard characters (as :-)) that typically represents a facial expression or suggests an attitude or emotion and that is used especially in computerized communications (as e-mail)...Thanks Merriam-Webster.
Technically I posted this word before. But! It was a side thought in another words shout-out (I'll let you figure out which word) and seriously this word is too good to not have it's own blog. So way to go EMOTICON!
Bring on the emoticons!!!!
P.S. This word was introduced to Merriam-Webster in 1987. Gosh I love new words that are sooooooo specific, and awesome, of course.
P.P.S OMG! An emoticon specific keyboard! Seriously, whose that lazy!?!?!?!?!
Double Post: Dubious and Odious
Dubious
adjective
questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality
Odious
adjective
arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance
adjective
questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality
Odious
adjective
arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance
Flatulence
Noun.
The quality or state of being flatulent.
So.....
Flatulent
Adjective.
Attended with, caused by, or suffering from such an accumulation of gas.
This post today comes by way of my sister Alyssa Lose, who teaches middle school science here in Philadelphia. She said her students are "obsessed" with "flatulence", and in this case, not the word. Well here's hoping her kids read this and expand their vocabulary, for my sister's sake.
Oh and check this out! it's an article on a middle school that banned "intentional flatulence". AWESOME!!! Right?
The quality or state of being flatulent.
So.....
Flatulent
Adjective.
Attended with, caused by, or suffering from such an accumulation of gas.
This post today comes by way of my sister Alyssa Lose, who teaches middle school science here in Philadelphia. She said her students are "obsessed" with "flatulence", and in this case, not the word. Well here's hoping her kids read this and expand their vocabulary, for my sister's sake.
Oh and check this out! it's an article on a middle school that banned "intentional flatulence". AWESOME!!! Right?
Tortuous
adjective.
1: marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns
2: marked by devious or indirect tactics
This post is dedicated to our dear friend Cathleen, who has a special relationship with this word at the moment.
Take is away, Merriam-Webster man!
1: marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns
2: marked by devious or indirect tactics
This post is dedicated to our dear friend Cathleen, who has a special relationship with this word at the moment.
Take is away, Merriam-Webster man!
Frigorific
Adjective.
Causing cold: Chilling.
I only found this word because of a Google image search that produced this:
Hilarious!
Thanks Google, and Merriam Webster.
Oh and Listen up!
Causing cold: Chilling.
I only found this word because of a Google image search that produced this:
Hilarious!
Thanks Google, and Merriam Webster.
Oh and Listen up!
Juggernaut
Noun.
A massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path.
Sounds sooooo good!
However, this stuff looks gross!
A massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path.
Sounds sooooo good!
However, this stuff looks gross!
Double Post: Albeit and Wherewithal
I enjoy both of these words because they are really just three words smashed together, or in other words a conjunction.
Albeit
conjunction
conceding the fact that, even though, although
Wherewithal
conjunction
means, resources, etc.
What other awesome conjunctions are there?
Albeit
conjunction
conceding the fact that, even though, although
Wherewithal
conjunction
means, resources, etc.
What other awesome conjunctions are there?
Festoon
verb
to drape with decorations
I am pretty sure that John McCain said this in the first debate and we all just forgot to post it, so here it is.
to drape with decorations
I am pretty sure that John McCain said this in the first debate and we all just forgot to post it, so here it is.
Gerund
noun.
"As applied to English, it refers to what might be called a verb's action noun, which is one of the uses of the -ing form." from Wikipedia
The Wikipedia entry for gerunds is enthralling! Grammar is ten times more idiosyncratic than I am!
Now, open those ears!
"As applied to English, it refers to what might be called a verb's action noun, which is one of the uses of the -ing form." from Wikipedia
The Wikipedia entry for gerunds is enthralling! Grammar is ten times more idiosyncratic than I am!
Now, open those ears!
FreeRice.com
Talk about good words! FreeRice.com is an amazing website that donates grains of rice to help with world hunger. They work through the UN World Food program, AND the best part is you get to help by bettering your vocabulary! For every vocabulary word you get correct they donate 20 grains of rice. So go to FreeRice and help both your own good words list while helping to fight world hunger.
p.s. It's also super fun. Who would have thought they'd have the word Hokey?!?
p.s. It's also super fun. Who would have thought they'd have the word Hokey?!?
The Office - Addictionary
Leave it to the genius writers at the Office to come up with the Addictionary! A compilation of words created by viewers and words from the television series, The Office, the Addictionary has some great features including a word of the day, a word-off, and a There Oughta Be a Word. I can't tell if this site is only so funny because I am obsessed with The Office.
Excellent words I've come across on the site:
-pretendonitis - the process of two people humming the same high pitched note in order to make a third person schedule an appointment with the ear doctor.
-Jam - Combination of the names Jim and Pam to describe them as a couple. Also wonderful: Dwangela (for Dwight and Angela... duh.)
-shornt - When one feels the mild need to take some action but won't. Combination of "should" and "won't."
-beer me - To ask someone to pass or hand an object to you. Also can be used in a more figurative sense as a request or plea.
Excellent words I've come across on the site:
-pretendonitis - the process of two people humming the same high pitched note in order to make a third person schedule an appointment with the ear doctor.
-Jam - Combination of the names Jim and Pam to describe them as a couple. Also wonderful: Dwangela (for Dwight and Angela... duh.)
-shornt - When one feels the mild need to take some action but won't. Combination of "should" and "won't."
-beer me - To ask someone to pass or hand an object to you. Also can be used in a more figurative sense as a request or plea.
Cuckoo
noun.
two definitions!
1. a largely grayish-brown European bird that is a parasite given to laying its eggs in the nests of other birds which hatch them and rear the offspring
2. a silly or slightly crackbrained person
Woo Hoo! Merriam Webster said "crackbrained".
Roll with it Merriam-Webster man!
And how about some images!!?!!?!?
two definitions!
1. a largely grayish-brown European bird that is a parasite given to laying its eggs in the nests of other birds which hatch them and rear the offspring
2. a silly or slightly crackbrained person
Woo Hoo! Merriam Webster said "crackbrained".
Roll with it Merriam-Webster man!
And how about some images!!?!!?!?
Ignition
noun.
1: the act or action of igniting: as a: the starting of a fire b: the heating of a plasma to a temperature high enough to sustain nuclear fusion
Who needs the Merriam-Webster man, when really, R. Kelly says it best?
eta:
HILARIOUS
1: the act or action of igniting: as a: the starting of a fire b: the heating of a plasma to a temperature high enough to sustain nuclear fusion
Who needs the Merriam-Webster man, when really, R. Kelly says it best?
eta:
HILARIOUS
Facetious
adjective
joking or jesting, often inappropriately
A great word for a few reasons: First of all, it just sounds great. I like to throw it around in conversation, which is especially easy because I probably defend myself with "Oh, I'm just being facetious!" every few days. The best thing about facetious, though, is that it contains the five vowels in alphabetical order!
facetious
and sometimes:
facetiously
joking or jesting, often inappropriately
A great word for a few reasons: First of all, it just sounds great. I like to throw it around in conversation, which is especially easy because I probably defend myself with "Oh, I'm just being facetious!" every few days. The best thing about facetious, though, is that it contains the five vowels in alphabetical order!
facetious
and sometimes:
facetiously
Luminescence
noun.
the low-temperature emission of light (as by a chemical or physiological process.
Shout out to my Mom, for giving me this word. Totally awesome.
Now it's time for the Merriam-Webster lady to do her thing.
the low-temperature emission of light (as by a chemical or physiological process.
Shout out to my Mom, for giving me this word. Totally awesome.
Now it's time for the Merriam-Webster lady to do her thing.
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