'“A combination of lower interest rates and more stringent macroprudential policy would likely work to reduce both financial stability risks and the risk of an undershoot of inflation at the same time,” Poloz said. “This is because interest rate changes have their largest effect on inflation risk, while stronger macroprudential settings will lead to a higher quality of household indebtedness over time.”'
"Irja translates literally as “postponing,” and was a “theological principle put forward by some Muslim scholars” in the first century of Islam, as the result of a major civil war being fought during that time.
The proponents of irja — known as murjia, or “postponers” — asserted that the “burning question of who is a true Muslim should be ‘postponed’ until the afterlife.” In other words, true faith was something that could only be judged by God and not other humans. In the end, however, the murjia didn’t have enough influence in the Muslim world."
The joy of watching the GOP implode tempered with the horror that Trump or a clone might actually win.
Quote: "You know what I’m talking about, of course — that feeling of glee mixed with fear as one watches the cynical race-baiting of the Republican establishment finally come home to roost, confirming that you were right to be shrill (and the centrists were naive), but with the slight admixture of panic because one of these guys might actually become president."
Although this neologism seems to be used in a positive way (i.e. the opposite of bureaucracy), I heard it today used in a more negative sense. Specifically that a lack of defined rules allowed all members of an organization to run with whatever idea that they had, leading to chaos.
Mentioned by Jonathan Kay of the National Post on the CBC National evening news in regard to the idea that hashtags and tweets can, somehow, effect real social change. The conversation was particularly in regards to the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls and the social media "activism" that has followed. 11 May 2014
A tweet from a religious leader (or self-appointed "leader"), usually of the fundamentalist/conservative variety, in which they seemingly excommunicate another individual or organization for a perceived fault.
Just received an email that had the terms "de-risk" and "incentivize" in one sentence. Could barely read the rest of the missive without losing my lunch. Who thinks of these words? Gah!
Just heard a CNN correspondent use this word, pertaining to a potential shootout with Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Watertown MA.
Heard it this evening on the CTV (Canada) news referring to trinkets and stuff on shelves in the context of things that could fall off in an earthquake.
Presumably referring to the supposedly bad things that would happen due to Mitt Romney becoming the GOP presidential candidate and/or winning the US presidency.
...and/or the final blow dealt by Romney to his primary competitors.
Presumably referring to the supposedly bad things that would happen due to Newt Gingrich becoming the GOP presidential candidate and/or winning the US presidency.
'Kevin Lam submitted forgetfory (a very useful antonym of memory, as in “don’t expect me to remember your phone number, I have an excellent forgetfory”). That word that was also used in a 1907 issue of “The Leather Workers’ Journal,” although more as a synonym for “head”: “Another correspondent noted that we would get a bump on our forgetfory that would hold us for a while.”'
“Good-morrow, Master Richard!” hailed the man, in a voice that matched his person. “What! not abroad yet, thou bed-worm, thou scobberlotcher!” and leaning down rolled a snowball in his massive hands, but desisted at the last moment from throwing it at Dick’s window lest it should enter by mistake the adjoining room, where his father and mother slept; and flung it instead with great shrewdness at Sally, the pretty serving-maid, who was sweeping the snow away from the top flight of broad front steps."
No prob. Thanks for unlinking my account. Unfortunately, though, that didn't help. When I chose "List it" from the pull-down menu next to a word, I still get:
So, how do I unlink my Wordnik account from my Facebook account? I have now, several times, unlinked Wordnik while in Facebook. But Wordnik seems never to forget. It won't let me sign in with my normal username and password, but forces me to reconnect the account with Facebook.
It WAS working on one of my computers where I had signed in but hadn't linked to Facebook. It WAS NOT working on my other computer where I had completed the FB link.
So, I completed the FB link on the computer that was unlinked (and previously working for list making). And voila! Now lists are nonfunctional there too.
So, I suspect that it has something to do with the FB link.
But... I try to remove the FB link in FB and, while FB unlinks me, Wornik won't "believe" that I'm unlinked and forces me to relink when I sign in.
I.e., I can't just sign in with my Worknik username/password. I need to sign in to Wordnik via FB, even after I've unlinked FB.
grantbarrett: Well, it's working now. So, I guess the point is moot.
The problem *was* with the "Create new word" link. I would click that and then get the error message before even having the opportunity to fill in the various fields for list creation.
Hmmmm, there seems to be something wrong with the listing function. Although I am logged in, when I try to list a word, I get a message that I must be logged in to list it.
One who is neither strictly egalitarian nor complementarian, but develops a theology of gender roles in the church that draws from both traditions.
At the time of my writing this, there is only one Google result for this word. Thus, I can't claim to have made it up, but I'd say that I'm probably the first to define it.
OED: A. adj. Of or pertaining to the Ascidia (or Ascidiæ), a group of animals belonging to the tunicate Mollusca, considered by evolutionists to constitute a link in the development of the Vertebrata. B. n. A member of this group. see -ARIUM, the aggregate mass of organisms in compound ascidians. asmscidioid a., resembling the Ascidia. ascidiozooid, one of the organisms forming an ascidiarium.
OED: A. adj. Of or pertaining to the Ascidia (or Ascidiæ), a group of animals belonging to the tunicate Mollusca, considered by evolutionists to constitute a link in the development of the Vertebrata. B. n. A member of this group. see -ARIUM, the aggregate mass of organisms in compound ascidians. asmscidioid a., resembling the Ascidia. ascidiozooid, one of the organisms forming an ascidiarium.
The RNA produced in female mammals from the X-chromosome that is bound to be deactivated for the life of that female. The X-chromosome that produces XIST becomes highly condensed and forms a Barr body.
MW - "a genus of shrubs and herbs (family Leguminosae) widely distributed in warm regions and having jointed pods and pinnate and often sensitive leaves"
A bad thing to have if you are trying to meet the assumptions of certain parametric tests. But, this can be overcome by transforming your data in an appropriate manner.
"Hypomnema (Greek. υπομνημα, plural υπομνηματα, hypomnemata), also spelled hupomnema, is a Greek word with several translations into English: a reminder, a note, a public record, a commentary, a draft, a copy, and other variations on those terms"
Comments by dhuber
dhuber commented on the word macroprudential
'“A combination of lower interest rates and more stringent macroprudential policy would likely work to reduce both financial stability risks and the risk of an undershoot of inflation at the same time,” Poloz said. “This is because interest rate changes have their largest effect on inflation risk, while stronger macroprudential settings will lead to a higher quality of household indebtedness over time.”'
via: http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/bank-of-canada-actively-discussed-more-stimulus-but-uncertainty-convinced-policymakers-to-hold-rate-instead
October 19, 2016
dhuber commented on the word phubbing
Short article from Webster's: http://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/phubbing-words-we%27re-watching
"'Phubbing' is the act of snubbing someone in a social setting by looking at your phone instead of paying attention."
February 24, 2016
dhuber commented on the word squirmishes
Used by Sarah Palin 20-February-2016 during her endorsement of Donald Trump.
"...endless Middle Eastern squirmishes..."
E.g.: https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/689601577355730944
January 20, 2016
dhuber commented on the word irja
Via the Wordnik blog:
"Irja translates literally as “postponing,” and was a “theological principle put forward by some Muslim scholars” in the first century of Islam, as the result of a major civil war being fought during that time.
The proponents of irja — known as murjia, or “postponers” — asserted that the “burning question of who is a true Muslim should be ‘postponed’ until the afterlife.” In other words, true faith was something that could only be judged by God and not other humans. In the end, however, the murjia didn’t have enough influence in the Muslim world."
Here: http://blog.wordnik.com/word-buzz-wednesday-bean-to-bar-digital-dementia-schlonged#.dpuf
December 30, 2015
dhuber commented on the word Trumpenfreude
Used by Paul Krugman here: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/12/23/today-in-trumpenfreude/
The joy of watching the GOP implode tempered with the horror that Trump or a clone might actually win.
December 29, 2015
dhuber commented on the word adhocracy
Although this neologism seems to be used in a positive way (i.e. the opposite of bureaucracy), I heard it today used in a more negative sense. Specifically that a lack of defined rules allowed all members of an organization to run with whatever idea that they had, leading to chaos.
November 5, 2015
dhuber commented on the word villanelegy
A villanelle composed as an elegy.
March 1, 2015
dhuber commented on the word techno-utopianism
Mentioned by Jonathan Kay of the National Post on the CBC National evening news in regard to the idea that hashtags and tweets can, somehow, effect real social change. The conversation was particularly in regards to the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls and the social media "activism" that has followed. 11 May 2014
May 12, 2014
dhuber commented on the word selfieing
That's not a word. This is a word.
April 8, 2014
dhuber commented on the word excommunitweet
A tweet from a religious leader (or self-appointed "leader"), usually of the fundamentalist/conservative variety, in which they seemingly excommunicate another individual or organization for a perceived fault.
E.g.:
https://twitter.com/JohnPiper/status/41590656421863424
https://twitter.com/DennyBurk/status/448203993022361600
Used with context here:
http://www.dictionaryofchristianese.com/excommunitweet/
and
http://www.jacoblupfer.com/blog/2014/4/1/world-vision-evangelical-authority-and-tweeted-excommunications
Noted in this tweet (with some subsequent discussion):
https://twitter.com/rachelheldevans/status/451212818046799874
April 2, 2014
dhuber commented on the word Two-thirds world
A reference to the developing world ("third world") that retains "third" but also notes that 2/3 of the world's population lives in such countries.
Read several times in: http://www.amazon.com/Planted-Story-Creation-Calling-Community/dp/1620327082
November 27, 2013
dhuber commented on the word literally
This is literally the most misused word in the universe.
August 28, 2013
dhuber commented on the word de-risk
Just received an email that had the terms "de-risk" and "incentivize" in one sentence. Could barely read the rest of the missive without losing my lunch. Who thinks of these words? Gah!
August 19, 2013
dhuber commented on the word anecdata
Here's a usage (final paragraph): http://scientopia.org/blogs/proflikesubstance/2013/05/16/on-review-repetition/
There it's being used as per: http://www.wordspy.com/words/anecdata.asp
"Anecdotal evidence used as data in an attempt to prove a hypothesis or make a forecast."
May 16, 2013
dhuber commented on the word recurriculate
Just heard during a meeting. Presumably means to revise the revised curriculum.
May 9, 2013
dhuber commented on the word nosewitness
If CNN can have an "earwitness", then why not have a few nosewitnesses too so that we get the full sensory story?
April 19, 2013
dhuber commented on the word earwitness
Just heard a CNN correspondent use this word, pertaining to a potential shootout with Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Watertown MA.
April 19, 2013
dhuber commented on the word dustable
Heard it this evening on the CTV (Canada) news referring to trinkets and stuff on shelves in the context of things that could fall off in an earthquake.
In other words, as a noun.
October 28, 2012
dhuber commented on the word confabulation
Seen here: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/10/09/newsweek-panders-to-the-deluded-again/
(A few paragraphs in...)
October 15, 2012
dhuber commented on the word moon-basing
"The act of a candidate or surrogate offhandedly proposing a policy so outrageous that it significantly harms the candidate’s electability."
http://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/great-examples-of-neologisms/
October 15, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Mitthead
"A individual who constantly changes his political positions to suit his audience and objectives."
http://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/great-examples-of-neologisms/
October 15, 2012
dhuber commented on the word narcissize
As in "they narcissize hospitality by making it all about their culinary skills."
August 8, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Doktorvater
Or, better yet, "doctoral father."
See:
http://www.dict.cc/german-english/Doktorvater.html
June 11, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Doktorvater
From German, referring to a Ph.D. thesis supervisor. Doctor + Father.
June 11, 2012
dhuber commented on the list medicine-or-person--1
Verapamil? You've got Vera and Pam all in one.
June 1, 2012
dhuber commented on the word owlglass
OED word-of-the-day for 30 May 2012.
Here:
http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/135502
May 30, 2012
dhuber commented on the word ivories
Tickle, tickle.
May 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the user mikerob7
OK. Now do pear.
May 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Iranageddon
Armageddon brought on via Iran.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-115901057.html
May 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word karmageddon
See: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Karmageddon
"A portmanteau of "Karma" and "Armageddon." References "shit hitting the fan" in an extreme way while acknowledging one's contributions to that event.
Specifically, when all the (usually unpleasant) stuff you've done comes back to you at once. "
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word geddonwithit
:)
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Obamageddon
Also, seemingly, carnage that particular pundits ascribe to Obama-era policies.
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Obamageddon
Presumably...
1) The day of reckoning when Obama is elected to his second term, or
2) The result of Obama winning his second term.
E.g. http://www.alternativeright.com/main/blogs/malinvestments/is-this-obamageddon/
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Mittpocalypse
Presumably referring to the supposedly bad things that would happen due to Mitt Romney becoming the GOP presidential candidate and/or winning the US presidency.
...and/or the final blow dealt by Romney to his primary competitors.
E.g.: http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2011/09/mittpocalypse-now-most-of-chortling.html
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Newtpocalypse
Presumably referring to the supposedly bad things that would happen due to Newt Gingrich becoming the GOP presidential candidate and/or winning the US presidency.
E.g.: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/05/newtpocalypse.php
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Farmageddon
Two pop-culture definitions.
First, the name of an annual NCAA football game between the Iowa State UniverstiyCyclones and the Kansas State University Wildcats.
Second, the name of a 2011 documentary on food rights and security: http://farmageddonmovie.com/
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word carmageddon
E.g.: http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/06/405_freeway_closure_july_16_17_traffic_los_angeles_subway.php
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the user ruzuzu
Thanks! Start -geddon ready to add some words...
http://www.wordnik.com/lists/geddon--1
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word Eurogeddon
From http://www.wordspy.com/words/Eurogeddon.asp
More ...-geddon stuff.
via
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word scattermalia
From http://sesquiotic.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/scattermalia/
“odds and ends of queries or information scattered through several emails instead of being nicely cleaned up into one clear listing.”
January 29, 2012
dhuber commented on the word housemageddon
As seen on:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/26/what-happens-when-canadas-housing-bubble-pops/
A MacLean's Magazine article on Canada's seeming housing bubble.
Quote:
'No, it won’t be “housemageddon.”'
Just another example of the use of -mageddon to indicate something bad of Biblical, eschatological proportions.
January 27, 2012
dhuber commented on the word cherpumple
Got to try this one.
January 27, 2012
dhuber commented on the list zee-s-zees
Me too. My (real) name includes one. So I'm particularly fond.
January 26, 2012
dhuber commented on the word culicide
Splat!
January 23, 2012
dhuber commented on the word gitfiddle
Heard on American Idol on Sunday 22 January 2012. A fellow aptly nicknamed "Wolf" used this word to refer to his guitar.
January 23, 2012
dhuber commented on the word forgetfory
'Kevin Lam submitted forgetfory (a very useful antonym of memory, as in “don’t expect me to remember your phone number, I have an excellent forgetfory”). That word that was also used in a 1907 issue of “The Leather Workers’ Journal,” although more as a synonym for “head”: “Another correspondent noted that we would get a bump on our forgetfory that would hold us for a while.”'
http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/01/22/new-words-from-noncelebrity-neologizers/HmspTFNn7NsmHIvUrda9YJ/story.html
January 22, 2012
dhuber commented on the word nukepicking
"...the combination of nitpicking and blowing things out of proportion, submitted by Vlad Marian Birladianu?"
http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/01/22/new-words-from-noncelebrity-neologizers/HmspTFNn7NsmHIvUrda9YJ/story.html
January 22, 2012
dhuber commented on the word mundaneabilia
"mundaneabilia - the banal cheap merchandise sold at the typical tourist attraction."
From:
https://twitter.com/#!/greental/status/86947273677877248
July 2, 2011
dhuber commented on the word scobberlotcher
http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-sco3.htm
From the link:
“Good-morrow, Master Richard!” hailed the man, in a voice that matched his person. “What! not abroad yet, thou bed-worm, thou scobberlotcher!” and leaning down rolled a snowball in his massive hands, but desisted at the last moment from throwing it at Dick’s window lest it should enter by mistake the adjoining room, where his father and mother slept; and flung it instead with great shrewdness at Sally, the pretty serving-maid, who was sweeping the snow away from the top flight of broad front steps."
Dick Willoughby, by Cecil Day Lewis, 1933.
June 2, 2011
dhuber commented on the word skeptimistic
adj. Simultaneously skeptical and optimistic.
—skeptimist n.
—skeptimism n.
From:
http://www.wordspy.com/words/skeptimistic.asp
June 2, 2011
dhuber commented on the word stakeholder
True enough. :)
May 31, 2011
dhuber commented on the word Schadenfriday
Although, I had a different definition...
"Is there a word for the moment that you realize that although it feels like Friday it is, alas, only Tuesday? Schadenfriday, perhaps?"
https://twitter.com/docdez/status/75699462504329217
May 31, 2011
dhuber commented on the word Schadenfriday
"The day where you can finally laugh at another's misfortune and not be taken as a heartless bastard."
From: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Schadenfriday
May 31, 2011
dhuber commented on the word stakeholder
Worst. Word. Ever.
(Well, among the worst anyhow. Gah!)
May 31, 2011
dhuber commented on the user feedback
No prob. Thanks for unlinking my account. Unfortunately, though, that didn't help. When I chose "List it" from the pull-down menu next to a word, I still get:
"Please sign in or sign up to list words."
...even though I'm signed in. Strange.
November 27, 2009
dhuber commented on the user feedback
So, how do I unlink my Wordnik account from my Facebook account? I have now, several times, unlinked Wordnik while in Facebook. But Wordnik seems never to forget. It won't let me sign in with my normal username and password, but forces me to reconnect the account with Facebook.
November 25, 2009
dhuber commented on the user feedback
OK, it's not working after all.
But, I think that I've figured it out.
It WAS working on one of my computers where I had signed in but hadn't linked to Facebook. It WAS NOT working on my other computer where I had completed the FB link.
So, I completed the FB link on the computer that was unlinked (and previously working for list making). And voila! Now lists are nonfunctional there too.
So, I suspect that it has something to do with the FB link.
But... I try to remove the FB link in FB and, while FB unlinks me, Wornik won't "believe" that I'm unlinked and forces me to relink when I sign in.
I.e., I can't just sign in with my Worknik username/password. I need to sign in to Wordnik via FB, even after I've unlinked FB.
November 24, 2009
dhuber commented on the user feedback
grantbarrett: Well, it's working now. So, I guess the point is moot.
The problem *was* with the "Create new word" link. I would click that and then get the error message before even having the opportunity to fill in the various fields for list creation.
November 24, 2009
dhuber commented on the user feedback
Hmmm, still on the list thing. When I try to create a new list, I get:
"Unable to Complete Request" in 82 point font.
November 24, 2009
dhuber commented on the user feedback
Hmmmm, there seems to be something wrong with the listing function. Although I am logged in, when I try to list a word, I get a message that I must be logged in to list it.
November 23, 2009
dhuber commented on the word phenomenol
As seen in a friend's blog post. A typo, but it sounds a lot like it should be an extremely interesting type of alcohol.
July 30, 2009
dhuber commented on the word dramastically
I heard a colleague down the hall use this word a moment ago. Think that it will catch on?
June 23, 2009
dhuber commented on the word empower
Ugh. I'm adding that to my "hated" list.
December 22, 2008
dhuber commented on the word snowmageddon
OK, slightly pre-Christmas.
December 20, 2008
dhuber commented on the word snowmageddon
A massive, potentially devastating, snow storm. This term was used to describe the Christmas 2008 storm that hit Toronto, Ontario.
See, for example:
http://is.gd/ct0J
December 19, 2008
dhuber commented on the word egalimentarian
One who is neither strictly egalitarian nor complementarian, but develops a theology of gender roles in the church that draws from both traditions.
At the time of my writing this, there is only one Google result for this word. Thus, I can't claim to have made it up, but I'd say that I'm probably the first to define it.
November 4, 2008
dhuber commented on the word carborexic
From:
http://www.wordspy.com/words/carborexic.asp
"A person who is obsessed with minimizing his or her use of carbon."
October 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word posse comitatus
From Latin... "force of the county"
October 11, 2008
dhuber commented on the word luddosphere
As in:
"Wordie.org is definitely an integral part of the growing Luddosphere."
October 10, 2008
dhuber commented on the word luddosphere
As seen here:
http://www.strikethru.net/2008/10/neocasting-webooks-dusty-tomes.html
October 9, 2008
dhuber commented on the word aquaporin
A cell membrane channel that is permeable to water, but not to ions.
October 2, 2008
dhuber commented on the word random
Way, way too much, "like wow! That was random..." going around these days. Though, thankfully, it seems to be a dying trend.
October 1, 2008
dhuber commented on the word glycocalyx
The external layer of many cells made up of carbohydrates covalently linked to proteins which are closely associated with the cell membrane.
September 30, 2008
dhuber commented on the list ends-in-ene
Nice! Thanks everyone!!!
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word fasickle
Newer version: fascicle
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word fascicle
My favorite definition, from botany (taken from the OED) is:
"A cluster of leaves or flowers with very short stalks growing closely together at the base; a tuft. Also, a bunch of roots growing from one point."
Note that it has also been spelled: fasickle
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the list old-2
Currently fascicle.
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word ascidiozooid
See ascidian
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word ascidian
OED: A. adj. Of or pertaining to the Ascidia (or Ascidiæ), a group of animals belonging to the tunicate Mollusca, considered by evolutionists to constitute a link in the development of the Vertebrata. B. n. A member of this group. see -ARIUM, the aggregate mass of organisms in compound ascidians. asmscidioid a., resembling the Ascidia. ascidiozooid, one of the organisms forming an ascidiarium.
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word ascidian
OED: A. adj. Of or pertaining to the Ascidia (or Ascidiæ), a group of animals belonging to the tunicate Mollusca, considered by evolutionists to constitute a link in the development of the Vertebrata. B. n. A member of this group. see -ARIUM, the aggregate mass of organisms in compound ascidians. asmscidioid a., resembling the Ascidia. ascidiozooid, one of the organisms forming an ascidiarium.
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word microloan
I love this word because it signifies a unique and seemingly effective method of making this world a better place.
See www.kiva.org, for instance.
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word academese
OED: The style or language of academic scholarship; dry academicalism.
Frankly, the word "academese" is, itself, academese, because it would be used nowhere else but in the academy in lengthy papers analyzing the academy.
September 27, 2008
dhuber commented on the word lecturette
OED: A short lecture.
September 26, 2008
dhuber commented on the word xist
The RNA produced in female mammals from the X-chromosome that is bound to be deactivated for the life of that female. The X-chromosome that produces XIST becomes highly condensed and forms a Barr body.
September 26, 2008
dhuber commented on the word synthase
An enzyme that catalyzes a reaction that puts one or more components together to form a new compound.
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word synthetase
An enzyme, a synthase. Also, a ligase.
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word ctene
Greek, for "comb." A zoological derivative is the phylum Ctenophora, the comb jellies.
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word ctenophora
Not too good with peanut butter, though.
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word alcmene
Those Greek and Roman gods lived, uh, interesting lives:
MW - "the mother of Hercules by Zeus in the form of her husband Amphitryon"
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word alberene
MW (poor grammar, but obviously soapstone-related word) - "used for a soapstone used to make acid-resistant or alkali-resistant surfaces"
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word abietene
OK, one chemical exception, because I like resinous trees.
MW - "the hydrocarbon mixture, chiefly C19H30 with two double bonds in the molecule, that results from heating resin acids"
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word advene
MW - "intransitive verb : to become added to something or become a part of it
transitive verb : to come to or reach"
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word aeschynomene
MW - "a genus of shrubs and herbs (family Leguminosae) widely distributed in warm regions and having jointed pods and pinnate and often sensitive leaves"
September 25, 2008
dhuber commented on the word stownlins
OED: (adv.) By stealth; secretly.
E.g. 1786 BURNS Halloween x, Rob, stownlins, prie'd her bonie mou.
September 24, 2008
dhuber commented on the word swallow-pipe
OED: "The gullet
1786 WOLCOT (P. Pindar) 2nd Ode to R.A.'s Wks. 1812 I. 134 Not one bit more could pass your swallow-pipe.
September 24, 2008
dhuber commented on the word mulct
Interesting that it means both to defraud and to fine. One could be mulcted for mulcting, I suppose.
November 22, 2007
dhuber commented on the word semiochemical
An information-bearing chemical, such as a pheromone.
From Greek, semio = signal.
See:
http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/1930
November 20, 2007
dhuber commented on the word hector
Also, a noun... "a bully"
or a verb... "to bully"
November 16, 2007
dhuber commented on the word importunate
"expressing earnest entreaty"
-an alliterative definition
November 15, 2007
dhuber commented on the word heteroscedasticity
...uneven variances between variables.
A bad thing to have if you are trying to meet the assumptions of certain parametric tests. But, this can be overcome by transforming your data in an appropriate manner.
November 15, 2007
dhuber commented on the word hypomnemata
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomnemata
"Hypomnema (Greek. υπομνημα, plural υπομνηματα, hypomnemata), also spelled hupomnema, is a Greek word with several translations into English: a reminder, a note, a public record, a commentary, a draft, a copy, and other variations on those terms"
November 15, 2007
dhuber commented on the word flaneur
"One who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer."
November 15, 2007
dhuber commented on the word smacky
Adjective, describes a person who tends to make smacking sounds with their mouth/lips on a continual or circumstantial (eating) basis.
November 14, 2007
dhuber commented on the word kirigami
Japanese term for folded paper with small cuts (like origami... but not origami).
kiru = "to cut"
kami = "paper"
November 14, 2007
dhuber commented on the word coleopteran
As in: "That insect presents certain coleopteran characteristics, but the lack of wing covers indicates that it is not actually a beetle."
November 14, 2007
dhuber commented on the word syzygy
Zoology parlance - of which I am familiar - the breakpoint in a starfish's arm.
November 13, 2007