12 January 2014

pendulous

[pen-juh-luhs, pen-duh-]

adjective

1. hanging down loosely: pendulous blossoms. (‘It’s true, there were dark storm clouds … heavy—black and pendulous, toward which they were driving’. – Narrator, Rocky Horror Show)
2. swinging freely; oscillating.
3. vacillating or undecided; wavering.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin pendulus hanging, swinging. See pend, -ulous

Related forms
pen·du·lous·ly, adverb
pen·du·lous·ness, noun
sem·i·pen·du·lous, adjective
sem·i·pen·du·lous·ly, adverb
sem·i·pen·du·lous·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. dangling, drooping, pendent, sagging.

Anagram

nodules up
lop unused
undue slop

Today’s aphorism

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

– Martin Luther King Jr

On this day

12 January 1948 – The United States Supreme Court that the all-white law school at University of Oklahoma must provide education to black students that is equal to the education provided to white students.

12 January 2012 – magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Haiti, killing between 100,000 and 250,000. Humanitarian aid was slow in coming to Haiti because of the damage to the country’s infrastructure, which resulted in the high death toll. The earthquake is the fourth deadliest on record.

12 January 2003 – death of Maurice Gibb on the Isle of Man. Founded the Bee Gees with his brothers, Robin and Barry. Born 22 December 1949.