16 May 2015
twee
[twee]
adjective, Chiefly British
1. affectedly dainty or quaint:
twee writing about furry little creatures.
Origin of twee
1900-1905; apparently reduced from tweet (perhaps via pronunciation twiʔ), mimicking child’s pronunciation of sweet
Dictionary.com
Examples from the web for twee
‘You’re just what the doctor ordered, my twee faerie vixen’.
―Russell Edgington, to Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood, Season 5)
Based in Los Angeles, Pinkberry is upscale bordering on the twee.
(Frozen-Yogurt Shops Are Everywhere, but We Are Nowhere Near Saturation Daniel Gross July 18, 2013)
I have spent an hour on the phone with Marc Spitz, the author of twee, having him explain twee.
(What the Hell Is ‘Twee’? A Genre? A Mindset? An Art Form? Scott Porch June 22, 2014)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Lost in Translation are twee.
(What the Hell Is ‘Twee’? A Genre? A Mindset? An Art Form? Scott Porch June 22, 2014)
Today’s aphorism
How do you go back to being strangers with someone who has seen your soul.
– Unknown.
On this day
16 May 1920 – Joan of Arc is canonised (declared a saint) by the Catholic Church. In 1431, the Catholic Church accused her of heresy. She was subsequently ex-communicated and burnt at the stake. The church later nullified her ex-communication, declaring her a matyr who was unjustly executed because of a vendetta by the English (who controlled the Inquisitorial Court in occupied France). She was beatified (given the title of Blessed and the ability to intercede on behalf of those who pray to her) in 1909 prior to her canonisation in 1920.
16 May 1990 – death of Jim Henson, American muppeteer (Sesame Street, the Muppet Show). Born 24 September 1936.
16 May 1944 – birth of Danny Trejo, American actor (Desperado, Machete, Con-Air).
16 May 1945 – birth of Nicky Chinn, British songwriter and record producer. In conjunction with Queensland-born Mike Chapman, he wrote hit singles for Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Racey, Smokie and Tina Turner.
16 May 2010 – death of Ronald James Padavona, otherwise known as Ronny James Dio, heavy metal singer. Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer of Black Sabbath, for two years before leaving after disagreements with other band members. Dio was also associated with Rainbow, Dio, and Elf. Born 12 July 1942.