19 May 2014
ponderous
[pon-der-uhs]
adjective
1. of great weight; heavy; massive.
2. awkward or unwieldy: He carried a ponderous burden on his back.
3. dull and labored: a ponderous dissertation.
Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ponderos, pondereuse ) < Latin ponderōsus. See ponder, -ous
Related forms
pon·der·ous·ly, adverb
pon·der·ous·ness, pon·der·os·i·ty [pon-duh-ros-i-tee] Show IPA , noun
non·pon·der·os·i·ty, noun
non·pon·der·ous, adjective
non·pon·der·ous·ly, adverb
Synonyms
3. heavy, boring, dreary, plodding, tedious.
Antonyms
3. lively, exciting.
Anagram
dour opens
proud nose
rodeo puns
Today’s aphorism
You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.
– Malcolm X
On this day
19 May 1536 – Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery, incest and treason.
19 May 1568 – Queen Elizabeth I orders the arrest of Mary, Queen of Scots.
19 May 1897 – Oscar Wilde released from Reading Gaol.
19 May 1925 – birth of Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little), also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He campaigned for the rights of African-Americans. At the age of 20, while in prison, he joined the ‘Nation of Islam’, a group that preached black supremacy. He eventually became disillusioned with it and its leader, Elijah Muhammad. On 8 Mach 1964, he publicly announced he had the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X founded Muslim Mosque Inc and the Organisation of Afro-American Unity. He converted to Sunni Islam, revoked black supremacy and preached equal rights. He was assassinated on 21 February 1965 by three members of the Nation of Islam; Talmadge Hayer (also known as Thomas Hagan), Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson. All three were convicted, although Butler and Johnson maintained their innocence.
19 May 1962 – Marilyn Monroe sings a seductive version of ‘Happy Birthday‘ to President John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday. She was introduced to the stage as the ‘late’ Marilyn Monroe. Less than three months later, Monroe was found dead. The dress Monroe wore was designed by Jean Louis and sold at auction in 1999 for more than $1,200,000. It was a sheer, flesh coloured dress with 2,500 rhinestones.