June 2019 WOTDs

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June 2019 WOTDs

27 June 2019

flume

[ floom ]

noun

a deep narrow defile containing a mountain stream or torrent.
an artificial channel or trough for conducting water, as one used to transport logs or provide water power.
an amusement park ride in which passengers are carried in a boatlike or loglike conveyance through a narrow, water-filled chute or over a water slide.

verb (used with object), flumed, flum·ing.

to transport in a flume.
to divert (a stream) by a flume.

RELATED WORDS

sluice, conduit, run, channel, spillway

ORIGIN OF FLUME

1125–75; Middle English flum; Old French ≪ Latin flūmen stream
DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED
BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2019

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR FLUME

Gradually climbing upward, we come to a tract of land that is watered by the Flume.
A TRUTHFUL WOMAN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA|KATE SANBORN

“I know very little about the man, but I never saw more thorough work than he has put in on the flume,” he said.
A DAMAGED REPUTATION|HAROLD BINDLOSS

The water was brought in a ditch or flume to the top of a high bank, and then terminated in a tight box.
DEATH VALLEY IN ’49|WILLIAM LEWIS MANLY

There being no stint of timber, we could afford to make our flume immensely strong—and we did.
THE TRAIL OF THE BADGER|SIDFORD F. HAMP

26 June 2019

ululate

[ uhl-yuh-leyt, yool- ]

verb (used without object), ul·u·lat·ed, ul·u·lat·ing.

to howl, as a dog or a wolf; hoot, as an owl.
to utter howling sounds, as in shrill, wordless lamentation; wail.
to lament loudly and shrilly.

ORIGIN OF ULULATE

1615–25; Latin ululātus, past participle of ululāre to howl, shriek, of imitative orig.; see -ate1

RELATED FORMS
ul·u·la·tion, noun

25 June 2019

flabbergast

[ flab-er-gast ]

verb (used with object)

to overcome with surprise and bewilderment; astound.

ORIGIN OF FLABBERGAST

1765–75; variant of flabagast (perhaps flabb(y) + aghast)

SYNONYMS FOR FLABBERGAST

amaze, astonish, stagger, nonplus, confound; perplex, confuse, mystify.

RELATED FORMS

flab·ber·gast·er, noun

DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED
BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2019

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR FLABBERGAST

But there had been no need, and Stockdale was too shrewd a man to “barge in” and flabbergast his youthful Sub.
A SUB AND A SUBMARINE|PERCY F. WESTERMAN

And nothing has happened to astound or flabbergast him, to send him sprawling with Cheyne-Stokes breathing.
EUROPE AFTER 8:15|H. L. MENCKEN, GEORGE JEAN NATHAN AND WILLARD HUNTINGTON WRIGHT

24 June 2019

corrugate

[ verb kawr-uh-geyt, kor-; adjective kawr-uh-git, -geyt, kor- ]

verb (used with object), cor·ru·gat·ed, cor·ru·gat·ing.

to draw or bend into folds or alternate furrows and ridges.
to wrinkle, as the skin or face.
Western U.S. to make irrigation ditches in (a field).

verb (used without object), cor·ru·gat·ed, cor·ru·gat·ing.

to become corrugated; undergo corrugation.

adjective

corrugated; wrinkled; furrowed.

ORIGIN OF CORRUGATE

1375–1425; late Middle English; Latin corrūgātus past participle of corrūgāre, equivalent to cor- cor- + rūg(āre) to wrinkle + -ātus -ate1

RELATED FORMS

cor·ru·gat·ed, adjective
cor·ru·ga·tor, noun
un·cor·ru·gat·ed, adjective

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR CORRUGATE

However, “broad-browed Verulam,” let not that brow’s breadth cloud or corrugate in vexation at my persiflage.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI, VOLUME 93, DECEMBER 31, 1887|VARIOUS

Yet we had watched his smooth brow furrow and corrugate as under some carking care or devouring sorrow.
MOON-FACE AND OTHER STORIES|JACK LONDON

Flutes, 72 four inches deep, corrugate the beast’s underpart from tail to neck.
SEVEN LEGS ACROSS THE SEAS|SAMUEL MURRAY

23 June 2019

calcareous

[ kal-kair-ee-uh s ]

adjective

of, containing, or like calcium carbonate; chalky:
calcareous earth.

Example

‘He had to move back,’ Yossarian argued in a vain effort to cheer up the glum, barrel-chested Indian, whose well-knit sorrel-red face had degenerated rapidly into a dilapidated, calcareous gray.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller

22 June 2019

sorrel(1)

[ sawr-uh l, sor- ]

noun

light reddish-brown.
a horse of this color, often with a light-colored mane and tail.

sorrel(2)

adjective

of the color sorrel.

Example

‘He had to move back,’ Yossarian argued in a vain effort to cheer up the glum, barrel-chested Indian, whose well-knit sorrel-red face had degenerated rapidly into a dilapidated, calcareous gray.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller

21 June 2019

dilapidate

[ dih-lap-i-deyt ]

verb (used with object), di·lap·i·dat·ed, di·lap·i·dat·ing.

to cause or allow (a building, automobile, etc.) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect (often used passively):
The house had been dilapidated by neglect.
Archaic. to squander; waste.

verb (used without object), di·lap·i·dat·ed, di·lap·i·dat·ing.

to fall into ruin or decay.

ORIGIN OF DILAPIDATE

1560–70; Medieval Latin dīlapidātus, past participle of dīlapidāre to squander (compare dīlapidātiō disrepair), Latin: to pelt with stones; see di-2, lapidate

20 June 2019

bedraggle

[ bih-drag-uh l ]

verb (used with object), be·drag·gled, be·drag·gling.

to make limp and soiled, as with rain or dirt.

Example

The chaplain was moved almost to tears by the harassed, bedraggled picture the captain presented, and he filled with deference and compassion at the thought of the many severe rigors the poor man had to endure daily.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller

19 June 2019

jamais vu

being unfamiliar with something that is actually familiar

He knew, for example, that it was called paramnesia, and he was interested as well in such corollary optical phenomena as *jamais vu*, never seen, and *presque vu*, almost seen

18 June 2019

denudate

[ verb den-yoo-deyt, dih-noo-deyt, -nyoo-; adjective dih-noo-deyt, -nyoo-, den-yoo-deyt ]

verb (used with object), den·u·dat·ed, den·u·dat·ing.

to make bare; strip; denude.

adjective

denuded; bare.

ORIGIN OF DENUDATE

1620–30; Latin dēnūdātus, past participle of dēnūdāre to denude; see -ate1

Example

Yossarian’s perceptions were soon so fuzzy that he paid no notice to the beige turban the fat one crowding into him kept wearing until late the next morning when the scheming ten-year-old pimp with the Cuban panatella snatched it off in public in a bestial caprice that exposed in the brilliant Sicilian daylight her shocking, misshapen and denudate skull.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller

17 June 2019

notarize


[ noh-tuh-rahyz ]

verb (used with object), no·ta·rized, no·ta·riz·ing.

to certify (a document, contract, etc.) or cause to become certified through a notary public.

Also especially British, no·ta·rise.

ORIGIN OF NOTARIZE

First recorded in 1925–30; notar(y) + -ize

RELATED FORMS

no·ta·ri·za·tion, noun
re·no·ta·rize, verb (used with object), re·no·ta·rized, re·no·ta·riz·ing.

16 June 2019

milo

[ mahy-loh ]

noun, plural mi·los.

a grain sorghum having white, yellow, or pinkish seeds, grown chiefly in Africa, Asia, and the U.S.

ORIGIN OF MILO

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; of uncertain origin
Also called milo maize.

15 June 2019

mopery

[ moh-puh-ree ]

noun

mopish behavior.
Slang. a violation of a minor or imaginary law or rule.

ORIGIN OF MOPERY

mope + -ery

Example

The officer defending him was Lieutenant Scheisskopf. It was all very confusing to Clevinger, who began vibrating in terror as the colonel surged to his feet like a gigantic belch and threatened to rip his stinking, cowardly body apart limb from limb. One day he had stumbled while marching to class; the next day he was formally charged with ‘breaking ranks while in formation, felonious assault, indiscriminate behavior, mopery, high treason, provoking, being a smart guy, listening to classical music and so on’.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller

14 June 2019

portolano

[pawr-tl-ah-noh, pohr-]

noun, plural por·to·la·nos, por·to·la·ni [pawr-tl-ah-nee, pohr-] /ˌpɔr tl

ˈɑ ni, ˌpoʊr-/.

a descriptive atlas of the Middle Ages, giving sailing directions and providing charts showing rhumb lines and the location of ports and various coastal features.

Origin of portolano

1855–60; Italian: shipmaster’s guidebook; earlier, harbor master < Medieval Latin portulānus. See port1, -ule, -an
Also called rutter.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for portolano

Historical Examples of portolano

A sea-chart—probably a portolano —is mentioned as early as the account of the Crusade of St. Louis, in 1270.
The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea
Gomes Eannes de Azurara

13 June 2019

malaphor

noun

– Mixing of idioms or metaphors.

Examples:

It isn’t rocket surgery.

Don’t judge a book before it’s hatched.

We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.

https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/05/24/malaphors/

11 June 2019

Stygian

[stij-ee-uh n]

adjective

of or relating to the river Styx or to Hades.
dark or gloomy.
infernal; hellish.

ORIGIN OF STYGIAN

1560–70; < Latin Stygi(us) < Greek Stýgios (Styg-, stem of Stýx Styx + -ios adj. suffix) + -an

RELATED FORMS

trans-Styg·i·an, adjective

DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2019

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR STYGIAN

The moon was just rising above the horizon, but under the trees the darkness was Stygian. THE HILL|HORACE ANNESLEY VACHELL Justus

Miles was the first to come to, and he found himself in Stygian blackness. THE HEADS OF APEX|FRANCIS FLAGG

At the far end of this courtyard a shadowy pavilion arose, culled from the Stygian gloom by the sheen of the lightnings. UNDER THE WITCHES’ MOON|NATHAN GALLIZIER

Not a star could blink a wan ray of light into that Stygian pit. THE MAN OF THE FOREST|ZANE GREY

10 June 2019

deduce

[dih-doos, -dyoos]

verb (used with object), deduced, deducing.

1. to derive as a conclusion from something known or assumed; infer:
From the evidence the detective deduced that the gardener had done it.
2. to trace the derivation of; trace the course of:
to deduce one’s lineage.

Origin of deduce

Latin

1520-1530; Latin dēdūcere to lead down, derive, equivalent to dē- de- + dūcere to lead, bring

Related forms

deducible, adjective
deducibility, deducibleness, noun
deducibly, adverb
nondeducible, adjective
subdeducible, adjective

Can be confused

adduce, deduce, induce.
deduce, deduct.
deducible, deductible.

Synonyms

1. conclude, reason, gather, determine.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018.
Cite This Source

Examples from the Web for deduce

Contemporary Examples

A shriek of glee briefly broke out across the Web as inquiring minds tried to deduce who was the lucky lady.
My Bizarre Night With James Deen, Libertarian Porn Star
Emily Shire
November 12, 2014

From this it was possible to deduce that the airplane hit the ocean whole, and at what speed.
MH17 Is the World’s First Open-Source Air Crash Investigation
Clive Irving
July 22, 2014

In fact, we are left to deduce the content of her letters to him from his responses to her.
The Struggles of Benjamin Franklin’s Sister Jane
Annette Gordon-Reed
November 21, 2013

They want the jury to deduce that it was a sort of habitual foreplay employed by the popular coach.
Jerry Sandusky Trial, Day Three: The Defense Gets Steamrolled
Diane Dimond
June 14, 2012

The greatest gift is our own eyes, sense of smell, and abilities to deduce.
Patricia Cornwell Talks New Book, ‘Red Mist,’ Forensics, and Angelina Jolie
Janice Kaplan
December 13, 2011

Historical Examples

If you deduce a good Providence from the good things in nature, what do you make of the evil?
The Stark Munro Letters
J. Stark Munro

I deduce that a lot of my sweetness has been wasted on the desert air.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, March 1930
Various

It was not given to him to deduce from his splendid work the results to which they were destined to lead.
Great Astronomers
R. S. Ball

Now, from this fact, the philosopher will at once deduce the climate of this region.
Old Mackinaw
W. P. Strickland.

Or could you deduce from the existence of frontal horns that the animal ruminates?
Form and Function
E. S. (Edward Stuart) Russell

6 July 2019

jeremiad

[ jer-uh-mahy-uh d, -ad ]

noun

a prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint.

ORIGIN OF JEREMIAD

1770–80; Jeremi(ah) + -ad1 in reference to Jeremiah’s Lamentations

DICTIONARY.COM UNABRIDGED
BASED ON THE RANDOM HOUSE UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, © RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 2019

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR JEREMIAD

The Task Force report is a blend of modern bureaucratese and the old Judeo-Christian tradition of the jeremiad.
DID THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST ‘CONSERVATIVE RESURGENCE’ FAIL?|MOLLY WORTHEN|JUNE 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Huckabee should deliver a jeremiad lambasting Washington for its role in fostering the housing collapse and the Great Recession.
MIKE HUCKABEE’S BULLY PULPIT: ECONOMIC POPULISM|LLOYD GREEN|DECEMBER 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST

But neither is it a rigorous sociological study or a polemic or a jeremiad.
TOO SOON TO WRITE: CHOIRE SICHA’S ‘VERY RECENT HISTORY’|STEFAN BECK|AUGUST 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

To-night, however, there were variety and spice with his Jeremiad.
THE GOOSE GIRL|HAROLD MACGRATH

5 June 2019

prosody

[ pros-uh-dee ]

noun

the science or study of poetic meters and versification.
a particular or distinctive system of metrics and versification:
Milton’s prosody.

Linguistics. the stress and intonation patterns of an utterance.

RELATED WORDS

poem, poetry, metrics

ORIGIN OF PROSODY

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin prosōdia < Greek prosōidía tone or accent, modulation of voice, song sung to music, equivalent to prós toward + ōid(ḗ) ode + -ia -y3

RELATED FORMS

pro·sod·ic [pruh-sod-ik] /prəˈsɒd ɪk/, pro·sod·i·cal, adjective

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR PROSODY

As there is in Arithmetic a long division and a short division, so in Prosody is Quantity considered as long or short.
THE COMIC ENGLISH GRAMMAR|UNKNOWN

The appendix includes some fairly specialized content, notably under Numerals and Prosody.
A LATIN GRAMMAR FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES|GEORGE M. LANE

However—the Prosody and Serpent lectures are just finishing off and then I shall come to see you in the morning!
HORTUS INCLUSUS|JOHN RUSKIN

Prosody, the song of angels, and no earthly or inglorious theme.
RETROSPECTION AND INTROSPECTION|MARY BAKER EDDY

4 June 2019

psithurism

noun

The sound of wind in the trees and rustling of leaves.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

Origin

An adaptation of the Ancient Greek ψιθύρισµα (psithurisma) or ψιθυρισµός (psithurismos), from ψιθυρίζω (psithurizō, “I whisper”), from ψίθυρος (psithuros, “whispering”, “slanderous”).
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license

3 June 2019

lambent

[lam-buh nt]

adjective

running or moving lightly over a surface:
lambent tongues of flame.
dealing lightly and gracefully with a subject; brilliantly playful:
lambent wit.
softly bright or radiant:
a lambent light.

Origin of lambent

1640–50; Latin lambent- (stem of lambēns ) lapping, present participle of lambere to lick, wash (said of water or fire); akin to lap3; see -ent

Related forms

lam·bent·ly , adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for lambent

bright, brilliant, flickering, glowing, lustrous, radiant, shinning

Examples from the Web for lambent

Contemporary Examples of lambent

A lambent spotlight shines on each individual in his portraits, reminding the world of their forgotten existence.
The Daily Beast logo
Ghosts of the Sahara
Lizzie Crocker
April 9, 2011

Historical Examples of lambent

Just as we were parting at the door, Helen turned full on me her great, lambent eyes.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark

A sudden tremor seemed to shake the lambent flame that had lured him on.
Flip: A California Romance
Bret Harte

Venus flamed a lambent disk of pale saffron, low over the horizon.
The Octopus
Frank Norris

Their eyes are luminous and lambent, but it is a melancholy light.
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIV, May 1852, Vol. IV
Various

2 June 2019

pabulum (def 1).

[pab-yuh-luh m]

noun

something that nourishes an animal or vegetable organism; food; nutriment.

material for intellectual nourishment.

pablum(def 2).

noun

trite, naive, or simplistic ideas or writings; intellectual pap. Bland or insipid intellectual matter, entertainment, etc.

RELATED WORDS
food, support, nutriment, diet, sustenance, fuel, nutrient

ORIGIN OF PABULUM

1670–80; < Latin pābulum food, nourishment, equivalent to pā(scere ) to feed (akin to food) + -bulum noun suffix of instrument Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR PABULUM (def 1).

The pabulum seemed to be of vegetable origin, though varieties of it had a peculiar flesh-like flavor.
ETIDORHPA OR THE END OF EARTH.|JOHN URI LLOYD

Everybody thinks he can teach English literature, and the public doesnt care particularly: it takes its pabulum largely on trust.
THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF LAFCADIO HEARN, VOLUME 2|ELIZABETH BISLAND

To remove the leaves and fallen twigs is to withdraw much of the pabulum upon which the tree was destined to feed.
MAN AND NATURE|GEORGE P. MARSH

Still more would it be of interest to discover what, if any, changes were wrought in the pabulum , or fluid generally.
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT, NO. 643, APRIL 28, 1888|VARIOUS EXAMPLE (DEF 2)

But what sort of pabulum was it that the German Press served up for the consumption of its readers in pre-War days? Was it not the worst virulent poison imaginable? Was not pacifism in its worst form inoculated into our people at a time when others were preparing slowly but surely to pounce upon Germany?
CHAPTER 10: CAUSES OF THE COLLAPSE FIRST VOLUME: AN ACCOUNTING MEIN KAMPF (Ford translation) Adolf Hitler

1 June 2019

Juvenalian

Juvenalian satire, named for the writings of the Roman satirist Juvenal (late first century – early second century AD), is more contemptuous and abrasive than the Horatian. Juvenal disagreed with the opinions of the public figures and institutions of the Republic and actively attacked them through his literature. “He utilized the satirical tools of exaggeration and parody to make his targets appear monstrous and incompetent” (Podzemny).[34] Juvenal satire follows this same pattern of abrasively ridiculing societal structures. Juvenal also, unlike Horace, attacked public officials and governmental organizations through his satires, regarding their opinions as not just wrong, but evil.

Following in this tradition, Juvenalian satire addresses perceived social evil through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule. This form is often pessimistic, characterized by the use of irony, sarcasm, moral indignation and personal invective, with less emphasis on humor. Strongly polarized political satire can often be classified as Juvenalian.

Contemporary example

Dead Kennedys were noted for the harshness of their lyrics, which generally combined biting Juvenalian social satire while expressing a staunchly left-wing view of contemporary America.
Dead Kennedys
Wikipedia.org

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