Improve your Wordiness

[MJM]

NB: My comments are in quotes

google - World-Wide Web> The World-Wide Web search engine that
indexes the greatest number of web pages - over two billion by
December 2001 and provides a free service that searches this
index in less than a second.

The site's name is apparently derived from "googol", but
note the difference in spelling.

The "Google" spelling is also used in "The Hitchhikers Guide
to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams, in which one of Deep
Thought's designers asks, "And are you not," said Fook,
leaning anxiously foward, "a greater analyst than the
Googleplex Star Thinker in the Seventh Galaxy of Light and
Ingenuity which can calculate the trajectory of every single
dust particle throughout a five-week Dangrabad Beta sand
blizzard?"

googal - The number 10 raised to the power 100 (10100), written out as the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros.

To borrow from anadox:

Paradox - 1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
2. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: “The silence of midnight, to speak truly, though apparently a paradox, rung in my ears” (Mary Shelley).
3. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.
4. A statement contrary to received opinion.


Palindrome - 1. A word, phrase, verse, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward. For example: A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!
2. A segment of double-stranded DNA in which the nucleotide sequence of one strand reads in reverse order to that of the complementary strand.

My favourite palindrome is the name Hannah. I think that's such a great name, for a girl.

Nintendo - Work hard, but in the end it's in Heaven's hands

WTF it didn't come up in the dictionary.com search hahaha

N-Forums - Superior elitist internet community.

elitist - 1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.
2.
1. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.
2. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

[Morgs]

Todays 'words of the hour' come from that closest of close friends in the game of linguistic BS --- contemporary French sociology (yay, wooo!!)

panopticism (n) - an approach or viewpoint that aims to include everything, every theory, in the one view. Unified Field Theory could be called 'panoptic'.

agronomy (n) - application of scientific principles to the growth of crops etc. Basically it's science plus agriculture.

expiate (v) - to make amends, atone for one's sins (not confined to relgious usage).


more later

[Axord]

That's odd. I was under the impression that the translation of "Nintendo" was "Leave luck to heaven." Looking at it again, both seem analogous. Just, one has probably greater accuracy of meaning (by a few hairs), and the other's more lyrical.

[Morgs]

Alright:

the word 'Nintendo' presumably was once written in kanji before the company's popularity reached the western markets

so here it is:

”C“V“°

”C: duty/responsibility; to entrust, pass on to successor

“V: sky, heavens, (by extension: gods)

“°: added as a prefix to other words to mean 'place of, location for' (eg: �H“° = 'food place' = dining hall).

It really does mean 'the place where we leave it to heaven'
I think the whole '~~ and do the best we can' thing is either connotational, or the brainchild of some mad translator.

Ok so that wasn't really English, but whatcha gonna do?

one word:


recalcitrant (n) - stubbornly resistant of authority (sometimes) but usually means 'resistant to guidance, good advice' usually for no apparent reason.

[Jamesc359]

Shirk (Verb) - Avoid (one's assigned duties).

Obviate (Verb) - 1) Do away with. 2) Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening.

Knead (Verb) - To mix and work into a uniform mass, as by folding, pressing, and stretching with the hands: <i>kneading dough.</i>

[Jamesc359]

Lament, Dirge, Threnody (Noun) - A song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person.

Overture (Noun) - Orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio.

Opus (Noun) - A musical work that has been created.

Divertimento (Noun) - A musical composition in several movements; has no fixed form.

Sonata (Noun) - A musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms.

Ballad (Noun) - A narrative song with a recurrent refrain.

Berceuse (Noun) - A quiet song intended to lull a child to sleep.

[Morgs]

I've never seen a topic like this before ! (with SFA3 voice)


turpitude (n) - depravity, (emotionally) base - as in, related to simple and basic emotions or needs. acts of extreme greed or hedonism can be called 'turpitude' (adj is turpitudinous, I think)

vehement (n, adj) - characterised by forcefulness of expression or extreme conviction.

trenchant (n, adj) - forceful, effective, vigourous and (by extention), cutting, scathing etc)

vitriol (n) - a bitterly abusive feeling or expression
(from a CHEM term referring to any type of sulfate. hmmm)

perspicacious (n) - having or showing a capability for penetrating mental discernment. Basically = 'clear minded'.

incredulous (n) - expressive of disbelief. NB: the noun this refers to is the one who DOES the disbelieving, not the one that is unbelievable.

eg: political promises are incredible (lit: without credit)
= political promises are difficult to believe

I am incredulous toward political promises
= I find political promises difficult to believe.


wowser (n) - AUST - a person who enjoys preventing others from doing what they enjoy simply because they enjoy it.


and some useful Australian slang from my heyday:

piff (v) - to throw. Used only when throwing small or light objects over short distances. If the object can potentially cause physical harm (eg a sharpened pencil/small knife etc) it cannot be piffed. Usually this term applies to things like pencil cases, erasers, small textas, bunsen burner hoses, those compact $5 calculators from the newsagent etc.



some CORRECTIONS too, on my previous definitions of 'isometric' and 'isotonic'

isotonic (adj) - an exercise characterised by the placement of the muscle under a (relatively) constant load for the duration of its contraction and expansion.

isometric (adj) - an exercise which involves placing the muscle under a constant load while not actually moving (eg - holding a position in yoga is isometric).

[Morgs]

Behold the usefulness of Latin and French. All the best english words come from Latin and French (some from Greek and Sanskrit, but mainly Latin and French). Further, a number of groovy French words are from Latin anyway (even 'saute' is originally Latin). Who cares if the 'real' roots of English are the Germanic languages, the scholarly influence of Latin makes it the creme de la creme when it comes to threads about wordiness.


vituperate (v) - to violently criticise or put down.
(latin: vituperare)

regicide (v) - to kill a monarchic ruler.
(latin: rex, king + caedere, to kill)

genocide (v) - to kill all members of a particular race
(latin: genus + caedere)

suicide (v) - from latin: sui, the self + caedere)

concur (v) - to agree, side with
(latin: con + currere = to run/move alongside)
the Latin is the literal root of our expression
'to run with it'

[MJM]

Originally posted by Axord
That's odd. I was under the impression that the translation of "Nintendo" was "Leave luck to heaven." Looking at it again, both seem analogous. Just, one has probably greater accuracy of meaning (by a few hairs), and the other's more lyrical.

Eh? I read that definition from "Game Over" and I'm sure I read it in quite a few magazines.

Your definition and my definition is basically along the same lines anyway.

Moving on...

Bore (as in Bored) - To make weary by being dull, repetitive, or tedious.

These forums are the antithesis of 'bore'.

Antithesis - Direct contrast; opposition.

[Morgs]

the offensive words of the old guard:


indolent (adj) - habitually lazy, taken to the avoidance of labour

impudent (adj) - characterised by an offensive boldness

insolent (adj) - presumptuous and insulting in speech or manner

petulant (adj) - unreasonably irritable or bad-tempered, peevish.

reticent (adj) - inclined to keep thoughts, feelings etc to oneself.

peeve (v) - to cause to be annoyed. Usually used in passive voice, eg: I'm a little peeved (ie: I have been peeved).

as a noun means 'a resentful mood' eg: In a peeve


and others

tumult (n) - the din and noise created by a crowd, a disorderly commotion or disturbance. (See 'Smash Brothers Tumult, coming soon)


and perhaps the most important thing ever:

voluptuous (adj) - from Latin 'voluptas' (pleasure) DOES NOT mean a 'full figured' person, but means 'taken to indulging in sensual pleasure. Be careful, people !

[DekuBilly]

"Last night? I was out lucubrating futtocks."

[Axord]

Words taken from "They Have a Word for It" by Howard Rheingold. <small><i>Hugely</i> recommended to any logophile.</small> Examples with a Yamauchi theme.

<b><i>fisselig</i></b> [German adj] Flustered to the point of incompetence.

After Yamauchi-san had ranted and shouted at the game company executive for a solid five minutes, the executive accidentially spilled the questionable contracts all over the floor. When asked for an explaination for this further insult, he replied, "I'm just so <i>fisseliged</i>!"

<b><i>sitike</i></b> [Apache noun] In-laws who are formally committed to help during crises.

Even though he was unconventional, Yamauchi-san took it as a matter of course that he would lend the money to his daughter Fujiko and her husband after their house was destroyed in the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. After all, he was their <i>sitike</i>.

<b><i>saper vivere</i></b> [Italian verb] To know how to handle people diplomatically.

The first quarter financial results were in, and Yamauchi-san hadn't liked the news. He had raged throughout NCL, yelling at everyone he came across, and had actually fired half of R&D1. As Miyamoto-san was quietly re-hiring the demoralized staff, the visiting Denis Dyack happened to remark, "that guy sure doesn't <i>saper vivere</i>, huh?" Denis was quickly stuffed into a closet.

<b><i>mbuki-mvuki</i></b> [Bantu verb] To shuck off clothes in order to dance.

Herein lies the story as to why Miyamoto likes Samba di Amigo so much.

[DekuBilly]

Glad I read your post while in the library, 'xord -- gonna find that book soon as I log out. Good stuff!

[Axord]

Hope you find it, Deku. I was exposed to my first copy in a library, so I suspect that you've got (er, had) a good chance. Me, I've bought two copies on Amazon already, and I'm seriously considering a third (I compulsively give away books that I think people need to read; Deku would have had a copy months ago if I lived in Utah ). To gush about the book a bit more, it's all about concepts that exist in other languages but not in English. Each word has at least a page explaining the word in depth, within the context of its native culture.

Theme ingredient for today: States of mind. Alas, no examples as I'm in a rush.

<i><b>zanshin</b></i> [Japanese noun]: A state of relaxed mental alertness in the face of danger.

<i><b>Feierabend</b></i> [German noun]: Festive frame of mind at the end of the working day.

<i><b>conmoción</b></i> [Spanish noun]: Emotion held in common by a group or gathering.

<i><b>ta</b></i> [Chinese verb]: To understand things and thus take them lightly.

[Jamesc359]

Nothing too fancy, but it might get the topic going again.

Transience (Noun) - The attribute of being brief or fleeting.

Brevity (Noun) - 1) The use of brief expressions. 2) The attribute of being brief or fleeting.

Evanesce (Verb) - Disappear gradually; as of emotions, for example

Unadulterated (Adjective) - Not mixed with impurities.

<i>While referring to his newly devised scheme, Wild E. Coyote said: "[Its] pure unadulterated brilliance!"</i>

Warp (Verb) - Nautical. To move (a vessel) by hauling on a line that is fastened to or around a piling, anchor, or pier.

Could this be part of the idea for Star Trek's Warp Drive? Somebody (Gene I think) did say they wanted the Enterprise to be stretched like an elastic band upon going to warp. Shit... I'm a dork.

:looks around:
Oh, wait were all dorks here

[Axord]

<a href="http://www.americandialect.org/">Words of the year</a>.

[ChE guy]

Callow (adj.) - Lacking adult maturity or experience; immature: a callow young man.

Ersatz (adj.) - Being an imitation or a substitute, usually an inferior one; artificial: ersatz coffee made mostly of chicory.

[Axord]

Thanks for that last, ChE. Those two have been words I've been too lazy to look up, but come across from time to time. Informal definitions can be dangeous--I was completely surprised by "callow."

What? Eh? No, sorry, no words from me...

[fallout]

After a long day of walking at E3, Brenden's calves needed some chirapsia.

I'll have you know Mr. Whitney, my legs have been described as tree trunks. It takes quite a lot before they require any chirapsia.

Heh, seriously though, nice to see you know a little about our little VCD (ad)venture... hmmm ...

... and hence my incident with that monopod ...

::cough::

... hey! Look over there!

::runs::

[Sergenth]

abrogate - To abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority.

This word popped into my head today, yet I didn't know what it meant. It seems similar to "abrade" or abrasive, which if you are talking about abrasive paper... you use thatto abolish rough spots.

bolus -- A soft mass of chewed food within the mouth or alimentary canal.

Basically... a bump in a tube.

Erythrocyte -- a mature blood cell that contains hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissues;

Thrombocyte -- commonly called a "platelet". A cellular component essential to blood clotting. Platelets are not entire functioning cells though.

Leukocyte -- Any type of "white blood cell" that engulfs and digests bacteria and fungi; an important part of the body's defense system. There are many types of white blood cells.

Megakaryocyte -- A type of cell in the bone marrow that will form 3-4,000 platelets from it's cytoplasm. They are BIG, compared to other cells, hence the "mega".

[Underwood]

Food - n; good.

[Z64freak]

Originally posted by Dinaroozie
"Don't mind me, I'm off to masticate my comestibles!"

masticate (v) - to chew.

comestibles (v) - food, basically.

~ Isaac

You forgot condiments, ala "Do you use condiments when you masticate?"

condiments - Food accessories, ie: salt, ketchup, mayo....

Superfluous - exceeding what is needed; excess; extra; not needed; unnecessary

[The Blue Yoshi]

=D

I just spend half an hour an grabbed all those words. My English teacher does word of the day, each and every day. She is going to HATE me tomorrow. ^_^

Mer·o·vin·gi·an ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mr-vnj-n, -jn)

A Frankish ruling dynasty (c. A.D. 450-751) founded by Merovech (fl. fifth century) and brought to prominence by Clovis I.

neo

- \Ne"o-\ [Gr. ? youthful, new. See New.] A prefix meaning new, recent, late; and in chemistry designating specifically that variety of metameric hydrocarbons which, when the name was applied, had been recently classified, and in which at least one carbon atom in connected directly with four other carbon atoms; -- contrasted with normal and iso-; as, neopentane; the neoparaffins. Also used adjectively.

trin·i·ty ( P ) Pronunciation Key (trn-t)
n. pl. trin·i·ties
A group consisting of three closely related members. Also called triunity.
Trinity Theology. In most Christian faiths, the union of three divine persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one God. Also called Trine.
Trinity Trinity Sunday.

More MAtrix stuff later. ^_^:bgpikmin:

[The Blue Yoshi]

tsuris (TSOOR-is) noun, also, tsouris

Trouble; aggravation; woe.

[From Yiddish tsures, plural of tsure (trouble), from Hebrew sara (trouble).]

"Given the family's tsuris and tantrums, the wandering spirit and the collision of time and all those loose ends, things don't really get more dramatic than Saul's ineffectual slap in the face." Alvin Klein; Zigzagging Through a Cover-Up; The New York Times; Oct 26, 2003.

"If not for a little scheduling tsuris, we might have seen the ultimate New York comedy: Woody Allen directing Barbra Streisand. Spotlight Allen directing Streisand? There's a Laugh; The Toronto Star (Canada); Jul 2, 1999.

This week's theme: words borrowed from Yiddish.


schmaltz (shmahlts) noun, also schmalz

1. Exaggerated sentimentality, especially in art, music, movies, etc.

2. Fat or grease, especially chicken fat.

[From Yiddish shmalts (rendered fat, sentimentality), from Middle High German smalz. Ultimately from the same Indo-European root (mel- : soft) as words such as malt, melt, mollify, smelt, and enamel.]

"McCartney's piano playing is Vegas-lounge schmaltz." Graham Reid; The Beatles: Let It Be ... Naked; New Zealand Herald (Auckland, New Zealand); Dec 13, 2003.

"Don't worry, Miracle (on 34th Street) fans. The schmaltz has been left intact. The new version isn't better than the original or even as good, but it's awfully entertaining -- for those of us who like that sort of thing." Julie Salamon; Film: Survival in China; Wall Street Journal (New York); Nov 17, 1994.

McGuffin (muh-GUF-in) noun, also MacGuffin

A device that helps propel the plot in a story but is of little
importance in itself.

cineaste (SIN-ee-ast) noun, also cineast

1. One with deep interest in movies and moviemaking.

2. A filmmaker, especially a director or a producer.

"When he (movie director Shin Sang-ok) was released, he was presented
to Kim Jong Il [Leder of North Korea - Yoshi], a fanatical cineaste who keeps a library of fifteen
thousand films and had for years been directing his own propaganda
movies."
Philip Gourevitch; Alone in the Dark Letter From Korea; The New Yorker;
Sep 8, 2003.

orrery (OR-uh-ree) noun

A mechanical model of the solar system that represents the relative
motions of the planets around the sun.

cadogan (kuh-DUG-uhn) noun

A lidless teapot, inspired by Chinese wine pots, that is
filled from the bottom.



Oxfordian (oks-FORD-ee-uhn) noun

1. The theory attributing the authorship of William Shakespeare's works
to Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford.

2. A person who believes in this theory.

derby (DUR-bee, British: DAHR-bee) noun

1. An annual race event for three-year-old horses, held near London,
England.

2. Any of various similar horse races, e.g. Kentucky Derby.

3. Any race or other contest open to all.

4. A stiff felt hat with a round crown and a narrow brim.

Yarborough (YAHR-bur-o) noun

In a card game, a hand in which no card is above a nine.

epistrophe (i-PIS-truh-fee) noun

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or
sentences.

[From Greek epistrophe, from epi- (upon) + strophe (turning).]

"Epistrophe is also a Hillary specialty. That's the ending of phrases
with the same term. "If women are healthy and educated, their families
will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will
flourish. If women have a chance to work ... their families will
flourish." Obviously, Mrs. Clinton and her speech writer, Lissa
Muscatine, decided to push alliterative epistrophe."
William Safire, First Lady's, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct 1, 1995.


bariatrics (bar-ee-A-triks) noun

A branch of medicine concerned with obesity.

materia medica (muh-TEE-ree-uh MED-i-kuh) noun

1. Substances used in preparation of medicines.

2. A branch of medical science concerned with the study of drugs, their
origins, properties, preparation, administration, etc.

contraindicate (kon-truh-IN-di-kayt) verb tr.

To indicate against (an otherwise suitable medical treatment) due
to a condition or circumstance. For example, the use of aspirin is
contraindicated in babies due to the danger of Reye's syndrome.

[From Middle English contra- (against) + indicate (to point out).]

"Unless proof of vaccination with rubella vaccine or laboratory evidence
of immunity is available, rubella vaccine is recommended for all adults,
unless contraindicated."
Rebecca Lorenzo-Castillo; Men Over Forty; The Manila Times (Philippines);
Dec 13, 2003.

Enjoy. ^_^

[Axord]

<b>feracious</b>: Fruitful; producing abundantly.

[Axord]

<b>onomastics</b>: the study of names

<b>callipygian</b>: having well-shaped buttocks.

<b>saxicolous </b>: Growing on rocks.

<b>pikuach nefesh</b>: roughly translated as "regard for human life." (Hebrew)

<b>tzorchei tzibbur</b>: "the needs of the community." (Hebrew)

<b>Cawacnenitan</b>: "rising people" the name the Arapaho use to distinguish themselves from euro-americans. Nihansan gives them this name.

<b>fiosachd</b>: "the Knowing". "...covers a wide range of subtle manifestations--some physical, some mental--which most people viewed as extrodinary." (Gaelic)

<b>hypermammiferous</b>: Abnormally large breasts.

<b>kyokuron</b>: extreme logic. (Japanese)

<b>nephelococcygia</b>: the simple, dreamy art of cloud-watching.

<b>Wuwei</b>: in Taoist thought, is the doctrine of nonaction, or non-purposive action.

[MJM]

Axord: Freaky post-rate individual, posts more than his "average" posts per day suggests. Adds to rules list, a freak

MJM: 1500-club member, always has mind boggled by Kamek's post count, and always "around" 300 posts behind Freaky Axord, also adds to rules list

The Blue Yoshi: Lots of time spent looking for words to post, posts abundant amount of words in single post, is Blue and has long reptilian tongue, friend of Mario

fallout: N-Forums admin. Sometimes has sore legs. Makes the rules list, Hails from "Canadia"

Silicon Knights: 1. Forum moderator, sexy model, frequently *bitch slapped*

2. Developer of Nintendo games

3. Knights made of Silicon

generaltao: Lover of all things Nintendo, Loveable N-Sider EIC, always challenging people (he must have challenge issues ), frequent poster, also hails from "Canadia"

Dean: N-Forums admin, sometimes ignores using nice grammar, frequently tells everyone what he's up to, VCD/DVD Producer, Cameraman/Editing, has massive Nintendo mp3 collection, also hails from "Canadia"

cheeky: this post

stupid: this post

--

Next!

[Axord]

::laughs::

I'd amend that to "pretends to but just generally procrastinates about" contributing to rules list.

Don't worry MJM, you'll easily surpass my postcount during the month(s) I'm in Europe. ;)


=====

And now, some swear phrases in Mandarin.

<b>Tai-kong suo-yo de shing-chiou doh sai-jin wu di pigu</b>: Stuff all the planets in the universe up my ass!

<b>Huh choo-shung huh tza-jiao duh!</b>: Filthy fornicators of livestock!

<b>Nee ta ma duh. Tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si!</b>: Fuck everyone in the universe to death!