Word of the Day...

**blunthead** · January 30th, 2012

glam rock (ˈglam ˈräk) noun, extravagantly showy rock and roll music; popular music usually played on electronically amplified instruments and characterized by a persistent heavily accented beat, repetition of simple phrases, and often country, folk, and blues elements.

swan (ˈswän) verb, to wander aimlessly or idly.

lamé (la-mey) noun, an ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

Two glam rockers swanned along the sidewalk on roller skates, covered in enough gold lamé to gild the dome of Saint Peter's.

**blunthead** · January 31st, 2012

voir dire (ˈvwär-ˈdir, ˈwär-) noun, a preliminary examination to determine the competency of a witness or juror.

When Jo waved to him, he ran his palm over his thinning gray hair and shot a look back at his watch. "I have voir dire starting in ten minutes," he said.

**Haunted** · January 31st, 2012

idoneous \ahy-DOH-nee-uhs\, adjective:

Appropriate; fit; suitable; apt.

As far as benefices are concerned no one could be more idoneous, fitting or suitable than Martin, since he is an Anglican clergyman.
-- Patrick O'Brian, The Truelove

It would hardly be possible to apply less idoneous adjectives to it than Watson's reiterated "wailing" and "haunting."
-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone

Idoneous is derived from the Latin word idōneus which meant "suitable."

**blunthead** · February 2nd, 2012

opprobrium (o-pro-brē-əm) noun, something that brings disgrace; public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious; contempt, reproach

Do you need my moral opprobrium in order to complete your psychological autopsy?

**Haunted** · February 5th, 2012

pied \pahyd\, adjective:

1. Having patches of two or more colors, as various birds and other animals.
2. Wearing pied clothing.

"Lashing his tail, he followed the pied mare reluctantly into the cave. Its upper walls and ceiling clustered with glowing lichens and fungi in rose, ghost blue, saffron, and plum."
-- Meredith Ann Pierce, Dark Moon

The fact of the pied birds being pursued and persecuted with much clamour by the other ravens of the island was the chief cause which led Brünnich to conclude that they were specifically distinct.
-- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man

Pied, like the pastry pie, is related to the Latin word for magpie, pīca. Magpies have black and white

**Haunted** · February 12th, 2012

Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy)

a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

**blunthead** · February 13th, 2012

trattoria (ˌträ-tə-ˈrē-ə) noun, a usually small Italian restaurant.

Outside a Mediterranean trattoria, a man in rags sat against the wall, holding a cardboard sign. "Will take verbal abuse for small change."

**Haunted** · February 15th, 2012

vilipend \vil-UH-pend\, verb:

1. To regard or treat as of little value or account.
2. To vilify; depreciate.

She will seize her opportunity to vilipend me, and I shall be condemned by the kind of court-martial which hurries over the forms of a trial to sign the execution-warrant that makes it feel like justice.
-- George Meredith, The Tragic Comedian

This endeavoured to fit the same mould as Pragmaticus and Melancholicus, but was too pedantic and dull, despite Wharton's use of it to vilipend the parliamentarian astrologer William Lilly.
-- Joad Raymond, The Invention of the Newspaper

Vilipend is derived from the Old French roots vīli meaning vile and pendere meaning to consider, also the root of pensive.

**J.T. Adams** · February 15th, 2012

Corrugate - To shape into folds or parrallel and alternating ridges and grooves.

**Haunted** · February 21st, 2012

morceau \mawr-SOH\, noun:

1. Piece; morsel.
2. An excerpt or passage of poetry or music.

That is easily done; madame is hungry; oblige her with a morceau of that paté and a glass of champagne.
-- Louisa May Alcott, The Portable Louisa May Alcott

unless you are able to provide me with a little morceau of help.
-- Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies

Morceau comes directly from the same French word which is related to the Latin word morsum meaning something bitten off.