Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Gabfest and TR

avuncular
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈvəŋ-kyə-lər\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin avunculus maternal uncle — more at uncle
Date: 1831
1 : of or relating to an uncle
2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality

taxidermy
Pronunciation: \ˈtak-sə-ˌdər-mē\
Function: noun
Etymology: tax- + derm- + 2-y
Date: 1820
: the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals and especially vertebrates

I heard the first word on Slate's Political Gabfest Podcast and liked it.

I heard the second word a few weeks ago while visiting Theodore Roosevelt's birthplace on East 20th Street in New York. Young TR was fascinated by taxidermy.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Words that I want to use in conversation

red herring
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1: a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color
2 [from the practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs] : something that distracts attention from the real issue



didactic
Pronunciation: \dī-ˈdak-tik, də-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek didaktikos, from didaskein to teach
Date: 1658
1 a: designed or intended to teach b: intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment
2: making moral observations

These are some words that I wanted to memorize a few months ago but never did...

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

New York Documentary and Dad

disparate
Main Entry: dis·pa·rate
Pronunciation: \ˈdis-p(ə-)rət, di-ˈsper-ət, -ˈspa-rət\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English desparat, from Latin disparatus, past participle of disparare to separate, from dis- + parare to prepare — more at pare
Date: 15th century
1 : containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
2 : markedly distinct in quality or character

ec·u·men·i·cal
Pronunciation: \ˌe-kyə-ˈme-ni-kəl, -kyü-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumenē the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house — more at vicinity
Date: circa 1587
1: worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application
2 a: of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches b: promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation

The first word was used multiple times to describe the people of New York in a documentary that I watched. The second was a word that my dad used when we were having a discussion about religion.

Bonus word that goes with ecumenical:

cath·o·lic
Pronunciation: \ˈkath-lik, ˈka-thə-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English catholik, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French catholique, from Late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, general, from katholou in general, from kata by + holos whole — more at cata-, safe
Date: 14th century
1 aoften capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the church universal boften capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it ccapitalized : roman catholic
2: comprehensive , universal ; especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests "a catholic taste in music"

Who knew?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Words in Obama's book

glib
Pronunciation: \ˈglib\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): glib·ber; glib·best
Etymology: probably modification of Low German glibberig slippery
Date: 1584
1 a: marked by ease and informality : nonchalant b: showing little forethought or preparation : offhand c: lacking depth and substance : superficial
2archaic : smooth , slippery
3: marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful

jerry–built
Function: adjective
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1869
1 : built cheaply and unsubstantially
2 : carelessly or hastily put together

These words were enjoyed while reading Obama's book "Dreams from My Father". In this well written memoir, Obama recounts some of his experiences while growing up in Hawaii, Indonesia, New York, Kenya, and Chicago. I was moved by the stories of his struggle to understand race and the other experiences that he had with his broken family. I recommend this book to everyone because it gives an inside look at the man that will be our President for the next four years.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Maxwell Words

Words from Neil A. Maxwell talks:
mirth
Pronunciation: \ˈmərth\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English myrgth, from myrge merry — more at merry
Date: before 12th century
: gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter
vaunt
Pronunciation: \ˈvȯnt, ˈvänt\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vanter, from Late Latin vanitare, frequentative of Latin *vanare, from vanus vain
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
: to make a vain display of one's own worth or attainments : brag
transitive verb
: to call attention to pridefully and often boastfully

Monday, January 12, 2009

New words inspired by The Met and Podcasts

coup d'état
Variant(s): or coup d'etat \ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌ, -də-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural coups d'état or coups d'etat \-ˈtä(z), -ˌtä(z)\
Etymology: French, literally, stroke of state
Date: 1646
: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics ; especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group
Dulcet
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English doucet, from Anglo-French, from duz, douz sweet, from Latin dulcis; perhaps akin to Greek glykys sweet
Date: 14th century
1 : sweet to the taste
2 : pleasing to the ear "dulcet tones"
3 : generally pleasing or agreeable "a dulcet smile"
Alabaster
Main Entry: al·a·bas·ter
Pronunciation: \ˈa-lə-ˌbas-tər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English alabastre, from Anglo-French albastre, from Latin alabaster vase of alabaster, from Greek alabastros
Date: 14th century
1 : a compact fine-textured usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments
2 : a hard calcite or aragonite that is translucent and sometimes banded

I saw some fine Egyptian alabaster at the Met the other day. I liked the name and the look of Alabaster... quite dulcet

I heard the other words on podcasts and liked them. I am all about podcasts lately and some of my favorites are the BBC World News, Slate Political Gabfest, NPR's Fresh Air, BBC's Arts and Ideas Podcast, NPR's All Songs Considered, and many others that are FREE on itunes.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Frick Collection

I have been enjoying getting out to the various museums in New York. This weekend was the Frick Collection on 5th Avenue. Mr. Frick was an extraordinary man who made it big in the Steel boom and then after he made his millions, he collected a very intimate array of beautiful art. This place is a must see in New York.
I was completely taken back by one painting because it is so real in my life. In the below painting Paolo Veronese portrays Hercules choosing Virtue over Vice. I love the details and that he chose Virtue and "a rugged ascent leading to true happiness" Enjoy...

http://www.oceansbridge.com/oil-paintings/product/33720/allegoryofvirtueandvice1580/f52fdfe2bda6a9d9e0beeb677a19bcdf
Allegory of Virtue and Vice 1580



Paolo Veronese (c. 1528 - 1588)
Allegory of Virtue and Vice (The Choice of Hercules), c.1580
oil on canvas
86 1/4 in. x 66 3/4 in. (219.08 cm x 169.55 cm)
Henry Clay Frick Bequest.


At a crossroads, Hercules encountered Vice, who offered a path of ease and pleasure, and Virtue, who indicated a rugged ascent leading to true happiness — a moral lesson underlined by the motto on the entablature at upper left: [HO]NOR ET VIRTUS/[P]OST MORTE FLORET (Honor and Virtue Flourish after Death). The long talons of Vice have ripped the hero’s stocking. A jagged knife leans against the breast of the sphinx supporting her throne.