Proxime accessit" is an adjective meaning: 'Judged to be next in merit to the actual winner of a prize, scholarship, etc. Also as n.: a person so judged; a runner-up. In extended use: a person who or thing which is…
DelApril 26, 2015
Well who would have thought that I could actually find a picture that was vaguely relevant to today's word, which was "apple-john", which is: 'A kind of apple said to keep for two years and having after this time a…
DelApril 24, 2015
"Honorificabilitudinity" means: 'Honourableness.’, (OED). And the local honourableness honours go to the Admiral Codrington. Day #113 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is informed by the OED word of the day.
DelApril 23, 2015
We had our second meeting of The Bookworm Club this evening and with Susan Sontag on the agenda, it was clear that the debate was going to be perfervid ('Very fervid; ardent, impassioned', (OED)). And indeed it was, so I…
DelApril 22, 2015
The Chelsea Farmer's Market is a fine example of "urbanisation" - 'The influence of rural society on urban life, or vice versa; rural urbanisation', (OED). Each time I visit it, the rural aspects seem to diminish, but the name is still…
DelApril 20, 2015
A "busby' is: 'A kind of large bushy wig. Also (more fully): busby wig. Cf. buzz-wig at buzz n.3 1. Now rare.’, (OED). Now I'm not for one moment suggesting that our revered President is wearing a wig, but he…
DelApril 19, 2015
"Peri-urban" means: 'Immediately adjoining a city or conurbation, esp. in Africa.’, (OED) African violets are the closest thing to Africa that I'm going to find in darkest Gloucestershire, but these were taken at Waitrose, which is on the edge of town…
DelApril 18, 2015
When it comes to papal elections, I don't have a say, but if I did, JR would get my vote. Whether he's really a "papabile" is a moot point, where a papabile means: 'R.C. Church. A prelate likely or worthy…
DelApril 17, 2015
Preparing my talk for the DVJ's symposium on War Photography (although I'm talking about the language rather than the photos) was not dissimilar to a scene from the Keystone Kops. "Keystone" - 'attrib. Designating a film produced by Keystone Studios,…
DelApril 16, 2015
Grown men playing games on mobile phones - "adultescent" ('An adult who has retained the interests, behaviour, or lifestyle of adolescence.') Day #105 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is informed by the OED word of the day.
DelApril 15, 2015
On seeing this, MisterMac became positively "subrident" ('Characterized by or accompanied by a smile or smiles; wearing a smile; smiling', OED). On realising that it wasn't an early birthday present, he became rather unsubrident. I have to admit that it…
DelApril 14, 2015
"Lovelify" 'To make lovely; to beautify.’ (OED). Bless … Day #103 of the second 365 project, where the daily pic is informed by the OED word of the day.
DelApril 13, 2015
And another toughie … whoever is setting the word of the day this year is challenging my lateral thinking. Today's word is "Mazeppa", which means 'A person likened in some way to Mazeppa, esp. in being the unwilling rider of…
DelApril 12, 2015
We went to a wonderful exhibition this evening People on the Line - a one night only collaboration of Viennese photographers. I think they're all amateurs, but you wouldn't know that from the standard of work. Anyway, the exhibition was…
DelApril 11, 2015
The sun was shining, my book was beckoning and so it was a lazy day photographically speaking. Just about managed to raise myself from the sun bed to snap the herb garden and all those remedies that would cure any…
DelApril 10, 2015
No, not a Greek replacement for MisterMac ... The hotel we're staying in has rather a nice old piano and so finding a pic for "misterioso" ('Music. As a musical direction: in a mysterious manner; in a manner suggestive of…
DelApril 9, 2015
Unfortunately, in the absence of Frankie Howerd, a proper "pillaloo" ('Expressing distress, sorrow, or grief: ‘oh!’, ‘alas!’, ‘woe!’, etc.’ (OED)) was not possible. But we attended a wine tasting and one of the wines did give cause for some mild…
DelApril 8, 2015
A "savage man" means: 'In outdoor shows, pageants, masques, etc.: a person dressed in greenery, representing a wild man of the woods; = savage n.1 4a. Cf. green man n. 1a. Now hist.’ (OED). MisterMac and I have decided to…
DelApril 7, 2015