A trip down memory lane (that's an idiom - not a Bleeding London street) as the RPS meeting took me to Birmingham, which has changed beyond all recognition. I've got to be honest and say that there is absolutely nothing…
DelSeptember 27, 2014
I suppose as today's pic features both Sarah and Georg, it's not really a "monopolylogue" ('A dramatic entertainment in which a single performer takes the part of all the characters involved. Also in extended use', OED), but rather a duopolylogue.…
DelSeptember 25, 2014
I opted for the later use meaning of "oliprance": 'In early use: pomp, ostentation, pride, vanity. In later use: merrymaking, jollity; an instance of this' (OED). It was really good fun to catch up with those superstars - Sarah and…
DelSeptember 24, 2014
A pity Penny isn't here otherwise a snap of her at the bus-stop would have done the trick, for today's word was "pennyweighting", although it actually means: 'The theft of jewellery, typically through sleight of hand substitution of fake stones…
DelSeptember 23, 2014
"Demogorgon" - 'Mythol. (The name of) a powerful and terrible god or demon, associated with hell or the underworld' (OED). Now I'm not suggesting for one minute that this young lady is a demogorgon … but she is at Heathrow…
DelSeptember 22, 2014
Coffee fit for an emperor! Today's word was "imperial purple", which means: 'Cloth of (or trimmed with) a rich crimson or purple colour; spec. (with the) a robe or garment made of this, worn as the distinguishing dress of Roman…
DelSeptember 21, 2014
"Obnoxity" - 'An obnoxious, objectionable, or offensive person or thing; an object of aversion. Also: obnoxiousness’, (OED). I'm sure this is a perfectly nice family - ordinarily - but I totally disapproved of the way in which the wrappings from…
DelSeptember 20, 2014
There isn't much in the way of "eatertainment" ('An experience which combines eating with entertainment; spec. the sector of the restaurant industry comprising restaurant chains based on an entertainment theme, such as sport, music, or film.’, OED) in the depths…
DelSeptember 19, 2014
Ordinarily, a word like "pluvian" ('Rain-giving, rain-bringing; rainy. In early use chiefly literary in Pluvian Jove, Pluvian Jupiter', OED) would be easy - step outside front door and press shutter. Today, however, there was no sign of anything vaguely pluvian…
DelSeptember 18, 2014
Penny and I had a wonderful lunch to celebrate her Associateship. It would have been most impolite whilst feasting and imbibing to enquire as to whether there was a "quondam" ('The former holder of an office or position; (Oxford Univ.)…
DelSeptember 17, 2014
"Hondle" means 'intr. In Jewish usage: to haggle, bargain. Also trans. with direct speech as object. Cf. handel v.’ (OED). I was in the wrong part of town for Jewish usage, but I did find these hubble-bubbles on Forset St…
DelSeptember 16, 2014
Oh they'll make a natural history photographer out of me yet! I needed a pic to fulfil today's word, which was "abnormous" ('Originally: irregular; exaggerated; misshapen. In later use also (humorous, chiefly U.S.): enormous', OED) and so I paused to…
DelSeptember 15, 2014
At first sight, Clapham North underground station might not seem relevant to acrophobia: 'Fear of being in high places’ (OED). But I definitely suffer from acrophobia when I have to travel on the lines that are deep beneath the bowels…
DelSeptember 14, 2014
Friends bearing gifts of Taittinger are always welcome … and what better "orexigenic" ('That stimulates appetite for food; of or relating to the stimulation of appetite for food', OED) substance is there? Day #252 of a 365 project, where the…
DelSeptember 13, 2014
Today I was looking for a "pandal", which is: 'In South Asia (orig. in southern areas): a shed, booth, shelter, or triumphal arch, esp. for temporary use (at a festival, etc.); a marquee; spec. (among Hindus and Parsees) a tent…
DelSeptember 12, 2014
"Tropicopolitan" means: 'Belonging to or inhabiting the whole of the tropics, or tropical regions generally' (OED). There wasn't a huge amount of choice for this - a carton of Tropicana was one option, a can of bug spray another or…
DelSeptember 11, 2014
I broke my 'no squirrel' rule as I thought a natural history picture would bode well for the day in store. Squirrel Nutkin was raiding the rubbish bins around South Ken as I was waiting for Penny, to take her…
DelSeptember 10, 2014
I didn't know that a "moonraker" was: 'A native of the county of Wiltshire, in England' (OED). I knew the term applied to folk who told the excise men they were raking the moon out of the pond, when they…
DelSeptember 9, 2014
Hmmm, I got into a bit of a muddle with today's word. A "Phaser" is 'A device for changing or controlling the phase of an oscillation or waveform; a phase shifter', whereas I always thought it was a device used…
DelSeptember 8, 2014