The title of today's blog is probably an oxymoron since "statuvolism" means: 'A state of trance brought about by one's own efforts; self-hypnosis' (OED). I had a trip to the BBC and was totally entranced by the control room -…
DelJuly 29, 2014
This should have been an easy one, but by the time I'd finished with another advisory day, there wasn't much time for snapping. I therefore bring you a rather dull example of "cyclism": 'The action or activity of cycling; (enthusiasm…
DelJuly 27, 2014
When I first met MisterMac (25 years ago!), my vocabulary increased as I acquired new words that are only used north of the border. One of these was "peely-wally", so it was a real trip down memory lane to see…
DelJuly 26, 2014
An "alphin" is: 'In the early game of chess: each of four pieces able to move two squares diagonally, jumping over the middle square. hist. in later use' (OED). I wasn't really sure what I was looking for today, as…
DelJuly 25, 2014
For those expecting a prog rock pic for today, prepare for disappointment. "Prog" also means 'To watch or spy on', (OED) and that is exactly what Will and I were doing. Mr C and I were doing a dusk 'til…
DelJuly 24, 2014
There's only one word in this picture and I think it is an excellent choice for the "mot juste': 'The precisely appropriate word or expression', OED. Day #202 of a 365 project, where the daily pic is informed by the OED…
DelJuly 23, 2014
I was in the splendid company of the wonderful Rathbands FRPSs today as I took a foray into the unknown territory of nature photography. At post shoot drinks, it would have been rather yobbish of me to ask if anyone…
DelJuly 22, 2014
I never knew that "aficionado" meant: 'An amateur bullfighter' (OED). Admittedly this meaning is now defunct, but even the second meaning has tones of bull-fighting. There just weren't enough hours in the day to seek out bull fights, so I…
DelJuly 21, 2014
Great afternoon on the Bleeding London walk 'Stuart Walks Embankment' exploring some of the archways and alleyways on the north side of the river. These splendid gates lead to the stage door of the Savoy theatre and what better way…
DelJuly 20, 2014
Anyone expecting this rather paltry bag of nibbles to be the prelude to a feast on which to “franch” (‘intr. To feed greedily (on). Also trans.: to devour’, OED) would have been deeply disappointed. Day #198 of a 365 project,…
DelJuly 19, 2014
“Niobe”: ‘An inconsolably bereaved woman, a weeping woman. Also in extended use’ (OED). As soon as I spotted the distinctive orange bucket, I knew I had today’s word in the bag! Day #197 of a 365 project, where the daily…
DelJuly 18, 2014
I was wearing the towel as a “moab” (‘A kind of hat shaped like a turban’, OED) first thing this morning to dry my hair, but in these temperatures, I find a straw hat to be the more comfortable headgear.…
DelJuly 17, 2014
A “Coney dog” is: ‘A type of hot dog topped with chilli con carne (without beans), raw onion, and mustard’ (OED). A bit of word association today: (1) Sunrise to sun to hot to hot-dog to Coney dog. (2) Grass…
DelJuly 16, 2014
I’m sure that a “philosophunculist” (‘A petty or insignificant philosopher’, OED) would use clichés. And if I’d paid more attention to the clichés, such as ‘You get what you pay for’, I would have bought a decent kettle, rather than…
DelJuly 15, 2014
In the light of yesterday’s victory, it is not surprising that we have a German word today. A “wirt” is: ‘In Germany and German-speaking countries: a pub landlord, an innkeeper’ (OED). And as luck would have it, I’m in a…
DelJuly 14, 2014
In keeping with the World Cup Final, the word of the day is “panier de crabes” - ‘ An arena of fierce or ruthless rivalry; a rat race; (also) a dangerously controversial topic.’ (OED) As it is MisterMac’s birthday, there…
DelJuly 13, 2014
At one time, this house would have been inhabited by a coachman or someone else who had connections to those that were “ethelborn”: ‘Born into a noble family, high-born. Also as n. (with the and pl. concord): the nobility’ (OED).…
DelJuly 12, 2014
A “Savonarola” is‘ A person considered to have the qualities of Girolamo Savonarola, esp. (in early use) a zealous reformer or spiritual leader, or (now more usually) a person who is considered austere, puritanical, or censorious in attitude’ (OED). I…
DelJuly 11, 2014
I’d hate to get involved in a long legal process about plagiarism, so I’ve deliberately shot this out of focus. However, there are a couple of books on this shelf where the authors have definitely “book-padded”: ‘To steal matter from…
DelJuly 10, 2014