And back to the urban environment. As we’ve been relaxing for a few days, MisterMac has given his “cravateer” (‘A person employed to tie cravats or neckties’, OED) the week off. So to fulfil today’s word of the day, a…
DelApril 25, 2014
Some traces of oxymoron in today’s pic. The word of the day is “multipotent”, which means ‘Having much power; very powerful’ (OED). Not only is “Kraft” the german word “power, force, strength”, but it is also rather conveniently the name…
DelApril 23, 2014
It looked as though trying to find an “alveary” (‘A repository, esp. of knowledge or information. Originally as the name of a dictionary encompassing several languages’, OED) was going to be a challenge (although a wine repository would have been…
DelApril 22, 2014
And so to Burgenland aka Weinland and our “hut” which is sans electricity and other mod cons. But this is more than offset by it being in the heart of wine-producing country. The word of the day will be a…
DelApril 21, 2014
The pseudo-psyanka is the egg-shaped thing at the back, for "psyanka" is the word of the day and it means 'An intricately decorated Easter egg of a type traditionally made in Poland and Ukraine, produced by drawing a pattern on…
DelApril 20, 2014
There's a new tagger in town - Stash - and his/her arrival has proven most useful in helping with the word of the day, which is "motze" ('A great deal of money, a fortune; a lucrative or profitable situation', OED).…
DelApril 19, 2014
As I am not in Spain or any other Spanish speaking country, I'm not exactly tripping over Spanish churches and "matracas" ('In Spain and Spanish-speaking countries: a wooden rattle used instead of church bells on Good Friday, and often at…
DelApril 18, 2014
Maundy: ‘Originally (more fully Maundy ceremony): the ceremony of washing the feet of a number of poor people, performed by royal or other eminent people, or by ecclesiastics, on the Thursday before Easter' (OED). So that's the traditional definition, but…
DelApril 17, 2014
Ok, so today's pic is more freak than "phreak" (‘A person who fraudulently uses an electronic device to avoid paying for telephone calls or connections, or to make long-distance calls at cheap rate', OED), but it was the most staggering…
DelApril 16, 2014
Another obsolete word for today (and yet I'm finding these obsolete ones much more interesting than some of those in current usage) - "philoxenist", which means 'A lover of hospitality to strangers' (OED). Interesting that the Greek etymology indicates it…
DelApril 15, 2014
On the phone The dog and bone Having a moan? Or calling Joan? Setting the tone? Or begging a loan? Today’s word of the day was “monorhyme” and the above is an example. For those that want the exact definition,…
DelApril 14, 2014
I have a funny relationship with sculpture - I don't get a lot of it, I don't like quite a lot of it, but every now and again I see one that I absolutely adore. And The Helmsman by Andrew…
DelApril 13, 2014
A "mare's nest" - ‘Originally in to have found (also spied) a mare's nest: to imagine that one has discovered something wonderful, which in fact does not exist. Hence: an illusory discovery, esp. one that is much vaunted and betrays…
DelApril 12, 2014
Today's pic is another antonym - and I know it's a lousy pic, but the bus lurched forward just as I pressed the shutter. However, it fits the bill, so it stays! The word of the day was "perspicacious", which…
DelApril 11, 2014
"Ruritania" - 'allusively. A state or country seen as a setting for romantic adventure and intrigue; a petty state. More generally: any imaginary or hypothetical country' (OED). The mini-windows of Harrods are full of different takes on Ruritania, but…
DelApril 10, 2014
Chelsea boasts any number of blue plaques, which was jolly handy for today's word "agnize" ('To recognise or acknowledge in some capacity', OED). And I learned that there was a lot more than cabs to Joseph Aloysius Hansom. Anyway, as…
DelApril 9, 2014
Today's word is "socius" ('A colleague, an associate; a comrade, a companion', OED). But that is only one definition, and my preferred one is #3 'An individual person regarded as a unit of human society'. And I reckon that Hans…
DelApril 8, 2014
… the neon lights come on. What a wonderful word for today, and what a shame it's another defunct, obsolete word. "Advesperate" means 'To grow dark, to become night' (OED). This is definitely one for the revival list! We should…
DelApril 7, 2014
Until today, I would have thought "remiform" was a double-glazing firm, but it actually means 'Shaped like an oar' (OED). Having spent most of the day at Bleeding London HQ working out routes and planning future adventures, I didn't have…
DelApril 6, 2014