Topic awaiting preservation: Word of the day

Been a while...

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Today's Word:
Fartlek (Noun)



Pronunciation: ['fah(r)t-lek]

Definition 1: An athletic training technique developed in Sweden in the 1930s by the Swedish national coach, Gosta Holmer, comprising alternating periods of intense exercise with periods of less strenuous effort or any workout based on this technique.

Usage 1: An good example of a fartlek is the saltin fartlek, which includes (1) a 10-minute warm-up jog, followed by (2) a 3 minute hard stride followed by a 1-minute jog repeated 6 times, and then finished with (3) a 10 minute warm-down jog. Because it is a borrowed word that appears rather un-English, it has developed no family thus far.

Suggested usage: Although fartleks are workout routines well-suited for any sport, they are most closely associated with running: "Bruce likes to run through 3-4 fartleks every day in preparation for a marathon." However, the alternation of vigorous activity with slower sets the stage for metaphoric manipulation: "Buzzy, you can't study in fartleks; you have to work constantly and continuously on your studies if you are to succeed in school."

Etymology: Today's word is actually the Swedish word for "speed play" based on fart "running, speed" + lek "play." "Fart" is the noun from Swedish fara "go, move," akin to German fahren "travel, journey" and English "fare" as in "fare thee well" or simply "farewell," from Old English faran "to journey, travel." Another derivate of the same root is "ferry" from earlier "ferian." In Greek, the original root emerged as poros "journey," seen lurking in "emporium" from Greek emporion "merchant," someone who did quite a bit of journeying in the days of ancient Greeks. In Latin it emerged in portare "to carry" which we see everywhere in English borrowings: "porter," "portfolio," "import," "deport," "important," and many, many more.


—Dr. Language, yourDictionary.com

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And what? No one followed up? Might as well...

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Today's Word:
Jack-o'-lantern (Noun)

Pronunciation: ['jæk-ê-læn-têrn]

Definition 1: A lantern made from a hollowed pumpkin or other vegetable, with openings representing eyes, nose, and mouth?a symbol of Halloween.

Usage 1: No, the symbol of Halloween in North America does not come from a heavy drinking stingy Irishman, Jack O'Lantern, who supposedly tricked the Devil into turning himself into a coin in an Irish pub. It is the reduction of an old phrase, "jack with a lantern," spelled in a peculiar way. It is currently used as a single noun, so the plural is "jack-o'-lanterns;" that is, "jack" is no longer pluralized as it was in the past.

Suggested usage: The custom of putting out carved vegetables on Halloween did originate with the Catholic Irish. In Ireland, they placed large, carved turnips and rutabagas with candles inside in their windows to ward off the spirits wandering around on the eve of All Saints Day. They switched to pumpkins when they immigrated to America. If you live in North America, you should have a jack-o'-lantern on your front porch for Halloween. (Don't forget to buy an extra pumpkin for the pie.)

Etymology: Jack-with-a-lantern originally meant simply "man with a lantern" (cf. "every man, jack of them"), and referred to night watchmen. Its structure is analogical with that of "will-o'-the-wisp", which originally meant only "man (named Will) with a wisp." A wisp was a whisk, a bundle of broomstraw sometimes used as a torch in days gone by. "Will-o'-the-wisp" and "jack-o'-lantern" later were used to refer to a then scary phenomenon which the Romans called ignis fatuus "crazy fire," a pale mysterious fire occasionally seen over marshy areas (probably swamp gases burning). Will-o'-the-wisp was presumed to be a sprite carrying a wisp of a torch across the swamps. Jack-o'-lantern was assumed to be a man with a lantern.


?Dr. Language, yourDictionary.com

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Cell 617

enormity (I didn't realize there was a controversy over the usage of this word)

Main Entry: enor·mi·ty
Pronunciation: i-'nor-m&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Date: 15th century
1 : an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act <the enormities of state power -- Susan Sontag> <other enormities too juvenile to mention -- Richard Freedman>

2 : the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous; especially : great wickedness <the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich -- G. A. Craig>

3 : the quality or state of being huge : IMMENSITY

4 : a quality of momentous importance

Usage: Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit enormity to the meaning "great wickedness." Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the expected or normal <they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity of their situation burst upon them. "How did the fire start?" -- John Steinbeck>. When used to denote large size, either literal or figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming <no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of the desert or the sight of a tiny flower -- Paul Theroux> <the enormity of the task of teachers in slum schools -- J. B. Conant> and may even be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality <the enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons -- New Republic>. It can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened <the sombre enormity of the Russian Revolution -- George Steiner> or of its consequences <perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune -- E. L. Doctorow>.

. . : slicePuzzle

No kidding.

I some times wonder how we understand each other at all. =)

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No kidding.

I some times wonder how we understand each other at all. =)

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I sometimes wonder if we do at all.

Or just play pretend.


*darkish mood*

according to OneLook, the word of the day for Friday, December 12, 2003:

Quick definitions (rubricate)

# verb: place in the calendar as a red-letter saint (Example: "She was rubricated by the Pope")
# verb: sign with a mark instead of a name
# verb: furnish with rubrics or regulate by rubrics (Example: "The manuscript is not rubricated")
# verb: decorate (manuscipts) with letters painted red (Example: "In this beautiful book, all the place names are rubricated")

how about the word of the hour? http://www.onelook.com/wotd.shtml

And let's not forget the Rubrics cube! (rimshot please) =)