Friday, February 29, 2008
Ticpolonga
A ticpolonga isn't as nice as it sounds. It's a venomous Indian serpent. Also found in Sri Lanka. Your meanings were much more manageable. Well done to Magdalene, with a win on the poll today. Great work!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Securiform
Securiform means (wait for it, this is odd) "axe shaped". How or why, I don't know. I much prefer the incredible array of invented meanings from the in-form word imps. Well done to Thinks! whose meaning won the hearts of the voters.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Litotes
A litotes is an ironical understatement, especially using a negative to express a positive. My dictionary gives the example "no small feat" meaning "huge feat". There you go. I'm a writer and I didn't know that. Congrats to Sandy Feet for a great invented meaning.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Gestatorial chair
The gestatorial chair is used for carrying the Pope on certain occasions. Not sure which ones, but presumably pretty special occasions. What an exciting day on the blog. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all your meanings. Well done, everyone. You all deserve back pats. And especially well done to Scriptor Senex, today's poll winner.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tachymeter
A tachymeter is rather more boring than your fabulous invented meanings would suggest, I'm sorry to say. It's an instrument used in surveying and has the job of locating points rapidly. I'm not a surveyor so that holds little meaning for me. Congratulations to Greedy Biscuit Baron for a good win on the poll - just edging out the competitors.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Idiopathy
Idiopathy refers to a disease without any known cause. I suspect it's closely related to hypochondria but not sure if the medical fraternity would agree. Your creative meanings were on the ball as always. Very enjoyable. And well done to Lydia B for her win on the poll. Keep 'em coming, Lydia.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Coronoid
Coronoid describes something (usually bones) which is curved like the beak of a crow! Who would have thought? And the invented meanings were so good. I loved them all. I big congrats to Chris for a fabulous meaning and well deserved win on the poll. Great work!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Omentum
So yes, the omentum is that ghastly stomach thing mentioned by Mandy. Or, as my dictionary puts more politely, the fold of the peritoneum connecting the stomach with other viscera. Not sure what viscera is but the doctor types will know. Well done to silver_flight and lorenzothellama for tying on the poll today. Great meanings, as always.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bottomry
Bottomry is a money lending system. It's particularly to do with ships. The lender loans money to a shipowner so he can make a voyage. The ship is the security. Sadly, if the ship goes down, so does the lender's security. There you go. Your invented meanings, I have to say, were completely and utterly wonderful. I was in awe. And well done to Flamingo for being the best of the best according to the poll votes.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Commoney
A commoney is an inferior playing marble. Mmmm. Bet you never guessed that without cheating. Unless you were (or still are) a fan of playing marbles. Your invented meanings, on the other hand, were superb. I was very impressed with them all and had a good laugh too, which is always a bonus. Well done to Thinks! for a tightly fought win on the poll.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Thanatoid
Thanatoid is, of course, deathlike or deadly. Thanks for bearing with me after my first time of repeating a word that's been used before on this blog. My checks and balances were obviously non-operational. However, it won't happen again any time soon, I hope. Your meanings were great. I enjoyed them all and agreed with the pollsters' choice of Sara for the win. Great work, Sara. Join us again soon.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Longanimity
Longanimity is long suffering with a view to revenge in the future. Nasty. Good to have a word for it though. Loved your invented meanings for longanimity and big congrats to Loonilidi who outdid herself with lots of votes today. Great work!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Diathesis
Diathesis is a predisposition to ill health. Thanks for your meanings. Sandra Dodd got the most votes on the poll, which makes her today's winner. Congrats, SD!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Binnacle
A binnacle is useful. It's a case for holding a ship's compass. I bet it doesn't help the owner to figure out how to read the compass though. As you can tell, my technophobia extends to compasses. Or is that compii? Well done to Thesaurus Rex who was the first winner on our new poll.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Agrestic
Agrestic describes an uncouth rural character. I came across a few of those down at the rugby sevens last weekend, that's for sure. Their tendency towards agrestic behaviour was directly in relation to how much beer they had consumed. But that's half the fun of it, I guess. Your meanings for agrestic were interesting and if I had a poll I'd choose Merriam, Sandra Dodd and Stephen. I'll see if I can find another poll then.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
