A Word (and a Book) for Wednesday

 


ynecdoche: (pronounced si-nek-duh-kee) a part of speech in which a part is used for the whole, or the whole for a part

As in: Author of Poser: my life in twenty-three yoga poses, Claire Dederer, describing her escape from the house to practice yoga: "I left them food as though it were a piece of me. Synecdoche: a part representing the whole.  A sail representing a fleet.  A crown representing a king.  A chicken representing a mother."

I recently found this book while searching for books on yoga.  I quite enjoyed it, as evidenced by my reading it in 2 days.  Very poignant for a mother of babes just starting out in the world of yoga.

My 2014 goals include attending as many yoga classes as I can fit into my schedule.  I just feel too damn good afterwards to not.  While practicing yoga, I want to also learn more of its history and teachings.

Any yogic-friends have recommendations that aren't too incredibly heady?  I'm thinking maybe this or this.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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A Word for Wednesday: Ethos

thos: the fundamental character or spirit of a culture


As in: (from Denby's review of new movie, American Hustle): "Like “Goodfellas,” this movie uses voice-over to swing us into the action, offering first Irving’s view of the world, then Sydney’s, then the two in alternation, as the characters expound on their up-from-the-bottom ethos of survival."

This review of American Hustle by David Denby of The New Yorker gets me more than a little excited to experience this film.  I am already a little swoony over Jennifer Lawrence these days, after her impeccable performance in Catching Fire.  And really, I've loved her since witnessing her humility and humor at this year's Oscars.

Can't wait to see this:

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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A Word for Wednesday

 


lake: to allay (thirst) by satisfying

via here

As in: "We slake our thirst, let the warm water pour over our itching bodies."  I read this line in Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, last night, and was struck by the word.  I'd never heard it before.

The hubs and I are going on a 5-year-anniversary-date this Saturday evening.  First stop, the early showing of Catching Fire, the movie, then on to Cellar on Greene for drinks and dinner. I was a bit slow to the Hunger Games party, but I am hooked now and can't wait to see this!

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.
Definition via dictionary.com.

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A Word for Wednesday

orosity:  the state or quality of being porous.

As in: "I love the rain. I love when we haven't seen a drop in weeks and then it arrives with fury. The porosity of the soil can't keep pace.  I love existing in it."  This is a quote from this post by this amazing blogger, whom I love reading.  Her writing is exquisite.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Definition via here.

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A Word for Wednesday (makes a comeback!)

Just checked, and it's been over a year since I did one of these posts...here goes:


 


indie: indie music for kids


As in: Lunch Money is definitely my favorite kindie band.  It's kid-music for people who hate kid-music. 

my family's favorite Lunch Money album, Spicy Kid

By the way, Lunch Money is doing this really cool puppet-musical thing called Planet Hopping at the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College in Columbia on November 15th and 16th.  Sounds pretty rad.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.
Definition via Urban Dictionary.

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A Word for Wednesday

ealty: fidelity to a lord; faithfulness


I heard this word while watching Season 4 of True Blood last night.  It's out on Netflix now, and as reluctant as I was to start watching this series, I have to admit that I am so excited to be back in the midst of some crazy/sexy vampire drama!  Truly a guilty pleasure.

image via here

I think this season, my fealty may be to Eric Northman.  Sigh.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.
Definition via here.

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A Word for Wednesday

chadenfreude: satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune
(The word's origin is German; it's a combination of the German words for harm + joy).

Never in my life had I heard this word until last Friday night while watching Avenue Q, off-Broadway in New York City.  Pretty funny show, by the way.  There is an entire song about schadenfreude: (warning--it's not exactly a very kind or child-friendly song, but funny).

image via here

Then, not 2 days later, I read the word in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.  Here's the NY Times review of the award-winning book--I quite like it so far.

Has that ever happened to you?  You hear or read a word for the first time, then promptly hear or read it again and again?  I kind of love that phenomenon...and try to read some deeper meaning in it...I'm kinda romantic/superstitious like that...

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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A Word for Wednesday

 


ejune: lacking knowledge or experience; uninformed

As in: a line from the NY Times' review of Joan Didion's A Year of Magical Thinking: "Hard sweet wisdom.  That 'hard sweet wisdom'-the literary critical phrase that once seemed strong- after experience feels jejune."

Read the entire book review here.  If you haven't read the book, you should.  It is an emotional and very visceral account of the grief the author feels following her husband's sudden death.  Not an overly sad or sentimental book, just a very real account of grief by a very smart and sad woman.

image via here

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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A Word for Wednesday

isyphean: a task or labor that is unavailing; endless; (of or pertaining to Sisyphus)


In Greek mythology, Sisyphus, was a hubristic (another great word) king whose ultimate punishment was having to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down before reaching the top and to repeat this throughout eternity.

As heard in this Bright Eyes song, Shell Games-one I have been listening to of late:


Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

definition via here

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A Word (kinda) for Wednesday

 


xford comma: "The 'Oxford comma' is an optional comma before the word 'and' at the end of a list:

We sell books, videos, and magazines.

It's known as the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press.  Not all writers and publishers use it, but it can clarify the meaning of a sentence when the items in a list are not single words:

These items are available in black and white, red and yellow, and blue and green."

definition via here

So, it's not so much a word, but an actual thing...something I personally believe in and use implicitly. 

their eponymous first album, image via here

Oxford Comma is also the name of a song by Vampire Weekend, a band that has been around for a hot minute, but to whom I just started listening.  I am really loving their sound, especially the song Horchata, from their new album, Contra--it has been stuck in my head for days.



So, do you use the Oxford comma?  Do you like Vampire Weekend?
XO, Happy Wednesday!

Daily Drop Cap by Darren Booth, for Jessica Hische

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A Word for Wednesday

etulant: moved to impatient irritation over a trifling annoyance


As in: Bill Compton's description of his newly-made vampire, Jessica: "She's petulant, dangerous, and scared."

image via here

I heard this word last night while watching our newest Netflix guilty pleasure, True Blood.  James is a long-time sci-fi/vampire/zombie- lover, but I started watching this show very reluctantly...and now I'm hooked.  It's addictively funny and clever. 

Biding our time until the final season of Entourage is released, and the next season of Californication--my other two Netflix guilty pleasures.  What shows do you watch--any recommendations?


Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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(Obsolete) Words for Thursday

 


lateration: blabber; chatter

As in: Today I had to listen to some random guy's blateration about how he is much better suited to "bring home the bacon" and women should be at home. 

The word blateration is part of Oxford's, (as in the OED), effort to "save the words," and I have officially adopted it as my own.  According to the site, "every year hundreds of words are dropped from the English language," and this is the plan to save them.

image via here

If you go the the Save the Words site, you can "adopt" your own word.  Once you choose the one you want, you must promise to use it in your everyday conversations in an effort to save the word.  Nerdy and clever, my favorite combo.  I love it.

Wanna adopt a word?  Let me know which one you choose so we can help each other in our quest to save the words!

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.
Save the Words site found via @GOOD Twitter post.  (I heart Good).

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A Word for Wednesday

 


entient: conscious; having the power of perception by the senses; understanding, cognizant

image via here

Sentient was an answer on Jeopardy College Week last night.  Don't you just LOVE College Week on Jeopardy?  Ok, for sure, it's not as easy as High School Week, but the categories are typically more playful and college-age-driven...

Update--I can now watch Jeopardy again!  Joy.  On the recommendation from many of you, James and I now have a TV converter, (rabbit ears and all), and we get all local channels, plus the Weather channel, and CW for free :)

Definition via dictionary.com
Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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A Word for Wednesday

 


chelon: a level of command, authority, or rank

As in: In my humble opinion, Charleston, SC is in the upper echelon in terms of bangin' restaurants.  See this post about Eating Our Way Through Charleston, SC.

And: According to this post  by Two Brunettes, as evidenced by her amazing graphic and typographic work, Jessica Hische is in the upper echelon of her field.

Illustration done by Jessica Hische for the Wall St. Journal's Summer Book Preview

Have a great Wednesday!

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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