This week (well, I should say, until March 19, because I'm going to be out of town that's the next time I'll be able to post one of these) I'm not doing a word.

Instead, I put a different challenge to you:

Reply to this post writing something that uses a new word you've recently learned OR a word you already know, but using it in a way you haven' ( Read more... )

(You can pretend I posted this yesterday. Also, I owe a lot of people comment responses, e-mails, etc. So behind! Not ignoring anyone, pinkie swear.)

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fre·net·ic /frəˈnɛtɪk/ [fruh-net-ik] -adjective

1. frantic; frenzied; wildly excited or active.
2. excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion.

-Related forms ( Read more... )

sub·li·mate

/v. ˈsʌbləˌmeɪt; n., adj. ˈsʌbləmɪt, -ˌmeɪt/ [v. suhb-luh-meyt; n., adj. suhb-luh-mit, -meyt]
verb, -mat·ed, -mat·ing, noun, adjective, -verb (used with object)

1. Psychology. to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.

( More definitions, origin, and related forms. )

in·iq·ui·ty /ɪˈnɪkwɪti/ [i-nik-wi-tee] -noun, plural -ties.

1. gross injustice or wickedness.
2. a violation of right or duty; wicked act; sin.

[Origin: 1300-50; ME < L inīquitās unevenness, unfairness, equiv. to inīqu(us) uneven, unfair (in- in-3 + -īquus, comb. form of aequus even, equal) + -itās -ity]

-Synonyms: evildoing, infamy, depravity, ( Read more... )

This week’s word is in honor of Chinese New Year. (And I’m secretly hoping to see the definition of this word stretched a bit away from the financial aspect. ;)

pros·per·i·ty /prɒˈspɛrɪti/ [pro-sper-i-tee] -noun, plural -ties ( Read more... )

hoar·frost (hôr'frôst', -frŏst', hōr'-), noun.

frost; frozen dew that forms a white coating on a surface; ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside). Also called white frost.

How to Play

The challenge is: write something that a) uses this word, or b) is inspired by this word (thematically, literally, whatever). It’s ( Read more... )

It's Wednesday already? Crap, this week is flying by. (Also, how tasty does the word "parentheticality" sound? Mmmmmyummy.)

par·en·thet·ic /ˌpærənˈθɛtɪk/ [par-uhn-thet-ik] -adjective
Also, par·en·thet·i·cal.

1. of, pertaining to, noting, or of the nature of a parenthesis: several unnecessary parenthetic remarks.2. characterized by the use of ( Read more... )

In honor of the new year. :)

re·gen·er·a·tion, -noun /rɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ [ri-jen-uh-rey-shuhn]
1. act of regenerating; state of being regenerated ( Read more... )

stri·a /ˈstraɪə/ [strahy-uh]
-noun, plural stri·ae /ˈstraɪi/[strahy-ee]
1. a slight or narrow furrow, ridge, stripe, or streak, esp. one of a number in parallel arrangement: striae of muscle fiber ( Read more... )

mel·an·chol·y /ˈmɛlənˌkɒli/ [mel-uhn-kol-ee]
plural -chol·ies, adjective
mel·an·chol·i·ly, adverb; mel·an·chol·i·ness, noun

-noun
1. a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.

-adjective4. affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed: a melancholy mood ( Read more... )