Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Monday, May 14, 2018
Word of the Day -- Gazingstock
I'm in the middle of upgrading my PREEN pre-edit engine to recognize archaic words, specifically common-domain novels from a century ago and the original King James Bible. Many of the words like "spaketh" are out of usage because English dropped the personal form of you, thou (like the Spanish word tu). Some are alternate spelling still used only by the Church of England or obscure agricultural textbooks. A few, however, are worth reviving.
We all know the term "laughingstock," the object of ridicule and derision, but how many of us knew that someone who is stared at by everyone who passes (for whatever reason) is called a "gazingstock." This could be a woman in a bikini or the idiot who wrecks his car while gawking.
This weekend at my house, it was the sign my daughter made my wife for Mother's Day.
Other fun ones included:
winebibber--a high-end lush like Penny on "Big Bang Theory."
sith--before "Star Wars," it meant since.
whoremonger--much more fun to say than pimp.
firkin--a quarter-barrel, also fun to say after you've had a few drinks.
knop--an ornamental knob, sort of a cross between fop and knob.
hap--chance, fortune, happening. Ever wonder where the word hapless came from? Now you know.
We all know the term "laughingstock," the object of ridicule and derision, but how many of us knew that someone who is stared at by everyone who passes (for whatever reason) is called a "gazingstock." This could be a woman in a bikini or the idiot who wrecks his car while gawking.
This weekend at my house, it was the sign my daughter made my wife for Mother's Day.
Other fun ones included:
winebibber--a high-end lush like Penny on "Big Bang Theory."
sith--before "Star Wars," it meant since.
whoremonger--much more fun to say than pimp.
firkin--a quarter-barrel, also fun to say after you've had a few drinks.
knop--an ornamental knob, sort of a cross between fop and knob.
hap--chance, fortune, happening. Ever wonder where the word hapless came from? Now you know.
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