"The choice between good and evil or between right and wrong is no choice at all...True choice is a dilemma...a choice between irreconcilable goods...a choice between the lesser of two evils." - Robert McKee, Story
"In French, alternate history novels are called uchronie. This neologism is based on the prefix u- (as in the word utopia, a place that does not exist) and the Greek for time, chronos. An uchronie, then, is defined as a time that does not exist, a 'non-time.'"
"You've been crying," remarked Josie, with aggravating pity. "I suppose you're homesick--some people have so little self-control in that respect. I've no intention of being homesick, I can tell you. Town's too jolly after that poky old Avonlea. I wonder how I ever existed there so long. You shouldn't cry, Anne; it isn't becoming, for your nose and eyes get red, and then you seem all red. I'd a perfectly scrumptious time in the Academy today. Our French professor is simply a duck. His moustache would give you kerwollops of the heart."
Hi Skipvia. My family and I went on our Alaskan cruise two weeks ago, and while we were onship I thought of the comment you left me. I saw disappointingly few ravens on the trip, but I did see a black bear, a whale, a porcupine, and some very, very distant mountain goats. :)
Hello! Thanks for the compliment! It made my day a little brighter. Also, I'm kind of flattered that you have my super-lengthy catch-all-drawer of a list on your favourites. :)
Is it just me, or does pimpalimpimp sound like a euphemism for sexual intercourse? In my head it belongs somewhere next to badoinkadoink. Which I can't believe I just wrote out. I apologize to the universe.
Oh my lord, Jermajesty. That name just sends me (and my entire family, if we happen to be talking about cuckoopants celebrities and I bring it up) into hysterics.
Oh, P.S.: Jamie Oliver (father of Daisy Boo)'s other daughter is called Poppy Honey.
And speaking of Poppy -- the first two names of actress Poppy Montgomery are "Poppy Petal," her four sisters are Lily Belle, Rosie Thorn, Marigold Sun, and Daisy Yellow, and her brother is named Jethro Tull. No kidding: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0599889/bio! Lily Belle totally won the name lottery in that family.
Hi frindley! I just wanted to let you know how geekily happy it made me to see that you'd favourited one of my lists -- thank you! It cheers me up to come here and look at it. Hee.
I don't think that's it, reesetee, because that connection didn't even occur to me until you mentioned it. :) I think it's the way the word feels when I say it, if that makes any sense? It... moves like a carousel, is the best way I can think of to put it.
I'm glad I'm not alone here, C_B. True story: I also once laughed when Yo-Yo Ma was brought up in class and somebody next to me quipped, "Yo-Yo Ma's so fat..."
Between this and the Desmond Tutu thing, there was at least one car ride I remember going on with my mother where both of those things randomly got stuck in my head and I laughed until I was in tears and my mother thought I was experiencing some form of psychosis.
bilby -- This is true, but what if we (and by we, I clearly mean reesetee, ahem) limit the inclusion of German words to those that actually have an accompanying definition in English? Of which bergschrund, delightfully, is one? Or not. Just a suggestion. :)
One of my very favourite french expressions, translates roughly to "that bothers me" or "that drives me crazy," if I remember correctly. Best said dramatically, with extra emphasis on 'range.'
Is there some sort of "Best. Definition. EVER?" list on Wordie? If there isn't, should I start one? Because this will be the first word I add, if I do.
I think I'll like Master and Margarita a lot more when I'm not ploughing through it for school, to be honest. I am, however, a fan of trying to incorporate "Not causing trouble, not touching anything, fixing the primus" into conversation as often as possible.
re: through the fooking glass -- I can take no credit for this, it's from the guardian books website that sarra linked to below, but I had to include it anyway because it made me laugh so hard I had to put my head down on my desk.
Hi skipvia! I'm really sorry I didn't reply to your comment (on that fabulous firmament-clogging list, which still amuses me endlessly, because -- godless and rock-shivering blast! Oh my) earlier, particularly because it was the first to be directed to me on this site. :) Thank you for your compliment on my username; ravens and I have a funny relationship that I'm still trying to condense into an articulate explanation.
Where in Alaska do you live? My family and I are going on an Alaskan cruise a few months from now, and as cliche (and as unlikely, in June) as this might sound, all I'm really hoping for right now is to see the northern lights.
Confession time: While I know this is really disrespectful of me, I am absolutely incapable of saying "Desmond Tutu" aloud without giggling until I cry.
Honestly, not really, reesetee. Not yet, anyway! *grin* It's hard to be scared when you're too busy laughing because someone has just busted out with 'bellowing grammarian frumpmudgeon.'
I love this word. Actual, complete telephone conversation between myself and my nineteen-year-old (younger) sister, who was out for dinner, on Saturday night:
Sister: Hi, um, you know that...what's that word from the other day that means "running away and taking another person with you"?
A: ...Honey. You are NOT calling the house at 12:30 just to ask me the definition of a word.
Sarah: First of all, Bobby Brown would beat the crap out of him using Mark Hamill as a shillelagh. Second of all –
Wing Chun: Why Hamill?
Sarah: I don't know. I just picture Brown grabbing the first relatively small dude who's sitting still, lashing his arms and legs to his body with colored shoelaces, and going to town.
Of all the words on 'Squiddy,' this was the first one that made me laugh; it reminded me of seeing Raffi make an appearance on a talk show to promote his Bananaphone album, and send the host into stitches by putting two bananas side by side and saying, "What's this? A conference call!"
As per the Wik: "The cocktail party effect describes the ability to focus one's listening attention on a single talker among a mixture of conversations and background noises, ignoring other conversations. This effect reveals one of the surprising abilities of our auditory system, which enables us to talk in a noisy place."
From The Canadian Encyclopedia: A Mari usque ad Mare ("From Sea to Sea"), Canada's motto, was derived from Psalm 72:8, which reads in Latin "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae," and in the King James version, "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."
Hi, sionnach. I wanted to thank you for your "Change One Letter" list, and for your rant on the word page for cremains, because both gave me a good laugh the other day when I needed them. Cheers!
I keep thinking about adding ennui, but it's not my favourite, honestly! Although it is really fun to say, now that I think about it, so it has that going for it. :)
As per Wikipedia: lit. "the pathos of things", also translated as "an empathy toward things," or "a pity toward things." A Japanese term used to describe the awareness of the transience of things and a gentle sadness at their passing.
Gah, "nucular." HATE. I think I experienced my first "The English language as I know it is actually disintegrating" moment when I found out that dictionaries were actually starting to include "nucular" as an acceptible pronunciation substitute for "nuclear." NO, Merriam-Webster. The fact that the president of the United States happens to pronounce it that way it does not make it okay.
From a review of the X-Files episode 'Je Souhaite,' maybe the first time I can remember actually bursting into laughter because of something I read on the Internet (in my defense, I was only thirteen at the time...):
"Who says you don't learn anything from television. This week on The X-Files we learned the fancy shmancy got-it-past-the-censors way to say 'death by a huge hard-on': 'extreme priapic condition'
The one that always drives me up the wall is the use of "step foot" instead of "set foot," as in "I'll never step foot in that building again!" I have to stop and wave my arms with frustration every time I hear it.
"Look, bullethead. If they're hiking through the jungle there's nothing I can do about it. I have a car. I am not Tarzan. I have been through every one-horse sh-thole for a two-hundred mile radius. You should have seen the river I had to traverse this morning."
"It might be noted here that Freudian analysts of fairy tales have suggested that kissing toads and frogs symbolized fellatio. In that regard, Princess Leigh-Cheri was, on a conscious level, innocent, although not so naïve as Queen Tilli, who thought fellatio was an obscure Italian opera and was annoyed that she couldn't find the score."
My favourite cognate is probably 'shampooing,' for 'shampoo' in French. Its pronunciation is worth the price of admission into any French class; cracks me up every time.
On my list of funnies solely because I can't think of it or say it without being reminded of David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth, making the "If it ain't baroque, don't fix it" joke in Beauty and the Beast with his awesome line delivery and pronunciation. Hee.
Comments by ofravens
ofravens commented on the word komorebi
Japanese noun, "sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees."
April 27, 2012
ofravens commented on the list complex-emotion--single-word
May I suggest toska?
May 2, 2011
ofravens commented on the word deprimado
Spanish adjective, "Applied to the fields or meadow in which the animals have eaten the tips of grass frostbitten by dews."
February 5, 2011
ofravens commented on the word irreconcilable goods
"The choice between good and evil or between right and wrong is no choice at all...True choice is a dilemma...a choice between irreconcilable goods...a choice between the lesser of two evils." - Robert McKee, Story
August 13, 2009
ofravens commented on the word paronomasia
Astonished that I didn't learn this word until today.
March 1, 2009
ofravens commented on the word isthmus
Placed on this isthmus of a middle state,
A being darkly wise, and rudely great
from 'The Riddle of the World,' Alexander Pope
February 28, 2009
ofravens commented on the word uchronie
from Wikipedia's article on alternate history:
"In French, alternate history novels are called uchronie. This neologism is based on the prefix u- (as in the word utopia, a place that does not exist) and the Greek for time, chronos. An uchronie, then, is defined as a time that does not exist, a 'non-time.'"
November 5, 2008
ofravens commented on the word what shall we do with the drunken sailor
I've had that song stuck in my head for a week straight now thanks to y'all. I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY.
October 20, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bathos
Life was so much more amusing when I thought the first syllable of this word rhymed with 'bath.' Hrmph.
October 20, 2008
ofravens commented on the list gesundheit
May I suggest hadeharia?
October 12, 2008
ofravens commented on the word naked launch
The nudist's guide to Cape Canaveral & other NASA landmarks.
October 7, 2008
ofravens commented on the word dearth
I thought this word meant its complete opposite until about two weeks ago. I'm kind of embarrassed.
October 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word inferior olive
The joys of psychology class! See Olivary body on Wiki.
September 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word joey buttafuoco
Is there a "most unfortunate last names ever" wordie list?
August 18, 2008
ofravens commented on the list mr-i-prolagus-i-is-surprised
Oh, thank you very much for the comment and the mention, Prolagus! I appreciate it. I just now added kerwollops of the heart. :)
August 18, 2008
ofravens commented on the word kerwollops of the heart
"You've been crying," remarked Josie, with aggravating pity. "I suppose you're homesick--some people have so little self-control in that respect. I've no intention of being homesick, I can tell you. Town's too jolly after that poky old Avonlea. I wonder how I ever existed there so long. You shouldn't cry, Anne; it isn't becoming, for your nose and eyes get red, and then you seem all red. I'd a perfectly scrumptious time in the Academy today. Our French professor is simply a duck. His moustache would give you kerwollops of the heart."
from Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery.
August 18, 2008
ofravens commented on the word neume
From the Greek word "pneuma," meaning 'breath.'
August 16, 2008
ofravens commented on the word oleaginous
It comes from "craie," the French word for "chalk," and "ola," for "oleaginous," or "oily." -- Wikipedia's article about Crayola.
August 16, 2008
ofravens commented on the list ladytime
"aunt flo(w)" is my personal favourite.
July 29, 2008
ofravens commented on the word pestiferous
For some reason, whenever I hear this word I mentally pair it with 'varmint.'
July 24, 2008
ofravens commented on the word muscadel
Sometimes muscadel faces down frost -- Sheenagh Pugh.
July 17, 2008
ofravens commented on the word jeremiad
*is having a happy X-Files flashback right now*
July 16, 2008
ofravens commented on the user skipvia
Hi Skipvia. My family and I went on our Alaskan cruise two weeks ago, and while we were onship I thought of the comment you left me. I saw disappointingly few ravens on the trip, but I did see a black bear, a whale, a porcupine, and some very, very distant mountain goats. :)
July 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word schadenburgeon
Not to be confused with Candice Bergen, I assume?
July 7, 2008
ofravens commented on the word obrumpent
Oh, English. You so awesome.
June 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the word fee-ee-ee-ee-ww-ww-ww-kreng
that 'kreng' is genius. well done, prolagus.
June 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the word enclitic
Because I am actually ten years old, this word sounds vaguely dirty.
June 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the list gramograms-words-that-sound-like-letters
This is a brilliant list idea.
May 17, 2008
ofravens commented on the word boustrophedon
Sounds like a name for a newly-discovered species of dinosaur.
May 16, 2008
ofravens commented on the word radiance
Miracles occur,
If you care to call those spasmodic
Tricks of radiance miracles.
from "Black Rook in Rainy Weather," Sylvia Plath
April 23, 2008
ofravens commented on the word sprachgefühl
This is the most perfect word ever. Why does English not have more words like this?
April 20, 2008
ofravens commented on the user shoepixie
Hello! Thanks for the compliment! It made my day a little brighter. Also, I'm kind of flattered that you have my super-lengthy catch-all-drawer of a list on your favourites. :)
April 17, 2008
ofravens commented on the word mullein
I just discovered this word today, reading W.S. Merwin.
April 15, 2008
ofravens commented on the word vladimir putin
Putin's!
April 15, 2008
ofravens commented on the list moon-unit-diva-thin-muffin-and-fifi-trixibelle
In other news, Cate Blanchett just gave birth to her third son and named him Ignatius.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word vladimir putin
I love that some of his supporters actually tried to sue somebody because of the resemblance.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word barren
At this barren enterprise
Rat-shrewd go her squint eyes
from "Two Sisters of Persephone," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word wainscoted
In her dark wainscoted room
The first works problems on
A mathematical machine.
from "Two Sisters of Persephone," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word daylong
Daylong a duet of shade and light
plays between these
from "Two Sisters of Persephone," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word burnished
Most far in blue, aloft,
Clouds steered a burnished drift
from "Song for a Summer's Day," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word midden
Now our whole task's to hack
some angel-shape worth wearing
from his crabbed midden where all's wrought so awry.
from "Firesong," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word laud
all earth his words do summon
leaps to laud such man's blood!
from "Ode for Ted," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word shirr
Plath citations: see note at ringdove.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word ringdove
Ringdoves roost well within his wood,
shirr songs to suit which mood
he saunters in
from "Ode for Ted," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word staunch
at his hand's staunch hest, birds build.
from "Ode for Ted," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word loam
Loam-humps, he says, moles shunt
up from delved worm-haunt
from "Ode for Ted," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word stoat
Plath citations: see note at lapwing.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bramble
Plath citations: see note at lapwing.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word lapwing
He names a lapwing, starts rabbits in a rout
legging it most nimble
to sprigged hedge of bramble,
stalks red fox, shrewd stoat
.from "Ode for Ted," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word squall
she treks in blood through sun and squall
from "The Queen's Complaint," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word greenhorn
None of that greenhorn lot matched her bright crown
from "The Queen's Complaint," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word doughty
A hundred heralds she sent out
To summon in her sight all doughty men
from "The Queen's Complaint," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word antelope
I do not know
What fury urged him slay
Her antelope who meant him naught but good
from "The Queen's Complaint," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word derrick
With hands like derricks,
Looks fierce and black as rooks
from "The Queen's Complaint," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word quibble
Plath citations: see note at ruck.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word ruck
In the ruck and quibble of courtfolk
This giant hulked, I tell you, on her scene
from "The Queen's Complaint," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word absinthe
waiting for the night,
with absinthe eye
cocked on the lone, late,
passer-by.
from "Prospect," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word sycamore
on spotted branch
of the sycamore
two black rooks hunch
from "Prospect," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word rumpus
To cloak our waking awe
At this rare rumpus which no man can control
from "Channel Crossing," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word blanched
Plath citations: see note at inauspicious.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word inauspicious
chalk cliffs blanched
In sullen light of the inauspicious day
from "Channel Crossing," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word wallop
Dark as anger,
Waves wallop, assaulting the stubborn hull.
from "Channel Crossing," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word caterwaul
On storm-struck deck, wind sirens caterwaul
from "Channel Crossing," Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word powder pimpalimpimp
Is it just me, or does pimpalimpimp sound like a euphemism for sexual intercourse? In my head it belongs somewhere next to badoinkadoink. Which I can't believe I just wrote out. I apologize to the universe.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word quartz
Plath citations: see note at gild.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word gild
A quartz-clear dawn
Inch by bright inch
Gilds all our Avenue
from "Southern Sunrise," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word disclaim
the towel
dryly disclaims that fierce troll faces lurk
in its explicit folds
from "Tale of a Tub," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word ablution
When washbowl
maintains it has no more holy calling
than physical ablution
from "Tale of a Tub," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word chromium
An electric light flays the chromium nerves of plumbing raw
from "Tale of a Tub," by Sylvia Plath
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the list moon-unit-diva-thin-muffin-and-fifi-trixibelle
Oh my lord, Jermajesty. That name just sends me (and my entire family, if we happen to be talking about cuckoopants celebrities and I bring it up) into hysterics.
Oh, P.S.: Jamie Oliver (father of Daisy Boo)'s other daughter is called Poppy Honey.
And speaking of Poppy -- the first two names of actress Poppy Montgomery are "Poppy Petal," her four sisters are Lily Belle, Rosie Thorn, Marigold Sun, and Daisy Yellow, and her brother is named Jethro Tull. No kidding: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0599889/bio! Lily Belle totally won the name lottery in that family.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the user frindley
Hi frindley! I just wanted to let you know how geekily happy it made me to see that you'd favourited one of my lists -- thank you! It cheers me up to come here and look at it. Hee.
April 14, 2008
ofravens commented on the word acersecomic
Number of times I've misread this word as 'arsecomic': umpteen, and still counting!
April 13, 2008
ofravens commented on the word calliope
I don't think that's it, reesetee, because that connection didn't even occur to me until you mentioned it. :) I think it's the way the word feels when I say it, if that makes any sense? It... moves like a carousel, is the best way I can think of to put it.
April 13, 2008
ofravens commented on the word niminy-piminy
Aw, this word makes me happy because it reminds me so much of the opening of Little Women:
"I detest rude, unladylike girls!"
"I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits!"
April 13, 2008
ofravens commented on the word vladimir putin
Looks like Dobby from Harry Potter!
April 13, 2008
ofravens commented on the list names-of-world-leaders-and-famous-individuals-that-cause-happieness-in-the-saying
I'm glad I'm not alone here, C_B. True story: I also once laughed when Yo-Yo Ma was brought up in class and somebody next to me quipped, "Yo-Yo Ma's so fat..."
Between this and the Desmond Tutu thing, there was at least one car ride I remember going on with my mother where both of those things randomly got stuck in my head and I laughed until I was in tears and my mother thought I was experiencing some form of psychosis.
April 13, 2008
ofravens commented on the list here-i-dreamt-i-was-an-archetype
May I suggest the evil stepsister? Or the benevolent, pipe-smoking grandfather?
April 12, 2008
ofravens commented on the list drinks-menu-at-the-verbal-arms
Aw, I'm so flattered to have a place on the drink menu! I mean that. Thanks, palooka and ptero! :)
April 12, 2008
ofravens commented on the word calliope
Makes me think of carousels. I'm not sure why.
April 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word afflatus
the phrase "specific afflatus" just made my night. Thank you.
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the list gesundheit
bilby -- This is true, but what if we (and by we, I clearly mean reesetee, ahem) limit the inclusion of German words to those that actually have an accompanying definition in English? Of which bergschrund, delightfully, is one? Or not. Just a suggestion. :)
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the list gesundheit
Yep, me again: bergschrund!
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bergschrund
And to make this word even more fun -- it's a synonym for crevasse!
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word buccula
Not to be confused with Dracula, Broccula, or Bunnicula.
Hee.
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word rueful
Rueful, most vexed, that tender skin
Should accept so fell a wound
from 'Bucolics,' by Sylvia Plath
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word aslant
Below: a fen where water stood;
Aslant: their hill of stinging nettle
from 'Bucolics,' by Sylvia Plath
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word mead
'A daisied mead' each said to each
from 'Bucolics,' by Sylvia Plath
April 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word monologue
The state of irresponsible forest management.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word ça me dérange
One of my very favourite french expressions, translates roughly to "that bothers me" or "that drives me crazy," if I remember correctly. Best said dramatically, with extra emphasis on 'range.'
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bemute
Is there some sort of "Best. Definition. EVER?" list on Wordie? If there isn't, should I start one? Because this will be the first word I add, if I do.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list it-has-a-name
How on earth could I have forgotten about petrichor until just now? Jeez. Thanks for reminding me of it!
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the user sionnach
I think I'll like Master and Margarita a lot more when I'm not ploughing through it for school, to be honest. I am, however, a fan of trying to incorporate "Not causing trouble, not touching anything, fixing the primus" into conversation as often as possible.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the user sarra
Why my name, do you think? I'm curious. :) (Feel free to message me about it elsewhere, if you'd like.)
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the user sarra
Thank you so much for the Guardian Books change one letter site that you linked to -- through the fooking glass nearly made me laugh till I cried.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list change-one-letter
re: through the fooking glass -- I can take no credit for this, it's from the guardian books website that sarra linked to below, but I had to include it anyway because it made me laugh so hard I had to put my head down on my desk.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word through the fooking glass
Alice defenstrates the White Rabbit when he's late for one Very Important Date too many.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word afflatus
Simultaneously reminds me of fart noises and Daffy Duck.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word encomium
Reminds me way too much of meconium. Which is unfortunate.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word sojourner
for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. (Psalm 38)
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the user skipvia
Hi skipvia! I'm really sorry I didn't reply to your comment (on that fabulous firmament-clogging list, which still amuses me endlessly, because -- godless and rock-shivering blast! Oh my) earlier, particularly because it was the first to be directed to me on this site. :) Thank you for your compliment on my username; ravens and I have a funny relationship that I'm still trying to condense into an articulate explanation.
Where in Alaska do you live? My family and I are going on an Alaskan cruise a few months from now, and as cliche (and as unlikely, in June) as this might sound, all I'm really hoping for right now is to see the northern lights.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list names-of-world-leaders-and-famous-individuals-that-cause-happieness-in-the-saying
Confession time: While I know this is really disrespectful of me, I am absolutely incapable of saying "Desmond Tutu" aloud without giggling until I cry.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word askew
Your speckled stone askew by an iron fence
from "Electra on Azalea Path," Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word necropolis
I found your name, I found your bones and all
Enlisted in a cramped necropolis
from "Electra on Azalea Path," Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word azalea
Plath citations: see note at burdock.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word burdock
This is Azalea Path.
A field of burdock opens to the south.
from "Electra on Azalea Path," Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word divinity
I came
God-fathered into the world from my mother's belly:
Her wide bed wore the stain of divinity.
from "Electra on Azalea Path," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word ersatz
Although the rains dissolve a bloody dye:
The ersatz petals drip, and they drip red
from "Electra on Azalea Path," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word deus ex machina
as per dictionary.com: "an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty." fabulous.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word data
I could not love this citation page any more if I tried.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list absquatulate-bloviate-clinchpoop
Honestly, not really, reesetee. Not yet, anyway! *grin* It's hard to be scared when you're too busy laughing because someone has just busted out with 'bellowing grammarian frumpmudgeon.'
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word deifenestration
Bilby! I love it!
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word squander
I hurl my heart to halt his pace,
To quench his thirst I squander blood
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word haggard
Haggard through the hot white noon
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word insatiate
Insatiate, he ransacks the land
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word ravened
Kindled like torches for his joy,
Charred and ravened women lie
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word marauder
The black marauder, hauled by love
from "Pursuit," Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word lithe
Behind snarled thickets of my eyes
Lurks the lithe one
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word waylay
His voice waylays me, spells a trance
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word gonging
Blood quickens, gonging in my ears:
the panther's tread is on the stairs
from "Pursuit," by Sylvia Plath
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list here-i-dreamt-i-was-an-archetype
I find both the title and concept of this list to be fairly stupendous.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word cozenage
Now that I think about it, that does make sense, sionnach. Something about the "coz."
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list •public-list-delightful-ejaculations
Done, c_b! *grin*
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word catholics
Q: How many catholics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. The Catholic doesn't change the lightbulb; s/he stands in the dark and says, "What did I do wrong?"
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list gesundheit
I thought of another one! Crevasse, maybe?
(Oh my god I can't even type that word without giggling. SO JUVENILE.)
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list absquatulate-bloviate-clinchpoop
Aww, thanks, bilby and reesetee! I'm glad you like it. It's so nice to be surrounded by fellow word nerds. *grin*
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bumptious
...a glow-worm SYMPHONY? Really?
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the list •public-list-delightful-ejaculations
One of my personal favourites: "Well, slap me with a wet noodle and call me Nellie!"
...No, I don't know either.
April 8, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bumptious
Okay, this whole conversation is delighting me.
April 7, 2008
ofravens commented on the word absquatulate
I love this word. Actual, complete telephone conversation between myself and my nineteen-year-old (younger) sister, who was out for dinner, on Saturday night:
Sister: Hi, um, you know that...what's that word from the other day that means "running away and taking another person with you"?
A: ...Honey. You are NOT calling the house at 12:30 just to ask me the definition of a word.
Sister: Yeah, I totally am. What's the word?
A: pause It's 'absquatulate,' sweetheart.
Sister: cracks up
A: cracks up
Sister: Okay okay okay. Bye!
April 7, 2008
ofravens commented on the word wintering
It was good for twenty years, that wintering --
As if you had never existed, as if I came
God-fathered into the world from my mother's belly.
(from "Electra on Azalea Path," Sylvia Plath)
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word hieratic
Where bees ... sleep out the blizzard
Like hieratic stones, and the ground is hard.
from "Electra on Azalea Path," Sylvia Plath
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word blizzard
Plath citations: see note at hibernaculum.
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word hibernaculum
the lightless hibernaculum
Where bees, striped black and gold, sleep out the blizzard
(from "Electra on Azalea Path," Sylvia Plath)
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word shillelagh
Sarah: Federline isn't in the GBC.
Wing Chun: Are you kidding me?
Sarah: First of all, Bobby Brown would beat the crap out of him using Mark Hamill as a shillelagh. Second of all –
Wing Chun: Why Hamill?
Sarah: I don't know. I just picture Brown grabbing the first relatively small dude who's sitting still, lashing his arms and legs to his body with colored shoelaces, and going to town.
Wing Chun: …Colored shoelaces.
Sarah: …What?
Wing Chun: I…nothing.
from this entry at Tomato Nation.
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bellowing grammarian frumpmudgeon
Somebody, anybody, get this on a t-shirt.
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bumptious
The fact that this is an actual, non-madeupical word absolutely delights me.
April 6, 2008
ofravens commented on the word cozenage
Always makes me think of the word lozenge.
April 5, 2008
ofravens commented on the word multifoliate
Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death's twilight kingdom
from "The Hollow Men," T.S. Eliot
(although the first poem this word makes me think of is always 'somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond')
April 5, 2008
ofravens commented on the word caetera desunt
"The rest is wanting."
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word absurd
Plath citations: see note at swan.
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word chaste
Plath citations: see note at swan.
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word swan
absurd and out-of-season, a single swan
floats chaste as snow
from "Winter Landscape, With Rooks," Sylvia Plath
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word fen
Plath citations: see note at austere.
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word austere
The austere sun descends above the fen
from "Winter Landscape, With Rooks," by Sylvia Plath
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word chagrin
an orange cyclops-eye, scorning to look
longer on this landscape of chagrin;
from "Winter Landscape, With Rooks," Sylvia Plath
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word solace
what solace
Can be struck from rock to make heart's waste
grow green again?
from "Winter Landscape, With Rooks," Sylvia Plath
March 31, 2008
ofravens commented on the word mumpsimus
Oh my God, where has this word been all my life.
March 27, 2008
ofravens commented on the list words-in-foreign-languages
Oh, thank you for that one!
March 27, 2008
ofravens commented on the list the-blood-jet-is-poetry-a-logophile-s-guide-to-plath
yarb: That's a gorgeous line; I'd forgotten it. It's from "Poppies in October." :)
March 27, 2008
ofravens commented on the user whatever1013
Hooray for people who make X-Files lists! I've just started mine. :)
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word squidenfreude
Hee. I like squadenfreude better, though.
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word squananaphone
Of all the words on 'Squiddy,' this was the first one that made me laugh; it reminded me of seeing Raffi make an appearance on a talk show to promote his Bananaphone album, and send the host into stitches by putting two bananas side by side and saying, "What's this? A conference call!"
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word cocktail party effect
As per the Wik: "The cocktail party effect describes the ability to focus one's listening attention on a single talker among a mixture of conversations and background noises, ignoring other conversations. This effect reveals one of the surprising abilities of our auditory system, which enables us to talk in a noisy place."
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word susurrous
My head on the pillow (Piano, pianissimo)
Lullayed by susurrous lyres and viols.
from "Alicante Lullaby," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word sluice
Plath citations: see note at millrace.
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word millrace
Water in the millrace, through a sluice of stone,
plunges headlong into that black pond
from "Winter Landscape, with Rooks," by Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word havoc
Plath citations: see note at blight.
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word blight
With such blight wrought upon our bankrupt estate,
What ceremony of words can patch the havoc?
from "Conversation Among the Ruins," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word prospect
Fractured pillars frame prospects of rock
from "Conversation Among the Ruins," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word portico
Through portico of my elegant house you stalk
With your wild furies, disturbing garlands of fruit
from "Conversation Among the Ruins," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word rook
On the stiff twig up there
Hunches a wet black rook
Arranging and rearranging his feathers in the rain.
from "Black Rook in Rainy Weather," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word dryad
I must watch sluttish dryads twitch
Their multifarious silks in the holy grove
from "On the Plethora of Dryads," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word whiteness
Whiteness I remember
About Sam: whiteness and the great run
He gave me.
from "Whiteness I Remember," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word kindness
Kindness glides about my house.
Dame Kindness, she is so nice!
from "Kindness," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word zen
Even in your Zen heaven we shan't meet.
from "Lesbos," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word tulip
The tulips should be behind bars like dangerous animals;
They are opening like the mouth of a great African cat.
from "Tulips," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word troublous
Not this troublous
Wringing of hands, this dark
Ceiling without a star.
from "Child," Sylvia Plath
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word a mari usque ad mare
From The Canadian Encyclopedia: A Mari usque ad Mare ("From Sea to Sea"), Canada's motto, was derived from Psalm 72:8, which reads in Latin "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae," and in the King James version, "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the user sionnach
Hi, sionnach. I wanted to thank you for your "Change One Letter" list, and for your rant on the word page for cremains, because both gave me a good laugh the other day when I needed them. Cheers!
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the list gesundheit
May I humbly suggest the addition of ennui? With the emphasis on the second syllable, in particular?
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the list words-in-foreign-languages
I keep thinking about adding ennui, but it's not my favourite, honestly! Although it is really fun to say, now that I think about it, so it has that going for it. :)
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the user yarb
Thanks for your help on my BC words list, yarb! Are you from nearby, by any chance?
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the user sarra
Oh, it's you! Hello! I didn't know! It's so nice to find people here, and you have such fabulous words.
March 26, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bloviate
That first definition is almost as amusing to me as the word itself. "Orate verbosely," indeed.
March 25, 2008
ofravens commented on the word mono no aware
As per Wikipedia: lit. "the pathos of things", also translated as "an empathy toward things," or "a pity toward things." A Japanese term used to describe the awareness of the transience of things and a gentle sadness at their passing.
March 24, 2008
ofravens commented on the word clinchpoop
Every time I see this word, I become approximately eight years old again, because: clinchpoop! Heeeeee.
March 23, 2008
ofravens commented on the list fingernails-on-my-chalkboard
Gah, "nucular." HATE. I think I experienced my first "The English language as I know it is actually disintegrating" moment when I found out that dictionaries were actually starting to include "nucular" as an acceptible pronunciation substitute for "nuclear." NO, Merriam-Webster. The fact that the president of the United States happens to pronounce it that way it does not make it okay.
March 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the word tumescence
From a review of the X-Files episode 'Je Souhaite,' maybe the first time I can remember actually bursting into laughter because of something I read on the Internet (in my defense, I was only thirteen at the time...):
"Who says you don't learn anything from television. This week on The X-Files we learned the fancy shmancy got-it-past-the-censors way to say 'death by a huge hard-on': 'extreme priapic condition'
or 'chronic morbid tumescence.'"
March 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the list fingernails-on-my-chalkboard
The one that always drives me up the wall is the use of "step foot" instead of "set foot," as in "I'll never step foot in that building again!" I have to stop and wave my arms with frustration every time I hear it.
March 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the word traverse
"Look, bullethead. If they're hiking through the jungle there's nothing I can do about it. I have a car. I am not Tarzan. I have been through every one-horse sh-thole for a two-hundred mile radius. You should have seen the river I had to traverse this morning."
-- Danny DeVito as Ralph in 'Romancing the Stone'
March 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the word fellatio
"It might be noted here that Freudian analysts of fairy tales have suggested that kissing toads and frogs symbolized fellatio. In that regard, Princess Leigh-Cheri was, on a conscious level, innocent, although not so naïve as Queen Tilli, who thought fellatio was an obscure Italian opera and was annoyed that she couldn't find the score."
-- 'Still Life With Woodpecker,' Tom Robbins
March 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the list favorite-cognates
My favourite cognate is probably 'shampooing,' for 'shampoo' in French. Its pronunciation is worth the price of admission into any French class; cracks me up every time.
March 21, 2008
ofravens commented on the word mitosis
For sentimental reasons, probably my favourite joke of all time. :)
March 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word baroque
On my list of funnies solely because I can't think of it or say it without being reminded of David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth, making the "If it ain't baroque, don't fix it" joke in Beauty and the Beast with his awesome line delivery and pronunciation. Hee.
March 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word bugs
I'm having the same problem that chained_bear is having.
March 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word abscond
That quote just made my night. Thanks, Prolagus.
March 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word chasuble
Try as I might, I cannot get chasuble off my "words that make me laugh" list, and it's all Oscar Wilde's fault.
March 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word mitosis
Q: What did the biologist say when he dropped his slides on the lab floor?
A: Don't step on mitosis!
March 10, 2008
ofravens commented on the list firmament-clogging-rotteness
Oh, this made me laugh. Firmament-clogging! Thank you for that.
March 10, 2008
ofravens commented on the user tree
hello, dear tree! this is A. I am like the proverbial kid in a candy store in this place.
March 9, 2008
ofravens commented on the word zeugma
"Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,
Dost sometimes counsel take---and sometimes Tea."
--Alexander Pope, "The Rape of the Lock," Canto III
March 9, 2008