Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to improve vocabulary by learning new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
1. From the time Helen had got out of bed this morning her incorrigible hair had refused to stay in any style suitable for a day showing prospective purchasers around the new apartments:
2. ‘You’re an incorrigible old rogue, Grandad’, Mark said, unable to suppress a smile as the ruddy faced old man sidled over to the drinks cabinet and poured himself another generous Scotch. ‘You know what the doctor said about easing off on the booze, at least until after the test results. Mum’d have a fit if she knew.’
Grandad just winked, and grinned incorrigibly. ‘But yer mum’ll not know about it, will she, lad?’
3 After ten years of marriage to an incorrigible gambler, Alice had had enough: divorce was her only option:
A person playing at a gambling machine. Author: Jose Pereira. Creative Commons
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I rather like this word, especially when used in a humorous and/or affectionate way, as in the second ‘Use in a Sentence’ above.
If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. and is a fun way to learn new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
This is my second time through the alphabet and I’m looking at the letter Hthis week. Last time round I did the word hirsute.
So here is my WOW for this week:
Word
Helicoid
Pronunciation:
hel•i•coid [hɛlɪˌkɔɪd]
Audio:
(Pronunciation of this word is different for the U.K. and U.S.)
Bill wandered around his garden, his camera in his hand. The cucumber tendrils that curled in a delicate helicoid were simply too perfect to be ignored.
Cucumber tendril. Photographer: Robert Reisman Wikimedia Commons
2. The staicase in the old building had been designed like a never-ending helicoid:
Image courtesy of Pixabay
3. For this I have written a short story. It mght be best for anyone who detests physical geography to just ignore it. 🙂
Mr. Anderson gestured to the meander along a section of the winding stream the Year 10 students had come to study as part of their geography field work.
‘Right then,’ he started, ‘who can tell me how the helicoidal flow of the river contributes to the development of a meander?’
Fifteen year old Matthew Johnson raised his hand. ‘Helicoidal flow means the way the water flows in spirals, a bit like a corkscrew, Sir.’
‘OK… good so far, Matthew. Now we know what helicoidal flow means. So how can we apply that knowledge to explain how it helps the development of a meander?’
Mary Scrimshaw tentatively raised her hand. ‘It’s to do with the way the surface flow of the water hits the outer, steeper bank, over there,’ she said, pointing across the stream, ‘helping to further erode it. Then the water sort of does a somersault as it bounces off it…’ She hesitated as a few students giggled at the idea of the water doing a somersault.
‘Excellent, Mary,’ Mr Anderson said with an encouraging smile. ‘The somersault you describe is due to the helicoidal motion of the water. Anything more to add…?
Mary took a breath. ‘The water that hits the outer bank then flows along the river bed – eroding more material as it goes, making the middle of the meander quite deep. Then, when this eroded … er … sediment reaches the opposite bank – the inside bank, that is, where the current is slower – the river dumps it. This makes a sort of little beach on that side.’
Mr. Anderson beamed. ‘Wonderful, Mary… Now, would someone else tell us what we call this area that Mary described as like a ‘little beach’.
‘It’s a slip-off slope’, Jamie Rogers, blurted, looking pleased with himself for knowing that.
‘Hand up, next time James,’ Mr Anderson reproved. ‘But you’re right, a slip-off slope it is.
‘Now, before you begin your sketches, I need to remind you that all this is due to the helicoidal flow and I’d like your completed cross-sections that accompany your sketch to clearly illustrate how that works…’
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I must confess that I don’t find helicoid a particularly attractive word. I’d much prefer to use helical or spiral in my writing. Helicoid works very well in maths and geography, though. And, after all, my WOW posts are not just restricted to beautiful words – much as we all like them. Many words in our vocabulary are not lovely… but certainly just as important.
If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to learn new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
This is my second time through the alphabet and I’m looking at the letter G this week. Last time round I did the word gregarious.
A child of the slums who spends most of his or her time in the streets:
Street Urchins: oil on canvas. Artist: Karl Witkouski, 1810-1910. Public Domain
2. A contemptuous term applied to anyone regarded as having the unsavoury manners, morals, etc. sometimes associated with those living in filth, poverty, or squalor.
Word Origin:
C19: (1855-60) gutter+ snipe: originally a name applied to the common snipe (the bird the common snipe, which picks food out of gutters – and well suited to the boggy marshlands around rivers like the Thames in Victorian London) then to a person who gathered refuse from gutters in city streets.
archaic: mudlark, scapegrace, street Arab (offensive) wastrel, tetterdemalion
Two guttesnipes, 1910. Author: Egon Schiele. Public Domain
Use in a Sentence:
For this, I just have a short story:
Mrs. Rowbotham scowled as she walked into the classroom full of overexcited adolescents. Teaching English to this lot on Bonfire Night was going to be well nigh impossible. Normally well behaved, today, all they could think about was how many fireworks they’d got.
‘Silence!’ she growled as she reached her desk. Silence was instant, as she expected. No one argued with her. ‘You’re behaving like a room full of guttersnipes! And I don’t like mannerless brats in my room.’
Matthew Henderson’s hand shot up, the cheeky grin on his face blatant. This cocky lad always considered himself spokesman for the group.
‘Take that ridiculous grin off your face before you speak, Matthew, or you’ll be seeing me at the end of school.’
The grin instantly dropped. ‘Sorry Miss. I just wanted to ask what a guttersnipe was.’
Mrs. Rowbotham sighed. ‘Does anyone here know what a guttersnipe is …? Well,’ she continued after a negative response, ‘guttersnipe is an old word that can mean someone – generally a child – who spends his or her life in the streets. It could refer to the homeless and destitute, or to someone who lives in an area of squalid housing. It’s often associated with the filthy conditions of the Victorian slums. But we still see the word used today, often in a derogatory way, referring to people living on the streets in many areas around the world. Their situation is often very sad…
A homeless man in Paris, June 2005. Author: Eric Pouhier. Commons
We can also use the word to mean someone with shockingly bad manners – like you rowdy lot today!’
Jenny Marsden’s hand shot up. ‘I saw a great film once… about a Victorian woman called Eliza who came from the slums o’ London. Filthy she were; never ’ad a bath. She sold flowers in the streets to get money t’ buy food –’
‘And this ’ere rich bloke comes along and decides to make ’er into a lady,’ Danny Roberts cut in, ‘with posh manners un’ all. Right good film, that were.’
Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison from My Fair Lady. Flower girl, Eliza meets Professor Henry Higgins.
The buzz of agreement sounded and Mrs. Rowbotham nodded approvingly. ‘Ah, so now we’re getting somewhere. The film is undoubtedly ‘My Fair Lady’, based on a play called ‘Pygmalion’ by George Bernard Shaw – although it’s set in Edwardian times, Jenny, a little later than Victorian era. A young, ill-brought-up woman, who lived in the slums of London… Though she wasn’t completely destitute, her appearance and uncouth manners provide a good example of a guttersnipe.
Mrs. Rowbottom smiled as she lifted a set of books down from the shelf. Though not the lesson she’d planned, ‘Pygmalion’ would do very nicely for a day like Bonfire Night.
‘Please Miss, can I be Professor ’iggins….’ Matthew’s voice rang out.
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(I’m quite fond of Professor Higgins. I was a Higgins for 23 years before I got married – my dad was Thomas Higgins. The Yorkshire kids I taught at that time always dropped the ‘h’, so I was invariably Miss ’iggins to them!)
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“Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw at the Rheingau Theatre in Berlin c1946. Eliza Doolittle with her father. Wikimedia Commons.Delrae Knutson as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, 1986. Author: Delrae Knutson. Commons
If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to improve vocabulary by learning new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
I’m looking at the letter Fthis week.
So here is my WOW for this week:
Word
Febrile
Pronunciation:
fe·brile [fee-bruh l, feb-ruh l or, especially British, fee-brahyl]
1. Dr. Dennis looked levelly at Janet. ‘I must inform you, Mrs. Eliot, that your son’s febrile condition is synonymous with that of patients suffering from malaria, the disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. I believe he has just returned from the South America. . .?
Image courtesy of Pixabay
2. The atmosphere in the large stadium was febrile as teenagers screamed their approval of the latest hit single by their idol, Frothing Freddie from Framlington:
3. Signor Lorenzo Abbatelli sang with febrile intensity throughout the evening performance:
Image courtesy of Pixabay
If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to improve vocabulary by learning new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
Eating the chocolate ice-cream was an ephemeral pleasure in Ellie’s otherwise hectic day.
2. Having a short lifespan or a short annual period of aboveground growth. Used especially of plants – as in chickweed:
Chickweed is known as an ephemeral weed because it produces several generations in one season.
Stellaria Media Common Chickweed. Author: Lazaregadnizda. Wikimedia Commons
3. Noun: Anything that is short-lived, as certain insects – like mayflies.
Mayflies emerge from the water and live for only 24 hours – in which time they must mate and the female lay the eggs on the surface of the water. If enough of them appear at the same time, as in some species, they create a swarm.
Mayfly swarming on Tisza. Author: Kovacs,sziland. Commons
Word Origin:
1570-80; from theGreekephḗmer(os) meaning short-lived,lastingbutaday
The blaze of colour along the valley seemed all the more wonderful to the hikers because it was so ephemeral:
2. Lucy gazed at the old photo of two models wearing 1930’s style swimsuits, considering how fashions were so ephemeral: new ones come in and old ones disappear, perhaps to be reintroduced at a later date:
Fashion Photo: Bathing Suit, Modell Schenk. Circa 1930. Author: Yva (1900-1942). Public Domain: Wikimedia Commons
3. For my third example ‘sentence’ I have concocted this little tale, in which I have attempted to use the various forms of this week’s WOW:
King Eldrin of Elf Land glared at his daughter, Elinora, her pretty face marred by yet another ephemeral scowl. Desperately wanting the wilful young princess out of his hair, he hoped one of today’s contenders would suit her style.
But Elinora had rejected several suitors already, her affections as ephemeral as the beautiful daylilies adorning Eldrin’s palace grounds.
Red and yellow daylily, called a Red Magic Lily. Author: Victorrocha. Commons.
The ephemerality of Elinora’s affections worried King Eldrin, as his daughter was rapidly leaving her youth behind. His worried subjects would soon be assigning her spinster status. He understood too well the ephemeralness of beauty. One only had to look at his wife, Queen Ermintrude, whose rare beauty had rapidly deteriorated post wedlock. Before long she had begun to resemble the cow* after whom she was named.
Today, a handsome young prince named Elandorr would attempt to engage Elinora in ephemerally interesting conversation. As long as it held the girl’s attention for an hour, Eldrin would declare him the victor in this marriage game, as previously arranged. With a bit of luck, Elinora and her ephemeral nature would henceforth be Elandorr’s problem.
* Ermintrude was the name of the cow in the 1960’s cartoon series called The Magic Roundabout – since made into a film. Ermintrude was really quite sweet, so I mean no offence to her! All the pictures I could find of her were copyright, hence I’ve none to show here. 😦
If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to improve vocabulary by learning new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
I’m looking at the letter Dthis week.
I’m still in the middle of my Malta posts. Back to those soon . . .
Diminutive doorway. A tiny doorway, 18 inches high, in an ancient wall on Motherby Hill. The notice on the door says: “DANGER steep staircase”. Source: geograph.org.uk. Author: Richard Croft.
2. n. Grammar: Of or being a suffix that indicates smallness or qualities such a youth, familiarity, affection – or even contempt. Egs: -let in booklet,-kin in lambkin, or -et in nymphet, or – ette, as in kitchenette.
An example of a Canadian cuisinette /kitchenette in a studio apartment in Quebec. Author: Shadiac. Commons
3. A diminutive suffix, word or name, e.g. Maggie for Margaret, Tommy /Tommie for Thomas. (My son, Thomas – fifth ‘child’ now 34 – positively refuses to answer to Tommy!)
4. n. A very small person or thing (persons in this example):
Diminutive humans attack a giant cat. A ghost-like figure sits in a boat at the top left. Wellcome Trust mages. Commons
Word Origin:
1350-1400; Middle English diminutif, from Old French, from Latin dīminutīvus, from dīminūtus, past participle of dīminuere.
We emerged from the pine forest into an open space, with a diminutive loch, little more than a pond, at the centre of it:
Diminutive Fir Loch. geograph.org.uk. Author: Des Colhoun. Commons
2. The body of the female Giant House Spider can reach 18.5 mm (0.73 in) in length, with that of the male being much more diminutive at 12.7 mm (1.5 in):
Female Giant House Spider, of the genus Tegenaria atrica, building its second egg sac. From Cologne, Germany. Author: Sarefo. Commons
3. In the silent room at one minute to midnight on Christmas Eve, the diminutive green-clad elf hopped down from the Christmas tree, ready to help Santa unload his toys when he came down the chimney:
A diminutive Christmas elf on a Christmas tree decoration. Originally posted on Flickr. Author: Jolene Morris. Commons
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If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Word of the Week (WOW) is a weekly challenge created by Heena Rathore P. It’s a fun way to improve vocabulary by learning new words every week. To participate, simply do a post with your word and leave the link as a comment on Heena’s WOW post for this week (above link).
I’ve already been through the alphabet once and now have started again. I’m looking at the letter C this week.
This makes a nice break in my Malta posts. Back to those soon . . .
So, here is my WOW for this week:
Word:
Carbuncle
Meaning
A severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria:
Image courtesy of Pixabay
(Perhaps not the best example of a severe carbuncle. I really didn’t want to put anyone off reading by looking at the image I found on Wikipedia!)
2. A bright red gem, in particular a garnet cut en cabochon. (En cabochon means polished but not faceted.)
A small sample of garnet. Author: Teravolt. Commons
3. A mythical creature. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any images of this one, but here’s a description I found on a blog here:
“Carbuncle was a mythical creature, reportedly sighted in the Americas by Spanish conquistadors. It is described as a small creature, a bird or a mammal, that has a gem in its forehead, crystalised from the brain of a dead dragon. According to myth, it is good luck to catch a carbuncle.”
The great storm drove our sailing ship considerably off course, and once it had abated, a small, carbuncular island came gradually into sight:
Bangchuidao Island, Dalian, China. Author: Jesse900. Commons
2. (Adjective use) The exterior of the pomegranate had ripened into a deep, carbuncular red, but the seeds inside were bright scarlet:
Image courtesy of Pixabay
3. This example is a little longer than a sentence … but who’s word counting? 🙂
‘The ugly witch cackled, her voice like a corncrake, and when she turned I saw the massive green carbuncle sitting on her nose. She –’
‘Stop!’ yelled Mrs Humphreys, the tyrant English teacher. ‘I told you several times, William, that carbuncles are red.’
‘Well, this one i’n’t,’ William retorted. ‘Me dad said the word can mean just a big lump. ‘E should know, he ‘ad one on his b-’
‘Enough!’ Mrs Humphreys shrieked as the class dissolved into fits of laughter. ‘Only red carbuncles permitted in this story. If your father disagrees, William, he can see me about it’
‘He bleedin’ well will, un’ all,’ William muttered under his breath. ‘You’re wrong about this, yer silly old moo.’
(Apologies to all teachers, including my former self.)
Shutterstock image
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If you’d like to view more interesting words, visit Heena’s Page
Millie Thom 