What new word did you learn today?

[Woof]

I shook the Google tree and it left me even more convinced that I should find a decades-long linguistics scholar encased in a library tower of a gothic mansion to untangle that etymology but it did point out that skyscraper is a modern kenning and that would not have occurred to me

I do think you're both right though. I *think* that both the old Norse ken and the Scottish ken are the same because the Scottish one came via the North Germanic languages -- Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese -- rather than Celtic/Gaelic which would make it a long lost ancestor. It would seem apt: Anyone I've ever met from up the top of Scotland, and especially the Hebrides, has such a different way of speaking with an accent that's so soft and with a real kind of relaxed shape to it that has far more in common with Norwegian than Scots English. Maybe that's a remnant of Scots Gaelic though? I've never met anyone that speaks that as a first language.

 

[Louanne Learning]

up the top of Scotland, and especially the Hebrides, has such a different way of speaking with an accent

In the words of Samuel Johnson - the Scots don't talk; they sing.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Aglet. The small plastic or metal sheath that is found at the end of a shoelace or cord. Its primary purpose is to prevent the fibers of the lace from fraying, thereby ensuring that the lace remains functional over time. While they may seem insignificant, aglets enhance the durability of shoelaces and facilitate easier threading through eyelets.

So now you know.

 

[Woof]

Have a phrase today:

Tinkety tonk: A cheery farewell from the early to mid 20th century.

It really tickled me. My partner is about to get SO sick of hearing it.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Have a phrase today:

Tinkety tonk: A cheery farewell from the early to mid 20th century.

It really tickled me. My partner is about to get SO sick of hearing it.

Ahoy-hoy! The office of Charles Montgomery Burns here!

 

[Louanne Learning]

contumacy - obstinate disobedience

 

[Woof]

contumacy - obstinate disobedience

The very best type

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Pastorale. There are two meanings to this old word:

1. A slow instrumental composition in compound time, usually with drone notes in the bass.
2. A simple musical play with a rural subject.

One of the best known pastorales is Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, aka "Pastorale". Even if you know nothing about classical music, I'm sure you'd recognise the opening to this symphony.

 

[WellWater]

dislimn - to cause to become dim or indistinct

Failure to use vocabulary words learned in my youth have rendered them dislimned!

 

[Louanne Learning]

Seijaku (Japanese) – silence, calm and serenity in the midst of chaos

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Appoggiatura - a grace note which delays the next note of the melody, taking half or more of its written time value.

(And I created another word: Appologgiatura - when you play a wrong note by accident, cut it short, and play the right note, often feeling the heat of embarrassment rising in your cheeks).

 

[Homer Potvin]

Appoggiatura - a grace note which delays the next note of the melody, taking half or more of its written time value.

(And I created another word: Appologgiatura - when you play a wrong note by accident, cut it short, and play the right note, often feeling the heat of embarrassment rising in your cheeks).

Very cool. The definition threw me a for a minute, because that's the antithesis of a grace note. But apparently what separates an appologgiatura from other grace notes is that it has rhythmic accountability, whereas the others do not. The typical grace note has no rhythmic significance, meaning it exists independently of the note structure and doesn't change duration with tempo. In the guitar world, this comes up all the time in the blues. Like with Stevie Ray's slides, they don't change between regular time, half time, or double time.

 

[Louanne Learning]

Dormiveglia – the space that stretches between sleeping and waking

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Dormiveglia – the space that stretches between sleeping and waking

Is this that period of time also known as stretching, yawning, and thinking "Oh ****, gotta get up and go to work again"?

 

[Louanne Learning]

stretching, yawning, and thinking "Oh ****, gotta get up and go to work again"?

I think by that time you are already awake!

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Then ... what are we talking about, here? *puzzled* Is it the time when you're half-asleep, tossing and turning, but not thinking anything yet?

 

[Louanne Learning]

Then ... what are we talking about, here? *puzzled* Is it the time when you're half-asleep, tossing and turning, but not thinking anything yet?

Well, I imagine it is analogous to the hypnopompic state - where consciousness starts to stir, but sleep paralysis still functions

Often, during this interval, persons experience hallucinations

 

[WellWater]

fusty- something old-fashioned and out-of-date.

Sadly, those that cling to the notion that traits like politeness and patience are good are largely perceived as oh so fusty.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

fusty- something old-fashioned and out-of-date.

Sadly, those that cling to the notion that traits like politeness and patience are good are largely perceived as oh so fusty.

Whaddaya mean, I'm fusty?! Why you little critter ... OOOOoooOOOoooHHH!!! *jumps up and down like Yosemite Sam*

And speaking of which:

Choleric: A person who is easily moved to excessive or unreasonable anger. (This word derives from the ancient and medieval theory of the "four humours", where yellow bile (choler) was associated with a quick-tempered, irritable personality).

Splenetic: A person marked by bad temper, malevolence, or spite. (From the ancient Greek "splen", i.e. spleen. Again, from the "four humours" theory: the spleen was believed to be the source of "black bile," associated with melancholy, anger, and bad temper).