Word of the day August 1
 

The Word of the Day for August 1 is:

palimpsest • \PAL-imp-sest\ • (noun) 1. writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased; 2. something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface

A little more information about today’s word:
In olden days, writing surfaces were so rare that they were often used more than once. "Palimpsest" originally described an early form of recycling in which an old document was erased to make room for a new one when parchment ran short. Fortunately for modern scholars, the erasing process wasn't completely effective, so the original could often be distinguished under the newer writing. De republica, by Roman statesman and orator Cicero, is one of many documents thus recovered from a palimpsest.

My sentence (using definition #1):
The archaeologists discovered that the old parchment was a palimpsest, and they were able to use it to recover an ancient manuscript.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

TFP is a palimpsest, 4 layers deep.

There have been a number of times on Antiques Roadshow when paintings have been discovered to be palimpsest, with the work of a minor painter over that of a master.

Listen palimpsest all you want, I said I got the tab this time!

His computer's hardrive was a porno palimpsest.

Palimpsests were used because of the expense of parchment in Medieval times.

As the teacher wrote her example on the blackboard,
she noticed faded underwriting of taunts in a certain student's handwriting, just like a palimpsest.

My daughter loves her Magna Doodle because it is a palimpsest.

Using definition 2:

My wife's personality is a rich palimpsest.

He had erased and rewritten the love letter so many times that the page had become nothing more than a palimpsest reflecting his contradictory and confused emotions.

Magna Doodle went to town, riding on a pony, stuck a ball point through a palimpsest, indenting permanent scribbles of "macaroni".

Word of the day August 4
 

The Word of the Day for August 4 is:

respite • \RES-pit\ • (noun) 1. a period of temporary delay; especially reprieve; 2. an interval of rest or relief

A little more information about today’s word:
Originally, beginning in the late 13th century, a respite was a delay or extension asked for or granted for a specific reason—to give someone time to deliberate on a proposal, for example. Such a respite offered an opportunity for the kind of consideration inherent in the word’s etymology. "Respite" traces from the Latin term "respectus," which comes from a verb meaning, both literally and figuratively, "to turn around to look at" or "to regard." By the 14th century, we had granted "respite" the sense we use most often today—"a welcome break."

My sentence (using definition #2):
After a grueling semester, the one-week respite before the start of the summer term didn’t seem quite adequate.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

When you’re done using that shovel, just respite against the barn over there.

There is no respite for the weary.

I finished summer school last week, and have yet to see a respite from being busy.

The only time I get a respite from my daughter is when she is asleep.

Going to the vending machine to get a Mars bar was the only respite the hacker allowed herself during her 24 hour coding session.

Word of the day August 5
 

The Word of the Day for August 5 is:

struthious • \STROO-thee-uss ("th" as in "thin" or as in "then")\ • (adjective) of or relating to the ostriches and related birds

A little more information about today’s word:
Paleontologists have found ostrich fossils that are 5 million years old, but "struthious" has only been strutting its stuff in English since the 18th century. "Ostrich" is much older. Anglo-French speakers created "ostriz" from Vulgar Latin "avis struthio" ("ostrich bird"); Middle English speakers made it "ostrich" in the 13th century. Scientists seeking a genus word for ostriches turned back to Latin, choosing "struthio." The related adjective "struthious" can be scientific and literal, or it can be figurative with the meaning "ostrich-like," as in our example sentence. The extended use suggests a tendency to bury one’s head in the sand like an ostrich. But do ostriches really do this? No—the bird’s habit of lying down and flattening its neck and head against the ground to escape detection gave rise to the misconception.

My sentence:
"The law is not so struthious as to compel a judge . . . to divorce himself or herself from common sense or to ignore what is perfectly obvious."
-- Hon. Bruce M. Selya, U.S. v. Sklar, U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

Many people are struthious with their financial problems.

The legislators were struthious when it came to considering the long term effect of the laws they were passing.

Struthious is the most fun I’ve had with my clothes on!

After tripping, the man stood in a struthious pose for a few moments, too embarrassed to move.

When my ex-girlfriend passed by I acted as struthious as I could, hoping she wouldn't see me.

Word of the day August 6
 

The Word of the Day for August 6 is:

vespertine • \VESS-per-tyne\ • (adjective) 1. of, relating to, or occurring in the evening; 2. active, flowering, or flourishing in the evening; crepuscular

A little more information about today’s word:
Imagine this vespertine scenario: Hesperus, the Evening Star, shines in a clear sky; little brown bats flutter near the treetops; somewhere in the distance a church bell calls worshipers to the evening service. Can you find three words (other than "vespertine") associated with the Latin root "vesper," which means "evening," hidden in that scene? The evening star was once known as "Vesper" ("Hesperus" is from the Greek for "evening"); "vespertilian" means "batlike" (the Latin for bat is "vespertilio"); and we still call an evening worship service "vespers."

My sentence (using definition #1):
A vespertine fog crept over the farm, concealing the outbuildings and the orchard and stranding the house in an inky ocean of darkness as the evening turned to night.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

The vespertine attraction I had with my date became more intense as the night went on.

During the long Alaskan winters vespertine activities can begin as early as 4:00 in the afternoon.

Vespertine me up so tight, I won’t have any circulation in my arms, OR legs!

In my college days I was known as Dracula, because it seemed that I only appeared during the vespertine hours and then I mysteriously disappeared again come dawn.

The vespertine hours are always the best times for doing most things.

Word of the day August 7
 

The Word of the Day for August 7 is:

waterloo • \waw-ter-LOO\ • (noun) a decisive or final defeat or setback

A little more information about today’s word:
The Battle of Waterloo, which occurred on June 18, 1815, has given its name to the very notion of final defeat. Why? Maybe because it ended one of the most spectacular military careers in history (Napoleon's), as well as 23 years of recurrent conflict between France and the rest of Europe. In addition, it was Napoleon's second "final defeat." He was defeated and exiled in 1814, but he escaped his confinement, returned to France, and was restored to power for three months before meeting defeat at the hands of the forces allied under the Duke of Wellington near the Belgian village of Waterloo. The word "waterloo" first appeared in casual use the following year, 1816.

My sentence:
The tense chess match between Jim and his father went on for most of the afternoon, until Jim met his waterloo shortly before dinner.

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

Duh...

Mr Mephisto

PS - Did you change your avatar?! :)

The interception in the fourth was what made the game a waterloo when it came to the teams playoff hopes.

My ex-boss thought he had it under control,
until I triggered his waterloo.
Now he doesn't have a dept. or his management anymore.
Ain't life a bitch.:)

” Waterloo looking at? Are you talking to me? Well, there’s nobody else around. Are you talking to me?" (DeNiro)

Going camping next week should be a wonderful respite before school starts up again in three weeks.

lol mrsandman

A new can of Raid in my hand means those fricking bugs that slither under the front door will meet their waterloo very very soon.

Frank was grimly determined to one day be Earnests' personal waterloo. Earnest, with his eternally creased brow, never ceased to be oblivious.

No respite for the weary

One of ABBA's big hits was Waterloo.

hmmm. nice word.

In the half-light, the vespertine denizens of the village could be seen shuffling blindly out their front doors, clawing at the thin, crisp night.