Words of the day from July 2003

[JadziaDax]

The Word of the Day for July 1 is:

temporize • \TEM-puh-ryze\ • (verb) 1. to act to suit the time or occasion; yield to current or dominant opinion; compromise; 2. to draw out discussions or negotiations so as to gain time

A little more information about today’s word:
"Temporize" comes from the Medieval Latin verb "temporizare" ("to pass the time"), which itself comes from the Latin noun "tempus," meaning "time." ("Tempus" is also the root of such words as "tempo," "contemporary," and "temporal.") If you need to buy some time, you might resort to temporizing—but you probably won't win admiration for doing so. "Temporize" can have a somewhat negative connotation. For instance, a political leader faced with a difficult issue might temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point of such temporizing is to avoid taking definite—and possibly unpopular—action, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away. But the effect is often just to make matters worse.

My sentence (using definition #2):
The legislature was accused of temporizing while the budget deficit continued to worsen.

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

Next sentence?

[redravin40]

Management tried to temporize the negotiations with the union rather then bargain in good faith.

[spectre]

After heated debate, both sides decided to temporize to end the deadlock.

[gov135]

The agents for the ballplayer temporized while they dtermined if the player had other suiters.

[rogue49]

Sometimes I temporize my bosses' pet projects,
while dealing with the real issues.

No wonder I get into to trouble.

[Andric]

My kid begins to temporize when bedtime is near.

[JadziaDax]

The Word of the Day for July 2 is:

redbrick • \RED-brick\ • (adjective) 1. built of red brick; 2 often capitalized: of, relating to, or being the British universities founded in the 19th or early 20th century

A little more information about today’s word:
Although red brick is a perfectly innocent building material in America, the British usage of "redbrick" is often potentially uncomplimentary. "Redbrick" is a British coinage created to denote the universities which were newer and perhaps less prestigious than Oxford and Cambridge (and sometimes the ancient universities of Scotland). These newer universities tended to be constructed of red brick, rather than the stone used for Oxford and Cambridge, and were most often created in industrial cities such as Liverpool. Sometimes the term is also used to distinguish these universities from those built after World War II. Limited evidence suggests that "redbrick" may be developing an extended meaning of "lower-class" or "working class," but this is not established enough to merit dictionary entry.

My sentence (using definition #2):
Maureen graduated with a Redbrick degree three years ago and now works in London.

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

Next sentence?

[spectre]

The man felt very confident that he would get the job because of his Redbrick degree.

[QuasiMojo]

Janis, with her Old Navy attire and Redbrick upbringing could never quite fit in with her new crowd up on the Hill.

[QuasiMojo]

As my bills fly in every month I am constantly temporizing in the most creative ways.

[sbscout]

Newly graduated from the community college, Stan was surprised that his redbrick diploma did not open many doors.

[sbscout]

My wife accuses me of temporizing when it comes to the ol' "honeydew" list...

[rogue49]

Yale & Harvard would not be considered Redbrick institutions,
either figuratively or literally.

[redravin40]

Today a degree gained through the internet (even from a reputable college) would be considered redbrick.

[Conclamo Ludus]

If you want a gal with more than just a killer body, go chase after the redbrick poon.

[CoinKing]

If I graduated with a redbrick degree, I'd probably have a bloody English accent. It'd be rippa. :-)

[JadziaDax]

The Word of the Day for July 3 is:

abject • \AB-jekt\ • (adjective) 1. sunk to or existing in a low state or condition; 2a. cast down in spirit; servile, spiritless; 2b. showing utter hopelessness or resignation; 3. expressing or offered in a humble and often ingratiating spirit

A little more information about today’s word:
"Abject" comes to us from Latin "abjectus," the past participle of the verb "abicere," meaning "to cast off." "Abicere" in turn comes from the prefix "ab-" ("away, off") and the verb "jacere," which means "to throw." As you may have guessed, "reject" is a cousin of "abject"—it is ultimately derived from "re-" and "jacere." (Both words arrived in English in the 15th century.) "Jacere" has a number of other descendants in English as well, including "deject," "eject," "conjecture," and "adjective," just to name a few.

My sentence (using definition #2b):
"In reality the difference between spectacular success and abject failure can come down to a little luck and a few dedicated inventors toiling behind the scenes."
-- Robert Langreth and Zina Moukheiber, Forbes, June 23, 2003

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

Next sentence?

[spectre]

The abject failure of the experiment was disheartening to the scientist.

[redravin40]

Living in abject poverty has a way of destroying peoples hopes and sense of humanity.

[rogue49]

There have been times in my life where I've been in an abject mood.
I kick myself out of it, and move on.

[vermin]

Reality television can be described as abject entertainment.

[Fake Alias]

He entered an abject depression following the death of his grandfather.

[JadziaDax]

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<span style=filter:glow(color=white,strength=9);width:100%><font size=9 face="Arial">Happy 4th</font></span>
</center>

The Word of the Day for July 4 is:

bloviate • \BLOH-vee-ayt\ • (verb) to speak or write verbosely and windily

A little more information about today’s word:
Warren G. Harding is often linked to "bloviate," but to him the word wasn't even remotely insulting; it simply meant "to spend time idly." Harding used the word often in that "hanging around" sense, but during his tenure as the 29th U.S. President (1921-23), he became associated with the "verbose" sense of "bloviate," perhaps because his speeches tended to the long-winded side. Although he is sometimes credited with having coined the word, it's more likely that Harding picked it up from local slang while hanging around with his boyhood buddies in Ohio in the late 1800s. The term most likely derives from a combination of the word "blow" plus the suffix "-ate."

My sentence:
Paul can bloviate on a par with the windiest of politicians, but he’s also capable of being concise and getting right to the point.

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

Next sentence?

[redravin40]

If I don't stick to my notes during a presentation I tend to bloviate out of nervousness.

[rogue49]

Well, god knows I'm NEVER one to bloviate.

[QuasiMojo]

Larry the Loquacious' rambling bloviations were like an opiate to those he came into contact with,

[spectre]

I'm generally quiet, so I tend not to bloviate.

[vermin]

I could bloviate all night and you still wouldn't listen.

[Andric]

He often dreamed of great things for himself, but laziness restricted him to an abject existence.

[Andric]

Some females I know can bloviate with the best of them.

[rat]

Although many times people find the need to be concise to the point of being terse or taciturn, some tend to migrate towards the opposite end of the spectrum and bloviate with uncomparable verbosity and superfluously flowery speech.

[Cumhachd]

I bloviate when I don't need to, and procrastinate when I need to bloviate.

Twice the bloviation!

[JadziaDax]

The Word of the Day for July 7 is:

chin-wag • \CHIN-wag\ • (noun) slang: conversation, chat

A little more information about today’s word:
In English, phrases about wagging tongues have suggested the act of speech since at least the late 1500s. The pairing of "chin" with "wag" to refer to talk didn't occur until several centuries later, but when it did, "chin" took on a life of its own as a term for idle chatter. Other "chin" expressions for loose lips include "chin-music" (a noun meaning "idle talk, chatter"), "chinfest" (another noun synonymous with "chat"), and "chin" itself (which can be used either as a verb meaning "to chatter" or a noun meaning "a chat").

My sentence:
"Few things in life are better than a good chin-wag over a cup of tea," my aunt often said, and I have fond memories of our many teatime chats.

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

Next sentence?

[Peetster]

Our weekend in Las Vegas is sure to be remembered fondly in future beer fueled chin-wags.

[mrsandman]

I was watch chin-Wag The Dog, and couldn’t believe one of my favorite actors portrayed that cur.

[rogue49]

The TFP members are known for their constant chin-wagging.

[redravin40]

The tiny beard musicians like to grow right under their bottom lip is a chin-wag.

[cronopio]

The garrulous tend to bloviate.

[Conclamo Ludus]

We need to have a chin-wag.

[Conclamo Ludus]

He bloviated endlessly during our chin-wag.