English Language Word of the Week: Tautology

Definition of TAUTOLOGY
1
a : needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word b : an instance of tautology
2
: a tautologous statement
Examples of TAUTOLOGY

1. “A beginner who has just started” is a tautology.

Origin of TAUTOLOGY
Late Latin tautologia, from Greek, from tautologos
First Known Use: 1574

Ignominious--Is this a great fucking Vocabulary word or what?

ig·no·min·i·ous
adj \ˌig-nə-ˈmi-nē-əs\
Definition of IGNOMINIOUS
1
: marked with or characterized by disgrace or shame : dishonorable
2
: deserving of shame or infamy : despicable
3
: humiliating, degrading
— ig·no·min·i·ous·ly adverb
— ig·no·min·i·ous·ness noun
Examples of IGNOMINIOUS

1.
2.

English Language Word of the Week: Supercilious

Definition of SUPERCILIOUS
: coolly and patronizingly haughty
— su·per·cil·ious·ly adverb
— su·per·cil·ious·ness noun

English language word of the week: Erudite

Adj. 1. Erudite - having or showing profound knowledge; "a learned jurist"; "an erudite professor"
learned
scholarly - characteristic of scholars or scholarship; "scholarly pursuits"; "a scholarly treatise"; "a scholarly attitude"

Erudite [ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt]
adj
having or showing extensive scholarship; learned
[from Latin ērudītus, from ērudīre to polish, from ex-1 + rudis unpolished, rough]
eruditely adv
erudition [ˌɛrʊˈdɪʃən], eruditeness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

English language word of the week: Aplomb

Main Entry: aplomb
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈpläm, -ˈpləm\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, literally, perpendicularity, from Middle French, from a plomb, literally, according to the plummet
Date: 1823
: complete and confident composure or self-assurance : poise
synonyms see confidence

JIngoism: English Language word of the week.

Jingoism is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy".[1] In practice, it refers to the advocation of the use of threats or actual force against other countries in order to safeguard what they perceive as their country's national interests, and colloquially to excessive bias in judging one's own country as superior to others – an extreme type of nationalism.
The term originated in Britain, expressing a pugnacious attitude towards Russia in the 1870s. During the 19th century in the United States, journalists called this attitude spread-eagleism. "Jingoism" did not enter the U.S. vernacular until near the turn of the 20th century. This nationalistic belligerence was intensified by the sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor that led to the Spanish-American War of 1898.

This is from Wikipedia

English language word of the week: Numinous

nu·mi·nous   [noo-muh-nuhs, nyoo-] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or like a numen; spiritual or supernatural.
2.
surpassing comprehension or understanding; mysterious: that element in artistic expression that remains numinous.
3.
arousing one's elevated feelings of duty, honor, loyalty, etc.: a benevolent and numinous paternity.
Origin:
1640–50; < L nūmin- (s. of nūmen) numen + -ous
Dictionary.com Unabridged

Surpassing comprehension or understanding---Oh I like that!!!!!

Art by Lichtenstein

English language word of the week: Nihilism

ni·hil·ism (nī'ə-lĭz'əm, nē'-)
n.
Philosophy

An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.

A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all previous theories of morality or religious belief.

The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.

also Nihilism A diffuse, revolutionary movement of mid 19th-century Russia that scorned authority and tradition and believed in reason, materialism, and radical change in society and government through terrorism and assassination.

Psychiatry A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.


[Latin nihil, nothing; see ne in Indo-European roots + -ism.]
ni'hil·ist n., ni'hil·is'tic adj., ni'hil·is'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source



Medical Dictionary

ni·hi·lism definition
Pronunciation: /ˈnī-(h)ə-ˌliz-əm, ˈnē-/
Function: n
1 : NIHILISTIC DELUSION
2 : skepticism as to the value of a drug or method of treatment
ni·hi·lis·ticPronunciation: /ˌnī-(h)ə-ˈlis-tik, ˌnē-/
Function: adj
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
nihilism ni·hil·ism (nī'ə-lĭz'əm, nē'-)
n.

The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.

A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.

The systems are thoroughly empty and false. The term is from the Latin nihil, meaning “nothing.”

Laconic, Timorous, English language vocab. of the week

la·con·ic (l-knk)
adj.
Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

Aitch's cultural observations are laconic.

la·con·ic (l-knk)
adj.
Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.


Timorous [ˈtɪmərəs]
adj
1. fearful or timid
2. indicating fear or timidity
[from Old French temoros, from Medieval Latin timōrōsus, from Latin timor fear, from timēre to be afraid]
timor

Already have timorous somewhere on the blog but can't find it so here it is.

English language word of the week: Surreptitious

Main Entry: sur·rep·ti·tious
Pronunciation: \ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs, ˌsə-rəp-, sə-ˌrep-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin surrepticius, from surreptus, past participle of surripere to snatch secretly, from sub- + rapere to seize — more at rapid
Date: 15th century
1 : done, made, or acquired by stealth : clandestine
2 : acting or doing something clandestinely : stealthy
synonyms see secret
— sur·rep·ti·tious·ly adverb

The super-model has a plan to steal the "it-boy" from his girlfriend; she is clever and will proceed surreptitiously.

Chicanery: English language Vocab. word of the week Saw the film Magnolia

Synonyms:
artifice, cheating, chicane, deviousness, dishonesty, dodge, double-crossing, double-dealing, duplicity, feint, fourberie, fraud, furtiveness, gambit, hanky-panky, intrigue, machination, maneuver, plot, ploy, ruse, sharp practice, skullduggery, sophistry, stratagem, subterfuge, surreptitiousness, underhandedness, wiles
Notes: duplicity implies double-dealing while chicanery suggests trickery and wiliness
Antonyms:
forthrightness, honesty, truthfulness



I thought of this word while watching Magnolia d. PT Anderson. The Tom Cruise character Frank TJ Mackay has a plant in his audience of men attending his "workshop." Later in the film we see that the man who asked the question and garnered Frank Mackey 's empathy is an employee of his. I think we could say there was some chicanery involved in his tactics to help these men "Command the cock and Conquer the cunt." If you have seen Magnolia this will make sense. It is definitely a film to watch more than once. But I want to get on to Before the Devil Knows You are Dead as promised. I am trying to see all PSH films. Well not all, but many of them. He had a role in this ensemble piece. He is always believable and he was in this film as well. I will someday transcribe my notes on Magnolia, or ask the questions I want to ask, or see it again!!!

English language word of the week: Convivial

There's no room for somber thoughts on convivial occasions like fiesta, weddings, and reunions.
And of or relating to fondness for: eat, drink and be merry type stuff.
–adjective
1.
friendly; agreeable: a convivial atmosphere.
2.
fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company; jovial.
3.
of or befitting a feast; festive.
convivial
: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company

English language word of the week:

mensch (mens̸h, menc̸h)
noun pl. menschen mensch′en (-ən)
a person, esp. a man, regarded as being honorable, decent, and responsible and having strength of character
Etymology: Yiddish < Ger, person < OHG mannisco, orig., human < mann, man + isc-, -ish
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


I always knew that mensch was a Yiddish term, but I thought it was a derogatory one.--- Shows you what I know--- about American -Yiddish anyway. Many Yiddish words are certainly a part of American slang. Certainly there is a book or three on the topic.

English language word of the week: Amanuensis

Main Entry: aman·u·en·sis
Pronunciation: \ə-ˌman-yə-ˈwen(t)-səs\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural aman·u·en·ses \-(ˌ)sēz\
Etymology: Latin, from (servus) a manu slave with secretarial duties
Date: 1619
: one employed to write from dictation or to copy what another has written.

Pat Hackett acted as amanuensis to Andy Warhol. This is how the AW Diaries and Popism were written.

English language word of the week: diaphanous

Main Entry: di·aph·a·nous
Pronunciation: \dī-ˈa-fə-nəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin diaphanus, from Greek diaphanēs, from diaphainein to show through, from dia- + phainein to show — more at fancy
Date: 1614
1 : characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through
2 : characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ethereal
3 : insubstantial, vague
— di·aph·a·nous·ly adverb
— di·aph·a·nous·ness noun

Andy Warhol in a cowboy looking hat. Loving this book "The Genious of Andy Warhol" By David Dalton and Tony S. Somebody.

How about producing my own TV show in the spirit of AW. How about a press pass to do interviews in the name of AW. Love my stylin' abilities. Check out the photo place in Belmar. CAMC.

English language word of the week: Evanescent plus Jake G. Kristin White saw him!

Definitions of evanescent on the Web:

tending to vanish like vapor; "evanescent beauty"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
"Evanescent" is the third single by the Japanese band Vamps, released on May 13, 2009. It includes a cover of the 1973 song "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie. The limited edition included a DVD with the music video for "Evanescent."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evanescent_(Vamps)
Evanescent is a term used to describe skin lesions, like wheals, that last for less than 24hours before resolving. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evanescent_(dermatology)
vanishing, disappearing, fleeting; ephemeral, momentary; barely there, almost imperceptible
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/evanescent
Evanescently - An wave is a nearfield standing wave with an intensity that exhibits exponential decay with distance from the boundary at which the wave was formed. Evanescent waves are a general property of wave-equations, and can in principle occur in any context to which a wave-equation applies. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evanescently
evanescently - In an evanescent manner
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/evanescently
rapidly disappearing.
www.mykoweb.com/CAF/glossary.html
Evanescent is a word used to describe a fragrance that disappears quickly.
www.discountperfume.net.au/Articles.asp
passing away gradually or imperceptibly (evanescence)
www.eldritchdark.com/articles/criticism/69/a-glossary-for-the-fiction-of-clark-ashton-smith
lasting only a short time; transitory. Haunting behavior is evanescent and exiguous ( extremely scanty; deficient in fullness, extent).
mysite.verizon.net/vzeoqapc/ghostexcavator/id30.html

Vanishing like a vapor is the main definition I heard. All of these definitions are interesting. Fucking awesome English word!! And HOT picture to go along with it!!
LOVE you out there people!

English language word of the week: Quintessence

He/she/or it is the quintessence or the epitome of. A certain type of style. Falling Water became the quintessence or epitome of the modernist mid-century style. Came to define the style.


Main Entry: quin·tes·sence
Pronunciation: \kwin-ˈte-sən(t)s\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French quinte essence, from Medieval Latin quinta essentia, literally, fifth essence
Date: 15th century
1 : the fifth and highest element in ancient and medieval philosophy that permeates all nature and is the substance composing the celestial bodies
2 : the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form
3 : the most typical example or representative
— quin·tes·sen·tial \ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl\ adjective
— quin·tes·sen·tial·ly adverb


I use it mainly as in the second definition. Isn't the first definition beautiful though??????j NOw that I read the third version that is the most used definition today, The fifth essence of what?

Here is from an online encyclopedia. Alchemy: I had a feeling that is what is meant by fifth element. Distilled to it's purest form. Cutting to the core, incisive.


quintessence substance latent in all things, the extraction of which was one of the objects of alchemy XV; most essential part XVI. — F. quintessence, †quinte essence — medL. quinta essentia ‘fifth essence’, the fifth primary body besides the elements of earth, fire, air, and water.
Hence quintessential XVII.

English vocabularly word of the week. Jocular

Shit I need the word of the week. How about jocular? just sprang into my head fully formed. Like Athena out of Zeus, I think is that right? Help me with my Greek Mythology everyone........Love to do this rambling high like this. It is fun. I love Tom Ford. I can't wait to see his film. I heard only a snippet of an interview with him on Terry Gross/Fresh Air. I want my own 5 questions segment with him. Ask him about his velvet jacket . The objectification of men along the lines of women's objectification. Ask him a bout Yves Saint Laurent, Sophie Dahl and her skin and her being a plus size model, and all the other stuff I know about him. Full frontal for men. He says he posed nude for an ad or a fashion shoot. I don't know if that is what the image is here, the one man looks like he could be Tom.

Anyway this nude male photo was labeled Tom Ford. The photo you are looking at. Yes, I just checked and the man on the left is indeed the very handsome and sexy Tom Ford. And he does indeed look quite jocular in this advertisement.

Main Entry: joc·u·lar
Pronunciation: \ˈjä-kyə-lər\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin jocularis, from joculus, diminutive of jocus
Date: 1626
1 : given to jesting : habitually jolly or jocund
2 : characterized by jesting : playful
synonyms see witty
— joc·u·lar·i·ty \ˌjä-kyə-ˈler-ə-tē, -ˈla-rə-\ noun
— joc·u·lar·ly \ˈjä-kyə-lər-lē\ adverb
Main Entry: jo·cund
Pronunciation: \ˈjä-kənd also ˈjō-(ˌ)kənd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin jocundus, alteration of Latin jucundus, from juvare to help
Date: 14th century
: marked by or suggestive of high spirits and lively mirthfulness
synonyms see merry
— jo·cun·di·ty \jō-ˈkən-də-tē, jä-\ noun
— jo·cund·ly \ˈjä-kənd-lē, ˈjō-(ˌ)\ adverb


Main Entry: jo·cund
Pronunciation: \ˈjä-kənd also ˈjō-(ˌ)kənd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin jocundus, alteration of Latin jucundus, from juvare to help
Date: 14th century
: marked by or suggestive of high spirits and lively mirthfulness
synonyms see merry
— jo·cun·di·ty \jō-ˈkən-də-tē, jä-\ noun
— jo·cund·ly \ˈjä-kənd-lē, ˈjō-(ˌ)\ adverb

Serendipity: great English Language word of the week

Another gem from the English language. To find something fortunate, when you have been looking for something else. Any works of literature or movies that you care to send in, which illustrate the definition of our word of the week, is greatly appreciated! And here is a FAB photo of Joan Crawford for you. Sorry no credit on it--but she used to pose for hours in MGM costumes for a photographer, whose work of her became famous. He took thousands of photos of her. I read a book about it with all the glorious photos, and MGM dresses and beautiful young ambitious Joanie. I could probably find out the name of the book if I go digging around at Amazon. I know I checked it out at Columbine.

The following definition is taken from Wikipedia:

Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated. The word has been voted as one of the ten English words that were hardest to translate in June 2004 by a British translation company.[1] However, due to its sociological use, the word has been imported into many other languages (Portuguese serendipicidade or serendipidade; French sérendipicité or sérendipité but also heureux hasard, "fortunate chance"; Italian serendipità; Dutch serendipiteit; German Serendipität; Swedish, Danish and Norwegian serendipitet; Romanian serendipitate; Spanish serendipia).