Word of the Day

[Augustine2004]

appoggiatura



music. A grace note of varying length, usually one step above or below the note it precedes. Compare acciaccatura.



For some curious reason, Stu could not play appoggiaturas well.

[Augustine2004]

Appomattox Court House



essay. I don't know if my dictionary is in error. Only Appomattox is listed, there is none for Appomattox Court House. As shown here
http://www.nps.gov/apco/index.htm
'Appomattox Court House, Virginia' is the full name of the town where R.E. Lee of the Confederate States of America surrounded to U.S. Grant of the United States of America, April 5, 1865, thus bringing the War Between the States to a close.



It always grated on Professor Glad Henry whenever an eminent historian would refer to 'Appomattox' without including 'Court House.' Henry's face would turn red, and his fists would clench. His lips would move, and a lipreader could read them forming the silent words, 'Court House, Court House, . . . '

[Augustine2004]

astaxanthin


essay. This carotenoid (like beta carotene in carrots or Vitamin A) is quickly becoming prominent in nutritional science as possibly the most potent antioxidant in nature. The wikipedia article on it does not mention possible benefits, though.



Teabeatene grew tired of hearing Lady Whitstun-Gunnar go on and on about the 'great health benefits' of astaxanthin, and felt ready to attack the table of krill-algae dishes savagely.

[Augustine2004]

asterism



three asterisks in a triangular array used to call attention to a following passage.
Astronomy. A cluster of stars.
Mineralogy. a six-rayed star-like figure observed in some crystal structures.

(See images http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...FORM=BIFD#x0y0 )



Stars blazing overhead in velvety blackness, Teabot pointed out the Teapot asterism. 'That's near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.'

[Augustine2004]

Asterope



variant of Sterope [This wikipedia webpage lists quite a cast of characters bearing that name.]
one of the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades (images, map http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades )



After pointing out the Teapot, Teabottle turned to face North, and searched in vain for the Pleiades. He was disappointed, for he wanted to show Lady Asteroworthy where Asterope was in that star group.

[Augustine2004]

asthenic



of or having a slender, long-limbed physique.
Of or having asthenia (lack of strength).



The asthenic esthene slothfully wended his way through the crowd. It took him a long time to gain much distance and he had to take frequent breaks to catch his breath. But he was determined to reach his goal, that of viewing the Pieta. Finally after what seemed an eternity, he beheld the smooth, well-lit white marble so lovingly carved and polished lo many centuries ago.

[Augustine2004]

Asti



Town in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, famous for its sparkling white wine, Asti Spumante.



Teabrogge so liked his host's Asti Spumante servings that he became disgracefully drunk. The host was at first pleased, but eventually refused to serve any more.

[Augustine2004]

Astraea
Astrea



Greek goddess associated with justice.



According to a Wikipedia article, 'Fleeing from the new wickedness of humanity, she ascended to heaven to become the constellation Virgo;[3] the scales of justice she carried became the nearby constellation Libra, reflected in her symbolic association with Justitia in Latin culture.'

[Augustine2004]

astraphobia



fear of lightning and thunder.



The doctor let out a whoop of belly laughter. 'No, no,' he said. 'It was just astraphobia. The bandit came later, after the storm.'

[Augustine2004]

astrict
astrictive



Essay. The first word means to bind, confine or constrict (transitive verb). The second word may be an adjective form, but it can mean 'astringent' in some contexts.



As Lady Beatous applied Joy's Astrictive Cream to her rosy cheeks, Teabound vainly strained against the cords astricting his mighty body to the steel chair. Failure to break loose might mean the abduction of fair Phersephone by Ming the Merciless.

[Augustine2004]

astrobleme



an ancient crater on the earth's surface formed by the impact of a meteorite.



Wondering what the craters on the moon are called, I looked at this wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrobleme 'Impact crater' is the term, I guess.

If the astrobleme becomes so eroded that on the surface it no looks like a crater, the term is 'impact structure.' The wikipedia article has a list.

[Augustine2004]

astroid



a hypocycloid plane curve with four cusps--see diagram here




Elektrifi purchased five gross of astroid-shaped throwing stars made by the great Grossner. Within hours she started practicing throwing the stars. Three months later she became rather proficient. Perhaps she could kill an elephant with several stars before getting trampled.

[Augustine2004]

asunder
asyndeton
parataxis



Essay. I wasn't going to select asunder as one of today's Word, but I thought asyndeton, the second Word, came from the same root. The Greek word sun means 'together.' The Greek word dein means 'to bind.' The prefix a- in those words means 'not.' However, one might not figure out that asyndeton means 'the omission of conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used': He wrote, he drew, he painted.

The third word has a similar meaning. It will be a Word of the Day eventually.



The English professor wrote in the margin of a student's paper: 'You could use asyndeton more. Like this: Sheep bleated, cows lowed, horses neighed, dogs barked.'

[Augustine2004]

asyntactic



not syntactic.



If you see any asyntactic part of this sentence, tell me as soon as you can. Capisci? If not, youse gonna met youse miker soon.

[Augustine2004]

Atacama Desert




Desert in northwestern Chile.



The South Pole aside, the Atacama is possibly the driest place in the world.
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/110...1-driest-place
Laddies and lassies, if you want a metaphor for dry place, the Atacama Desert is it!