Word of the Day

[D. Allan]

grift

noun

1. Methods of obtaining money dishonestly through swindles, frauds, cheating at gambling, etc.

2. Money obtained though grift.

verb (no object) grift, grifted, grifting, grifts

3. To profit by grift.

verb (with object)

4. To obtain money or other profit by grift. –based on the Random House Dictionary

Related word:s grifter, griftopia noun

Origins:

1914, U.S. underworld slang, perhaps a corruption of graft. –Online Etymology Dictionary

This grift may be centered here in California but if anyone else has had this happen, an approved loan that was stalled to later justify increased loan pricing (points) please call the Federal Trade Commission to register a complaint. –Readers’ Comments, The New York Times, Oct. 23. 2010

The film, which holds to the novel quite faithfully, although a shade less graphically, is a darkly unsentimental study of those on the grift, who con themselves as often as their mark. –Betsy Sharkey, The New York Times, Dec. 2, 1990

Miss Huston says she found "The Grifters" quite unlike any film she has done and Lily unlike any character she's ever played. Betsy Sharkey, The New York Times, Dec. 2, 1990

The Ponzi grift is a thing of beauty if crafted properly.

The grifters in the White House and Congress are much less subtle, and much more brutal. –Readers’ Comments, ‘The Lede,’ The New York Times, Sept. 20, 2007

It's only going to get worse as the crowd who ran the crooked mortgage deals during the housing boom start looking for new grifts to play. –Readers’ Comments, The New York Times, Oct. 31, 2010

In “Griftopia,” a relentlessly disturbing, penetrating exploration of the root causes of the trauma that upended economic security in millions of American homes, Taibbi argues that what unfolded was far from accidental. Rather, the nation suffered the equivalent of a hostile takeover of key areas of its commercial life by investment banking houses, while regulators and members of Congress abdicated their responsibilities either because they were influenced by campaign cash or because they believed the fairy tale that unsupervised markets always work best. The result, Taibbi asserts, was a thieves’ paradise — Griftopia. –Peter S. Goodman, ‘Thieves’ Paradise,’ The New York Times, Dec. 24, 2010

[D. Allan]

“Tom Swifty”

“Tom Swifties” are curious puns that monkey with the description of reported speech for comic effect. For example:

“I manufacture table tops,” said Tom counterproductively.

“Let’s have a debate about cows,” Tom mooted.

“Who discovered radium?” asked Marie curiously.

“Just parsley, sage and rosemary,” said Tom timelessly.

“This sea-spray will ruin all the metal-work,” said Tom mistrustfully

“I can’t tell you how much it resembles a table,” said Tom veritably.

“Show no mercy killing the vampire,” said Tom painstakingly.

“It keeps my hair in place,” said Alice with abandon.

-Schott’s Vocab, The New York Times, June 5, 2009

[D. Allan]

frippery noun, plural fripperies

1. pretentious, showy and useless ornamentation.

2. nonessential or trivial matters

How many young brides and grooms spend what could be a downpayment for a house or condominium on the ostentation and frippery of a wedding? –Readers’ Comments, The New York Times, Dec. 16, 2010

The Second, beautifully played by the harpist Shelley Burgon, brushes aside frippery and frills in favor of evocative mystery. –Steve Smith, Music Review, The New York Times, Dec 2, 2010

At first thought, fringe would seem to be a bit of frippery. But it has a flip side. This wispy stuff is actually quite practical, and it certainly packs a fashion punch. –Carrie Donovan, The New York Times, Feb. 13, 1990

The credit for this linguistic frippery is usually given to the prolific writer and publisher Edward L. Stratemeyer, who was responsible for the Tom Swift series of adventure novels. –The New York Times, June 5, 2009

[Gail]

Is it a coincidence that this word pops up at Christmastime? :)

[D. Allan]

It's a mere coincidence. We love our fripperies.

[D. Allan]

pip noun

a small hard seed in a piece of fruit

origins: "seed of an apple," 1797, shortened form of pipin "seed of a fleshy fruit" (c.1300), from O.Fr. pepin (13c.), probably from a root *pipp-, expressing smallness (cf. It. pippolo, Sp. pepita "seed, kernel"). –Online Etymology Dictionary

related words:

pipsqueak an insignificant person; esp. a small or young person

Pip, a Dickensian character

Wash and boil the oranges (unpeeled) in a little water for nearly 2 hours (or 1⁄2 hour in a pressure cooker). Let them cool, then cut them open and remove the pips. –‘Roden’s Recipes,’ The New Yorker, Sept. 3, 2007

from the "20th-Century Cookbook," published in 1897, comes "Prune Jelly With Prune Pips" -- a comically sinister dessert. The pips were meant to add an undefinable crunch and almond-like flavor to this amazing concentration of fruit sludge. I had just mastered the ancient art of separating pips from shells when the New York City Poison Control Center advised against eating them because they might be harmful. –Rozanne Gold, ‘A Fool for Food?...,’ The New York Times, March 30, 1994

Pip (whose very name diminishes those forbidden fruits to the bit you spit out) is an altogether simpler character,… -Paul Griffiths, ‘Opera Review;…,’ The New York Times, June 21, 2001

Horace mentions the use of apple pips in love affairs. A lover would take a pip between the finger and thumb and shoot it up to the ceiling, and if it struck it, his or her wish would be accomplished. –‘Apple Love,’ The New York Times, Oct. 7, 1888

[D. Allan]

epicene adj.

1. having characteristics of both male and female, or being of indeterminate sex

2. effeminate; unmanly

epicene noun

epicenism noun

Synonyms: androgynous, effete, effeminate, hermaphroditic, sissified, sissy, unmanly

Antonyms: manlike, manly, mannish, masculine, virile

Origins: mid-15c., epycen, originally a grammatical term for nouns that may denote either gender, from L. epicoenus "common," from Gk. epikoinos "common to many, promiscuous," from epi "on" + koinos "common." Extended sense of "characteristic of both sexes" first recorded in English c.1600; that of "effeminate" 1630s –Online Etymology Dictionary

…man, maybe 48 50 with very pretty muscles and overly aware of it, actually wearing a strap-type undershirt advertising apparently itself ("Muscle-In, the real thing") and shorts of course, hair beautifully done, again just a touch too much, and possibly dyed or streaked — legs not in fact as muscular as mine, and somewhat epicene for all their leanness, possibly shaved or something done to them:… Bill Thayers Diary, September 13, 1994

...as Paddy would say, she would certainly have had a beard if she had not shaved. The epicene character of our heroine's external was not, however, heightened by any affectation of masculine manner ... The humourist, by William Henry Harrison, 1832,

…the creation of an epicene or bisexual pronoun stand out as the one most often advocated and attempted, and the one that has most often failed. Dennis E. Baron, as quoted byt Patricia O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman in The New York Times, July 26, 2009

tell me, sweet chuck,'' Robin coos to one of his epicene companions, ''why wearest thou that dainty garb upon thy pretty body?'' The New York Times, March 7, 2004, Adam Goodheart – Book Review Desk

He has a clear-eyed, epicene handsomeness -- cruel, sensuous mouth; cheekbones to cut your heart on -- … New York Times, Summer Films, Franz Lidz, May 13, 2001

[Stan]

D. Allan

We miss you. BUT this post has had almost 1,500,000 views by 100,000's people.

[Guest]

Epicene...So that's what you call it!

[D. Allan]

Wow, Stan! I never imagined!

[Gail]

There's my friend!!! (((( D.Allan ))))

[Guest]

Hey D. Allan, where have you been?

[Guest]

We are in dire need of a new word.

[D. Allan]

Hello friends. I've be here and there. Reading alot. Resting alot. Ant other exciting things like raking leaves and getting the automobile repaired.

((((Gail))))

[D. Allan]

I'll keep my eyes and ears open for one!

[Woody]

I'll keep my eyes and ears open for one!

[littlecherub]

I have found a new word: maudlin which would mean self-pityingly, tearfully sentimental. It is related to Mary Magdalen's weeping.

[onebeecee]

metanoia

(n) the journey of changing ones' mind, heart, self, or way of life

[debbym]

eudemonia

from wiktionary

1. happiness, well-being.

2. A person’s state of excellence characterized by objective flourishing across a lifetime, and brought about through the exercise of moral virtue, practical wisdom, and rationality.

[D. Allan]

nice

[D. Allan]

good one, debbym. Love it.

[phkrause]

D Allen, good to see a post from you. You've been missed.

[D. Allan]

ca-nard',noun, a false report or rumor; a hoax.

The New York Times Everyday Readers Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused, mispronounced, Words

[Gail]

D. Allen!!!

[Gail]

I am SOOOO happy to see you here again! You have been so missed!