Word of the Day

Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
This thread is for peculiar and lesser-known terms that will certainly enrich our limited vocabulary.

If you want to be familiar with weird-sounding terms, the use of which might "impress" other people, just click this thread and read on.

Term for the Day, November 18, 2018 is...

KITSCH

Meaning:

noun

1.

art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.

adjective

1.

considered to be in poor taste but appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.

Used in a Sentence:

Fusions make a delicacy "kitsch" to the snobbier picky-eaters.
Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
Word of the Day, November 26, 2018...

im·per·vi·ous

adjective

not allowing fluid to pass through.

"an impervious layer of basaltic clay"

synonyms: impermeable, impenetrable, impregnable, waterproof, watertight, water-resistant, repellent; More

unable to be affected by.

"he worked, apparently impervious to the heat"

synonyms: unaffected by, untouched by, immune to, invulnerable to, insusceptible to, resistant to, indifferent to, heedless of, insensible to, unconscious of, oblivious to; proof against

"he seemed impervious to the chill wind"
Profile picture of Sag898
Sag898
@Sag898
7 Years1,000+ PostsSagittarius

Comments: 1997 · Posts: 3728 · Topics: 76
Posted by UrsaMediocre

alacrity

a·lac·ri·ty

/əˈlakrədē/

noun

brisk and cheerful readiness.

"she accepted the invitation with alacrity"

synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness; enthusiasm, ardor, avidity, fervor, keenness; promptness, haste, swiftness, dispatch, speed

"we want to move with alacrity, and put a stop to improper conduct while it’s still going on"


+1
Profile picture of UrsaMediocre
Œrçä
@UrsaMediocre
15 Years1,000+ Posts

Comments: 1362 · Posts: 3255 · Topics: 19
Posted by firebunny

boor·ish

adjective

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

"boorish behavior"

synonyms: coarse, uncouth, rude, ill-bred, ill-mannered, uncivilized, unrefined, rough, thuggish, loutish, oafish, lubberly, lumpen


I find myself using 'boorish' and 'uncouth' pretty often actually, probably because I deal with a coworker who calls older people "sweetie" & "honey" and I find it improper & almost condescending.
Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
Posted by UrsaMediocre

Posted by firebunny

boor·ish

adjective

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

"boorish behavior"

synonyms: coarse, uncouth, rude, ill-bred, ill-mannered, uncivilized, unrefined, rough, thuggish, loutish, oafish, lubberly, lumpen


I find myself using 'boorish' and 'uncouth' pretty often actually, probably because I deal with a coworker who calls older people "sweetie" & "honey" and I find it improper & almost condescending.
click to expand



lol why do you find it condescending?

speaking of which, the term has two noun versions:

1. condescension

2. condescendence

The latter could also mean "a list or specification of particulars." 🙂
Profile picture of UrsaMediocre
Œrçä
@UrsaMediocre
15 Years1,000+ Posts

Comments: 1362 · Posts: 3255 · Topics: 19
Posted by firebunny

Posted by UrsaMediocre

Posted by firebunny

boor·ish

adjective

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

"boorish behavior"

synonyms: coarse, uncouth, rude, ill-bred, ill-mannered, uncivilized, unrefined, rough, thuggish, loutish, oafish, lubberly, lumpen


I find myself using 'boorish' and 'uncouth' pretty often actually, probably because I deal with a coworker who calls older people "sweetie" & "honey" and I find it improper & almost condescending.


lol why do you find it condescending?

speaking of which, the term has two noun versions:

1. condescension

2. condescendence

The latter could also mean "a list or specification of particulars." 🙂
click to expand



Well, it's all about context, but anytime I hear someone call someone else 'sweetie', it's as if they are talking down to them since it's a term usually reserved when speaking to children.
Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
Posted by UrsaMediocre

Posted by firebunny

Posted by UrsaMediocre

Posted by firebunny

boor·ish

adjective

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

"boorish behavior"

synonyms: coarse, uncouth, rude, ill-bred, ill-mannered, uncivilized, unrefined, rough, thuggish, loutish, oafish, lubberly, lumpen


I find myself using 'boorish' and 'uncouth' pretty often actually, probably because I deal with a coworker who calls older people "sweetie" & "honey" and I find it improper & almost condescending.


lol why do you find it condescending?

speaking of which, the term has two noun versions:

1. condescension

2. condescendence

The latter could also mean "a list or specification of particulars." 🙂


Well, it's all about context, but anytime I hear someone call someone else 'sweetie', it's as if they are talking down to them since it's a term usually reserved when speaking to children.
click to expand



maybe it's the manner by which it's said or the fact that only older people are called that way, indicating some kind of prejudice/bias... but i don't know maybe she's just being nice. what's her facial expression when she does this?
Profile picture of UrsaMediocre
Œrçä
@UrsaMediocre
15 Years1,000+ Posts

Comments: 1362 · Posts: 3255 · Topics: 19
Posted by firebunny

Posted by UrsaMediocre

Posted by firebunny

Posted by UrsaMediocre

Posted by firebunny

boor·ish

adjective

rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

"boorish behavior"

synonyms: coarse, uncouth, rude, ill-bred, ill-mannered, uncivilized, unrefined, rough, thuggish, loutish, oafish, lubberly, lumpen


I find myself using 'boorish' and 'uncouth' pretty often actually, probably because I deal with a coworker who calls older people "sweetie" & "honey" and I find it improper & almost condescending.


lol why do you find it condescending?

speaking of which, the term has two noun versions:

1. condescension

2. condescendence

The latter could also mean "a list or specification of particulars." 🙂


Well, it's all about context, but anytime I hear someone call someone else 'sweetie', it's as if they are talking down to them since it's a term usually reserved when speaking to children.


maybe it's the manner by which it's said or the fact that only older people are called that way, indicating some kind of prejudice/bias... but i don't know maybe she's just being nice. what's her facial expression when she does this?
click to expand



TBH, I started to give her the benefit of the doubt since she's not a native English speaker so she may not grasp particular nuances of diction, but then again, I know plenty of non-native speakers who know better than to speak without mindful respect. The way I had to explain it to her was, "This is a boutique: a place of luxury. Please speak to everyone with an honorific & formal tone, like 'usted/ustedes'."
Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
Word of the Day, December 14, 2018...

avert

verb

1. turn away (one's eyes or thoughts).

"she averted her eyes during the more violent scenes"

synonyms: turn aside, turn away

"she averted her head"

2. prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence).

"talks failed to avert a rail strike"

synonyms: prevent, avoid, stave off, ward off, forestall, preclude

"an attempt to avert political chaos"
Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
Word of the Day, January 30, 2019

rash

adjective

displaying or proceeding from a lack of careful consideration of the possible consequences of an action.

"it would be extremely rash to make such an assumption"

synonyms: reckless, impetuous, impulsive, hasty, overhasty, foolhardy, incautious, precipitate, precipitous, premature, careless, heedless, thoughtless, imprudent, foolish, headstrong, adventurous, overadventurous, hotheaded, daredevil, devil-may-care, overbold, audacious, indiscreet
Profile picture of firebunny
firebunny
@firebunny
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 99 · Posts: 16295 · Topics: 1686
Word of the Day, February 12, 2019

ZEITGEIST

Did You Know?

Scholars have long maintained that each era has a unique spirit, a nature or climate that sets it apart from all other epochs. In German, such a spirit is known as "Zeitgeist," from the German words Zeit, meaning "time," and Geist, meaning "spirit" or "ghost." Some writers and artists assert that the true zeitgeist of an era cannot be known until it is over, and several have declared that only artists or philosophers can adequately explain it. We don’t know if that’s true, but we do know that "zeitgeist" has been a useful addition to the English language since at least 1835.