Words of Worship

Being a musical person, music has always had a unique way of speaking to me, or allowing me to speak the overflow of my heart. As Christmas Day approaches and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I would like to share with you a few lines of a song that was introduced to me last Christmas, and quickly became my all-time favorite Christmas song. The words speak for themselves.

"The first time that You opened Your eyes
Did You realize that You would be my Savior?
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever?

...And I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life
Pray for You to save my life."
(Celebrate the Day, RelientK)


We so often, and very rightly, focus on the birth of Jesus this time of year. But I love the way these words bring the complete mission of Christmas to mind. That holy infant, so tender and mild, was born on that very day two thousand years ago to be my Savior. He was born to die so you and I could one day pray for Him to save our lives. For lack of a big "thatsuncanny" word- Wow.

Have a blessed Christmas and bask in the love of God that He would have given us the greatest, most undeserved gift ever imagined.

Webster's Follies!

Look at the Webster's Follies word, but do NOT look it up. Then, in the comments section to this post, use it in a sentence in the way you think the usage is most appropriate. You may be wrong, you may be right, but it will be fun!

Make your sentence descriptive, not so general that any word would work. You know what I mean...

The word: bonhomie
\bah-nuh-MEE\

Good luck!

Close that window!

My friend and co-worker Jack is a lover of words. He has a beautiful old dictionary on his desk that is always open. I went over last week to tell Jack a holiday-inspired joke and he shared is current favorite word with me.


defenestrate
1. throw through or out of the window
2. a usually swift dismissal or expulsion (as from a political party or office)
Etymology: de- + Latin fenestra window
Date: 1620

"The rebels stormed the palace and defenestrated the President."

Interesting usage above, since it could satisfy either the first or second definition, oddly enough. Did they toss the president out the window or simply out of office? However, with the etymology, I tend to think that older usage would be quite literal, employing the window. Unfortunate for the president. While it occurs to me that "to defenestrate" would rarely turn out positively, it is a useful and beautifully descriptive word.


In conducting a little research, I found that there is an art exhibit with the title "DEFENESTRATION" (1997-present: Site-specific installation on the corner of 6th and Howard St. in San Francisco).

From the website:
This multi-disciplinary sculptural mural involves seemingly animated furniture; tables, chairs, lamps, grandfather clocks, a refrigerator, and couches, their bodies bent like centipedes, fastened to the walls and window-sills, their insect-like legs seeming to grasp the surfaces. Against society's expectations, these everyday objects flood out of windows like escapees, out onto available ledges, up and down the walls, onto the fire escapes and off the roof. "DEFENESTRATION" was created with the help of over 100 volunteers.

Located at the corner of Sixth and Howard Streets in San Francisco in an abandoned four-story tenement building, the site is part of a neighborhood that historically has faced economic challenge and has often endured the stigma of skid row status. Reflecting the harsh experience of many members of the community, the furniture is also of the streets, cast-off and unappreciated. The simple, unpretentious beauty and humanity of these downtrodden objects is reawakened through the action of the piece. The act of "throwing out" becomes an uplifting gesture of release, inviting reflection on the spirit of the people we live with, the objects we encounter, and the places in which we live.

Defenestration were also a UK heavy metal band from 1999 to 2004.

There is a literary magazine dedicated to humor with the title Defenestration.

Who knew a term for tossing out a window would be so popular? Is there a word for throwing something through the door? Hmmm.

Thanks, Jack!

'Tis the season

Glad Tidings!

It is a purposeful season, where every moment is occupied. Socrates said, "Beware the barrenness of a busy life." This is a reminder that, even though getting ready for Christmas is a formidable task, you must take a moment here and there.

Once in the morning and once in the afternoon, choose from the following moments:

• Make a cup of tea and let the steam wash over your face as it cools. Close your eyes and breathe in the warm aromas.
• Sit in front of a window and just look outisde. Look at the trees...the grass...the birds...marvel at the dormancy of nature, while you allow yourself to be dormant for a few minutes.
• Turn off your lamps and look at the lights on your tree. Think about that first Christmas, where the only light was the guiding star.
• Reflect on the feelings that Mary must have experienced as she prepared to give birth. Dwell on the words, "...and she treasured these things in her heart."
• Look at the photos in your room, and remember when the picture was made. Think of the changes since then. Close your eyes and go back to that place for a moment.
• Close your eyes, think of Jesus, and say over and over again, "Thank you, Lord." Say these three words until His Spirit soars within you.

Have a great day, everyone!

Glad Tidings!

Ms. Dana has come up with the wonderfully festive idea of changing our greeting during the month of December. During this time of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will greet one another with "Glad Tidings"!

ti'-dingz (euaggelizo): "Glad-tidings" occurs in the King James Version of the bible in the translation of the verb euaggelizo, "to tell good news".

The verb is also very frequently translated in the King James Version "to preach the gospel," the original meaning of which word (god-spell) is "good news or tidings".

While mainly a Biblical phrase, I encourage all of you to use this during the holiday season. After all, if you celebrate Christmas but are not a Christian, you may as well adopt the nomenclature, as well.

Teaching a old dog new words

I read this book last week, on the suggestion of one of my Shelfari.com friends, and really enjoyed it. It was well-written and dealt with the Salem witch hysteria in a fictional manner. But that's not what endeared me to this book. I liked it so much because I found that I had to use the dictionary to read it! One of my sons asked me, "Mom, do you have to have the dictionary to read that book?" I am no word scholar, but I must admit I was as surprised as he. Here are the words I learned, and their meaning:

• Puce:a dark or brownish purple
• Obfuscation: to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy
• Anomalous: deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule; irregular; abnormal
• Detritus: any disintegrated material; debris
• Esplanade: any open, level space, esp. one serving for public walks or drives
• Inveigle: to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods
• Odious: deserving or causing hatred; hateful; detestable
• Dilatory: tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy
• Hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance
• Salacious: obscene; grossly indecent
• Extant: in existence; still existing; not destroyed or lost
• Quotidian: usual or customary; everyday
• Grimoire: a manual of black magic (for invoking spirits and demons)

So, I was familiar with "anomaly", which would be a variant of "anomalous". "Extant" may be the opposite of "extinct", making that one reasonably understood. "Quotidian" contains the root "quote" or "quota", indicating a measure of something. Jim knew what "hubris" meant, which thrilled me.

Aren't these all beautiful words? I am not at all sure they would work in everyday language, but I may give it a try! My favorite (at the moment) is "salacious" and I can already think of several instances that it would work perfectly. HA

Read, good people, READ!

Everyone's a Winner!

How very odd... I sense a bit of skulduggery...


Let me review the rules:

LOOK at the word.

Don't look UP the word.

Use the word in a sentence in the way you think it means.

Either your vocabulary is much better than mine, which is a possibility, or you all looked up the word.

Webster's Follies: loquacious

Please use this word in a sentence, without looking it up:

loquacious

Post your sentence in the comments. Winner of bragging rights announced at the end of this week.

And the winner is...accoutrement

ac·cou·tre·ment (əˈkuːtrəmənt)
n.
1. An accessory item of equipment or dress. Often used in the plural.

Believe it or not, I found a reference to this word on another blog:

What an absolutely charming way to describe stuff! It makes everyday “things” seem much more important:

It’s not a pile if junk, it’s “assorted accoutrement”!

It’s not a bunch of crap, it’s “a stunning array of accoutrement”!

It’s not a load of old tat, it’s “every accoutrement you could ever need”!

What’s not to love about a word that makes you feel witty, worldly, and well-heeled. It’s what’s commonly referred to in some circles as a 50 cent word, giving any boring old
sentence an air of style and grace.

Put on your fancy dress with your best accoutrements and lets go out on the town!

Mama made pot roast with all the accoutrements! Yum!

Our new car came with all the modern accoutrements – we’re so spoiled!

Accoutrement good! So very, very good!
reference http://www.myfavoriteword.com/2007/12/19/accoutrement/

I know that the word is most often used when talking about military regalia.

Accoutrements, from Wikipedia

In English, the word Accoutrements can have several meanings:

• an accessory
• apparatus needed for a task or journey
• military equipment other than weapons and uniform
• trappings

With the above in mind, I would award this week's Webster's Follies to Janet Ingram. Congratulations!

New word added to list

We added a new word this week to our usage list: flamboyant

Main Entry: flam·boy·ant

Pronunciation: \-ənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: French, from present participle of flamboyer to flame, from Old French, from flambe

Date: 1832

1 often capitalized : characterized by waving curves suggesting flames

2 : marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior

Dana - How about a sentence?

Webster's Follies: accoutrement

Round 2 of our game, Webster's Follies is the word accoutrement.

Please use in a sentence, send to either Dana or me, or post in the comments section.

Remember, don't look up the word first! The closest one to the proper usage is the winner of bragging rights.

How to view the comments on a post

I have tried to change the settings for the site to include the comments directly under the post. From what I can gather from the Help page, this is not an available option. If you'd like to see the comments, simply click on the title of the post, and it will refresh the page to include the post and all comments for that post. Once you read all of the comments and want to return to the site, click on the title "That's Uncanny!".

Have fun and thanks for following our word adventures!

Hmmm

I think both Dana and I failed the first round. I AM disappointed, though, that Mary Nell didn't chime in with a sentence of her own.

Robin hood had no compunction about stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

Do any of you have another word for us?

Round 1 goes to....

You be the judge...

Carmen's sentence: "He didn't clean his room willingly, but under compunction."

Dana's sentence: "The preacher's sermon was delivered with conviction and great compunction."

compunction- a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse; any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.

Introducing Webster's Follies!

The thought-provoking game of word exploration…

Carmen and Dana are excited to introduce a new feature of That’s Uncanny- a game we like to call “Webster’s Follies” (acknowledgement to TJ Guffey for creating the “name of the game”).

This game was inspired on Sunday morning, when new follower of the site Mary Nell Smalley suggested a word to add to our list. When questioned about what this word means, Mary Nell was unable to provide an answer, spurring doubt in the mind of Carmen as to whether the word really exists.

The idea of the game is to introduce a word of which no one knows the definition. Participants are asked to send a sentence to Dana, via email or post comment, using this word in a way that they believe to be correct. This is to be done WITHOUT looking up the definition of the word in a dictionary, thesaurus, or consulting another source. After ample time is provided, the sentences will be posted on the site, along with the correct definition. The winner is whomever most closely uses the word in its correct function.
Let the game begin!

This week’s word, provided by follower Mary Nell Smalley, is COMPUNCTION.

(SNIFF) I'm so proud!

Jack was talking to me about ... well, I'll just be honest here ... loogies, and he used a fabulous word: ROGUE.

Now, we all know Rogue from the X-Men comics and movies, where the character is played by Anna Paquin. Not her read name, she adopted the nickname "rogue" because she ran away from home as a young teenager.

This character may very well be where he became familiar with the word, but that would not have given him insight into the definition. He used it correctly, "That was a rogue loogie", speaking of a loogie that was not with / like the rest. A rebel loogie.

Bravo, Jack!

How very odd...

I remember a skit on Saturday Night Live where a secretary was completely unimpressed with everyone who walked into the office or called.

"And you are....?"

"And you want....?"

"And you think you can see him because....?"

I always thought that was so funny. UNTIL it happened to me.

You see, I have always been able to endear myself to the office staff of the primary, elementary and junior high schools here. I chit-chat with them, bring them lunch, give them little treats throughout the year. There is always a very good rapport. The high school is different! The lady at the front desk has no time, desire or inclination to be my buddy. It is totally new ground for me! I am NOTHING to her and she has no idea who my child is!!

I would grudgingly consider myself a wee bit of a sycophant with these ladies. After all, if I have to buy their mind share for the betterment of my child, I am up to it. It's not always money, but the simple acknowledgement that theirs is many times a thankless job. That goes a long way. Well, except at the high school. She is all business.

"What can I do for you?"

"And your child's name is.....?"

And you are here why.....?"

It's enough to alarm a sycophant!

Thoughts on sychophant...

Okay, love this word. And YES, Carmen was living out the definition of sychophant this morning... vocabulary in action.

I also like the word "toady" you used in your definition...

Word of the Week: Sycophant

LOVE this word! This morning at church, I was breezing in and out of classrooms on the children's hall, doling out words of flattery to the other teachers like they were free toasters at a bank's grand opening. I'm sure I appeared to be a sycophant. As a matter of fact, I'm quite sure Mary Nell thought so: she called me a suck-up. HA! It is quite useful in place of calling someone a suck-up, booty-kisser, brown-noser, etc., and you will sound so impressive in your insult.

sycophant \SIK-uh-fuhnt\

noun:
1. A person who attempts to win favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; a parasite; a toady.

Origin:
Sycophant derives from Greek sukophantes, "an accuser (especially a false accuser) or rogue," from sukon, "fig" + phantes, "one who shows," from phainein, "to show."

From a fellow blogger:

Here’s my pick for favorite drool-inducing, sycophant quote for this week:

“From his quick recovery after misspeaking the presidential oath to graciously confessing fault over his Cabinet nominees, this President handles his mistakes with such impressive grace that one is left almost glad that he makes them.”— New York Times White House correspondent Sheryl Gay Stolberg, April 1, 2009.

As a matter of fact, here is the definition of "suck-up":

suck-up n. Informal A person who flatters or defers to others obsequiously; a sycophant.

Brilliant!!

Want to learn new words? READ!

While on vacation last week, I read the most beautiful book, "One Thousand White Women" by Jim Fergus. It's not that the writing of the story is lyrical. It's not that the characters are particularly memorable. It's not that it contained a great life lesson.

It was the feeling created through the author's use of the language. The words Fergus used are, at times, beautiful. Reading them made me pause, reread the text and smile. He used words that I have not uttered in a while, and have heard even less. Beautiful, descriptive and fully dimensional words.

I will add to our word list based on this book. I let my mother borrow it, and I long see it return, to go through its pages again. The very reason I read is alive in this book. To escape to another place, meet new people, try new things, gain new perspective, come away satisfied.

Jim Fergus has fed this weary traveler a hot, hearty stew on a cold winter evening.

Read, followers, READ!

I found a way to make it work!

HARK! I think I have to sneeze a loogie!

Don't you love how I type it in GREEN? haha

I always thought...

I always thought a person "harked a loogie". After some research, however, I find that it's not harking at all!

Hawk a Loogie

This is a slang phrase with many variants. The verb is usually either hawk or hock and the subject varies between loogie, louie, lungie, and lunger. It means to cough up phlegm and dates to the 1970s.

Hawk is an old verb meaning to clear the throat or cough up phlegm. It dates to the late 16th century and is probably echoic in origin. Hock is a corruption of the original hawk.

Regarding the second half, lunger is probably the original. That word has meant a gob of phlegm since 1946, and a tuberculosis patient since the 1890s. The other forms are probably corruptions and variants on this original.

So, while it's not "harking" at all, and has nothing to do with the word of the week, it's still VERY educational!

Thanks to http://www.wordorigins.org

Word of the Week: hark

Pronunciation: \ˈhärk\
Function: intransitive verb
Date: 14th century

Definition 1: to listen carefully; to listen attentively; hearken, to listen to; hear; pay attention; give heed
Usually in the imperative, with the effect of an exclamation; now chiefly literary

Definition 2: hark back- to return to an earlier point so as to pick up the scent or trail again; to go back in thought or speech; revert or be reminiscent of

Origin:
At first the word meant simply to listen or to pay close attention. But by the 17th century, it had developed specific uses in the sport of hunting. Hunters used hark as a call of attention and incitement. When a dog had lost a scent, hark back was a command for the dog to return along the course taken till the animal found the scent again.

By the early 19th century, hark back had also become a figurative expression meaning to retrace one's course or steps, to revert, or to return to some earlier point in a narrative, discussion, or argument.

"The teacher kept harking back to the same quotation in the book over and over again."

Personally, I prefer the usage of the first definition- it’s just fun! However, I did find the second definition to be intriguing and think we should definitely make an effort to incorporate it into our everyday conversation.

Reconsidering "ambiance"

As you know, I took exception with "ambiance" because I felt the very use of it was haughty and "Babylonian"; much like someone trying to make their surroundings feel in a way that was not the normal or natural feel. After speaking with my friend Dana, I see another avenue of this word.

She is so positive and optimistic in her uses of this word!

"I like the ambiance of football games."

See? It fairly brings a smile to your face, and thanks to her, I have removed this from my "bad list".

Is this offensive?

At the youth leadership retreat a few weeks ago, I called one of the kids a panty waist. I was shocked to find that they thought I was using a bad word! I was completely nonplussed by the general reaction. For your edification, here is the definition:

–noun
1. Informal. a weak, effeminate man; sissy.
2. formerly, a child's undergarment consisting of short pants and a shirt that buttoned together at the waist.

–adjective
3. weak; fainthearted.
4. Informal. childish.

Synonyms:
1. weakling, milksop, namby-pamby.

So, you see, I was using the term correctly, and was in no way being unmannerly. I was simply calling a spade a spade.

New words in use...

I was nonplussed when I saw the garish clothing on the strumpet standing in the periphery of my vision.

Unfortunately, I feel that it would not be appropriate to include an image with this post...

A few new words

garish

• gar⋅ish
• crudely or tastelessly colorful, showy, or elaborate, as clothes or decoration.
• Origin: 1535–45; earlier gaurish, perh. equiv. to obs. gaure to stare (ME gauren)
• Synonyms:1. loud, tawdry.

nonplus

• non⋅plus
• to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely
• ORIGIN from Latin non plus ‘not more’.
• Synonyms:1. perplex, confuse, confound, disconcert.

periphery

• pe⋅riph⋅er⋅y
• the edge or outskirts, as of a city or urban area.
• Origin: 1350–1400;peripherīa periphéreia circumference, lit., a bearing round, equiv. to peri- peri- + phér(ein) to bear 1 + -eia -y 3 ; r. ME periferie periferīa, var. sp. of LL peripherīa
• Synonyms:1. circumference, perimeter.

strumpet

• strum⋅pet
• a prostitute; harlot.
• Origin: c.1327, of uncertain origin. One theory connects it with L. stuprata, fem. pp. of stuprare "have illicit sexual relations with," or L.L. strupum "dishonor, violation." Others suggest M.Du. strompe "a stocking," or strompen "to stride, to stalk" (as a prostitute might a customer).

I attended the fun bowl for the scholars bowl at the junior high school this weekend, and a few other moms and I were talking. Each of these words, deliciously, came up in conversation. How very exciting!

Day 2: Ambiance

The more I look at this word, the more I think it is very narrow in usage. One can use it only to describe an atmosphere or feel in a location, like a restaurant. I looked at pages of quotes using the word, and they struck me as very shallow and superficial. Almost like people trying to make something feel like what it is not by changing the ambiance, improving the ambiance, and adding to the ambiance. It has a very "Babylon"-like feel, reeking of excess.

I'm not sure I like this word...tell me what you think.

Word of the week: Ambience (variant: Ambiance)

\ˈam-bē-ən(t)s, ˈäm-bē-än(t)s\
Function: noun
Etymology: French ambiance, from ambiant ambient
Date: 1889
: a feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing
Use this instead of the word "atmosphere" when describing.

While it may be a form of "ambient", be careful in assuming the meanings are the same. Ambient is "encompassing" or "on all sides". While you can see the similarity, these words would not be interchangeable depending on the usage of speech. "Ambiance" is a feeling, a mood. "Ambient" is a descriptive term for a noun, as in "ambient music" or ambient lighting".

It would seem this is a two-for-one word week, so use both "ambiance" and "ambient" this week, impressing your friends and co-workers.

Pronunciation

I wonder...do you put the emphasis on the "for" or on the "mid"? Both are correct.

It's that whole "toMAto" / "toMAHto" thing.

I put the emphasis on the "mid" because not everyone does it, and it makes me different.

I like different. :)

Word of the Week: formidable

Pronunciation: \ˈfȯr-mə-də-bəl; fȯr-ˈmi-, fər-ˈmi-\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin formidabilis, from formidare to fear, from formido terror, bogey; akin to Greek mormō bogey

Date: 15th century


1 : causing fear, dread, or apprehension
2 : having qualities that discourage approach or attack
3 : tending to inspire awe or wonder

"Many things are formidable, and none more formidable than man."
-Sophocles
Antigone, 332^3

"Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer."
- Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832)

"I have chosen to accept the formidable challenge of submitting a post on That's Uncanny."
- Dana Smalley

Carmen continues to convalesce.

Alliteration! But that's another subject for another time.

I looked up pictures associated with "convalesce" and found these two creepy, albeit appropriate, drawings. I don't feel quite this ... ill ... but I do continue to get better daily. It's a slow and steady process, which makes "convalesce" the perfect description.

Have a great Labor Day!

Hey, Dana! This is for you!

Albeit - Day 2

"Life is an ordeal, albeit an exciting one, but I wouldn't trade it for the good old days of poverty and obscurity. " Jim Carrey

"Albeit" is an excellent word very rarely used these days. I think that may be because it's a bit more formal than the usual "although", albeit I may be wrong. While it is not completely out of the lexicon, it threatens to be at the persistent desire of everyone to be a bit more familiar with one another, especially in conversation.

If albeit were a picture, I would say it's more of a boundary, like a fence, where you have to turn deliberately this way or that. It's a hard stop to a point, acquiescing a sub-point. Conversation is very much a journey, winding through thought and understanding. One needs a fence at times to stay on the path. The word of the week provides a perfect guide for your verbal excursions. It's a rich, descriptive word, albeit underused.

Word of the week: ALBEIT

M-W Main Entry: al·be·it
Pronunciation: \ol-ˈbē-ət, al-\
Function: conjunction
Etymology: Middle English, literally, all though it be
Date: 14th century
: conceding the fact that : even though : although

Usage notes:
Unlike although, which can introduce a noun phrase, adjective phrase, or subordinate clause, albeit can introduce only a noun phrase or adjective phrase but not a subordinate clause.

Quotations:
2001: Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, p92
The stranger had crossed a sacred line. He had mentioned the men’s mothers. Nothing could get him out of a beating now, even the fact that he was obviously a simpleton. Albeit a simpleton with a good vocabulary.

So you see, this is a very easy word to use, and may be used to not only introduce a phrase, but a witty phrase at that!

Let Dana and Carmen know how you use the word of the week.

Please choose carefully

Would you wear a purple and pink polka dot shirt with green and yellow striped pants? Probably not. You'd choose your clothes more carefully than that. Would you wear a ball gown to play in a baseball game? No, there is a uniform for that. Would a firefighter enter a burning house in a bathing suit and flip-flops? I think you already know the answer.

We are very deliberate when we choose our clothing, and I am very guilty of not being as choosy when I speak. Words are VERY powerful. How did God create? Words. Presidents are elected based on what they say. There are classes you can take that will teach you which words to use and not to use on a resume. But those are all very narrow examples.

Certain studies indicate the average persons speaks about 16,000 words a day. WOW. And most with no thought whatsoever. Remember Don Imus' comment? He made a throw-away comment, offended the feelings of an entire women's college basketball team and put civil rights back about 50 years.

Now, read the last paragraph again and tell me what information you glean. There is fact, opinion, emotion, speculation...Very rarely is anyone without an opinion and it is common thinking that the world is entitled to hear their opinion.

Look at the attached pictures and save them to the folders of your mind. The next time you open your mouth, regardless of the audience, decide which picture your words most represent. Then do us all a favor and act accordingly.

Revitalize! Resurrect! Rekindle! Rejuvenate!

Dana and Carmen think too many very descriptive and beautiful words are no longer being used as often as they should. Daytona Beach, Florida provided the perfect inspiration for this renewed interest in what are quickly becoming words of the past.

Do your part! Introduce yourself to these words, get to know them and their essence and incorporate them into your everyday conversation.

Have fun!