2009-04-06

Pulmonic ingressive

Mentioned in the second topic of the episode distributed on 2009-03-23 of A Way with Words.
Wikipedia entry is here.

2009-03-08

“Crown play time” puzzle

From the episode “Tweet, Tweet! Polly Wanna Cracker!” of the radio program “A Way with Words”.

Guess a word that could logically go before or after each of a trio of words. For example, if the three words are “nest,” “calories,” and “suit,” the answer is “empty,” as in “empty nest,” “empty calories,” and “empty suit.”

Q0: crown, play, time
Q1: blue, six, throat
Q2: bending, game, reader
Q3: bullet, gravy, toilet
Q4: actor, flaw, witness
Q5: office, spring, turtle
Q6: sea, center, weight
Q7: guest, Lincoln, master

A0: triple
A1: deep
A2: mind
A3: train
A4: character
A5: box
A6: dead
A7: bedroom

Extra question: Guess the “crown play time” word for A1 through A7.
Answer: set

2009-01-23

Three's a charm

Find a word making phrases by being in front the the three or four words given.

Q: standard, bed, boiler
A: double

Q: weight, wheel, fishing
A: fly

Q: ball, pin, trigger
A: hair

Q: surgery, history, exam, thermometer
A: oral

Q: note, stone, ring
A: key

Q: wind, string, coming
A: second

Q: beef, zero, floor
A: ground

Q: job, ball, man, leopard
A: snow

2009-01-17

腹式呼吸

一般的にはそのままabdominal breathingで、専門家はdiaphragmatic breathingと呼ぶようだ。

2009-01-15

petrichor

(from Greek petros, "stone" + ichor) the name of the scent of rain on dry earth

2009-01-08

From "As they say in Zanzibar"

When two elephants tussle, it's the glass that suffers.
It is the pot that boils, but the dish gets the credit.

2008-12-14

circumscribe

1. To draw a line around; encircle.
2. To limit narrowly; restrict.
3. To determine the limits of; define. See synonyms at limit.
4. a. To enclose (a polygon or polyhedron) within a configuration of lines, curves, or surfaces so that every vertex of the enclosed object is incident on the enclosing configuration. b. To erect (such a configuration) around a polygon or polyhedron: circumscribe a circle around a square.

abdicate

To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally.

empathy

1.Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. See synonyms at pity.
2.The attribution of one's own feelings to an object.

self-fulfilling prophecy

心理学用語で、日本語訳は「自己充足的予言」のようだ。

absolve

1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame.
2. To relieve of a requirement or an obligation.
3. a. To grant a remission of sin to. b. To pardon or remit (a sin).

abomination

1. Abhorrence; disgust.
2. A cause of abhorrence or disgust.

lumber

1. a. To cut down (trees) and prepare as marketable timber. b. To cut down the timber of.
2. Chiefly British. To clutter with or as if with unused articles.

moniker

A personal name or nickname.

hackney

1. To cause to become banal and trite through overuse.
2. To hire out; let.

shibboleth

1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another.
2. a. A word or phrase identified with a particular group or cause; a catchword. b. A commonplace saying or idea.
3. A custom or practice that betrays one as an outsider.

hat in hand

In a humble manner; humbly.

Hat in hand the U.S. Auto Industry lined up for their slice of government aid and it appears as of this posting that they will get the money they are asking for.

2008-12-06

misogynist

One who hates women.

2008-11-23

by no means

In no sense; certainly not

2008-11-11

acatamathesia

Loss of the faculty of understanding.