Word or Words of the Day and Discussion

[PrincessFiona60]

postilion:
A rider mounted on the near, leading horse pulling a carriage who guides
the team.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/postilion>

 

[PrincessFiona60]

chiaroscuro:
An artistic technique developed during the Renaissance, referring to the
use of exaggerated light contrasts in order to create the illusion of
volume.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chiaroscuro>

 

[taxlady]

chiaroscuro:
An artistic technique developed during the Renaissance, referring to the
use of exaggerated light contrasts in order to create the illusion of
volume.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chiaroscuro>

I couldn't picture what this meant, so I Googled pix of chiaroscuro. Here's an example:

 

[Addie]

I couldn't picture what this meant, so I Googled pix of chiaroscuro. Here's an example:

In my mind's eye I pictured an oil lamp or candle holding lamp. Intense lighting covering a small area.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

angst:
1. A feeling of acute but vague anxiety or apprehension often accompanied
by depression, especially philosophical anxiety.
2. More commonly, painful sadness or emotional turmoil, as teen angst.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/angst>

 

[Addie]

angst:
1. A feeling of acute but vague anxiety or apprehension often accompanied
by depression, especially philosophical anxiety.
2. More commonly, painful sadness or emotional turmoil, as teen angst.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/angst>

I hate having angst when I don't know what is causing it. I don't recall any depression following though. I don't think I have ever had a bout of depression in my life. I get angry at the situation instead of depressed. Angry enough to do something about what is causing the problem.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

avocation:
1. A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
2. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment;
vocation.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/avocation>

 

[tinlizzie]

avocation:
1. A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
2. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment;
vocation.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/avocation>

That seems contradictory -- what's the distinction - is an avocation a (1) hobby or a (2) vocation? Or is this my first senior moment of the day . . .?

 

[PrincessFiona60]

there are two different words "avocation" and "vocation"

Avocation = hobby

Vocation = work, employment, pursuit

 

[taxlady]

avocation:
1. A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
2. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment;
vocation.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/avocation>

there are two different words "avocation" and "vocation"

Avocation = hobby

Vocation = work, employment, pursuit

I must be having a senior moment too. Isn't the Wiktionary definition, part 2, saying they are the same thing?

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I guess it depends on why you do the work you do.

 

[cave76]

Contrarian

A contrarian is a person who takes up a contrary position, a person who seems to be "contrary for the sake of being contrary," especially a position that is opposed to that of the majority [...]

Contrarian - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[PrincessFiona60]

con·de·scend verb : to show that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people

 

[PrincessFiona60]

dead tree edition:
(idiomatic, pejorative, humorous) Paper version of a publication that
can be found online.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dead_tree_edition>

 

[PrincessFiona60]

röck döts:
(informal, humorous) Heavy metal umlauts; umlauts over letters in the
name of a heavy metal band (as in "Motörhead", "Queensrÿche" and
"Mötley Crüe"), added gratuitously for mere stylistic effect.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/r%C3%B6ck_d%C3%B6ts>

 

[taxlady]

röck döts:
(informal, humorous) Heavy metal umlauts; umlauts over letters in the
name of a heavy metal band (as in "Motörhead", "Queensrÿche" and
"Mötley Crüe"), added gratuitously for mere stylistic effect.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/röck_döts>

I hate them. My brain wants to pronounce them.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

My brain says, "So that's where my missing periods went..."

 

[PrincessFiona60]

enterolith:
A mineral concretion in the intestinal tract.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enterolith>

 

[PrincessFiona60]

miserabilist:
One who is unhappy, or extols being miserable as a virtue; a philosopher
of pessimism.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/miserabilist>

 

[PrincessFiona60]

scuppernong:
1. A large greenish-bronze grape native to the Southeastern United States,
a variety of the muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia).
2. A sweet, golden or amber-colored American wine made from this variety of
grape.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scuppernong>