ENGLISH : WORDS OF THE WEEK (Jan 27 - Feb 2, 2014)

January 27, 2014
SQUIB [skwib]
noun

1. a short and witty or sarcastic saying or writing
2. Journalism. a short news story, often used as a filler.

verb

1. to write squibs
2. to shoot a squib

Examples:

1. This last is a sarcastic squib partly based on an experienced of Gerard de Nerval's in Vienna.
2. His tendency to uphold technical views gave rise to a very clever squib by the late Mr. Justice Hayes, in which  the spirit of the baron is supposed to arrive in Hades

January 28, 2014
RIPOSTE [ri-POHST]
noun

1. a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke: a brilliant riposte to an insult
2. Fencing. a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge

verb

1. to make a riposte
2. to reply or retaliate

Examples:

1. He remembered von Neumann's sly riposte to Oppenheimer's famous words quoted from the Bhagavad Gita after the Trinity implosion was heard around the world on July 16, 1945.
2. Bantering, smart but tentative as shy circling children, both of us checking covertly after each riposte to make sure we hadn't crossed any line or hurt any feelings.

January 29, 2014
UGSOME [UHG-suhm]
adjective

1. Scot. and North England. horrid; loathsome

Examples:

1. Slowly she turned to find herself facing a man with a scarred hollow at his temple, a very ugsome fellow. "I don't know you," she said. "Leave me alone."
2. "Whatever would compel a young lass to look so ugsome?" While Rose ducked her head, embarrased, Leana curtsied and extended her hand.

January 30, 2014
SESSILE [SES-il,-ahyl]
adjective

1. Zoology. permanently attached; not freely moving.
2. Botany. attached by the base, or without any distinct projecting support, as a leaf issuing directly from the stem.

Examples:

1. And I was afraid of being grounded, sessile - stuck in one spot for eighteen years of oboe lessons and maths homework that I couldn't finish the first time around.
2. Alfred was stretched out his full length in the sword of sun that shone through the thick branches of the sessile oak trees.

January 31, 2014
BOFFIN [BOF-in]
noun

1. a scientist or technical expert

Examples

1. A brilliant boffin - well, everyone attached to Tea Clipper was brilliant in one way or another.
2. Two years thinking of nothing else. Nobel laureate, balding boffin, government appointee, in the dock, fighting to stay out of jail.

February 1, 2014
GALLIGASKINS [gal-i-GAS-kinz]
noun

1. leggings or gaiters, usually of leather
2. loose hose or breeches worn in the 16th and 17th centuries

Examples:

1. He was generally seen trooping like a colt at his mother's heels, equipped in a pair of his father's cast-off galligaskins, which he had much ado to hold up with one hand, as a fine lady does her train in bad weather.
2. In galligaskins and filthy leather, his hat lost, his hair all elf-locks, he staggered towards WS.

February 2, 2014
SLAKE [sleyk]
verb

1. to allay (thirst, desire, wrath, etc.) by satisfying
2. to make less active, vigorous, intense, etc.: His calm manner slaked their enthusiasm.
3. to cause disintegration of (lime) by treatment with water

Examples:

1. My companions never drink pure water and the manioc beer serves as much to slake their thirst as to fill their stomachs and lubricate conversation.
2. She had the money he gave her (never enough to slake her anxieties).

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