Do you know/understand what a virgule is?

I feel/ suspect that you, like me till today, have no idea what a virgule is. Nor how to properly pronounce it (\VUR-gyool\) But while you may not know/understand what a virgule is, I believe/know that you see and use them regularly.  In fact in just reading this far, you have seen/read six of them so far and will see another five before you finish. If you finish!

So what is a virgule? According to Word of the day for July 28/2016, a virgule is 1. a short oblique stroke (/) between two words indicating that whichever is appropriate may be chosen to complete the sense of the text in which they occur: The defendant and his/her attorney must appear in court.
2. a dividing line, as in dates, fractions, a run-in passage of poetry to show verse division, etc.: 3/21/27;

 So a virgule is a thing most of us use regularly without knowing its name and are happy enough about that so far, not to even want to know its name. Which is fine for things I guess but not fine when we treat people like that, is it?

I wonder how many of us treat people like we treat the virgule. We see them, even use them or their services, but barely recognise them, let alone know their names. Maybe you are even being treated like a virgule yourself. What say you from your perspective and what can you do about it. Wood love to hear from you on this subject. TOWPG.

Milquetoast is not milk toast, nor can you eat it.

In a recent blog (Ferly is not necessarily feral but fairly close.) I closed with this question: “What are some other words that you know or have used in the past, only to find they don’t actually meant what you first thought they meant?”
Well today I thought I would start the ball rolling with one of my own. Another that I have long known and long erroneously believed I knew what it meant when I didn’t.
Of course I could legitimately use the argument that I had only ever heard the word pronounced and not written down. Because although Milquetoast is in fact pronounced “Milk- toast” it is both not milk toast, nor is it edible.
In fact Milquetoast, the Word of the Day for Sunday, October 9, 2011, actually means: A very timid, unassertive, spineless person, especially one who is easily dominated or intimidated.
And originates from the character of Caspar Milquetoast, a character in The Timid Soul, comic strip by H. T. Webster, an American cartoonist (1885-1952).
So there you are, that is another example of familiar words having different meanings than originally thought. Over to you now for some more examples please?

Ferly is not necessarily feral but fairly close.

The first time I ever heard ferly used was in a song by an American singer, and I assumed (incorrectly) that it was the American version or our term “Feral” (for wild and uncouth people. {Oft times now called Bogans too!})
Thus I was somewhat surprised when reading the Word of the Day for Sunday, October 23, 2011, to find that Ferly had both a different, (although somewhat similar) meaning and a long and proud history tracing back to both Old English and German
Thus, ferly, pronounced “FER-lee”, means,
1. Something unusual, strange, or causing wonder or terror.
2. Astonishment; wonder.
Or something::
1. Unexpected; strange; unusual.
Thus Ferly, instead of being the latest Hip word of our generation, is in fact derived from Old English fǣrlīc meaning fǣr (fear) and -līc (-ly). It is related to the German gefährlich meaning dangerous.
So again now you know both what ferly means and what it doesn’t mean.
What are some other words that you know or have used in the past, only to find they don’t actually meant what you first thought they meant?

Do you teach or bore when you Inculcate?

Yes, inculcate, the Word of the Day for Thursday, September 8, 2011, is another of those words that describe an action that can either be productive or counterproductive. Depending both on how you do it and on how the listener perceives it!
Inculcate, is a transitive verb that means to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction. And again many people only learn by repetition and thus it is both necessary and needed at times. But like in most things, there is a fine line between inculcating and just plain boring people, isn’t there. So, please, whenever you find yourself in a situation where you need to inculcate anyone, make sure that you do inculcate them and not just bore them to distraction!
I once did a Computer Course at the then Footscray Institute of Technology, way back in the early 80’s, and we had a lecturer for the theory part who was obviously absolutely brilliant on his subject, but sadly, could not pass that vast knowledge on in his teachings. And so instead of inculcating us, he just bored us all to distraction. So please, do not be like that. And if my blogs are more boring than inculcating, please don’t hesitate to tell me so. Please and thank you.

Do you feign to Know?

Now the word of the Day for Friday, July 22, 2011, was feign, which I’m pretty sure you all know, means:
1. To represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of.
2. To invent fictitiously or deceptively, as a story or an excuse.
3. To make believe; pretend.
Again, a pretty straightforward and common word and meaning, I believe. So today I’m not asking if you know what it means, but rather if you do it more than you should?
Yes, sometimes it can be helpful to feign or pretend you know or understand something. But quite often that can also lead to disastrous consequences when you are left to do so, and not only can’t, but muck it up badly in the trying!
This is becoming more noticeable to me as my hearing starts to go in the lower ranges and I am often tempted to feign understanding, even when I don’t always hear what was being said. However I have learnt that often what I think I have heard, is not what was actually said, but something of my own imagination. Thus I have found it much wiser and safer, not to feign understanding, and not to be embarrassed to ask them to explain themselves again. And even again if necessary!
So, if you are ever in a situation, whether like that or not, but one where you are tempted to feign understanding or knowledge that you don’t really have, please don’t!
Again, if you don’t really know what is going on, don’t feign knowledge or understanding that you don’t have, but check it out fully and do things properly. Or else, leave it for someone who can! What say you?

Are you always careful when you Homologate?

Today’s question is: “Are you always careful when you Homologate?” Perhaps I may even have to ask, whether you ever, even if only rarely, homologate, at all? Yes! Do you approve and / or, affirm those you associate with?
For that is what the Word of the Day for Sunday, August 28, 2011. (Homologate = huh-MOL-uh-geyt), means in its main sense:
1. To approve; confirm or ratify.
2. To register (a specific make of automobile in general production) so as to make it eligible for international racing competition.
Again just looking at the first meaning of homologate, it means to approve, and confirm etc. Which are good things when done the right way and if so, usually strengthens and builds up those we in fact homologate, doesn’t it? But sometimes we can approve or confirm something or someone, in such a way, that while in one sense it gives approval and confirmation to their work, it doesn’t always affirm or approve them personally, does it? And then, there are other times when we don’t homologate at all, even when we know we should, do we? So I would just like to encourage you today, to give approval and confirmation whenever and where ever it is due, even if it is not your normal habit
Perhaps, if I could be so humble here, to even ask, what is your normal habit in regard to homologation? Yes! Is it our/your regular habit to homologate and build up? Or just to denigrate and tear down?
Again I will leave that with you for now for further reflection later.

Your life: Runic, Rune, or completely open?

Today, I thought we might look at, not just the word of the day for August 19 2011, but also at the noun it came from.
Yes, ‘runic’, Word of the Day for Friday, August 19, 2011, is the adjectival form of the Noun, ‘Rune’, which means:
1. Any of the characters of certain ancient alphabets, as of a script used for writing the Germanic languages, especially of Scandinavia and Britain, from c200 to c1200, or a script used for inscriptions in a Turkic language of the 6th to 8th centuries from the area near the Orkhon River in Mongolia.
2. Something written or inscribed in such characters.
3. An aphorism, poem, or saying with mystical meaning or for use in casting a spell.
Whereas ‘runic’ means:
1. Having some secret or mysterious meaning.
2. Consisting of or set down in runes.
3. Referring to an interlaced form seen on ancient monuments, metalwork, etc., of the northern European peoples.
So here we see that a ‘Rune’ is something plain to see, yet not plain to understand by outsiders, while “runic’ takes that idea one step further and makes it all secretive and only open to a select few in the know.
This brings me to the question in my title and especially in regard to our own personal lives. Yes, is your life open and understandable to just your own particular group or family, or worse, only open to a very select few, who can “read” you?
Or is your life an open book so to speak, and understandable to all who see it without the need of a special code book to decode your life message?
True that in some cases, some secrets or runic behaviour may be necessary, but usually most runic behaviour simply leads to a life of ruin! What say you?

Ambsace: Good or bad?

Ambsace, (pronounced, EYMZ-eys*) and Word of the Day for Sunday, July 31, 2011, is another of those now obscure words that have totally different meanings, depending on the context and usage. Here are 3 for you:
1. The smallest amount or distance.
2. The lowest throw at dice, the double ace (two ones.)
3. Bad luck; misfortune.
In the first instance, being at the smallest amount of distance can be good if the thing is desired, but if it is harmful like in this following example, it is not so good, is it? "We're within ambsace of being done." -- Jo Ann Ferguson, A Phantom Affair.
Likewise with the throw of a dice being the lowest, or coming up with double ones. I’ve played some board games where either is advantageous, and yet other games where it is deadly to your chances of winning. So again, it is all about context, rather than plain meaning.
Interestingly, Ambsace stems from the Old French ambes as, "both aces," which suits the second of the two dice illustrations in definition two, but has little obvious connection to the other two meanings, does it?
All of which means that, although it is highly unlikely you or I will ever come across the word ambsace in common usage, it is also good to always be on the watch for words with two or more different meanings and the context in which any and every word is being used. Thus once again we see that we always need to be careful, that what we think someone is meaning, is what they really mean and not our misunderstanding because we haven’t understood what they said in the proper context.
With the belief that you will understand the above in the proper context, I will close now.
* If you can pronounce that properly/comfortably, then you are doing better than me!

Do you really have the right to Usufruct?

Usufruct, the Word of the Day for Thursday, July 14, 2011, is another r of those words that although most of us have never heard of it, it describes an action most of us have done and often. But sometimes illegally too, but with little or no regard to that fact! So, what does Usufruct actually mean and how can we do it illegally?
Usufruct (YOO-zoo-fruhkt), means: “The right to use the property of another as long as it isn't damaged.” And they give the example of “She shall have the usufruct of field and garden and all that her father gave her so long as she lives, but she cannot sell or assign it to others.”
Okay that is the legal term and definition of an act, which most of us will rarely, if ever have official access to. However, in another sense, most of us have the regular opportunity to use the property of others, as long as it is not damaged. We do this most with Family and work properties, don’t we? But how many of us extend that legal right into borrowing things without express permission given or even Known? And even when having express permission, use them for things we were not given permission to use them for? Again something to think about isn’t it?
So when you next “Borrow” something, always ask yourself if you really do have that right; and even then, make sure you use it for the purpose you borrowed it for. And, if or when, damaged, take for responsibility for it instead of denying all responsibility, as it is not really yours anyway! Again something to think about now. Yes, are you really legally usufructing? Or just plain stealing?

Moxie: Do you have it and on what is it based?

Moxie, the Word of the Day for Saturday, August 6, 2011, entered “common speech from the 1908 Moxie, a trademark name registered 1924 for a bitter non-alcoholic beverage; it was used as far back as 1876 as the name of a patent medicine advertised to "build up your nerve," and it is perhaps ultimately from a New England tribal word.”
It now has these 3 popular meanings:
1.Vigor; verve; pep.
2.Courage and aggressiveness.
3.Skill; know-how.
All of which leads me to our question for today: Whilst we all like to think that we have vigor, verve and pep, as well as courage, skill and know-how and even a little bit of aggression, I can’t help but wonder, how much do we really have and is it real? Or just something imagined by us or a sin the original Moxie, just something from a bottle? Again just something for you to think about now.

Do you suffer from Aporia?

According to the Word of the Day for Tuesday, July 5, 2011, aporia (uh-PAWR-ee-uh\) means:
1. Difficulty determining the truth of an idea due to equally valid arguments for and against it.
2. In rhetoric, the expression of a simulated or real doubt, as about where to begin or what to do or say.
So again, do you suffer from aporia in either of its two meanings? Yes, do you have trouble discerning the truth from seemingly equally valid arguments? And do you often have doubts about where and when to begin, because you don’t know what to say?
Well if you do suffer from these problems I don’t have the full answers for you but would humbly suggest that firstly when you have difficulty in discerning the truth between two or more conflicting arguments or opinions, please make no permanent decisions until you have been able to check out the true facts on each side, and from reliable sources too. Then, and only then will you be likely to be in a position to make a correct decision.
Secondly, if you have doubts as to where to begin, then usually it is best to go back to the beginning and work forward from there. Usually if you do that, you will quickly work out what you can safely skip and what you may even have to repeat, before moving on to your next point.
Well, hope that helped and bye for now.

Are you trig?

Trig, the Word of the Day for Monday, July 11, 2011, is another of those words that is both not used very often now, and also one with more than one clear meaning.
Thus trig, can mean either:
1. Neat, trim, smart.
2. To make neat or trim.
3. A wedge or block used to prevent a wheel, cask, or the like, from rolling.
4. In good physical condition; sound; well.
Now 3 of these meanings, although not the same in meaning are very close nonetheless. However, the 4th is quite different in meaning and purpose, isn’t it? So when, like in today’s title, I ask if you are trig, how would you respond?
1. Would you say that you and your life, is neat and trim, and smart looking?
2. Could you say that you are helping to make others neat and trim too?
3. Or would it be more truthful to respond that you are more of a wedge and a block to making others neat and Trim?
4. And finally, would you say that you are in good physical condition? Or would you have to say that you are not as trig as you would both like to be, and in fact should be?
Well over to you now. I’ve asked the questions, so it is now up to you to decide if you wish to answer them or not.

Are you Futilitarian? I’m Not!

Futilitarian, the Word of the Day for Thursday, July 7, 2011, means “Believing that human hopes are vain and unjustified.” (Futilitarian is a satirical coinage from the 1820s combining "futility" and "utilitarian.”)
Now while some human hopes and dreams are indeed vain and unjustified, I believe that all human hope based on and sustained by God, are not vain, nor unjustified. But conversely, all human hope not based on and sustained by God, is indeed futilitarian!
So whether one is futilitarian or not, depends on where your hope is truly based. If you would like to talk more on this subject, just let me know. Otherwise bye for now.

Do you use eisegesis or exegesis?

Now I do understand that while you may not exactly know either of these two words, every one of us, when we speak about a subject or topic known to us, do so using the method of one or the other of these two ways of interpreting words and subjects.
Eisegesis, which was the Word of the Day for Saturday, June 18, 201, is an interpretation that expresses the interpreter's own ideas, bias, or the like, rather than the meaning of the text itself.
Whereas, Exegesis, “is the critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, especially of the Bible, with no bias or outside influences added.”
In other words with eisegesis, one is saying authoritarily, but not always correctly, “That this is what I think the text is saying”. Where with exegesis, one is saying, also equally authoritarily, “This is exactly what the text is saying, with nothing extra added by me.”
So when you speak, whether on a Biblical subject, or on something much more mundane, do you use eisegesis or exegeses? Over to you for your reflection now.

Is your life Canonical?

Being canonical does not mean that you are or ever will be included in the Cannon of the Bible, but you can still be canonical in other ways though! So, thew question is not if you are in the Bible at all! No! The question is: is your life authentic, recognised and accepted by those around you? Or in other words: Can your life be used as a measuring line for others? If so, then you are canonical. For as well as being included in the Cannon of the Bible, that is what Canonical, the word of the Day for Monday, July 18, 2011, means:
1. Authorized; recognized; accepted.
2. Included in the canon of the Bible.
3. In mathematics, (of an equation, coordinate, etc.) in simplest or standard form.
Also, Canonical derives from the Late Latin canon, meaning "measuring line."
So if you live an authentic life, you will be recognised and accepted by those of Like mind and you will also be seen by others as a measuring line or standard for them to emulate and live up to.
So again and in Closing: Are you Canonical today? And if not, what do you need to do to become so? Over to you now.

Is your life Canonical?

Being canonical does not mean that you are or ever will be included in the Cannon of the Bible, but you can still be canonical in other ways though! So, thew question is not if you are in the Bible at all! No! The question is: is your life authentic, recognised and accepted by those around you? Or in other words: Can your life be used as a measuring line for others? If so, then you are canonical. For as well as being included in the Cannon of the Bible, that is what Canonical, the word of the Day for Monday, July 18, 2011, means:
1. Authorized; recognized; accepted.
2. Included in the canon of the Bible.
3. In mathematics, (of an equation, coordinate, etc.) in simplest or standard form.
Also, Canonical derives from the Late Latin canon, meaning "measuring line."
So if you live an authentic life, you will be recognised and accepted by those of Like mind and you will also be seen by others as a measuring line or standard for them to emulate and live up to.
So again and in Closing: Are you Canonical today? And if not, what do you need to do to become so? Over to you now.

Zugzwang moments.

Now, you may not know what a Zugzwang moment is, but I’m pretty sure that, sad as they are, every one of us has had at least one zugzwang situation in our lives. A moment where we have just had to suck it up and make the best of a bad situation.
For that is what zugzwang, Word of the Day for Tuesday, July 19, 2011, actually means.
Yes. Zugzwang, describes a situation in which a player is limited to moves that have a damaging effect. While more commonly used in the Game of Chess, it is also used in everyday situations too. Here is one example they give: “Party rulers in China are trapped in a position that chess players deeply fear - zugzwang - where any move made puts you at disadvantage. -- Vitaliy Katsenelson, "How China Will Crash And Burn," Forbes, July, 2011.
Now unless you play chess, or speak German (Zugzwang combines two German words, zug, "move," and zwang, "constraint"), like me you may not be familiar with the actual phrase, although, as already said, I’m sure we have all been in a Zugzwang situation at least once, if not more than once before. And highly likely to face more too! So, how do we respond when in such situations?
Do we respond with the action that is least damaging to us personally? Or do we take the option of what is best for all, even if at our own expense? Again I will leave this question with you for your own personal response. But do remember when in your next Zugzwang situation, to choose wisely and not selfishly please? Thank you.

Pathos or Bathos?

In an earlier blog, “Patios or Pathos? I discussed the difference between the two words. When looking up Pathos in the dictionary, I also discovered that it also gets confused with Bathos as well!
Now if you have read the earlier blog, you will already know that Pathos, means:
1. The quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion.
2. Pity.
3. Obsolete. Suffering.
Whereas Bathos means:
1. A sudden ludicrous descent from exalted to ordinary matters or style in speech or writing.
2. Insincere or excessive pathos.
3. Triteness; flatness.
4. The lowest point; nadir.
Interestingly the word itself comes from the Greek Bathus, which means depth, or deep and where we also get our word Bath from.
Well! Whether you wanted to or not, you now know the difference between Pathos and Bathos. The only question that remains then, is whether you are pathos and evoking compassion? Or whether you are Bathos and seen as insincere and trite?
Of course the same question can also be quite well asked of my blogs too! Well, again it is over to you now.

Patios or Pathos?

Patois is one of those words where I always thought I knew what it meant, but have since discovered that I was thinking of the meaning of pathos and not patios.
Patios, the word of the Day for Friday, July 8, 201, I have since discovered, actually means:
1. A regional version of a language differing from its standard, literary form.
2. A rural or provincial form of speech.
3. Any jargon or private form of speech.
A clearer sense of the word’s meaning comes from understanding its origin: Patois enters English in the 1600s from the Old French patoier, "to handle clumsily."
Which is how some people say us Australians, and me in particular, speak English! Lol.
Anyway, patios means something slightly different or a little clumsier or rougher than the original. And particularly in regard to speech. Pathos, on the other hand means:
1. The quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion.
2. Pity.
3. Obsolete. Suffering.
So although sounding similar there is a great difference of meaning between the two isn’t there? Thus once again I am reminded of the danger of always thinking you have things right and don’t need to learn more! Which is one reason I enjoy writing these blogs as I find information that stretches me, and I hope, you too!
Anyway, now you know that patios means a rough or clumsy copy of the original, while pathos, means having pity or compassion, which word best describes you? And what are some other words that sound similar but are totally different in meaning?

How Skylarking came to be.

Skylark, Word of the Day for Sunday, July 10, 2011, is another of those words whose original meaning has changed somewhat since the beginning. Technically, a Skylark is a brown-speckled European lark, (Alauda arvensis), famed for its melodious song, and for it’s flitting about in the sky. And it is from this latter habit, thanks to bored but playful sailors, that the more common meaning of skylark, as to frolic; or play around, is derived.
Yes. Skylark as a verb is nautical in origin, recorded from 1809, in reference to "wanton play about the rigging, and tops."
Apparently after some time at sea, the boredom set in and some of the sailors, to break the boredom, would play around aloft in the riggings and masts way up above, and to the people below, looked like Skylark birds, flitting around with just the sky behind them.
Well, that was then and Skylarking has come down to ground now, so to speak. And while sometimes a bit of skylarking can be fun and allow a bit of stream and pressure to be released, it often leads to serious accidents and incidents too. So by all means, have a little fun every now and then, but do be selective where and when, and also please be very careful that your fun doesn’t lead to a lifetime of misery and pain for others. Thank you.