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The magic of words

AWADmail Issue 1176

A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language

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From: Allan E Prentice (allan.e.prentice gmail.com)
Subject: A.Word.A.Day: passing Thought


To what you cited he added a punch line, “The spectacle is nearly always comic.” The quotation is from 1989!

Allan Prentice, Eugene, Oregon

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From: Arthur Tenenholtz (checiny gmail.com)
Subject: Today’s thought

The Lewis Lapham quotation is both correct and timely. We have a plethora of oligarchs, and one allegedly wealthy individual, who want to direct the world. It is not even passing strange that their opinions are generally in their own interests. In the past some of the wealthy kept low profiles but even a century ago, Henry Ford liked to insert himself in politics.

Arthur Tenenholtz, New York, New York

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From: Brian Thomas (brian_thomas42 mac.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--passing

Passing in the Black community means passing for White, which means having the privileges that White people have in America. (See Nella Larson’s novella Passing.) I don’t know if the same was true in South Africa under Apartheid rule, but it has always been something of note in the US since the country’s founding. Even within the US Black community, colorism is “a thing”. There are perceived and real privileges a person receives in a system that is certainly the opposite of colorblind. Perhaps the term should be color-forward. It’s like David Foster Wallace’s essay “This is Water”.

Brian Thomas, Manchester, New Hampshire

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From: Richard S. Russell (RichardSRussell tds.net)
Subject: adverbs

All we normally need to do to turn an adjective into an adverb is add -ly: quick, quickly; dainty, daintily. Which raises the question of how to modify an adjective that already ends in ly: orderly, orderlily?

Richard S. Russell, Madison, Wisconsin

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From: Pierre-Alexandre Sicart (PA_Sicart hotmail.com)
Subject: Adverbially challenged

I once wrote a story for the anthology Adverbially Challenged, vol. 5. It is 100 words long (title not included) and includes 36 different adverbs (of which only 12 end in -ly).

Not So Fast!

I often walk around alone. When I saw her on a bench, I stopped dead, swiftly looked away, and sightlessly, silently, ever so slowly, slid closer and sat down.

That’s how I met Sally. She was reading In Defense of the Adverb, by Bruce Lee. She was most lovely and quite friendly, but sadly, she soon said icily, “Don’t be silly. ‘Lovely’ isn’t an adverb, and neither is ‘friendly.’ Frankly, you’re adverbially challenged.” Then she got up quietly and walked off quickly as I watched on despairingly.

“Not so fast!” I cried out desperately.

She came back and kissed me.

Pierre-Alexandre Sicart, Midi-Pyrenees, France

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From: Steven Stine (scstine1672 gmail.com) Subject: Adverbs Stephen King is widely noted for his antipathy to adverbs, which he explained in detail in his memoir On Writing. To summarize, he believes that they should be used sparingly, especially in dialog.

Steven Stine, Grayslake, Illinois

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From: Steve Benko (stevebenko1 gmail.com)
Subject: Adverbs

The Tom Swift book series was so notorious for its overuse of adverbs that it spawned a whole new wordplay genre called Tom Swifties. For example, “I dropped my toothpaste,” said Tom crestfallenly.

Before beginning my AWAD limerick career, I wrote hundreds of these and a variation I called Geo Swifties, such as “Ouch! My foot!” said the man from Krakatoa.

This week marks the completion of 10 years of AWAD limericks for me without missing a word. The project has given structure and purpose to my life in retirement, entertained people, and made me numerous on-line clever and talented friends around the world.

And it all started in the health spa of a downtown Toronto hotel where I had booked a massage while staying there on a business trip in the late 90’s. The therapist -- with whom I am still in touch as friends though not having seen her in almost two decades -- told me about AWAD. A perfect example of the butterfly effect.

Steve Benko, New York, New York

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From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: towardly and thither

Much like us humans, our canine companions display a spectrum of temperaments, from towardly Afghans, Labs, Collies and Golden Retrievers, to allegedly “untowardly” Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Rottweilers and American Pit Bull Terriers. The latter have reputations for being mean, vicious breeds, but I’d argue that they’re innately towardly, too often trained to be aggressive and menacing.


Our word “thither” conjured up a rather arcane expression, “hither, thither and yon”, synonymous with the phrase, “here, there and everywhere”. Simply put, in random directions. Troubadour Bob Dylan’s ramblin’ tune, “Like a Rolling Stone”, came to mind, particularly the line, “no direction home/like a complete unknown/like a rolling stone”. Here, a flummoxed Dylan is literally at a crossroads, perchance trying to figure out his “direction home”.

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

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Anagrams

This week’s theme: Adverbs Elsewhen Towardly Passing Seemly Thither	=	At another stage Be sweet Very Sleekly, swish; hmm, splendid wish There	=	New time Aptly Hasty, she’d be overtaking She dresses well Whim’s there
		-Robert Jordan, Lampang, Thailand (alfiesdad ymail.com)		-Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz)
	=	Heinlein word (psst, geeks) Sweet (vs. harsh) May be hasty Well-timed There	=	Knew them days yore; we’d ... Pleases them Transits Swell! High vibes There
		-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)		-Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com)

Make your own anagrams and animations.

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Limericks

elsewhen

In my youth, I went roaming for years
Starting west all the way to Algiers.
But that was elsewhen,
I’ll not do that again;
For alas, older age interferes.
-Beth Sandel, Cheval Blanc, France (bethjsandel hotmail.com)

The super had heard my request.
“I’m busy right now,” he had stressed.
The man never can come,
For it’s his rule of thumb
That elsewhen would always be best.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

“Though I won at Trafalgar,” said Nelson,
“That was that - I shall not appear elsewhen.
While Napoleon’s toast,
I am now but a ghost;
Aye, by pacin’ the deck, did meself in.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

towardly

Towardly she comes to my bed
And sleeps there right next to my head.
Though pillows galore
Lay strewn on the floor
My kitty prefers me instead.
-Beth Sandel, Cheval Blanc, France (bethjsandel hotmail.com)

The old substitute teacher would pray,
“Let the students act towardly today.
When classes are rough,
This job can be tough,
And it’s never enough that they pay.”
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Said Donald, “Melania’s towardly,
But I do it with her only boredly.
More exciting by far
Is a buxom pοrn star
Who will fake it to make me feel lordly.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

passing

In passing my time it’s quite true
I never lack things I can do
With my books and my cat.
I am fine where I’m at
(But there’s also a pastry or two!)
-Beth Sandel, Cheval Blanc, France (bethjsandel hotmail.com)

“Panamanians whom I’m harassing
May not like that their land I’m amassing.
But when I corral
That juicy canal,
Those captains will bow with each passing!”
-Steve Cabito, Santa Rosa, California (stevecabito gmail.com)

Is it not passing strange that Trump’s won
After all that this felon has done?
Some folks have forgotten
His actions quite rotten,
And they think four more years will be fun.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

He always the teacher was sassing,
And absences, they were amassing.
His papers, though great,
He would oft turn in late.
‘Twas passing strange, that he was passing.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

He’ll be president only in passing,
So let’s try to withstand his outgassing.
Though in pain, we won’t yelp,
And here’s how I will help:
I’ll continue my tireless sassing.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

seemly

Is it seemly, I do have to ask,
To go out without wearing a mask?
In these days, when a cough
Could just carry you off,
I do wear one. It’s not a big task.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

The women would all “Ahh” and “Ooo”
Whenever he came into view.
His face would ensure
With its seemly allure
That a riot would shortly ensue.
-Beth Sandel, Cheval Blanc, France (bethjsandel hotmail.com)

His actions were not very seemly.
He treated his staff just so meanly,
That when he got fired,
They sang out inspired;
And glad he was gone? Oh, extremely!
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“Though it may not appear very seemly,
I desire you, madam, extremely,”
Said Don Juan. “Being married,
You look rather harried;
Let’s spend a day acting obscenely.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

thither

It is chocolate I truly adore;
I have found the most wonderful store.
But the weight on my hips
Once it goes through my lips!!
I shall surely go thither no more.
-Beth Sandel, Cheval Blanc, France (bethjsandel hotmail.com)

You hesitate, dear, and you dither.
There’s no need that you furtively slither,
When you hear nature’s call.
Then just go -- (Do not stall.)
To the bathroom, my dear, get thee thither.
-Rudy Landesman, New York, New York (ydur36 hotmail.com)

When she told him that he should come hither,
He approached in a bit of a dither.
Was he sure what she meant
With that signal she’d sent?
So in order to learn, he went thither.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Thither I’ll go at a trot --
To the forest, like it as not
And pretend it’s my wood,
And I’m Robin Hood
And speak in Olde English, say wot?
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com)

“To the White House once more I’ll soon slither,
For the voters again sent me thither,”
Said Donald. “What fun!
Now democracy’s done;
To destroy it this time I won’t dither.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

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Puns

Cinderella wished she was anywhere elsewhen the clock struck midnight and the magic spell was broken.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“Now is the time, elsewhen will we do it?” pleaded the elderly gentleman who had taken his last Vιαgrα.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

The class headed towardly-f Erikson’s exhibit at the Great Explorers museum.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“When it comes to cars, I lean towardly-sing rather than buying,” said the bankrupt financial advisor at the cocktail party.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“No pleasure on Earth or in heaven could possibly sur-passing-ing like hers,” declared Orpheus.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

On our road trip, we would passing-Sing, the correctional facility in Ossining, New York.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“It would seemly doesn’t wish to pay palimony,” Michelle Marvin’s attorney informed her client.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

After fixing her stocking seemly continued her stripping routine.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“Mommy, I’m having twubble cutting the paper with the thither-th,” fretted the little boy.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

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The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. -Hermann Göring, Nαzi military leader (12 Jan 1893-1946)