chimera
(kī mir' ə, ki-)

A fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a snake's tail; an impossible, foolish delusion; an organism having two or more genetically distinct types of cells due to mutation or grafting.

And how impossible did it appear to touch the inmates of this house with concern on my behalf; to make them believe in ( Read more... )

What's a cockade?
(käk ād')

A rosette or knot of ribbon originally used to decorate a hat; an insignia denoting one's military unit, support for a cause, or allegiance to a group or household.

The escort were two mounted patriots in red caps and tri-coloured cockades, armed with national muskets and sabres, who rode one on either side of [Darnay].
( Read more... )

What is prevarication?
(pri var'i kā' shən)

Deviation from the truth; lying. Prevaricate softens the bluntness of lie by implying quibbling or confusing the issue.

When [Jude] was gone the landlady came up to talk a little with Sue, and gather something of the circumstances of the family she had taken in. Sue had not the art of prevarication, and, ( Read more... )

What's tenebrous? (ten'ə brəs)

Dark and gloomy

It is strange how I accepted this unforeseen partnership, this choice of nightmares forced upon me in the tenebrous land invaded by these mean and greedy phantoms.

From Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Admittedly a little disappointed to be voted off the island so close to the finale...especially by such a major landslide. Now I know how Goldwater, McGovern and Mondale felt.

But oh, well. Gives me more time for Script Frenzy. (And I need it ;p)

Name: MajorSamFan

Shows: Stargate SG-1

Story Title: High School Do-Over

Character/Relationships: Jonathan O ( Read more... )

What's sine qua non?

(sī'nē kwā nän'; sin'ā kwä nŏn')

A Latin phrase that translates literally into "without which not." When used in English prose, it refers to an essential condition or qualification; an indispensible thing or absolute prerequisite.

[Hurstwood] soon found that freedom from fear of arrest was not the sine qua non of his existence. ( Read more... )

tur·bid
adj \ˈtər-bəd\
Definition of TURBID

1a : thick or opaque with or as if with roiled sediment turbid stream> b : heavy with smoke or mist

2a : deficient in clarity or purity : foul, muddy b : characterized by or producing obscurity (as of mind or emotions) turbid response>

- tur·bid·i· ( Read more... )

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Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to conceive written communication. So many pairs or trios of words and phrases stymie us with their resemblance to each other. Here’s a quick guide to alleviate (or is it ameliorate?) your suffering:

( 50 Ways to Weave Your Love, er...Lovenotes )