Word Of the Day. 8/20-8/24

1.  Simper

1.

To smile in a silly, self-conscious way.

2.

To say with a simper.

noun:

1.

A silly, self-conscious smile.

Origin:

Simper  is derived from the Danish word sippe , which referred to a woman who sipped her drink in an affected manner.

The young lady could only simper when the you man that she favored gave her a flower.


 2. Velleity

1.

Volition in its weakest form.

2.

A mere wish, unaccompanied by an effort to obtain it.

Origin:

Velleity  stems from the Latin word velle  which meant "to be willing." The suffix -ity  is used for abstract nouns.

Samuel sometimes mentions that he would like to go back to school, but his interest strikes me as more of a velleity than a firm statement of purpose.

 3. Hieratic

1.

Highly restrained or severe in emotional import: Some of the more hieratic sculptures leave the viewer curiously unmoved.

2.

Also, hi·er·at·i·cal. of or pertaining to priests or the priesthood; sacerdotal; priestly.

3.

Noting or pertaining to a form of ancient Egyptian writing consisting of abridged forms of hieroglyphics, used by the priests in their records.

4.

Noting or pertaining to certain styles in art in which the representations or methods are fixed by or as if by religious tradition.

noun:

1.

Ancient Egyptian hieratic writing.

Origin:

Related to the word hierarchy , hieratic  comes from the Greek word hierātikós  meaning "priestly."

The value of the weight is uniformly written in egyptian hieratic.

4. Bole

1.

the stem or trunk of a tree.

Origin:

Bole  stems directly from the Old Norse word bolr  which meant "trunk."

Bole of trees whose boughs bend to the east.

5. Concertina

1.

To fold, crush together, or collapse in the manner of a concertina: The car concertinaed when it hit the truck.

2.

To cause to fold or collapse in the manner of a concertina.

noun:

1.

A musical instrument resembling an accordion but having buttonlike keys, hexagonal bellows and ends, and a more limited range.

2.

Concertina wire.

Origin:

A concertina  was named by the inventor who made the instrument, Charles Wheatstone, in 1837. It was first used as a verb in the early 1900s.

He learned much of his music from his neighbor Mick ' Stack ' Ryan who taught Tommy to play the concertina.