Bill W

The adjective "mordant" comes from the Latin mordēre meaning "to bite", reflecting its original sense of something sharp, biting, or caustic, especially in speech or wit. It was later used as a noun in dyeing meaning a substance that helps dye "bite" onto fabric. It passed through Old French (mordant, (present participle of mordre, meaning "biting") before entering English. It also gives us related words like "morsel" (a small bite) and "remorse" (to bite again). Other related words, such as morbid, mortal, mortify, all stem from mordēre or related roots meaning to bite or harm. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest recorded use of the word "mordant" (as an adjective) in English is from 1474. This appearance occurred in a translation by William Caxton, a prominent English printer, merchant, and diplomat. The word is also recorded as a noun from the Middle English period, with the earliest evidence for the noun form referring to a hooked clasp for a girdle is from the mid-14th century. The modern dyeing application emerged in the late 18th century (1791) for the substance that fixes color. Examples of "mordant" used in a sentence: "Yet who could resist her mordant wit?" "His dialogue is sharp and witty, laced with mordant humor." "It is this mordant wit that I suspect has made him so successful." "Shot through with mordant wit, they make you nostalgic for the days before e-mail." "He was good company, with a mordant sense of humor and a strong sense of duty." "What's most distinctive about this mordant comedy of manners is the resolutely awkward cinematography." "I sent emails and hundreds of texts, trying to explain to our friends what was happening, masking my fear with mordant humor."

In this captivating short story, you get to meet Detective Danny Vega as he uses a mixture of good old-fashion police work, along with some more modern techniques, to solve the murder of a 24-year-old murder victim. There's plenty of interesting banter between Danny, his superiors and co-workers, and it kept my interest from start to finish, and I'm sure it will do the same for you as you enter this interesting world of a homicide detective.

Wonderfully done! The story had plenty of information so we, as readers, could follow along and connect the dots. There were also vivid descriptions of how Danny was treated and the outdated city appropriated equipment he was forced to deal with, two captains with one supportive (Reyes) and another the bane of Danny's existence. There was also his interaction with the patrol officers, and enough smugness for a seasoned detective. A very enjoyable read.

Hopefully the positive reviews will turn the members to this story.

Actually, W_L, I did a paper for my World History class in college about the Sino-Soviet War (as it was called then), which was only a couple of years after the event happened. This love story, watching two boys whose countries were enemies, shed a whole new light on the paper I wrote so long ago. Your story was tender, sweet, and you captured the emotions, both of their love and the tensions between the two nations, very well. Thank you for this wonderful and touching story.

The adjective "pliant" comes from 14th century Middle English via Old French ploiant, meaning "bending", present participle of ploiier ("to bend, fold"), which itself derives from the Latin word plicāre ("to fold, bend, lay") from Proto-Indo-European root *plek- ("to plait"). It entered English describing physical flexibility, (like a young tree), and later extending to people or attitudes that are yielding, compliant, or adaptable. It shares roots with words like "ply," "pleat," and "complicate". The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), records the earliest known use of the adjective "pliant" in English as being from before 1382. The specific citation is found in the Middle English period (1150–1500) within the Bible (Wycliffite, early version). Examples of "pliant" used in a sentence: "The teenager showed off her pliant spine every time she draped herself over a piece of furniture." "Now this 'privilege' has been withdrawn as a measure to weaken the none too pliant membership." "Some people found it difficult to watch how the performer could bend his pliant body like a pretzel." "The true love-birds (Agapornis) may also be said to build nests, for they line their nest-hole with strips of pliant bark." "Pain radiated through his body from where she'd shot him, and his normally pliant temper was near the snapping point." "True strength lies in a fearless powerlessness, that is not assertive but is equally not pliant to another's will to domination." "The primary object is to render the leaves soft and pliant; the use of the sauces is to improve the flavor and burning qualities of the leaves used." "The prepared tobacco, while still moist and pliant, is pressed between cylinders into a light cake, and cut into fine uniform shreds by a machine analogous to the chaff-cutter."

Or were you involved in sordid activities all day?

Although temporarily paired as a guide for someone whose station in life is far above his own humble calling, Ashok is forced to realize what he wishes for can never be. How Ashok deals with the disappointment is the journey we take in the story about the stonemason's son and his brief encounter with a handsome prince.

It was evident from the beginning of the story that you were very familiar with the locale and how Buddhist monks function. It first looked as if the story was going to develop into a romance, but then that damn arranged marriage thing caused the illusion to shatter. As difficult as it was, it seems that both Ashok and Soria have managed to compartmentalize their disappoint and have moved on, wishing only the best for the other. Thank you for an interesting look at another culture and how they deal with life and its disappointments.

What could possibly go wrong when you're about to give an 18-year-old an ancient magical power that is greater that the magic of nearly everyone else on earth. It would probably be a teenager's dream to have this much power, so what will happen? You'll have to read this interesting fantasy short story with wonderfully painted descriptions of the world you are entering.

I also had a feeling that Jamie's arrogance would bite him in the ass, especially since he wasn't paying attention to the things he'd been taught and what the Chief Mage \was saying during the ceremony or Callum's warnings. Unfortunately for Jamie, the result was much worse than a bite on the ass, and it certainly not what Jamie had intended, but he won't be able to live and learn. Thank you, @Gary L for the wonderful descriptions and background information you included in this tale with a definite moral.

This is a cute romantic short story with a lot of subplots: sibling rivalry, absentee parents, an inclusive "second" family, and if you're familiar with several other GA members/authors, a built in depth to some of the supporting characters in the story. You'll melt with the shy boys who are secretly attracted to one another and are thrust together by an unwitting, but well intentioned teacher, and you'll have an immediate and intense aversion to the older brother, while loving the way that the story comes together.

Did you read the book to your cats?

I loved the story, @chris191070 and @BendtedWreath. Using GA members as your supporting characters to Raisin Bran, I mean Raven Bran, gave additional depth to the story, at least for those of us that realized what your were doing. And as someone else stated, @Lee Wilson is a character whether in real life or a fictional setting. I enjoyed the basketball setting, but I had to fake it when it came to the sports anime, but I totally enjoyed the cute and shy relationship between Raven and Lee, although I don't believe Lee would be that shy in person. I'm also glad that Raven finally got the upper hand over his older brother and found a "second" family with the Wilson clan. Well done!

Reading list? Or do you mean "hit" list?

The word "sordid" comes from the Latin sordidus, meaning "dirty, filthy, vile", which itself derives from sordes meaning "dirt or filth". It entered English in the early 15th century Middle English from French, sordide, initially describing festering sores but quickly extending to figurative meanings of moral baseness, meanness, or squalor, referring to things like greedy, dishonorable, or wretched conditions. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word "sordid" first appeared in English in the late 1500s, with the earliest known evidence from 1596 in the writings of Edmund Spenser. It comes from the French sordide or directly from the Latin sordidus, meaning "dirty, filthy, base". It later developed its common metaphorical sense of moral corruption or depravity by the 17th century. Examples of "sordid" used in a sentence: "He shared the sordid details of his past." "Tracing the threads to the ghosts of SELA's sordid past was easy." "She listened to Kate's explanation of the sordid affair with her neighbor. "I don't want to hear the sordid details of your relationship with Sandra. "Yet Collins says the fun didn't come from the sordid details from the Roast." "He sat with his head buried in his hands as his sordid double life was revealed." "The last straw came when Serra was getting in her car to work and slipped in one of the sordid mounds."

@Myr must have been to a wild party last night and had to sleep it off this morning.

If you're familiar with the 1950 TV show, The Lone Ranger, you'll get many of the inside jokes in Lee's story, and if you thought the move The Lone Ranger was a little strange, brace yourself for what Lee has done to the characters. Trust me, you'll find these characters wildly outrageous and hugely comical.

You sure played havoc with the characters from one of my favorite westerns from when I was a kid. Of course, I don't think TV would have been ready for this Lone Ranger and Tonto during the 1950s, but this story was certainly better than the movie The Lone Ranger! Good job, Lee.

That's definitely more than one meal for the spiders! 😧

Happy New Year to all of our wonderful GA community! I stayed on New Year's Eve as well, but the neighborhood fireworks going off kept me up until 1:30, since they didn't seem to want to stop with the fireworks, firecrackers, and other items that would give off a loud boom. As far as the first New Year's Day meal, where I grew up it was always ham and cabbage, but maybe that was to prevent large gatherings at the house with other relatives and neighbors dropping in, since ham and cabbage tends to make everyone gassy. That left us to watch the parades and football games in peace.

I'm a B.

Damn, they started drinking shortly after noon on New Year's Eve Day. They should be quite a sight by midnight!

Why does Steve's head appear to be on the outside of the bars, while his feet appear to be behind bars?

The word opulent comes from Latin Opulentus (wealthy, abounding in resources) -> Opulens (wealthy, splendid), derived from ops ("wealth, power, resources") and opus ("work, labor") and seen in words like opulence. It ultimately traces to a Proto-Indo-European root (*op- or *h₃op- ("to work, produce in abundance"), indicating richness through great resources or effort, entering English around the 1600s via French opulent. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of "opulent" in English dates to the early 1500s, with its first recorded instance around 1518, found in a translation by the author Alexander Barclay. Examples of "opulent" used in a sentence: "This highly residential district is home to many opulent villas." "We took my fiancé's parents to the opulent Venetian Room to hear Lou Rawls." "The Palace of Versailles is home to the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Chapel, and many other opulent rooms." "I had seen a photo of three large men wrapped in luxurious towels, smoking pipes in extremely opulent surroundings." "They strode through the opulent mansion down a stairwell spilling into sunlight and swaths of green grass at the side of the main house." "The robed man led her into the fortress and wound his way through bright intersections, down stairs, and into a more opulent part of the building."