Bill W

The word "ashen" comes from Middle English asshen, meaning "made of ashwood", and a derivative of the Old English word æsċen. It has two primary etymological paths: one relating to the ash tree and another, more common one, relating to the pale color of ashes from a fire. The second meaning, to be pale or "lifeless," emerged as the pale color of ashes became associated with shock or fear. The word "ashen" first appeared in English during the Middle English period, with the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) citing its earliest evidence before 1400 for the meaning "made of ash wood". The adjective "ashen" in the sense of "ash-colored" or "deadly pale" first appeared in the early 1800s, with the OED noting its earliest use in 1808. Others cite 1807 instead. Examples of "ashen" used in English: "He was taller than all his men with long ashen hair and piercing gray eyes." "It was the color of an ashen dove and reached her ankles." "He was ashen and trembling in fear." "He fell back, shocked, his face ashen."

Give him a break! He was half frozen and hungover when he typed that. 🍺 😜

And it works fine, as long as there isn't a strong wind.

The word "lambast" is likely a comgination of two archaic verbs: "lam", meaning "to beat" or "to thrash", and "baste", meaning "to beat soundly" (it's unrelated to the cooking or sewing term). Lambaste is the preferred spelling in American and Canadian English, while lambast is the preferred spelling in British and other forms of English. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the verb "lambaste" was first used in English in the mid-1600s, with the earliest evidence from 1637 in a text by Inigo Jones and William Davenant. Its original meaning was to physically assault or beat someone violently, but by the 1800s, the meaning expanded to include harsh verbal attacks or criticism. Examples of "lambaste" used in a sentence: "The coach lambasted the team for its poor play." "They wrote several letters lambasting the new law." "Even with its success, harsh party leaders continued to lambaste the plan for healthcare reform." "The rude shopper continued to lambaste the sales clerk for not moving quick enough." "Trying to change his overly critical ways, the dater promised the matchmaker that he would not lambaste his date over small errors." "As if complaining wasn’t enough, the young woman’s mother-in-law made an effort to lambaste her regarding her cooking and her housecleaning skills."

Here in Georgia, tomorrow is supposed to have a high of 39 degrees (3.9 C) and a low of 26 degree (-3.3 C). I guess I'll finally have to turn on the heat, at least temporarily. 😞 Our Veterans Day (old Armistice Day) is Nov. 11th, the date when the armistice was signed ending World War 1, at 11:00 a.m. on 11/11/1918. If your great uncle was a Sgt. Major in WW2, he must have been a career military man. Impressive!

I worked with a woman like that, and later learned from her daughter that the problem was a result of her body chemistry. The daughter explained that no matter how often she bathed or showered, or what deodorant or perfumes she used to try to mask it, nothing worked. I felt badly for her, because many of the other employees would make snide remarks about her problem while she was present.

The word "acrid" comes from the Latin word ācer, which means "sharp," "pungent," "bitter," or "fierce". The Latin root was likely influenced by the similar-sounding Latin word "acidus" and the English word "acid". The English word "acrid" was probably shaped by this influence, and the suffix "-id" was added to model it after "acid". The root ācer is also the source of words like "acerbic," "acrimony," and "acumen". According to the Oxford English Distionary (OED), the first use of "acrid" in English was in 1633. The earliest recorded use of the adjective "acrid" is a quote from a 1633 edition of "Gerard's Herball", translated by T. Johnson: "The wilde Leeke hath leaues much like vnto those of Crow-garlicke, but larger, and more acride". Examples of "acrid" used in a sentence: "The air filled with the acrid smell of blood and tart wine." "The gray acrid smoke of the powder lingered over the rock." "Miles away from the fires, the smoke still left an acrid taste in my mouth." "Traffic was snarled, and whiffs of acrid air stung the eyes." "Even twenty yards from the room, she could still smell the acrid green smoke." "It has a warm energy with bitter and acrid or pungent flavors."

Avuncular comes from the Latin noun avunculus, which means "maternal uncle", but since at least the 19th century English speakers have used avuncular to describe uncles from either side of the family, or people who are uncle-like in character or behavior. Avunculus is also an ancestor of the word uncle itself. Just in case you're interested, the Latin word for "paternal uncle" is patruus. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of "avuncular" in English was in 1831. It appeared in the writings of Walter Savage Landor, and it originally referred specifically to the relationship with a mother's brother. Examples of "avuncular" used in a sentence: "He's very avuncular, very comforting." "You can see this rumpled, avuncular figure making a big media hit." "The avuncular figure 's voice conveyed a sinister side." "He became a much-loved avuncular figure dispensing his own brand of wisdom." "A person who is avuncular is generally a kindly, supportivem and helpful older person, like a boss or teacher." "He wasn't my uncle by birth, but his avuncular behavior of offering friendly advice and encouragement caused my entire family to refer to him as my uncle."

Best of luck battling this mysterious illness. 💊 💊 Take these two in the meantime and then head to your pharmacy in the morning. Sorry, I couldn't find a cute male nurse to send to take care of you overnight.

That's what I call supersizing solar power on earth!

The word libidinous comes from the Latin libidinosus, meaning "full of desire", which is derived from libido ("lust, desire, pleasure"). This Latin root entered English through Old French libidineux ("lusty")and ultimately traces back to an even older root meaning "to please". According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of "libidinous" in English was in the mid-15th century, during the Middle English period (1150-1500), specifically in 1447, in the writings of poet Osbern Bokenham. The word comes from the Latin "libidinosus" and is a Middle English term meaning "lustful". Examples of "libidinous" in a sentence: "The waiter's libidinous behavior was inappropriate and made the customers uncomfortable." "Anderson let his libidinous imagination run away with him." "The character's libidinous preoccupations were a key part of the story." "She was know for her libidinous character, which she used to her advantage in her career." "The novel's censors, despite their job, were depicted as being libidinously thrilled by the material they were reviewing."

The word "xenial" comes from the Ancient Greek word xenia, meaning "hospitality", and the related word xenios, meaning "guest" or "stranger". It describes something related to the friendly and hospitable relationship between a host and a guest, particularly as it was practiced in ancient Greece. The English suffix "-al" is added to the Greek root to form the adjective. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), he earliest evidence for the word "xenial" is from 1858, used in the writings of William Gladstone. Other sources suggest the word was first used in the late 1700s (1790s) or as early as 1834. Examples of "xenial" used in a sentence: "During the festival, the xenial residents opened their homes to visitors from all over the country." "Her xenial nature made her popular among travelers who appreciated her generous welcome." "The Fenix tournament's name was an acronym for its core values: friendly, European, non-professional, innovative, and xenial." "A xenial approach to hospitality can leave a lasting impression on guests." "The community's xenial nature made it a great place for newcomers to meet people."

I second @chris191070 comment. Thank you to all the authors who took part in the anthology, and I enjoyed each and every story that I read, and I read them all. My compliments to that anthology as well, including the leadership of @Valkyrie. A job well done by all.

In my experience, there's no such thing as "leftover" wine! Possibly reused wine, but never leftover.

There is a short film titled "Xenogenesis" that was produced in 1978 and directed by James Cameron and Randall Frakes, as well as a book series "Xenogenesis Trilogy" by Octavia E. Butler.

The word "xenogenesis" comes from the Greek word "xeno-" meaning "foreign", "strange". or "guest", along with the Latin word "genesis", meaning "origin" or "birth". Its etymology literally means "foreign origin" or "strange origin" and describes the imaginary production of an organism entirely different from its parent. sAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word "xenogenesis" was first used in English in the 1870s, with the earliest evidence being from 1870 in the writing of Thomas Huxley.=, a biologist and science educator. Examples of "xenogenesis" in a sentence: "Scientists study xenogenesis to understand genetic variations." "Xenogenesis challenges traditional inheritance theories." "Xenogenesis is a fascinating concept in science fiction." "The book explores xenogenesis as a theme."

The term "xiphoid" comes from the Greek word "xiphos", which means "sword" or "straight sword". The xiphoid process, a small, triangular-shaped bone at the lower end of the sternum, is named after its sword-like appearance. The adjective "xiphoid" first appeared in English in the mid-1700s, with the earliest evidence from the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) being from 1747 in the writing of S. Glass. The term is most commonly used in anatomy to describe the :xiphoid process, the cartilage- and bone-tipped part of the sternum at the bottom of the rib cage. a borrowing from Latin "xiphoides", ultimately deriving from the Greek word for "sword". The xiphoid process helps support muscles and ligaments in your chest and abdomen, but it's possible to live without it. It's what healthcare providers call a vestigial structure. Examples of "xiphoid" used in a sentence: "Just to the bottom of the xiphoid process," Ms. Boyle said. "Actually, the “lump” is the xiphoid process, the quarter-size cartilaginous end of the bony sternum." "The two little girls were united from the xiphoid cartilage to the umbilicus." "On examination, she had an abdominal protrusion between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus that contained the small bowel."

The word "xylophone" is derived from the Greek words ξύλον (xúlon) (meaning "wood") and φωνή (phōnḗ) (meaning "sound, voice"), so literally "the sound of wood"). The name was coined in Europe in the 19th century to describe the wooden bars that make the instrument's sound. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of the word "xylophone" in English was in the 1860s, specifically from a 1866 edition of the British literary magazine Athenaeum. Other sources corroborate this, citing the same year or a similar 1865-1870 range for the word's introduction into the English language, with the instrument itself having earlier origins in Africa and Asia. Examples of "xylophone" used in a sentence: "Percussion is composed of sleigh bells, tambourine, xylophone and kettle drums." "The more the strings sound acid-toned and the piano xylophone-like, the better." "In the 16-second clip, five chickens peck at a xylophone nailed to a wall in their coop." "The xylophone is a percussion instrument, made of wooden bars with ronators underneath." "A xylophone is played using mallets made of rubber, acrylic, or plastic to strike the bars and produce the sound." "The xylophone typically has a range of three to four octaves."

Have you ever been caught in a situation where you've been engaged by a very chatty person in a very awkward situation that was impossible to escape, and worst of all, they wouldn't leave you alone, even though you refused to respond to them? If you have, then you might be able to identify with this awkward and somewhat tense conversation between two people, and if you haven't ever found yourself in a similar predicament, then read this short-story and determine how you might have reacted.

Although I've never done it, I suppose it would be very difficult to write a story using only dialogue and not being able to add descriptions, observations, or explanations. I very much enjoyed this and can appreciate the thought behind it, since I've been roped into conversations with chatty persons before that I had no intention of communicating with. Some people just won't take 'no' or silence as a response to their constant prying. I don't know how I missed this story during the Tribute to Carlos, but nicely done.

This thought provoking poem about the sun points out that their are many different ways we can think about and appreciate the sun, depending on the time of day or the time of year.

If you're looking for a story that is creative, well written, and creepily horrifying, then this short story is probably for you. Might the narrator have been affected due to a previous night of heavy drinking, that's a possibility, and might reading it have a delayed uncontrollable reaction, very likely. And if you don't already have arachnophobia that situation might change after reading this spooky tale with a bit of tension breaking humor tossed in.

This story was very creative, thought provoking, and well written. I spent a lot of my youth with an uncle who suffered from arachnophobia, which unfortunately rubbed off on me when I was younger. due to the fact that I was around him so often. Luckily, I outgrew my fear when I got older, so 1now I don't have a problem with spiders, as long as their body (minus legs) is not the size of a quarter (US currency) or larger. For that reason, I enjoyed this story very much, although the concept was horrifying.

Nothing like messing up a few spiders. I'm not sure of the purpose behind that experiment, but it seemed a bit cruel.

None where I live either and I didn't celebrate myself! Guess I'm stuck eating the candy I bought for the trick-or-treaters! 😁 Quote @wildone: You know what? I could use another hour of sleep tonight Yep, me too!