Bill W

Hannibal Lecter was unable to control a cacoethes for committing murder and then cannibalizing the corpse.

The word cacoethes comes from Latin, which borrowed it from the Greek word kakoethes, meaning "ill-disposed" or "malignant". It combines kakós ("bad") and êthos ("character" or "disposition"). The term entered English in the mid-16th century, with its modern meaning of an "insatiable desire" or "mania" popularized by the Roman satirist Juvenal's phrase, insanabile scribendi cacoethes, or "the incurable disease/passion for writing". Its modern meaning is "an irresistible urge to do something inadvisable." The noun cacoethes was first used in English in the 16th century, appearing in the late 1500s. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) cites its earliest known use in the writing of John Foxe, the martyrologist, in 1570. Examples of "cacoethes" in a sentence: " He indulged his cacoethes for climbing trees, even though he knew he might fall." "The professor succumbed to a cacoethes for writing, publishing articles on every topic that caught his interest." "She gave in to a sudden attack of cacoethes and ate the entire box of chocolates." "Despite the risks, his incurable cacoethes for gambling led him to a casino every weekend." I guess you could say that nearly everyone here at Gay Authors is suffering from cacoethes, at least in the original meaning of the word.

Ok, guys, fess up. How many of you are planning to use brontide in your next story? 😉

I'm afraid it probably scared someone and got squished in a knee-jerk reaction.

The word "brontide" comes from the Ancient Greek word Brontḗ (βροντή), meaning "thunder," combined with the Greek suffix -ide. It refers to a low, muffled, distant rumbling sound, similar to thunder but occurring without a visible storm, often associated with seismic activity or other mysterious phenomena. It describes the sound like distant thunder heard in certain regions, especially coastal or lake areas, that are thought to be caused by weak earth tremors. It is sometimes described as "thunder on a clear day." The term can be found in scientific and nature-focused communities. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word brontide is "not recorded in historical use." The word appears to be a recent creation that entered English around the Year 2000. This is the key distinction to make, as some sources outside of the OED might cite earlier usage that the OED does not recognize. The OED does, however, record the related but distinct term Brontḗism, meaning the style or manner of the Brontḗ sisters' writings. That term dates back to 1887. Examples of "brontide" used in a sentence: *"What's a brontide?" she said, keep him from bolting after hearing the thunderous sound." *"Hiking along the coast, the campers were puzzled by the faint brontide they heard from the direction of the sea." *"On the clear day, a low brontide rolled across the valley, a sound that often precedes seismic activity in the region."

Yes, at first glance that spider does resemble an apple fritter. 🤪 At least until you see the little hairs at the bottom, and then you think someone dropped that apple fritter on the ground or the floor.

First of all, here in GA we're running about 5 to 6 degrees F higher than average, that's 2.8 to 3.3 degrees C. As far as my favorite season, I have two - spring and fall. The temperature in each of these seasons are much more to my liking, even though the early part of spring may be a little chilly, as well as the later part of the fall, but the rest of those seasons are more conducive to activities outdoor and it's better sleeping weather as well. I also like the spring because the plants are coming back to life and blossoming again and the crops are starting to grow. I like the fall because it's harvest time when you can eat corn on the cob and drink cider while enjoying nature's farewell to the growing season with it's colorful display of autumn leaves. I trust that answers your questions satisfactorily.

That's one I can CHALK up then!

And you may never encounter it again, @Daddydavek, unless you decide to travel to Wales.

Great photos in the second and third links.

Phrynarachne Is a genus of crab spiders with multiple species. Phrynarachne bimaculata Thorell, 1895 – Myanmar Phrynarachne brevis Tang & Li, 2010 – China Phrynarachne ceylonica (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1884) – India, Sri Lanka to China, Taiwan, Japan Phrynarachne cheesmanae (Berland, 1938) – Vanuatu Phrynarachne clavigera Simon, 1903 – Madagascar Phrynarachne coerulescens (Doleschall, 1859) – Java Phrynarachne cucullata Simon, 1886 – Cambodia, Vietnam, Moluccas Phrynarachne decipiens (Forbes, 1883) – Malaysia, Java, Sumatra Phrynarachne dissimilis (Doleschall, 1859) – Java Phrynarachne dreepy Lin & Li, 2022 – China Phrynarachne fatalis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1899 – Sri Lanka Phrynarachne gracilipes Pavesi, 1895 – Ethiopia Phrynarachne huangshanensis Li, Chen & Song, 1985 – China Phrynarachne jobiensis (Thorell, 1877) – New Guinea Phrynarachne kannegieteri Hasselt, 1893 – Sumatra Phrynarachne katoi Chikuni, 1955 – China, Korea, Japan Phrynarachne lancea Tang & Li, 2010 – China Phrynarachne mammillata Song, 1990 – China Phrynarachne marmorata Pocock, 1899 – Equatorial Guinea Phrynarachne melloleitaoi Lessert, 1933 – Angola Phrynarachne olivacea Jézéquel, 1964 – Ivory Coast Phrynarachne papulata Thorell, 1891 – Myanmar Phrynarachne papulata aspera Thorell, 1895 – Myanmar Phrynarachne peeliana (Stoliczka, 1869) – India Phrynarachne pusiola Simon, 1903 – Madagascar Phrynarachne rothschildi Pocock & Rothschild, 1903 – Sri Lanka Phrynarachne rubroperlata Simon, 1907 – West Africa Phrynarachne rugosa (Latreille, 1804) (type species) – West Africa, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion Phrynarachne tuberculata Rainbow, 1899 – New Guinea Phrynarachne tuberosa (Blackwall, 1864) – India Phrynarachne tuberosula (Karsch, 1880) – West Africa Phrynarachne xuxiake Lin & Li, 2022 – China Phrynarachne yunhui Lin & Li, 2022 – Hainan Phrynarachne zhengzhongi Lin & Li, 2022 – China

The Welsh word hiraeth derives from a Proto-Celtic root meaning "longing" or "grief," and comes from the Proto-Brythonic word hiraɨθ. It is formed by the Welsh word hir ("long") and the abstract noun suffix -aeth. The word's earliest citations in Welsh poetry refer to a grief or longing for a person who has died or been lost. It is related to other Celtic languages, such as Cornish (hireth) and Breton (hiraezh). It is related to other Celtic languages, such as Cornish (hireth) and Breton (hiraezh). The word appears in early Welsh poetry, indicating a deep grief or longing for someone who is lost. This includes a longing for a home to which you cannot return, a lost past, or a place that may never have existed. While hiraeth originally meant "longing for someone who is gone," its meaning expanded to encompass a broader sense of nostalgia, homesickness, and yearning for a place or time. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of "hiraeth" in English was in 1860 and appears in a text referencing Wales and Welsh culture. The OED lists its Welsh origin as the 13th century. Examples of "hiraeth" used in a sentence: *"After moving abroad, she often felt a sense of hiraeth for the simple joys of her childhood home." *"Prince Edmond John Kersey was consumed by hiraeth when thinking of the glory of England's feudal past." *"As she looked at the old photographs, a deep sense of hiraeth washed over her for the carefree days of her childhood, a home she knew she could never truly return to." *"The handwritten letters from her grandparents brought a bittersweet wave of hiraeth, connecting her to the generations before and their stories of the past." *"His \'empty chair\' resonated with homes all over Wales where there were other empty chairs and hiraeth for the young men who never returned from the trenches."

Thanks, Anton. Is that your Lottery card showing that you won $100,000 on a scratch off ticket?

Shakespeare used the word "welkin" in several of his plays: The Tempest: In Act 1, Scene 2, Miranda describes the violent storm by saying, "...the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek, dashes the fire out". A Midsummer Night's Dream: In Act 3, Scene 2, Oberon tells Puck to "The starry welkin cover thou anon / With drooping fog". Richard III: In Act 5, Scene 3, Richard encourages his soldiers to "Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!". The Taming of the Shrew: In the induction, a lord refers to his hunting dogs, saying, "Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them". Twelfth Night: In Act 2, Scene 3, Sir Toby Belch asks, "shall we make the welkin dance indeed?". King John: In Act 5, Scene 5, the Dauphin comments on the recent battle, saying the sun "stay'd and made the western welkin blush". Love's Labour's Lost: The word appears multiple times, including a line from Don Armado: "By thy favour, sweet welkin, I must sigh in thy face". Circa 1580-1613

The word "welkin" comes from the Old English word wolcen, meaning "cloud" or 'sky". It entered Middle English as welken (also meaning cloud, or the heavens). It is part of a larger Germanic family of words that have the same linguistic derivation with Dutch wolk and German Wolke, both meaning "cloud". The word is primarily poetic and archaic today, with the common phrase "to make the welkin ring" describing a very loud sound. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the noun welkin first appeared in English during the Old English period, predating 1150, and is derived from Germanic languages. The OED's first documented use of the word is in the Old English period. Other sources say the earliest recorded use of welkin is before 900 CE. The word then evolved into Middle English welkne, and its first known use as welkin to mean the sky or heavens dates to the 12th century. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote, "Till on the welkin shone the starres bright" in The Canterbury Tales. Examples of the word "welkin" used in a sentence: "As the sun set, the welkin was painted with hues of orange and pink, a breathtaking sight." "Looking up at the endless welkin, the poet imagined stars as distant islands in a vast ocean." "The triumphant shouts of the crowd seemed to make the very welkin ring with joy." "As they drove through the night, the North Star arose in the darkened welkin, guiding them home."

The word "epitomize" comes from the Greek word epitemnein, meaning "to cut short" or "abridge". It is formed from the prefix epi- (meaning "upon" or "in addition to") and the root temnein (meaning "to cut"). The verb was formed in English by adding the suffix -ize to the noun epitome, which itself means a summary or abridgment. The meaning evolved from "to abridge" or "summarize" to "to embody or typify" something perfectly, as a person or thing can be the "epitome" of an idea. Early Meaning: The word initially meant to "shorten" or "condense" something. Later Meaning: By the 1620s, its meaning evolved to "typify" or "embody" a person or thing that serves as a perfect example. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the verb "epitomize", was first used in English in 1599. The OED cites its earliest evidence from the writings of Edwin Sandys, a politician and colonial entrepreneur. The word was formed within English, derived from the noun epitome with the addition of the suffix -ize. The noun "epitome" is older, first recorded by the OED in 1529. Examples of "epitomize" in a sentence: "He epitomizes laziness" "This student's struggles epitomize the trouble with our schools." "Gifts that epitomize the religious beliefs of the family are often given at baptisms." "To really epitomize a movie star, you've got to focus on the accessories." "Hello Kitty belly rings epitomize this trend toward market focus on non-traditional age groups." "With this focus on renewal, Joanna appropriately chose the cherry blossom to epitomize her new business and its philosophy." "Most stagings of Sleeping Beauty continue to employ these costumes, which have come to epitomize the look of classical ballet." Examples of "epitome" used in a sentence: "I pictured her to be the epitome of Southern beauty." "The cartoon character Garfield is the epitome of the lazy, food-obsessed cat." "Coming to us from Greek through Latin, epitome refers to something that is the ultimate representative of its class." "Keisha always lends a hand when it's needed/ she is the epitome of helpfulness." "They have become the epitome of the little man made good." "The wacky has become the epitome of respectability and sanity."

My thoughts and prayers will be with you. All the best, my dear friend.

Then it must be Halloween all year long!

The word "captivating" comes from the verb "captivate," which entered English in the late 16th century from the Late Latin "captivare" meaning "to take, to capture". This Latin term, in turn, derives from the past participle "captus" of the verb "capere" ("to take, seize") and the adjective "captivus" ("captive, prisoner"). The etymology of "captivating" shows a semantic shift from the literal meaning of physical capture to the metaphorical sense of holding someone's attention through charm or beauty. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the adjective "captivating" was first used in English in 1675 by Henry More, the English philosopher, poet, and theologian. The word captivating is derived from the verb "captivate", which entered English much earlier, in the 1520s. Examples of "captivating" used in a sentence: "Talk about a story that's just captivating people's attention." "Van Meene's camera tends to linger on eccentric but captivating details." "In this exhibition, he seems more interested in captivating viewers rather than in shocking them." "There's something captivating about the desert." "Her voice was utterly and absolutely captivating." "The Secretary exudes a calm, yet captivating presence." "He has a charming laugh and captivating smile." "The story is a captivating fairy tale."

We can always hope, can't we.

Well said, drs.

Yes, Clint is persistent. And the boys also managed to win some money for Aaron, although it wasn't the jackpot, and then Aaron decided to use that money to treat everyone by offering to pay for the New Year's Eve celebration.

The term "philatelist" derives from the word "philately," which was coined in 1864 by French collector Georges Herpin from the Greek word philos ("loving") and ateleia ("exemtion from tax, duties, or payment"). Herpin chose ateleia because postage stamps represented a prepaid, tax-free carriage of mail, a contrast to earlier postal systems where the recipient paid the charges. A "philatelist" is therefore a person who "loves stamps" or is interested in the "love of tax-exempt" items, referring to these prepaid stamps. "Philatelic" is an adjective that refers to the collection, study, and enjoyment of postage stamps, postal story, and other related itemss like covers and postmarks. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the noun philatelist is from 1865, appearing in the Stamp-collector's Magazine. Before Herpin's innovation, the hobby of stamp collecting was sometimes called timbromanie in French, a term derived from the French word for stamp, timbre. Herpin disliked this term, which literally translates to "stamp mania". Therefore, philatelist was invented to replace the use of "stamp mania." According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the adjective philatelic was first used in English in 1865. The dictionary's earliest evidence for the word is found in the Stamp-collector's Magazine. Examples of "philatelist" used in a sentence: "He was a renowned philatelist, known for his vast collection of rare and historical stamps". "At the annual stamp exhibition, the young philatelist proudly displayed her newly acquired collection to fellow enthusiasts". "Her passion for history led her to become a philatelist, collecting stamps from different countries and eras". "He's acknowledged among philatelist as one of the pre-eminent experts in the area of old stamps, though he isn't a philatelist himself."

This is a cute short story where an older boy teaches two young boys who have a phobia about dogs that they don't have to be afraid of all dogs, especially his rather large dog. This would be a great story to read to a child that is afraid of dogs as well, because possibly the same logic will help them understand that they don't have to be afraid of ALL dogs either.