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en·nui /änˈwē/
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The word ennui comes from French and originally meant "annoyance" or "vexation". It traces back to the Old French word enui, from the verb enuiier (or enuier), which in turn derives from the Late Latin inodiō ("hated"), the same root that gave English the word "annoy". English borrowed the term in the 17th century, and it evolved to describe a more specific kind of boredom: a feeling of listlessness, dissatisfaction, or apathy resulting from a lack of excitement or occupation. Evolution of the word: Late Latin: The root is the Late Latin phrase inodiō, meaning "hated". Old French: This evolved into the Old French word enui and the verb enuiier (to annoy). English: The word was borrowed into English in the 1660s as a direct loan from French, initially as ennui. Meaning shift: While its Latin and French roots are tied to "annoyance," the English usage shifted to a more profound sense of boredom, weariness, or apathy, particularly when life becomes too easy or monotonous. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the noun ennui was first recorded in English in 1758, though the word was used as a French term within English in the 1660s. The OED entry for ennui, n, also shows that the verb form of ennui appeared later, around 1804–1806. Examples of "ennui" in a sentence: "The endless hours spent in the office filled him with a deep sense of ennui." "A brief moment of joy was quickly replaced by his usual feeling of ennui." "Some people find a quick trip to a new city to be the perfect antidote to creative ennui." "She could feel the boredom and weariness, a dull ennui that settled over the quiet afternoon." "A brief surge of pure joy was quickly supplanted by his more usual ennui." "Her usual carefully-studied air of ennui had for a moment slipped." "Tony Hill," he said, covering his ennui with a coating of brightness.
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Are you in Athens?
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I'll meet up with you guys at the checkout.
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Aren't all of us? At least most of us.
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The etymology of dolor comes directly from the Latin word dolor, which means "pain," "grief," or "sorrow". This Latin root is the source for English words like dolour and dolorous. The Latin term was adopted into other languages. For instance, in Spanish, it forms the root of the word dolor (pain) and is used in religious contexts like Maria de los Dolores ("Mary of the Sorrows"). The word's origin can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root delh-, meaning "to chop". The word dolor can now mean: mental anguish, pain, sorrow, sadness, or grief. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the noun dolor was first used in English during the Middle English period (1150-1500) when it appeared in the text Seven Sages, around 1320. The word is a borrowing from French (dolour), which traces back to the Latin word dolor. Shakespeare also used the word in some of his works, such as in Macbeth. "Each new morn / New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows / Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds / As if it felt with Scotland and yelled out / Like syllable of dolor." (written and performed between 1606 and 1607) ***Don't confused the word "dolor" with yesterday's word "choler".*** Examples of "dolor" used in a sentence: "Her sad poems grew out of a deep dolor that lasted for months," (expressing sorrow) "Your sad-eyed dog might express a great deal of dolor when you leave him alone for the day." (referring to sadness or pain) "For me the great shame and dolor of our times is the story of immigrant children." (expressing sorrow or sadness) "All elements in this rainbow program...are carefully contrived and guaranteed to lift the dolors of winter and put you in a buttercup mood." (referring to the sorrows or pains of winter) "In three hours of listless dolor, Matt Reeves’s oppressively dour 'The Batman', which came out this spring, turned its hero into a comically emo Bat-adolescent." (expressing a sad mood)
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and pedestrian? Anyway, thanks for your comment andy 💣.
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Thanks, Johnny. The holiday chapters always seem extra special and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks, weinerdog. I'm glad you liked this chapter. Michael's mom might have been in the Christmas spirit, or she might have been worried about the reaction from everyone else that was there if she put on one of her rants. No matter what her reason, her husband was the one to benefit. Interest take on Clint's 18th birthday party, but that's a long way off and Devin and Michael might not be living nearby when he comes of age. 😜
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Chapter 24 – Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas When Devin and I were awakened by Clint on Christmas morning, we discovered he was still a little boy at heart when it came to this very special day. He was eager to go downstairs and open his presents to see what he got, so we merely tossed on something quickly, so we could go with him. On the way down the stairs, I warned Clint that our moms would probably insist that we eat breakfast first, before we opened any presents, and he just made a fac
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The word "choler" comes from the ancient Greek word khlōros, meaning "pale green" or "greenish-yellow". It entered Old French as colere and then Late Latin as cholera. A predominance of choler was associated with a quick-tempered, irritable, and ambitious personality. This is why "choler" is now used to mean anger or irritability. The word "choler" is primarily a noun, As a noun, which refers to anger, wrath, or irritability, and historically, it was also used to describe yellow bile. It can also function as an adjective in older forms, such as "choleric", a term that was used to describe someone who is easily angered or has a bad-tempered disposition. The term Cholera came to refer to a severe acute diarrheal infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, which contaminates food and water. The infection results in profuse, painless, watery diarrhea and can lead to rapid and severe dehydration and death if not treated with prompt fluid and electrolyte replacement. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word "choler" was first used in Middle English before 1382. The OED's earliest evidence for the term comes from the Bible (Wycliffite, early version). Examples of "choler" used in a sentence: "Emerson's fiery complexion subsided by gradual degrees and his acute intelligence triumphed over his choler." "The medieval notion of humors suggested that too much choler, or bile, could make a person quick-tempered." "His reputation for choler made employees reluctant to ask him questions." "The big head, bright eyes, and steely mouth suggest brains, pride, and choler." A literary excerpt: Watson is in a perpetual state of stiff-necked choler tinged with snobbery — "I am better educated, more wealthy, and stronger than you are," he tells Bea, who is unmoved. "I had had two years of color, choler, and passion in Karhide."
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cacoethes - Word of the Day - Mon Sep 22, 2025
Bill W commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
And it served like one for many couples at that time as well! You could certainly do things in those old cars that are impossible in today's vehicles with their bucket sears. You could also enter the vehicle on the passenger's side and then slide over behind the wheel, or exit the car using the reverse process. -
cacoethes - Word of the Day - Mon Sep 22, 2025
Bill W commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Thanks for the memories, sandrew. I haven't thought about the Flip Wilson Show and his Geraldine character in years. Thanks for the memories. -
cacoethes - Word of the Day - Mon Sep 22, 2025
Bill W commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Hannibal Lecter was unable to control a cacoethes for committing murder and then cannibalizing the corpse. -
cacoethes - Word of the Day - Mon Sep 22, 2025
Bill W commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
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? 😉
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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."
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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.
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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.
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That's one I can CHALK up then!
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And you may never encounter it again, @Daddydavek, unless you decide to travel to Wales.
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Great photos in the second and third links.
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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."
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Thanks, Anton. Is that your Lottery card showing that you won $100,000 on a scratch off ticket?
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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
