Friday Lexicon

Today, after a full year of Friday Vocabulary posts, I am pleased to announce the launch of my Lexicon page, comprising every word I have used in my weekly Vocabulary, along with its definition. (Or at least one definition; several words utilize a meaning other than the most common. Caveat lector!) In addition to showing …

Friday Vocabulary

1. squamous — composed of scales, covered with scales, scaly She had gotten too close to her idol, and now perceived that the shoulders of his fashionable rope sweater were covered in squamous dandruff flakes, and that he had quite hairy ears.   2. cryptesthesia — perception by hidden or paranormal means, such as clairaudience …

Friday Vocabulary

1. teratogenic — disrupting development of fetus or embryo, thus causing birth defects Pregnant women should avoid high intake of vitamin A, as teratogenic effects have been noted.   2. periapt — amulet, charm “Do you deny, then, that you used this very periapt to conjure forth your sworn servant, this supposed cat, in fact …

Friday Vocabulary

1. schism — (ecclesiastical) breach in Church unity, division of church into mutually hostile groups; division of previous unity into opposing parties Excuse me, Miz’m, but isn’t it a mere solecism to view communism only through the prism of colonialism, ignoring, for example, the late 20th Century schism between Marxism and socialism?   2. leveret …

FBI ID’s Conspiracy Theories As Dangerous Ideas, Nation Yawns

In fulfillment of a promise made to a friend to review a recent news link, I hereby present some remarks upon both the link and the underlying FBI document which engendered this news, “Anti-Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, Sometimes Violent Activity“. What the …

Friday Vocabulary

1. pantile — roofing tile, often clay, curved to an ogee shape — that is, having a cross-section shaped like an ‘S’ — which interlocks with similar tiles to create a distinctive wavy roof line In Kirkcaldy whilst visiting Fife you can visit Sailor’s Walk, which is actually two 17th-century houses, both with the distinctive …