Tuesday, November 18, 2008

A word a day.

adulterate \uh-DUHL-tuh-rayt\, verb:
1. to add an inferior, impure, or improper substance to; lower the quality or purity of a food or other substance without greatly altering the appearance; corrupt
2. debased by adulteration; adulterated

It would seem as if some men considered it a sin ever to sell a pure article, if it be possible to adulterate it with something cheaper.-- Adulterated Drugs, Drinks, and Diet, New York Times, October 23, 1949

Industrial plant directors bent upon fulfilling the Plan adulterate their products to increase quantity.-- Lance Morrow, The Inscrutable Soviets, Time, May 9, 1972

The disciples also promised not to adulterate milk with water, or flour with powdered stone.-- Atomic Vows, Time, May 14, 1946

Monday, November 17, 2008

Engrish

If you write like this, I will shake my head non-stop for the next three years.
















Sunday, November 16, 2008

A word a day.

frowzy \FROW-zee\, adjective:
1. dirty and untidy; slovenly
2. smelling bad; musty

"Lady," said a frowzy, spiritless panhandler, "c'n ya lemmee have a quarter to buy my little boy some milk?"-- The Bleatniks, Time, August 10, 1957

Based on an old apartment building in Spokane, Wash., it is complete with frowzy lobby and stains on the wall that you wouldn't want to analyze too closely.-- Jerry V. Haines, Minneapolis mind expansion, Los Angeles Times, August 13, 2001

The chief of staff's normally impeccable office had become a frowsy litter of coffee cups, cigarette butts, carbines and musette bags.-- Frank Gibney, Help Seemed Far Away, Time, July 9, 1946

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ensconced \en-SKONST\, adjective:
1. sheltered comfortably and firmly
2. sheltered safely; hidden

Determined to make the continental crossing in style, Reed ensconced his wife and four children in an enormous, custom-built, two-story wagon, complete with sleeping bunks, upholstered seats and a built-in stove.-- Bruce Barcott, Meals on Wheels: A novel of the Donner Party," review of Snow Mountain Passage, by James D. Houston, New York Times, April 7, 1997

Hamish is our puppet millionaire: an aged plant-tub tycoon, ensconced in a country house of sprawling vulgarity, he remains the befuddled pawn of his wife Gemma.-- Martin Amis, Prose Is the Leading Lady," review of Words of Advice, by Fay Weldon, New York Times, October 1, 1973

Only when he was firmly ensconced in the prime minister's office, with the reins of power in his hands, did Atsuko Abe began to discuss his true agenda with his closest allies.-- Stephen Coonts, Fortunes of War