Author Topic: Darkstorme's Word of the Day (Read 5640 times)

darkstorme · « **Reply #220 on:** March 28, 2011, 04:23:15 am »

Three to round off Dorand:

Dovetail

The original (and still employed) meaning of dovetail (duv-tale) is a specialized joint employed in a variety of wood- and metal-working crafts. (See it here.) A set of fan-shaped pins (or tenons) are cut into one board to fit into a corresponding set of sockets (or mortises) on another. The join is useful because its interlocking structure makes the tensile strength of the join almost as great as the surrounding material.

To dovetail something, then, is to join it in this fashion - or to connect or combine things elegantly and precisely, in whatever fashion.

Something described as dovetailing is either joined in this fashion or combines neatly with something else into a tidy whole.

Usage:

The mayor's speech on the need for a larger guard to enforce the laws of the city dovetailed neatly into his announcement of a rise in the city's taxes.
Razeriem invariably dovetailed any greeting to an attractive female into a comment on her her particular pulchritude.

Reference:

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Who uses the real dovetails, though? Well, carpenters, and more specifically...

Joiner

A joiner is a specialized carpenter whose particular specialty is the joining of wood - often employed in cabinetry, staircases, doors, framing, and other detailed woodwork.

It can also be a term for someone who is fond of joining groups.

Usage:

The joiner's work on the heavy oaken chest was exquisite, several rich-coloured woods seamlessly merged to form something as much a work of art as a container.
Supposedly, a joiner and some of his friends were rehearsing a play in the woods when they ran afoul of some mischievous fae.

Reference:

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Intricate

Something that is intricate (in-trih-kate or in-trih-kit) is composed of many complex or elaborate details - it can also require a great deal of effort or concentration to understand or solve (as in a puzzle).

An intricate detail is an intricacy.

Usage:

Freldo marveled at the intricacies of the gnomish crossbow - here, the bolts were loaded, here, the mechanism cocked the string, here, the... oops. Well, hopefully the farmer wasn't TOO fond of that chicken.
The work of a master enchanter is remarkably intricate - even a moment's distraction can ruin a morning's work.

References:

darkstorme · « **Reply #221 on:** March 29, 2011, 03:33:24 am »

For Folian...

Lupine

As an adjective, lupine (loo-pine) means characteristic of or resembling a wolf - or, specifically, the ravenous or vicious nature ascribed to wolves.

As a noun, it refers to a set of plants in the pea family, but Folianites are less likely to have to employ it in that fashion.

Usage:

Running through the woods, her blood chilled as she saw lupine forms and glowing red eyes keeping pace with her to either side.
"Watch and learn," Viper said with a lupine grin.

Reference:

ShiffDrgnhrt · « **Reply #222 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:54:53 pm »

Viper doesn't talk though!

Or atleast... I think so...

darkstorme · « **Reply #223 on:** March 30, 2011, 04:12:15 am »

Serves me right for expanding outside the characters I know, I suppose.

Anyway, continuing with what any good steward of the forest must do from time to time:

Cull

In animal husbandry, to cull (rhymes with "skull") is to reduce the population of a herd or flock, either to prevent the population from growing out of control, or to pare away the sick, weak, or dying animals. In nature, this often happens naturally, as predators are inclined to go after the weakest, slowest members of a population first anyway. Culling a population of predators can be necessary as well to allow the food species population to regrow.

More generally, to cull can mean to gather, to select from a group (as in the above definition) or to remove parts from something (again, as above).

A cull is an item or group of items that was culled from a larger group.

Usage:

The pride of lions in the Plains of Kringard was getting too large - members of the pride would starve next season after they had captured all the prey in their range. To keep things in balance, they would have to be carefully culled.
Zardoc systematically culled the useful tidbits from the treatise on alchemy for incorporation into a primer on the subject.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #224 on:** March 31, 2011, 03:08:34 am »

How does one track animals? By following their...

Spoor

Spoor (rhymes with "poor") is the trail of an animal, whether tracks, droppings, blood from an injury or from prey, or some other sign of passage.

To spoor, then, is to track an animal by finding and following it's trail.

(IRL, the word is from the Afrikaans, which is why it looks a little out of place in English.)

Usage:

The dark elf grimaced as he looked at the broken branches and crushed plants left from his panicked flight through the forest. His spoor would be plain as glowfungus, even to the surfacers!
"Ah," said Shiff, "I've found the beast's spoor! We'll soon hunt it down." The party set out, with Shiff in the lead. Later, they returned to the spot, and set off in the opposite direction. Later still, they returned again, and set off in yet a third.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #225 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:09:48 am »

When someone gets a little closer to one's prey, it's not tracking anymore...

Stalk

To stalk (stock) something is to follow it and/or observe it stealthily.

To stalk in its nontransitive form can also be to walk with a stiff gait, or in a menacing fashion. It can also mean to travel in a stealthy or surreptitious manner. (For example, during a plague, death can stalk the land.)

A stalk is a slender structure that supports something - like the stem holding up a flower, or a thin support for a water tower.

Usage:

"What do you mean I'm not mature enough?" cried Tyra. "You're a big meanie!" And she stalked off in a huff.
Newcomers to the Gloom Woods often can't escape the feeling that they're being stalked by something. Often, this is because they are.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #226 on:** April 03, 2011, 05:47:18 am »

Two, late tonight...

Feral

To describe something as feral (fair-el) is to describe it as wild or savage - either something that was tame and returned to a wild state or that has always existed in a wild state.

It can also describe something reminiscent of a wild animal.

Usage:

After their release, the circus animals went feral - the tiger killed five people in the woods before the rangers trapped and killed it.
Haley looked up with a feral grin, the fireball glowing in her palm. "Want to bet?"

Reference:

Stewardship

Stewardship (stoo-werd-ship) is the supervision, conducting, or management of something, particularly the careful management of something entrusted to one's care.

Someone entrusted with stewardship can be described as a steward.

Usage:

The Wolfswood Ranger Corps, on its formation, assumed stewardship over the Wolfswood and its inhabitants.
Druids are often the stewards of nature.

Reference:

ShiffDrgnhrt · « **Reply #227 on:** April 03, 2011, 08:43:50 am »

Quote from: darkstorme

Usage:
"What do you mean I'm not mature enough?" cried Tyra. "You're a big meanie!" And she stalked off in a huff.

[/I][/LIST]Really? For all the other kind of stalking she does, this is what you use her in an example for? And she would never say the word meanie! Ya meanie!

Gulnyr · « **Reply #228 on:** April 03, 2011, 02:51:09 pm »

I thought it was spot-on.

darkstorme · « **Reply #229 on:** April 04, 2011, 04:03:37 am »

Finally, a place for Folian to go to rest while the next candidate steps up and stretches:

Lair

A lair (rhymes with "hair") is a den or hiding place for a wild animal - or for anyone.

To lair is to rest or hide in one's lair.

Usage:

The wolf fought off the goblin - when she was sure the creature was in full flight, she returned to her lair to lick her wounds and tend to her frightened cubs.
Daniella held the shining symbol of Toran high as the group pursued the vampires. They'd run the monsters down, wherever they laired, and eradicate them forever!

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #230 on:** April 06, 2011, 03:50:01 am »

Two for Goran on a busy Tuesday night:

Ingenuity

Ingenuity (in-jen-new-it-tee) can describe great creative/inventive skill, the property of a work that displays that its creator had such skill, or the work itself.

Something (or someone) who displays great ingenuity is said to be ingenious.

Usage:

As the one goblin - Grovel, wasn't it? - vanished into the bushes with a cackle, the hapless merchant had to admire the ingenuity of the plan. Now he was out here, all alone... except for his purse full of gold, of course.
The workings of the gears behind the mesh wall were truly ingenious. If they hadn't been slowly filling the small room with sand, Drexia could doubtless better appreciate them.

Reference:

Contraption

A contraption (cun-trap-shun) is a device whose purpose, construction, operation, or nature is strange or confusing; it can also be a gadget of esoteric or limited utility.

Usage:

Tunder slowly walked around the contraption. "I understand why you put the box of eels here," he said finally, "But how do you prevent the weasel launcher from jamming?"
Some contraption or another was employed in the Hotel Layonara to bring dishes into the kitchen for cleaning - sadly, it was ruined when the city was invaded, and no one has been able to get it working.

References:

darkstorme · « **Reply #231 on:** April 07, 2011, 03:29:53 am »

Jury-rig

To jury-rig (jur-ree rig) something is to come up with a makeshift temporary solution or construction from available parts. This should not be confused with describing something as jerry-built, which is a pejorative term used to describe a permanent but shoddily-built solution. A jury-rigged solution can be elegant and clever, but remains temporary.

IRL, the term jury-rig was originally nautical in origin, referring to a temporary mast and sail erected on a ship after the main mast was lost to combat or storm. It has been suggested (but lacks etymological proof) that the term is short for "injury-rig", or a sail that would be put up after the ship had suffered an injury. The term has no association with the legal form of a "jury".

Usage:

After the axle on the wagon snapped, one of the caravan guards was able to jury-rig an old table leg as a temporary axle. It made for an uneven ride, but the wagon was able to make it to the next town.
After the leather thong holding the shield to her arm broke, Annwyl bound the shield to her arm with a length of rope from her pack. The jury-rigged solution was effective, but her arm quickly grew tired from constantly carrying the heavy metal.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #232 on:** April 12, 2011, 04:59:06 am »

Not doing too well on this "per day" thing, am I?

Millrace

A millrace (mill-race, exactly as you'd expect) is the stream of water flowing to drive a waterwheel, or the channel in which it flows, even if the water is not present.

Usage:

The water gurgling down the millrace was a pleasant counterpoint to the rumbling of the old wooden wheel.
Eghaas stopped and examined the dam across the river. So this was what was drying up all the millraces in town. The work of dire beavers, clearly.

Reference:

millrace - definition of millrace by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
Water wheel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Worth a read - prior to the development of steam power, water was the most powerful force available to industry. Its applications in Layonara are doubtless as valid.)

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Motive

Most people are aware of the noun form of motive (moh-tiv) - something behind a person's actions, whether an incentive or a goal.

The adjectival form of motive, however, is the one whose application in Goran's service is easy to see. Something that is motive is something that causes action, movement, or tends to do so. A motive force, therefore, is a force that acts on something in a fashion that causes movement.

Usage:

The Silverguard lieutenant scratched his head. The motive for the murder of the businessman was clear. The question was means. Who could've made it past all his guards and into his locked bedchamber?
The motive force for the room of gears and belts was the golem tirelessly walking in the wheel by the wall.

Reference:

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Concoct

To concoct something is to create it by mixing together ingredients, as one would in cooking or alchemy. Alternately, concocting something can mean devising it by means of a powerful or clever mind.

Something that one concocts is a concoction.

Usage:

Working late into the night at the alchemist's bench, Argali finally concocted an armour polish that stood up to truly heavy wear.
The party concocted a scheme whereby they would fool the dark druid into thinking they were harmless amphibians - until it was too late.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #233 on:** April 13, 2011, 04:26:17 am »

To wrap up Goran:

Schematic

A schematic (skeh-mah-tick) is a diagram of the construction or procedure related to something, particularly a mechanical system.

To describe something as schematic is to say that it is representational of something, or in the form of a design.

Usage:

Spike peered at the schematic. So the blue gem goes here, the red one here, and the yellow one here...so where did the green one go?
The painting was schematic, an artistic elaboration on the layout of the dungeon as a whole.

References:

darkstorme · « **Reply #234 on:** April 14, 2011, 03:46:31 am »

And another unthemed week to fill in the blanks:

Impugn

To impugn (im-pyewn) someone is to suggest that their motivations or statements are false (and that they know it). It can also generally mean to vilify or attack another person's character.

Usage:

"I don't mean to impugn your motives, Arkolio. But you appear to have the old lady's necklace in your back pocket."
Given the number of times Leo impugned his employer's character in the One-Eyed Harpy, the other regulars figured it was only a matter of time before he was found floating in the harbour.

References:

Pseudonym · « **Reply #235 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:22:01 am »

I was taking it to the shop for repair, honest!

darkstorme · « **Reply #236 on:** April 15, 2011, 05:10:51 am »

Conceit

Conceit (con-seet) has many definitions. It can be an overinflated opinion of one's one abilities or importance. It can be the use of strained or stretched metaphors in poetry.

A conceit can also be something conceived in the imagination, or a flight of fancy. It can be an item that is purely decorative in nature.

Someone possessed of a lot of conceit is conceited.

Usage:

It was a conceit of Trent's that he always wore his silver guard badge, even when he was technically off-duty.
It's often said that there's a fine line between healthy self-respect and conceit.

Reference:

Pseudonym · « **Reply #237 on:** April 15, 2011, 01:52:37 pm »

I'm gonna assume the timing of that one was not coincidental.

D'oh, I just did it twice!

darkstorme · « **Reply #238 on:** April 20, 2011, 04:17:54 am »

Starting Grand! *runs to catch up*

Bestial

Describing someone or something as bestial (beece-tee-ahl) means that they are savage, brutish, beastly, or unrefined. It can also mean something pertaining to a beast.

Conversely, describing something or someone as bestial (bess- or beece-shul) is to describe them as brutal, depraved, or subhuman (in intelligence or other respects). Subtle but distinct definitions.

Usage:

The orc let out a bestial roar and lunged at the party.
After the green ray struck the party's wizard, his behaviour had been simply bestial - his speech had reverted to grunts and his comprehension seemed limited at best.

Reference:

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Tyrannical

Another adjective, tyrannical (tie-ran-nick-cul) is either descriptive of the behaviour or nature of a tyrant, or unjustly harsh, cruel, draconian, despotic; ruling in a arbitrary or oppressive fashion. So, basically, a description of the behaviour or nature of a tyrant, or a description of the behaviour or nature of a tyrant.

A tyrant is a dictator, generally not of the benevolent variety.

The word originally derived from ancient greek, meaning, broadly, someone who gathers authority to themselves without any right to it. (Besides that of arms, naturally.) They applied this to both good and bad rulers - in modern parlance, it's taken to mean pretty much exclusively the bad variety.

Usage:

No one calls Rael a tyrant in Rael Kingdom. People who did had an unfortunate habit of coming down with a case of never being seen again.
(Departing from the gameworld proper for a moment...) Whenever Pibemanden leaves the room, those remaining celebrate the respite from his tyrannical watch, and the dancing begins.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #239 on:** April 21, 2011, 12:06:02 pm »

Mar

To mar (rhymes with "car") something is to damage or spoil something to an extent, or to render it less perfect. Alternately, it can mean to scar or deface something.

Occasionally, a mar can be a term for a scar or blemish, but this use is largely deprecated.

Usage:

The shining surface of Steel's shield was marred where the enemy's sword had struck it.
One admonishing blow, delivered in a moment of irritation, had marred the orc female's face forever.

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