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darkstorme
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Darkstorme's Word of the Day
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Reply #20 on:
August 28, 2010, 02:05:32 am »
And now a brief diversion into politics...
Hegemony
When you're talking politics on the level of nation-states, the word
hegemony
(heh-jem-oh-nee, emphasis on the second syllable) is likely to feature.
Hegemony is dominance by one nation, state, or culture over other (usually smaller) similar bodies, or an attempt to do the same. This can be antagonistic (as in a nation exerting martial power over its neighbours) or largely benign (as in a nation or organization taking the lead in a confederation.)
A similar term,
cultural hegemony
, is a Marxist political and philosophical term (are you listening, Farros?) to do with the dominance of one culture (for example, that of the ruling class) over all others in a society. This is accomplished by establishing the perception that the dominant culture's ideology is beneficial to all, when in fact it only benefits the members of that culture.
The term to describe things that pertain to a hegemony is "hegemonic".
Usage:
Prantz, under Lord Rael, seeks absolute
hegemony
over Dregar.
Milara's
hegemony
over most of Alindor was uncontested for many decades.
References:
Hegemony | Define Hegemony at Dictionary.com
WordNet Search - 3.0
Cultural hegemony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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darkstorme
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Reply #21 on:
August 30, 2010, 02:40:08 am »
A useful adjective for all you Berylites out there:
Iridescent
Often used interchangeably with opalescent or lustrous, an object described to be iridescent (ir-ih-des-scent) often appears superficially white or milky-white, but acquires a play of colours when seen at varying angles in light.
Objects in everyday life that can be said to be iridescent are things like the mother-of-pearl seen on the inside of seashells and clam shells, the thin film of a soap bubble, or the rainbow-like patterns seen in a slick of oil on water. (Unfortunately, the beauty is somewhat lost in BP-scale slicks.)
The property of being iridescent is known as iridescence.
Usage:
The goblin clubbed the still-twitching adventurer once more, stilling his motions forever, then pried open the man's mailed hand. The huge pearl was
iridescent
in the morning sun, and the goblin crooned to it. "Now you are mine... my own...."
The bard turned the heavy white dragon scale over and over in his hands wonderingly. Easily as hard as forged iron, the scale looked like some sort of rare gemstone, the light glinting off its surface in a spray of
iridescence
.
References:
Iridescence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iridescent - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
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darkstorme
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Reply #22 on:
August 31, 2010, 02:42:18 am »
Today's word is good for alchemists and people frequenting hot springs (come to it, Layo needs a good hot springs resort):
Effervescence
Originally a chemist's term,
effervescence
(eff-er-vess-sense) is the term applied to gas escaping an aqueous solution. So carbonated water, or any acid/base neutralization reaction would be an excellent example of effervescence. A liquid that bubbles (through the approach of its boiling point or some other means of gas escaping a solution) is said to be "effervescing".
As with many such terms, it has been borrowed by other walks of life. An individual with a "bubbly" personality is said to be effervescent, and if a thinker's mind can be said to be "bubbling over with ideas", "effervescent" can be as readily applied.
Usage:
The gnome carefully mixed the aqueous acid solution into the flask, and his eyes sparkled as it began to
effervesce
. At last, he'd got the recipe right! His eyes narrowed. Funny, the recipe didn't say the liquid should bubble THAT mu... seconds later, he awoke flat on his back, smoke rising from what remained of his eyebrows.
It's said that the
effervescent
waters of some of the springs on the slopes of Firesteep are wonderfully invigorating. Which is fortunate, because any who partake in a bath therein will need their newfound vigour in escaping the mountain's other inhabitants.
References
:
Online Etymology Dictionary
WordNet Search - 3.0
effervescence - definition of effervescence by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
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Unknown User
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Darkstorme's Word of the Day
«
Reply #23 on:
August 31, 2010, 02:42:18 am »
Quote:
Originally Posted by
darkstorme
Today's word is good for alchemists and people frequenting hot springs (come to it, Layo needs a good hot springs resort):
From Succession:
Quote:
Zaj contains one of the most sought-after restorative towns on Dregar,
Lakeside
. It is not uncommon to find several dozens of influential people and their families relaxing in the saunas here or taking guarded hikes up the mountainside.
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Unknown User
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Darkstorme's Word of the Day
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Reply #24 on:
August 31, 2010, 02:42:18 am »
Ah, but saunas are not hot springs. Though still very relaxing.
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darkstorme
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Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #25 on:
September 01, 2010, 04:03:23 am »
You've met the character, now meet the word:
Stygian
Literally "having to do with Styx" (the river, not the band), the word has its origins in Greek mythology. It's such a
good
word, however, that writers (and character submitters) employ it in realms where there was never a realm known as Greece. So why should Layonara be any exception?
Though originally confined to a certain stygian river (see what I did there?) the word has come to mean any hellish situation (though usually tied to underground confinement, rather than fiery pits). Also, in parallel to the word acheronian (based on the river Acheron, which happens to run parallel to the Styx) stygian has come to apply to any situation or locale which is dark, dismal, and seemingly devoid of all hope. So it's a word that could reasonably be applied to a great many dungeons.
Usage:
Shiff peered into the
stygian
depths of the crevasse. And then twenty pairs of glowing eyes were looking back.
Something blew out the torch, and the party was plunged into
stygian
darkness.
References:
stygian - definition of stygian by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
Stygian | Define Stygian at Dictionary.com
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darkstorme
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Reply #26 on:
September 02, 2010, 02:05:19 am »
And now, to kick off Wizards and Sorcerers week:
Conflagration
A
conflagration
(con-fla-gray-shun) is a firestorm - an intense, uncontrollable fire that extends over a relatively large area. It might include multiple buildings, acres of forest, or as little as a few rooms, depending on its context. The difference between a simple fire and a conflagration, however, lies in its intensity and the writer's perception of its destructive power.
It can also be employed to describe a large-scale military conflict in a metaphorical fashion - "the conflagration of war".
There's also a verb form of the word: conflagrate - to kindle or set fire to something. It's not often used, most likely because it doesn't really scan well in a sentence. "He lit the oily rag" reads better than "He conflagrated the oily rag."
The application of this word in conjunction with wizards and sorcerers should be fairly self-evident.
Usage:
The wizard strode away from the
conflagration
, his eyes hard. Behind him, something exploded as the fire breached another stockroom. As the former Corathite temple fell in on itself, spraying embers in the air, the wizard vanished into the woods.
The cultists danced about the
conflagration
, their shouts of triumph and praise to Pyrtechon easily drowning out the screams of the people trapped inside.
References:
Conflagration - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
A conflagration
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darkstorme
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Reply #27 on:
September 03, 2010, 02:36:54 am »
Today during Wizard and Sorceress week, we're going with one for the Divination-specialists (we know you're out there, and we're sorry):
Sibylline
A delightful word that a dear friend introduced me to, sibylline (sih-bill-een) means oracular or prophetic. It can also mean cryptic or mysterious -
which often amounts to the same thing
.
The word derives, originally, from the Greek
sibylla
, or "prophetess", which referred primarily to the oracles at Delphi and Pessinos. The word "sibyl" still refers to seers or oracles, almost exclusively female.
The word is not in any way related to "sibilant", which derives from the Latin "to hiss or whistle".
Usage:
After finishing the last word of the spell, the sorceress' eyes glazed over and she began mumbling
sibylline
utterances, which her fellow party members dutifully took down.
The
sibylline
prophecy was worked into a song by the master bard and set free to sing on the wind - perhaps someone, somewhere, would know what it meant.
Reference:
Sibylline | Define Sibylline at Dictionary.com
sibylline - definition of sibylline by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
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darkstorme
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Posts: 4648
Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #28 on:
September 04, 2010, 02:36:59 am »
For all you Enchanters out there...
Ensorcell
This word (en-sore-sell)'s definition couldn't really be more straightforward. It literally means to enchant or bewitch someone. The way it sounds notwithstanding, it is not restricted to sorcerers - any spell that controls a person or thing can be said to
ensorcell
them.
In our world, the word derives from a word in Old French which means... more or less exactly the same thing. People have been coming up with words to describe "the magical control of another person or thing" for a long time. (I'm saving the best of them for Xeen week, though.)
So, with the definition behind us...
Usage:
The final whispered words drifted past her lips and the stunned fighter stiffened.
Ensorcelled
, the man stood facing the sorceress, who smiled wickedly. 'Well, now, isn't this precious?' A red-painted fingernail tapped her chin thoughtfully. 'You know the friends you left in the camp to pursue me?' The man nodded unwillingly. 'Kill them.'
The gnomish tinkerer scowled at his workbench. He'd
ensorcelled
a broom to help him clean up the lab - though that hadn't turned out all that well, in reflection - so why couldn't he make the model cart move without a horse?
Reference
:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensorcell
A Word for Today: Ensorcell
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darkstorme
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Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #29 on:
September 04, 2010, 02:36:59 am »
Today, illusionists!
Phantasmagoria
A series or collection of illusions, deceptions, phantasms and/or hallucinations. Despite what the name might sound like, the illusions needn't be bloody; the word derives from a old French term which meant, literally, "a collection of phantasms".
The term was borrowed to mean a pre-cinema show consisting of projected images or figures that would appear to shift from one form to another.
Usage:
Jacob's dreams of late had been a
phantasmagoria
; always, he woke up unrested with the sense he was missing something important.
The spell rushed towards him... and then a
phantasmagoria
burst from the night: sounds, colours, lights... he closed his eyes but it just... kept... coming!
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darkstorme
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Posts: 4648
Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #30 on:
September 06, 2010, 02:50:30 am »
For all the Abjurers out there...
Obviate
To remove a need or difficulty, or to prevent or avoid a problem in the first place, this word (ob-vee-ate) is more or less the Abjurer's stock-in-trade.
Usage:
Timulty's foresight in casting Mind Blank
obviated
the need for further caution when approaching the Myconid colony.
By warding the fighter with every spell he knew, the abjurer sought to
obviate
any risk of sending him to talk with the dark elves.
References:
Obviate - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Obviate | Define Obviate at Dictionary.com
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darkstorme
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Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #31 on:
September 07, 2010, 02:45:30 am »
And finally, to do with the abilities of wizards and sorcerers in general:
Extirpate
In a general sense, this (ex-stir-pate) means to annihilate, or destroy completely. But it can also mean to eliminate a growth, a plant, or a species over a range. Local extinctions, extermination, and excision are all examples of extirpation.
Usage:
Pressing the cloud of noxious gas ahead of her with magically-summoned gusts of wind, the magess
extirpated
the rat infestation, one by one.
Grinning wickedly, the sorcerer let the fan of fire from his hand play up and down the trunk of the tree. The magical fire burned clean through the trunk and down into the ground, consuming the roots,
extirpating
the tree entirely. The druid was going to be furious. Perfect.
References:
Extirpate | Define Extirpate at Dictionary.com
Extirpate (Planar Chaos)
*grins*
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darkstorme
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Posts: 4648
Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #32 on:
September 07, 2010, 02:45:30 am »
Something happened? Did it occur, or did it...
Transpire
As indicated in the setup, if something transpires (trans-pyre), it has occurred. This is not, however, the only definition attached to this particular verb. A secret or previously unknown fact can also transpire - that is, come to light.
Also, plants transpire - they emit vapour (primarily water vapour) from their leaves. This form of the verb is less likely to see use in a roleplaying scenario, however, unless you're a particularly technically-minded druid.
Usage:
It was two bells past midnight when the events of that fateful evening
transpired.
It
transpired
that the party's rogue had been working for the Haven authorities all along.
Reference:
Transpire - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
transpire - Wiktionary
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darkstorme
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Reply #33 on:
September 09, 2010, 02:47:17 am »
It's altogether too late, I muttered in a hoarse voice...
Guttural
Invariably a good word when looking for an adjective to describe a villain (or thug)'s mode of speech, a guttural (gut-ter-ral) tone of voice is one that is often compared to the croaking of frogs and crows, a hoarse, harsh, throaty noise.
It can also be used to describe the glottal sound in linguistics; any consonant sound made in the back of the throat can also be so described. The c in "cut", for example.
Usage:
The man's common was almost indecipherable through his
guttural
accent, but eventually it was made clear that he had come to broker a truce.
A
guttural
voice spoke from beyond the ring of wan light cast by the torches, and Mirrim felt the hairs on the back of her neck try to stand on end.
References:
guttural - definition of guttural by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
Guttural | Define Guttural at Dictionary.com
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darkstorme
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Posts: 4648
Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #34 on:
September 09, 2010, 02:47:17 am »
A particularly pleasant word, that can have gruesome application...
Incarnadine
A pretty word, incarnadine (in-car-nah-deen), and one that (as with many of my favourite words) can take on the roles of multiple parts of speech. Derived from the same root as
incarnate
,
carnal
, and similar words, the base meaning is that of a flesh or blood colour.
The word can be a noun, the colour itself, or an adjective, describing objects of that colour. It can even be used as a verb, to describe the process of rendering an object incarnadine. (Shakespeare was particularly fond of that last.)
Usage:
The cleric put on a brave front, but the wound in his shoulder left his formerly dazzling white robe
incarnadine
, and he was swaying on his feet.
The ruddy light of the blazing fires
incarnadined
the rainclouds, lending a hellish cast to the whole scene.
References:
Word of the Day | Definition, Word Origins, and Quotes at Dictionary.com
Merriam-Webster Online
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darkstorme
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Reply #35 on:
September 10, 2010, 02:39:53 am »
What? What was that? I can't hear over the... the... I need a word to describe the din outside...
Raucous
Best delivered in a harsh and loud tone of voice,
raucous
(raw-cuss) is a term to describe harsh, loud, unpleasant noises. It can also be used to describe any boisterous or rowdy group or location.
Usage:
The
raucous
cries of the oncoming goblin horde grew louder, echoing through the cavern. The wizard glanced up with concern.
The One-Eyed Harpy is known to be a
raucous
establishment.
References:
Raucous - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Raucous | Define Raucous at Dictionary.com
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darkstorme
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Reply #36 on:
September 12, 2010, 02:54:49 am »
I hold it to be true that this is a word that is often misspelled or confused...
Tenet
Now, a
tenant
is someone who occupies a location, rented, owned, or otherwise. A
tenet
(teh-net), on the other hand, is a belief, dogma, or idea central to a belief, religion, or organization. A common phrase in religious circles is "
tenets
of faith": the ideas or dogmas central to the religion, without which an individual cannot be said to be a member of that religion.
As a different example, a
tenet
of laissez-faire capitalism is that a market without interference best serves the public. Any
tenet
is an idea so central to whatever it is a
tenet
of that without accepting it an individual cannot be said to hold the belief/faith/stance of an organization.
Personal
tenets
are also possible - those things held to be true by an individual which, if shaken, would result in a radical change in the personality/worldview of the individual.
Usage
:
It is a
tenet
central to the Rofireinite faith that the public is best served by a well-structured and -enforced set of laws.
One of the
tenets
of the Foundation and other charities is that those who have plenty have a responsibility to those in need.
References:
tenet - definition of tenet by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/possession+fundamental+tenet+American+freedom+court/3213387/story.html
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darkstorme
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Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #37 on:
September 13, 2010, 02:21:51 am »
He is determined. He is unflappable. He will not back down. He is...
Stalwart
Stalwart (stahl-wart) is almost always applied to individuals, rather than inanimate objects. It means hardy, strong, dependable, loyal, impervious to hardship... basically, Paladins. Particularly dwarven Paladins.
Usage:
Waves of raiding giants have broken against the
stalwart
defenders of Ulgrid's Fortress.
The
stalwart
paladin stood over the body of her fallen comrade, her glowing longsword holding the raging undead at bay.
References:
Stalwart - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
stalwart - definition of stalwart by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
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darkstorme
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Posts: 4648
Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #38 on:
September 14, 2010, 02:42:48 am »
Deep into the night, one light stays...
Aglow
Literally glowing or radiant - often softly so, however, rather than the harsher light from incandescent heat or sunlight.
It can also be used figuratively to describe someone who is so happy or contented as to be positively radiant.
Usage:
Acacea's face was
aglow
in the light from the damped embers in the hearth, her voice rising and falling in the cadence of her story.
When the local magistrate spoke of his newborn daughter, his face was
aglow
with pride.
Reference:
http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=aglow
Aglow - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
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darkstorme
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Posts: 4648
Thanked: 283 times
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Reply #39 on:
September 14, 2010, 02:42:48 am »
Jetlag annoys me. Wait, not "annoy"...
Vex
To worry, annoy, agitate, or perplex. This definition of the verb is the origin of the adjective "vexing" (this kind of adjective - one derived from the present tense of a verb - is called a participle adjective, by the way). The adjective simply describes an item or person which worries, annoys, agitates, or perplexes another person, usually the speaker.
The final meaning of the verb is to subject a topic to prolonged discussion, deliberation, or examination - to worry a topic to death, as it were. In a way, this is an extension of the previous definition, with the alteration that the target of all this vexing is the topic (or the audience, depending on how you wish to interpret it.)
The product of vexing an individual or group is vexation, in the same vein as aggravation, annoyance, agitation, etc.
Usage:
The little Shadonite was most
vexing
, thought Lance as he returned to his tent. Most
vexing
indeed. He fought well enough, but when the party was at peace... and then his thoughts were interrupted by the realization that his tent had been filled with stink beetles. Most
vexing
indeed.
Multiple adventurers have made it their lives' work to
vex
, bedevil and annoy Lord Rael.
Reference:
http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=vex
Vex | Define Vex at Dictionary.com
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