Author Topic: Darkstorme's Word of the Day (Read 5268 times)

darkstorme · « **Reply #140 on:** November 28, 2010, 02:45:07 am »

I'm a little hesitant about putting this up. Well, not hesitant, but...

Leery

No, it's not what Raz looks like around beautiful women - leery (leer-ee) means suspicious and wary. It's usually used with a qualifier - that is, someone is leery of something or someone.

Usage:

Tim was fairly certain he could get the drop on the kobolds with a spell, but he was leery of using anything too destructive near the storage tanks.
The forest gnomes were leery of any newcomers to their village.

References:

darkstorme · « **Reply #141 on:** November 30, 2010, 02:54:09 am »

Edit: Sheesh, didn't put this up yesterday. I guess I was feeling a little...

Vacuous

In a general sense, vacuous (vack-yoo-us) means empty. It can also mean someone who displays a lack of intelligence or wit (and thus, empty-headed), something that displays a lack of ideas, or inanity, or something without purpose.

Usage:

Hayley ignored the cheaply scribed sheets available just inside the entrance to Deliar's temple. The things were just vacuous boilerplate written up by the Merchants Guild.
The three words that best described Grok were "disgusting", "good-natured", and "vacuous".

References:

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Curtail

To curtail (kur-tail) something is to cut it short, or reduce it.

Usage:

The joyous reunion was curtailed by the need to escape the ravening zombie hordes quickly gaining on the party.
Piotr, a common thief in Vehl, found his getaway curtailed by the pitter-patter of small, very fast feet, and a blow to the back of the head. Halfling monks of Rofirein just aren't fair.

Reference:

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #142 on:** November 30, 2010, 06:31:31 am »

The three best words that describe Grok are "om", "nom," and "nom." And "crunch." And "love."

Grok can't count.

darkstorme · « **Reply #143 on:** December 01, 2010, 03:14:47 am »

Useful for... just about any adventurer, really...

Scourge

... but fighters first and foremost, with Xeenites close behind, because among its other meanings, a scourge (skurj) is a weapon. In the British navy, they were known as the cat-'o-nine-tails, and were used primarily for punishment.

A scourge can also be a widespread devastation, the kind left by wildfires or war; or the means to inflict that devastation; or a means to inflict punishment or vengeance - much like the weapon.

To scourge, on the other hand, is to punish, to ravage, to chastise... or to whip with a scourge. (Xeenites, take note!)

Usage:

One-eye, the goblin pirate, was (in his own opinion) the scourge of the seas.
Storold Doesscha, scourge of all those who seek to harm the Al'Noth. Or dance.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #144 on:** December 02, 2010, 03:11:20 am »

Tang

In Layonara, Tang isn't an ancient Chinese dynasty, nor is it a crystallized drink for astronauts. It does, however, have a number of other uses.

First, weaponsmiths, take note! The tang of a blade is the non-edged part of the forged blade hidden inside the hilt; blades and their hilts are generally forged as two pieces which are then joined - the tang runs through the hilt, adding balance and stability, as well as increasing the sword's integrity.

A tang can also be a strong or distinctive flavour or odour, either unique to an object, or not.

It can also mean just a hint of a flavour or odour.

Finally, to tang something (almost always a blade, whether that of a knife or a sword) is to add its tang.

Usage:

Vrebel eased the tang into the pommel, and then locked the two together with one expert blow of the hammer. He quenched the sword in the nearby water and drew it out, examining the edge.
The ogre struck Highshee a blow to the face. The gnome shook his head to clear the stars from his vision, and the tang of blood was in his mouth.

References:

Alatriel · « **Reply #145 on:** December 02, 2010, 08:16:20 am »

You forgot this definition of Tang:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_(drink)

Frances · « **Reply #146 on:** December 02, 2010, 09:29:48 am »

Quote from: darkstorme

... nor is it a crystallized drink for astronauts.

No, he didn't.

Alatriel · « **Reply #147 on:** December 02, 2010, 09:46:17 am »

Oh! I totally skipped over that part of the sentence! haha. nevermind!

darkstorme · « **Reply #148 on:** December 03, 2010, 03:13:09 am »

Katherian, I'm looking at you:

Decadent

If something is decadent (deh-ka-dent), it can mean one of a couple of things. The word shares the same root as "decay" (rather than "decade"), and can mean that the described object is in a state of decline, disrepair, or decay.

It can also mean (and is used to mean, more often than not) something that is marked by excessive gratification or which is remarkably self-indulgent. The root of the word remains the same - to describe something as decadent in this sense was originally to imply moral decay or decline, but the word was coopted by those who wanted it to signify quality - something so luscious, so sinfully indulgent that it was a luxury.

When the adjective decadent can be applied to most everything in an area, the area can be described to be in a state of "decadence".

(N.B. - decadent is also a term given to a group of french artists during the 19th century, but that's not terribly applicable to Layonaran roleplaying.)

Usage:

The city hall in Katherian was decadent, with gold-filigreed marble highlighting every architectural feature.
The double-chocolate lava cake from the Arm's new chef is downright decadent.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #149 on:** December 04, 2010, 02:55:14 am »

Keeping in yesterday's vein:

Opulent

Something (or someone) that can be described as opulent (ahp-pew-lunt) is either very wealthy, or fashioned/furnished in a generous, almost ostentatious fashion, implying great wealth.

A display of opulent behaviour, furnishing, or fashioning is called opulence.

Usage:

The sheer opulence of the Temple of Xeen in Katherian often takes first-time visitors by surprise.
The finest rooms at the Silver Buckle are downright opulent, with down-stuffed duvets and mattresses with feathers, not hay, inside them.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #150 on:** December 05, 2010, 01:43:52 am »

Haven't done one of these in a while - it's Barbarian Week!

Thews

A staple of dime-store romance novels everywhere, a thew (thyoo), or more often, thews, is/are (a) well-developed muscle(s) or sinew(s), the kind one might expect on someone who swings a sword around a lot. For an example, the Austrian archetype.

It can also mean muscular power or strength, though this is a largely deprecated usage.

Usage:

Finn's mighty thews stood out on his arms as his sword cut through the thick hide of the lizardman.
After years of swinging the greatsword, Shiff's thews had begun to impede his ability to walk delicately through a room without breaking anything.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #151 on:** December 06, 2010, 03:10:54 am »

I'm not uncreative. It's a valid Barbarian word!

Hew

Not to be confused with "hue" (colour or outcry), to hew (hyoo) is to strike something with a sharp object in one fashion or another, or, alternately, to use a sharp object in a chopping fashion.

One can hew parts of a larger item from it (chopping limbs from a ... tree, say), hew something from a larger item (cutting a statue from a block of marble), cut something down, or simply hit it repeatedly with a blade.

So, one can readily say "Barbarians use their thews to hew, can you?"

Usage:

With a mighty swing, Argali hewed the manticore's tail from its body - the beast screamed and flailed the stump in vain.
Halrath's axe hewed down the goblins who stood against him.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #152 on:** December 08, 2010, 03:10:45 am »

Need something to call that Barbarian at your dinner party?

Boorish

Boorish (boor-ish) means uncivilized, rude, unmannered - basically, everything you'd expect from someone who devotes their time to learning how to remove an enemy's head from their shoulders through sheer force of rage, and in so doing entirely forgets etiquette training.

Someone who is boorish could be called a boor. Or you could just call him Wren and save time. (Seriously, CHA 8?)

Usage:

The orcs were boorish and insulting, but at least they hadn't killed anyone. Yet.
Lord Foterton was rich, no question - but such a boor. Clearly, he was one of those who believed that wealth and a title were all that was necessary to be a noble.

Reference:

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And what does the barbarian do to the head of the person who called him boorish? (Assuming he has the INT to comprehend it, that is.)

Sunder

If something is sundered (sun-derd), it is split into two or more pieces, usually violently. In PnP, Sunder is a special attack, used to break weapons or shields.

A sunder is a division or separation.

Usage:

Azk'a sundered the ancient stone seal with one blow from his axe.
Finn's sword shone as it arced through the air, sundering the giant's skull on impact.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #153 on:** December 09, 2010, 02:54:49 am »

There's been lots of "Grrrr.... argh..." Barbarian words so far this week, so I thought I'd change it up with a word from the kinder, gentler side of Barbarians... oh, wait. There isn't one.

Right then!

Pummel

To pummel (pum-mell) something is to beat it repeatedly or viciously, with fists or with an attack similar to repeated blows from fists. (One could pummel someone with hammers, for example.)

Edit: Script Wrecked pointed out (and I should emphasize) that to pummel something/one isn't necessarily a violent act, it can simply mean beating repeatedly, as one could pummel someone's back to clear their lungs.

Usage:

As Tak's fists smashed down on him, pummeling him into unconsciousness, the dwarf's last coherent thought was "So that's why my father told me not to get into a bar fight with a rage-warrior."
The blows seemed to come out of nowhere, and Jake grunted as the heavy oak pummeled him, battering down his defenses and leaving him lying moaning and bruised. Sara stood over him and snorted. "'Silly stick', eh?"

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #154 on:** December 11, 2010, 03:37:42 am »

Ever wonder what Renders do? They...

Rend

To rend is to rip, tear or split something into pieces violently. It can also mean to divide one thing from another, or to rip and tear at one's own clothes in anguish.

It also follows the verb pattern of "send" (and sounds like it!) in that its past tense is "rent".

Usage:

A harsh battle-cry rent the night air.
Struggling in the sticky webbing, Klass roared with fury, and the muscles on his arms stood out as he strained against the strands. With a strange tearing, popping noise, the tough webs rent.

Reference:

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Often adventurers are hired to take things. When barbarians take things, they don't simply take them...

Wrest

If you wrest (rest) something from someone, you take it from them, often violently. You can also wrest free of someone by twisting or pulling out of their grasp. Finally, to wrest the meaning or use of something is to twist or pervert it.

Usage:

"I shall slay the blackguard, and wrest the maiden from his captivity!"
She wrested herself from his grip.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #155 on:** December 12, 2010, 03:03:25 am »

Against my better judgment, going into a brand-new theme week - in fact, a raft of theme weeks, starting with Aeridin!

Salve

An ointment, possibly with analgesic (pain-killing) properties, that is meant to soothe pain or discomfort on application. A salve (salv) can also actively promote healing, rather than simply easing pain, and can have curative properties.

To salve, as a verb, can mean to soothe (as one would in the application of salve) either literally or figuratively - one could salve an emotional wound with calming words, for instance.

Usage:

The priestess spread a sweet-smelling healing salve on the fighter's burn.
The rogue tossed a small bag of gold into the orphanage donations bin, to salve his conscience.

References:

darkstorme · « **Reply #156 on:** December 13, 2010, 03:09:35 am »

Continuing on the theme...

Poultice

A poultice (pole-tiss) is a soft substance (bread, clay, or meal, usually) spread on a cloth bandage and pressed against an injury when the bandage is wrapped, meant to provide gentle heat and assuage irritation. This is often combined with herbs intended to speed the healing process and "draw out" infection, such as garlic, comfrey, and aloe.

A mustard plaster is another kind of poultice, but one that only the severely sadistic would apply to an open wound. The chemical heat provided by ground mustard seeds could, however, speed the recovery of strained muscles in much the way a heating pack does, albeit with more locally-generated heat.

(I should add that like cupping and bloodletting, the efficacy of poultices in real life is debatable or nonexistent, and some - like mustard plasters or ash poultices - can be actively dangerous to the recipient.)

Usage:

The cleric murmured soothing words as she gently applied a poultice to the burns from the lightning bolt.
Xanya gritted her teeth as she wrapped a poultice around the broken bone.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #157 on:** December 14, 2010, 03:12:35 am »

And on...

Unguent

Remember salves from a couple of days ago? An unguent (ung-gwent) is a healing salve or ointment, meant for application to wounds, burns, or similar injuries.

Usage:

The druid spread a strong-smelling green unguent over the burn, cooling it immediately.
The priestess smeared unguent from a jar on the wound before binding it securely with clean linens.

References:

darkstorme · « **Reply #158 on:** December 16, 2010, 03:01:37 am »

What every Aeridinite wants:

Panacea

A panacea (pan-ah-see-ah) is a cure-all; it is some sort of medicine that cures all (or all of a subset of) diseases or ailments.

It can also be a term for something that cures all problems in a non-medical sense.

Usage:

Clerics treat Heal as a panacea - rather appropriately, really.
Some folk believe that laughter is a panacea.

Reference:

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Palliate

To palliate (pah-lee-ate) is to mitigate or reduce the intensity of something. In medical terms, to palliate is to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of a disease without curing it.

The adjective is palliative, and palliative care is usually offered to patients who cannot be saved, in order to make their remaining time more pleasant.

Usage:

City officials in Hempstead sought to palliate the worst of the heat wave by setting up public buildings chilled by magic.
The hospice offered palliative care for those too sick or injured for the healers to save.

Reference:

darkstorme · « **Reply #159 on:** December 17, 2010, 03:16:09 am »

Simple but useful...

Remedy

Both a noun and a verb, remedy (reh-meh-dee) is a word that would often find itself on an Aeridinite's tongue. (And possibly a Rofirenite's as well, but we'll get to that shortly.)

A remedy can be a cure or treatment for disease, poison, or other ills. It can also be a cure for non-medical issues - a solution.

To remedy is to solve, correct, or cure something - and if the individual responsible for that situation is caught by the Rofirenites, you can bet that they'll want her to remedy the situation at once.

Usage:

With extract of black and purple mushrooms and a pinch of sapphire dust, a common remedy to most toxins can be synthesized.
The Silverguard sought to remedy the uptick in pickpockets by the docks by doubling their patrols.

Reference: