David Zapatka Is it just me or are you hearing this too? It seems more people are using words or phrases that sound like but are mistakenly used in a semi-logical or seemingly plausible way for the correct word or phrase either on its own or as part of an expression. While at Rudy’s BBQ,…
Tag: Word of the Month
Features, June 2022
Word of the Month: Capo
David Zapatka While listening to the Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks tune, “I Have a Capo on my Brain,” last night, I thought, how could a “capo” be on a brain, and secondly, haven’t I heard this word used in another context? The movie The Godfather came to mind. This sparked research into this word.…
Features, May 2022
Word of the Month: Emplacement
David Zapatka While watching the last two episodes of The Expanse, I heard significant dialogue about the rail guns being used by Marcos Inaros, the leader of the Belters’ Free Navy, who was intent on destroying the Inners (pronounced Innas), the people residing on Earth, Luna (the moon), and Mars. These rail guns were…
Features, April 2022
Word of the Month: Ziggurat
David Zapatka Reader John W. Patterson writes, “For what it’s worth, because of my ever-deepening interest in what might be called “The History of Ideas,” I’ve been following your Word column in our Quail Creek Crossing for some years now. In a very real way, etymology is itself a useful adjunct for dealing with the…
Features, March 2022
Word of the Month: Domestique
David Zapatka Last month we discussed the word “chicane” used in describing an obstacle on the Tour de France racecourse. Our word this month is “domestique,” used to describe a rider in the Tour de France. Domestique noun do·mes·tique dō′mĕs-tēk′ (Cycle Racing) (in competitive road cycling) a cyclist whose job is to support the higher-ranking members…
Features, February 2022
Word of the Month: Chicane
David Zapatka The Tour de France is one of the greatest sporting spectacles of the year. I love watching the drama and triumph. While watching the broadcast, I heard a commentator describe the upcoming chicane in the course and knew immediately that “chicane” would be my next word of the month.Chicane verb chi·caneshi-ˈkān , chi- 1.…
Features, January 2022
Word of the Month: Quincunx
QCLGA Throw Out Your Worst Three Holes, Dec. 23 Debbie Scott Flight 1: 1st Alice Dyke; 2nd (tie) Bobbi Jo Rathvon, Karen Stensrud, Sung Whitehead, Sherry Morris Flight 2: 1st Dena Knox; 2nd (tie) Brenda Allred, Roz Harrison Flight 3: 1st (tie) Chris Laxague, Kathy Thompson; 3rd Bonnie Morgan Flight 4: 1st Lindsay Dickinson; 2nd (tie) Patty Zatkin,…
Features, December 2021
Word of the Month: Irenic
David Zapatka Friend, fellow bridge enthusiast, and reader Maria Davis wrote, “I came across this word today as I was flying to Miami. I rarely get five hours of uninterrupted reading time! I was reading Essays on Ethics by Jonathan Sacks, so he used the British spelling “eirenic,” which is closer to the original Greek word.…
Features, November 2021
Word of the Month: Contronym
David Zapatka Reader and dear friend Ellen Engel suggested I look at Mental Floss’ article on contronyms. I subscribed to Mental Floss for years and enjoyed the magazine. Today, you can only read it online, as its print version has been discontinued. Contronym noun con·tro·nym | ˈkän-trə-ˌnim variant – contranym: a word having two meanings that contradict one…
Features, October 2021
Word of the Month: Whelm
David Zapatka While at a conference in Houston, Texas, last month, I heard keynote speaker Frank Abagnale, the author of the book Catch Me If You Can and main character of the movie by the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The book and movie depict Mr. Abagnale’s life as a check forger and scam artist.…