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Word for the Day: POSTICHE
2000 Most Challenging and Obscure Words | Norman Schur

Posted on 11/03/2015 5:52:00 PM PST by Louis Foxwell

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In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".

postiche [paw STEESH]

hear it pronounced

adjective

A superflous and inappropriate addition to a finished work, like a sculpture or other ornament stuck onto a building, may be described as postiche.

More generally, postiche applies to things counterfeit or false.

As a noun, a postiche is a superfluous and unbecoming addition, a sham, an imitation of or substitute for the real thing, a pretense, and in a special use, a wig or hairpiece, a particular type of replacement of the genuine article.

Postiche was taken from the French, where it has all those meanings; they got it from the italian posticcio or apposticcio (artificial, sham; capelli apposticci means "false hair"); and they took it from the Latin apposticius (false, put on).

A more common synonymous expression is "gilding the lily".

Of course all this makes us think, inexorably, of Donald's hair, explicitly NOT postiche but madly accused of being such, as, arguably, is the man himself.


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To: Louis Foxwell

Necklaces — especially if they are made of fine gold, or silver, are NEVER a postiche. They are a necessity! ;)


41 posted on 11/04/2015 6:26:53 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
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To: NeoCaveman

I don’t know those kind of people anymore. I’m middle aged. LOL

It would be neat to actually do so above board and without the threat of punishment.


42 posted on 11/04/2015 6:36:05 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: xsmommy

Awesome news.

Our biggest race was for state senator and the Republican beat Cuomo’s pick 41,894 to 11,458. Wow. The Dem had been in politics in a Dem area for decades. I started seeing stuff on FB yesterday making me think this wouldn’t even be close, but WOW. Republicans swept everything pretty much. I suspect the folks are MAD and Hillary is toast.


43 posted on 11/04/2015 6:47:29 AM PST by tioga
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To: Louis Foxwell

The presidency would be a postiche crown
for the wife of the cigar sexing clown.
Enough of this meddlesome twosome
like two day old gum that’s been chewed some
this detestable pair needs to go down.


44 posted on 11/04/2015 6:55:15 AM PST by tioga
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To: tioga
..........LMAO
45 posted on 11/04/2015 7:16:21 AM PST by tioga
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To: tioga

let’s not get carried away. I would love for that to be true, but I cannot get my hopes up.


46 posted on 11/04/2015 7:23:05 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: tioga
Magnificent.


47 posted on 11/04/2015 8:13:57 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (This is a wake up call. Join the Sultan Knish ping list.)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

I stand corrected.


48 posted on 11/04/2015 8:14:44 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (This is a wake up call. Join the Sultan Knish ping list.)
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To: SoothingDave
I'm middle aged now too.

Looking at this, I might be past middle now.

49 posted on 11/04/2015 8:25:49 AM PST by NeoCaveman (DC, it's Versailles on the Potomac but without the food and culture)
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To: NeoCaveman; SoothingDave

Lordy, if you two are middle aged, it’s a wonder I am not dead! LOL!


50 posted on 11/04/2015 10:54:18 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: NeoCaveman

wait is the upshot of this that i’m supposed to off myself?


51 posted on 11/04/2015 10:56:42 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy

What’s that Granny? ;-)


52 posted on 11/04/2015 10:58:02 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave

sorry, it’s GRAMMY : ) and I wear it proudly!


53 posted on 11/04/2015 10:59:05 AM PST by xsmommy
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To: xsmommy

Don’t do that, we need the wisdom of our elders

:-)


54 posted on 11/04/2015 11:00:09 AM PST by NeoCaveman (DC, it's Versailles on the Potomac but without the food and culture)
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To: NeoCaveman

you were just a stem cell, a short while ago!


55 posted on 11/04/2015 11:02:07 AM PST by xsmommy
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