Word For The Day: Monday, July 28, 2003

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary | July 28, 2003 | The Verbivores

[VRWCmember]

Word For The Day, Monday, July 28, 2003: Fugacious

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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".

quietus \kwye-EE-tus\ noun
1. final settlement (as of a debt)
2. removal from activity; especially death *
3. something that quiets or represses

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

Example sentence: "This book is also about the death of Lavrenti Pavlovich Beria, a quietus that for reasons not satisfactorily explained has been placed a year later than it actually occurred." (Ruth Rendell, _The New York Times Book Review_, April 6, 1986)

Did you know?
In the early 1500s, English speakers adopted the Medieval Latin phrase "quietus est" (literally "he is quit") as the name for the writ of discharge exempting a baron or knight from payment of a knight's fee to the king. The expression was later shortened to "quietus" and applied to the termination of any debt. William Shakespeare was the first to use "quietus" as a metaphor for the termination of life: "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, ...When he himself might his quietus make / With a bare bodkin?" (_Hamlet_). The third meaning, which is more influenced by "quiet" than "quit," appeared in the 19th century. It sometimes occurs in the phrase "put the quietus on" (as in, "The bad news put the quietus on their celebration").

Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....

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[xsmommy]

he can't even jump onto the couch yet, which is where he REALLY loves to be. i am not anxious for him to get too adventurous. he is a nice calm boy unlike xspup!

speaking of xspup, xsbrownie said something totally hilarious yesterday, we were talking about xspup and she said he was the long lost 3d son of Saddam Hussein, Uday, Qusay and DAR-BAY!

[Slip18]

Where are you, Gabz? Cyber just found what he calls a "cool unit" from the weatherbug site. It's a mere $500. It plugs into your computer and gives you an updated version of what is on their site.

I think he's going to order it. LOL!

[Slip18]

I can't do double and triple entendres while speaking. They just don't come to me. I think I have another brain in my fingers.

Cyber can say the funniest and quick-witted things. He has me in stitches all the time.

[Slip18]

She's quick witted, just like you. DAR BAY? ROTFL.

[xsmommy]

i meant to tell you guys that i will be home tomorrow for the THIRD DAY OFF OF WORK to have my oven fixed by GE! they were to have been here 3 other times and either the part had not arrived, or someone didn't write us into the schedule or something, each time. it is a wonder i have not blown sky high over this. When GE called on Friday PM, xshub was on the phone with them and i tore the phone from his hand and went off on the guy. what kind of place can stay in business and be THIS inefficient? it is a total outrage!

[xsmommy]

all of your entendre-ing is unintentional, just like mine : )

[Slip18]

I don't know how you get everything done as it is. You're always trotting the xskids around somewhere. And you can keep a career, too. You are supermom!

[xsmommy]

thanks for the props, but half the time i feel like i am doing a half-butted job at both!

[Slip18]

Here's a cute animal story.

[xsmommy]

of COURSE they have emotions! thanks for the the link to that, slippy!

[SeaDragon]

speaking of xspup, xsbrownie said something totally hilarious yesterday, we were talking about xspup and she said he was the long lost 3d son of Saddam Hussein, Uday, Qusay and DAR-BAY!

Very cute!

[Slip18]

Good evening, Sea! Are you getting any rain?

[xsmommy]

still raining like mad here, miss weather-obsessed slippy!

[Slip18]

Weather obsessed is correctamundo. It's been dry as a desert here. Oh, that's right, I live in a desert.

Sea is not getting rain. I just checked. She probably has gorgeous weather right now.

[SeaDragon]

Good evening, Sea! Are you getting any rain?

Rain?? I wish!

We haven't had any rain since May.

[SeaDragon]

Gorgeous and hot. We are in the middle of a tinder-box here.

[xsmommy]

i am trying to figure out how to get the little pup to poop outside in the rain!

[SeaDragon]

go out with him and carry an umbrella?

[Slip18]

Getting them to poop in the rain is a tough one. You may have to put down some newspapers. He is a spaniel, though, and they don't seem to mind the rain when they get a little older. I used to take the Brittany out with an umbrella.

[Slip18]

Pinky fingers or GWTA.

The darned rain went around us again. Back to heat again tomorrow. Sea, we've had our hottest July since 1896. The average daytime temperature has been 110 here for the full month. Lordie!