Word For The Day, Monday, August 2, 2004

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary | 08/02/2004 | The Reluctant Substitute

[VRWCmember]

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".

cajole \kuh-JOAL\ verb
1. to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance; coax *
2. to deceive with soothing words or false promises

Example sentence:
Peter's friends cajoled him into coming to the party even though he was not in the mood to go.

Etymology: Did you know?
You might not think to associate "cajole" with "cage," but it's likely that these two words are connected. Researchers have made an association between the prattle of a caged bird and the persistent wheedling of a person attempting to get something out of someone else. "Cajole" comes from a French verb, "cajoler," which now means "coax" but at one time meant "to chatter like a jay." Some etymologists theorize that "cajoler" is from "gaiole," an Old North French word meaning "birdcage" and ancestor to our word "jail." "Gaiole" derives from a Late Latin word, "caveola," which means "little cage" and is the diminutive of the Latin "cavea" ("cage" or "cavity"). Our word "cage" derives from this noun, and "cave" is a close relative.

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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[Robert A Cook PE]

Ugh.

[tioga]

Geez, I get two minutes of air time today and the classroom is empty. What gives, someone out there actually have some summer weather?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Hi air!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Blowing in the Wind

How many times must he flip flop and flip,
Before he takes a firm stand?
How many lies must he tell about Nam,
Before we all call his hand?
How many times can he vote pro and con,
Before he is totally canned?
His answer my friend, is changing with the wind.
His answer is changing with the wind.
How many times will he say George Bush lied,
Before he tells us a fact?
How many times must I hear him drone on,
And still my ears stay intact?
How many deaths did he cause there in Nam,
With all his appeasements at home?
The answer and trend, John Kerry's not our friend,
The answer's John Kerry's not our friend.
How many terms could John Kerry serve,
Before America's gone?
How many days before he would cave in,
Afraid to protect our home?
How many weeks till he gave us away,
And let the UN take the throne?
The answer my friend, we'd twist in the wind,
The answer is we'd twist in the wind.

Conspiracy Guy 8/3/2004

[secret garden]

I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic! Did anyone else have to sing that on retreats?

[TheGrimReaper]

I see no one missed me yesterday.... 8-[
Well, fine.
I'll be mostly away from FR until my real PC gets out of the hospital...I'm not saying that this PC is old or outdated or anything, but I do get tired of having to refill the kerosene reservoir.

Later.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Reservoir, eh?

Sounds vaguely french to me .....

[Gabz]

Don't feel bad - no one seems to miss me either............I state for the record right now - I am not cut out to be called a "soccer mom."

It's only Wednesday and this has been one VEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRYYYYYYY LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG week.

[Robert A Cook PE]

This hot?

Well, you're a rookie "sporting mom" so we'll have mercy on you.

(Now, xsex gets to sit indoors in a nice cool ice rink while her kiddo's skate around ..... You, you choose to get a hot, flat, sun-ripened (no shade for miles) soccer field.)

So, bring a big umbrella.


Bring a book or portable PC and get work done. Bring a drink. Bring some refreshments. Get a tan. Be patient. read, relax, enjoy.

But don't watch the game to seriously - you'll only get frustrated. Or become a coach and watch it very seriously!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Soccer mom's don't stay at home like good mommies do! You ain't no dang soccer mom.

[Argh]

How the heck did I miss this one? Nun and priest get caught boinking! What, they couldn't wait until they found a cloister?

[secret garden]

I am a soccer mom and I stay at practice unlike the slacker drop-off parents. They'd be the first ones to scream if their kids were hurt but they practically peel out after dropping them off. When I stay for practice, I see what the drills are, where my kids are doing well and need extra effort and how the coach treats them. I can also observe the kid interactions while I pretend to read or get to know the other parents. There is usually a small group that stays to watch.

[secret garden]

Grim, the last few days of summer are hectic in a good way. We're trying to cram as much fun and frolic into these last days, so I haven't been here much either. Today the big treat was to pick out food for the road trip this weekend. I am still hunting for those white cheddar things that don't leave a mess in the car.

[Texan5]

What a day-shrimp salad for dinner, whether hubby likes it or not, and I've already cooked the pasta for it and thawed the already cooked shrimp-no hot stove or grill tonight. There are times I wonder if I wouldn't enjoy living as a recluse...

[Texan5]

"White cheddar things"

Do you mean string cheese, or something similar?

[Conspiracy Guy]

If you stay at practice, you're a mommy!

[Argh]

Sounds great as always, Tex! By the way, living alone takes some getting used to, but once you do, you wouldn't trade it for anything. Of course, in your case, there's always the spook to keep you company...

[tioga]

Soccor Mom? LOL Never. How is the garden growing?

Today was funeral day for us. A good friend and neighbor died Sunday. Sad rainy day here.

The daughter has been in and out of the ER since Key West. She got a spider bite then a staff infection in it. One busy hectic week we have had. She is still off work recovering.

[Texan5]

"The spook"

I lived alone for a few years before I married my present husband, and I did like it very much-very peaceful-sometimes I really do miss it. One of our two spooks, the little girl is a pleasant and happy presence, but the other one, the man goes off on tears like a mentally ill person would-after all, he was in utter despair the last months of his life until he ended it himself, which is probably why he stays here. But when he tries to communicate about that, WE get depressed and argue, and there are weird noises downstairs, especially in the front bedroom. You could not pay me to sleep in that room, no matter that I have it decorated in a very nice country colonial style-even the dog doesn't like to go in there-I hung a crucifix on the wall just inside the door, and have sprinkled the whole room with holy water several times. Our priest said to just ignore him and not give him any attention no matter what he does to try to be noticed.

[Texan5]

I'm so sorry about your friend, Ti-and I hope your daughter recovers quickly-prayers for you...