Inhere \in-HIR\, intransitive verb:To be inherent; to belong, as attributes or qualities. The authority that belongs to someone as former secretary of state does not inhere in the person, but in the relation between the person and his former office.— “The grim face of partisanship”, Washington Times, July 10, 2001 To other critics, the problems […]

Riparian \rih-PAIR-ee-uhn; ry-PAIR-ee-uhn\, adjective:Of or pertaining to the bank of a river or stream. Riparian areas are the green, vegetated areas on each side of streams and rivers. They serve many important functions, including purifying water by removing sediments and other contaminants; reducing the risk of flooding and associated damage; reducing stream channel and streambank […]

Fanfaronade \fan-fair-uh-NAYD; -NOD\, noun:1. Swaggering; empty boasting; blustering manner or behavior; ostentatious display.2. Fanfare. George Manahan made his debut this week as music director of New York City Opera, and it is difficult to imagine someone laying claim to a major podium with less of a fanfaronade.— Justin Davidson, “A Director’s Toil Pays Some Dividends”, […]

Erudite \AIR-yuh-dyt; -uh-dyt\, adjective:Characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; learned. In front of imposing edifices like the Topkapi Palace or Hagia Sophia are guides displaying Government-issued licenses. Many of these guides are erudite historians who have quit low-paying jobs as university professors and now offer private tours.— “What’s Doing in Istanbul”, New York Times, February […]

Tetchy \TECH-ee\, adjective:Peevish; testy; irritable. Waugh’s tetchy and combative personality made him a difficult companion at arms.— Penelope Lively, “A Maverick Historian”, The Atlantic, February 2001 Wright was in Tokyo, busy with the Imperial Hotel, firing off telegrams blaming his son, Lloyd, and Schindler for nagging cost overruns that Barnsdall, always tetchy about parting with […]

First, I know I have had to make a lot of double posts lately because I’ve skipped a day. So far, I’ve only missed single days. Unfortunately, on very short notice, my family must move by the end of the month, my father (MisterBixby Sr.) is in the hospital for tests, I’ve been trying to […]

Suasion \SWAY-zhun\, noun:The act of persuading; persuasion.As in the 1960s, violence converged with dynamism in American life, but unlike that subsequent period of protest, the militancy of the 1930s was restrained by the long arm of an American political tradition that favored reform by moral suasion.– Nona Balakian, The World of William SaroyanHe visualized a […]

Vade Mecum \vay-dee-MEE-kuhm; vah-dee-MAY-\, noun:1. A book for ready reference; a manual; a handbook.2. A useful thing that one regularly carries about. The reader who wants honestly to understand it, and not merely read into it his own ideas, needs some kind of vade mecum to provide the necessary background and explain unfamiliar words and […]

Wait a minute! What did that say? Small Beer? That’s really the WORD of the Day? OK. Must be Friday or something. I fear you tube at this point. This may not be safe for work. Small Beer \small beer\, noun:1. Weak beer.2. Insignificant matters; something of little importance. adjective:1. Unimportant; trivial. We dined early […]

I alluded to this late last week, but now I can announce it. I have been chosen as a Bear’s SuperFan Blogger at the Bears SuperFan Blog! I am on the hook for at least one post a week – not a problem, I think – and I am one of 11 bloggers to be […]