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That's interesting, you don't often see this kind of word in english; more so in other languages. In a way you could say the word is adscititious to the language in and of itself

I'm currently playing Goemon's Great Adventure. On February 8th, I decided to download it, after having beaten Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon the day before. The latter game was per @Zemekis's suggestion. No regrets whatsoever.....except maybe for playing Goemon's Great Adventure, because that one's a straight-up ass-kicker.

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What's the Word: ADSCITITIOUS pronunciation: [ad-sih-TISH-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Forming an addition or supplement; not integral or intrinsic. Examples: "When the dense fog stranded hundreds of travelers, the resort struggled to feed the adscititious crowd." "The Sunday papers used to come with more than a half-dozen adscititious magazines and promotional flyers." About Adscititious “Adscititious” is based on the Latin “adscitus,” meaning “admitted.” Did you Know? The word “adscititious” has a two-part definition: “forming an addition or supplement” and also “not integral.” While both parts make up the definition, they can be at odds with each other — something that is not integral can be seen as unneeded. However, supplements are usually helpful additions, and sometimes even necessary. Consider the nutritional supplement folic acid. This might fit both sides of the definition of adscititious; it’s not integral to most adult diets, but it’s extremely important to supplement as a prenatal vitamin.

Fact of the Day - HEARING PLANTS Did you know.... Plants may not have ears, but they’re able to detect sound vibrations in ways that would astonish most gardeners. Scientific research has revealed some plants perceive and respond to acoustic signals in their environment. They then use those vibrations to make crucial decisions about defense, growth, and even reproduction. In 2019, biologist Lilach Hadany of Tel Aviv University discovered evening primroses can pick up the specific frequencies of bees’ wings. Within minutes, the plants increase their nectar’s sugar concentration, making themselves more attractive to the visiting pollinators. Hadany surmised that the flower’s bowl-shaped blossoms act as an earlike structure, helping to detect the vibrations. And in 2014, researchers at the University of Missouri found that when a caterpillar chews on the leaves of a plant, it creates distinctive vibrations that travel through the plant’s tissues. Some plants can detect those very specific vibrations and perceive them as a threat; they then engage their chemical defenses, producing compounds that make their leaves less palatable to the munching insects. Researchers refer to this as “hearing” because the plants aren’t just reacting to being touched or shaken — they’re “listening” for the unique “sounds” (vibrational rhythms) of the specific input (such as a predator chewing). Remarkably, the study showed plants can distinguish between different vibrations, whether it’s a munching insect or another mechanical disturbance such as the wind or raindrops — activating their defenses only when genuinely threatened. Further studies have shown plants can even use sound to navigate their environment. In 2014, researchers discovered that plant roots are capable of locating water sources by sensing the vibrations generated by moving water — further evidence that plants can sense more than we give them credit for. The long-eared jerboa has the largest ears relative to its body size. African elephants possess the largest ears on our planet, typically measuring a mighty 6 feet long and 5 feet wide. But the creature with the largest ears relative to its body size is the tiny — and unbelievably adorable — long-eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso). This minuscule, nocturnal rodent, native to the deserts of Mongolia and China, was first caught on film in 2007. It measures just 4 inches from head to rump (not counting its long, spindly tail) and weighs between 24 and 38 grams. Its lovably large ears, which help shed excess body heat in hot, dry environments, are 1.5 to 2 inches long — roughly 40% to 50% the length of its body. Source: Some plants can ‘hear.’

World Crafter TD is currently free to keep on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/3098890/World_Crafter_TD

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What's the Word: DEMIURGIC pronunciation: [dem-ee-ER-jik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Describing a powerful creative force or being. Examples: "When she's in her studio, she's a demiurgic force." "I meditate before I work to try to access a demiurgic state." About Demiurgic “Demiurgic” is thought to have originated from the Greek word “dēmiourgós,” meaning “skilled worker.” Did you Know? While “demiurgic” describes a powerful creative force or state of being, a demiurge is a creative entity, such as an artisan or craftsman. One notable demiurge is the Greek god Hephaestus, who was a talented blacksmith known as the god of the forge.

Playing Dragon Quest VII Re-imagined. Finished up DQ2 like a week before this came out. Gonna be putting it on a short hold though for the launch of Resident Evil Requiem next week.

Enter the redeem code WELCOMEGIFT on GOG to get four games: Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2 Martian Dreams, Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire, Lure of the Temptress, and Betrayer https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/nobody-wants-to-die-fe21cd Nobody Wants to Die is currently free on Epic Games. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-darkside-detective-a-fumble-in-the-dark-174fcf The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark is currently free on Epic Games. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3312020/Lost_in_Anomaly/ Lost in Anomaly is currently free on Steam. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-darkside-detective-a-fumble-in-the-dark-android-125a49 https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-darkside-detective-a-fumble-in-the-dark-ios-1519b7 The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark is currently free on Epic Games for Android and iOS devices.

Arabian Gulf is free on steam currently (might not be worth the click, but I'll leave that to you) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3744480/Arabian_Gulf/

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https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/bloodstained-f3f575 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is currently free on Epic Games. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3662830/Train_Sim_World_6_Spirit_of_Steam_Liverpool_Lime_Street__Crewe_Route_AddOn/ https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/train-sim-world-6--spirit-of-steam-liverpool-lime-street-crewe Train Sim World 6: Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street - Crewe Route Add-On DLC is currently free on Steam and Epic Games.

One Gun Guy is currently free to keep on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200580/One_Gun_Guy/

What's the Word: BENTO pronunciation: [BEN-toh] Part of speech: noun Origin: Japanese, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A lacquered or decorated wooden Japanese lunch box. 2. A Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments). Examples: "Her bento collection was quite valuable, so she didn't use them for food." "I usually order the bento lunch special on Mondays." About Bento If you’re a fan of Japanese food or culture, you’re likely familiar with bento, or a bento box. This is a Japanese word for either the lunch box itself, or the specific arrangement of rice, vegetables, and sashimi inside a bento box. The meal is traditionally packed at home and carried to work or school, but you can now find grab-and-go versions available for purchase. Did you Know? Besides the type of food, bento is unique for its tidy arrangement, with food taking up every inch of available space. Modern versions of the bento also feature decorative (and often adorable) elements. Imagine sushi that looks like a cat, and vegetables that look like a garden. The best bentos are attractive, convenient, and delicious.

What's the Word: BLARNEY pronunciation: [BLAR-nee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Irish, 18th century Meaning: 1. Talk that aims to charm, pleasantly flatter, or persuade. 2. Amusing and harmless nonsense. Examples: "She relied on blarney to persuade her co-workers to share details about their lives." "The kindergarten teacher playfully asked her class if they had an actual question or just more blarney." About Blarney The word "blarney" comes from Blarney Castle and its famous stone, which is supposed to give whoever kisses it the gift of blarney, or persuasive, charming, flattering speech. Did you Know? Have you ever been told that you have the gift of gab? In Ireland, a person who manages to reach and kiss the Blarney Stone is rumored to be blessed with the gift of persuasive speech that can charm and flatter any listeners.

Fact of the Day - GOLDEN BLOOD Did you know... Only 45 people have ever become president of the United States, making it one of the world’s most exclusive clubs. But even rarer are the 43 people ever known to have “golden blood,” by far the most uncommon blood type. There are four main blood groups — A, B, O, and AB — but there are also many other, less common types, with Rh null blood, also known as “golden blood,” being almost unfathomably rare. “Rh” is short for Rhesus factor, a group of more than 50 antigens, the most common of which is RhD. People with RhD in their blood have a positive blood type, and people who don’t have RhD in their blood have a negative blood type. Those without any of the 50+ Rh antigens, meanwhile, have Rh null blood. In addition to being incredibly rare, “golden blood” carries serious risks related to transfusion. People with Rh null blood in need of a blood transfusion could be in danger if they receive any non-Rh null blood type, which contains antigens their body may reject because they aren’t present in Rh null. This includes O negative blood, whose carriers are otherwise considered universal donors. There are 47 known blood groups and 366 different antigens, highlighting just how rare "golden blood” really is. Blood types can change. Though most of us will have the same blood type for our entire lives, there are a number of instances in which blood type can change. The most common is after a bone marrow transplant, as bone marrow produces red blood cells. If a transplant between a donor and recipient with different blood types is successful, the recipient will inherit the donor’s type. A change can also temporarily happen after a blood transfusion, specifically when a donor receives large amounts of blood of a different type; after a few months, however, the recipient’s marrow will replace the new blood type with the old one. Source: Only 43 people have been known to have ‘golden blood,’ the rarest blood type.

Fact of the Day - BARKLESS DOG Did you know.... All dogs bark, from the deep bellow of a Great Dane to the shrill yap of a Chihuahua. But there's one exception to this rule: The basenji breed is known as the “barkless dog,” though it’s not quite silent, either. Instead of barking, basenjis make a yodel-like noise called a “baroo,” which sounds more like a howl. This inability to bark is due to the unusual shape of a basenji’s larynx, aka voice box. Basenjis have narrower ventricles than other dogs, limiting the movement of their vocal cords and resulting in this sonic oddity. Basenjis’ lack of bark makes them useful hunting dogs in their native Central Africa, leading some researchers to theorize they were selectively bred to sound this way. The lack of a loud and less conventional barking noise avoids scaring off prey, and the barooing means they sound more like a jackal or hyena than a hunting dog. While hunting, basenjis also sometimes jump up and down to catch sight of potential prey. In fact, in Swahili, the breed is called m’bwa m’kube m’bwa wamwitu, which translates to “dog that jumps up and down.” In addition to the unusual vocalizations, basenjis have a few other unique distinctions compared to their fellow dog breeds. They’re known to be quite fastidious, regularly cleaning themselves — much like housecats — so they typically lack a potent doggy odor. Also, female basenjis go into heat only once per year, compared to other breeds that average twice annually. The Norwegian lundehund has six toes on each paw. Dogs typically have 18 toes — five on each front paw and four on their hind paws. But the Norwegian lundehund averages more than any other breed, with six toes on each paw, for 24 in total. Their feet have four toes pointing forward and two that point inward, much like human thumbs. Those additional toes aren’t just for aesthetics; they help lundehunds when puffin hunting, which is the purpose for which they were originally bred. Puffins — or lunde, as they’re known in the Norwegian language — are a major source of food for Norwegian farmers, who relied on lundehunds to help hunt the birds. Not only do the extra toes provide the dogs with traction when traversing slippery rocks, but they also help them to more efficiently burrow into tight passages in search of puffin nests. Source: There’s a dog breed that doesn’t bark.

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Fact of the Day - THE TITANIC Did you know... The ‘Titanic’ didn’t sink immediately on the early morning of April 15, 1912. On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg, kicking off one of the 20th century’s most devastating civilian catastrophes. But the date typically cited for the ship’s sinking is April 15. And that’s because, as anyone who’s seen James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) already knows, the vessel didn’t plunge immediately to its icy doom—the whole process took a good two hours and change. Ship Meets Iceberg The starboard side of the Titanic brushed up against the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. the night of April 14, causing enough damage that at least five watertight compartments in the hull began to fill with water. After a brief investigation, the ship’s chief designer Thomas Andrews determined that they wouldn’t be able to stay afloat, and by midnight, the crew had started preparing the lifeboats. The scene over the next two hours gradually escalated into pandemonium as passengers were roused from their berths and loaded—women and children first—into a fleet of lifeboats that clearly couldn’t accommodate everyone. At about 2 a.m., the ship’s bow had tipped so far beneath the surface that its stern was partially above the water, and at 2:17 a.m., wireless operator Jack Phillips transmitted one last distress call. Beneath the Surface Over the next three or so minutes, the lights would shut off, and the bow’s downward trajectory would force the stern to break from the ship. It’s generally believed that the bow started to sink, and the stern moved into a vertical position before sinking, too. By 2:20 a.m., the Titanic had vanished. As for how long it took for the ship to actually hit the ocean floor, it depends on whom you ask. In his book The Discovery of the Titanic, Robert Ballard—the oceanographer who discovered the wreck—estimated that the descent may have lasted just six minutes, though he made it clear that “there are simply too many variables involved” to be sure. Where Did the Titanic Sink? The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean about 370 miles southeast of Newfoundland. Its rough position wasn’t a mystery—after all, ships showed up to rescue survivors in the area. But technology to locate lost shipwrecks wasn’t very advanced in 1912, and it would be another 73 years before Ballard and his team found the vessel some 13,000 feet under the surface. Source: How Long Did It Take for the ‘Titanic’ to Sink?

Fact of the Day - BARBARIC BUTTER Did you know... Our friends in ancient Rome indulged in a lot of activities that we would find unseemly today — including and especially gladiators fighting to the death — but they drew the line at eating butter. To do so was considered barbaric, with Pliny the Elder going so far as to call butter “the choicest food among barbarian tribes.” In addition to a general disdain for drinking too much milk, Romans took issue with butter specifically because they used it for treating burns and thus thought of it as a medicinal salve, not a food. They weren’t alone in their contempt. The Greeks also considered the dairy product uncivilized, and “butter eater” was among the most cutting insults of the day. In both cases, this can be partly explained by climate — butter didn’t keep as well in warm southern climates as it did in northern Europe, where groups such as the Celts gloried in their butter. Instead, the Greeks and Romans relied on olive oil, which served a similar purpose. To be fair, though, Romans considered anyone who lived beyond the Empire’s borders (read: most of the world) to be barbarians, so butter eaters were in good company. Nero didn’t actually fiddle while Rome burned. It would have been impossible for him to do so, as the fiddle didn’t exist yet. That’s not to say that Nero was a good emperor (or person), however. In addition to murdering his mother, first wife, and possibly his second wife as well, Nero may have even started the infamous fire that burned for six days in 64 CE and destroyed 70% of the city so that he could expand his Golden Palace and nearby gardens. (Or at least, that’s what some of the populace and some ancient writers suspected.) For all that, Rome’s fifth emperor wasn’t entirely reviled during his time — and it’s been suggested that his cruelty was at least somewhat exaggerated by later historians who were looking to smear his dynastic line, known as the Julio-Claudians. And he was a gifted musician who played the cithara, an ancient stringed instrument similar to a lyre — just not the fiddle. Source: The ancient Romans thought eating butter was barbaric.

Fact of the Day - DISNEY'S FERAL CATS Did you know.... Spend enough time at Disneyland and you’ll see them. Maybe you’ll spot one snoozing in the bushes near the Jungle Cruise or observing you warily as you ride the tram, but one thing is certain: However many cats you see, there are more out of sight. About 200 feral cats roam the Happiest Place on Earth, where they earn their keep by helping to control the rodent population. The felines were first seen not long after Disneyland opened in 1955, when they took up residence in Sleeping Beauty Castle, and it soon became evident that keeping them around had more advantages than trying to escort them off the premises. The mutually beneficial alliance even includes permanent feeding stations for the cats, as well as spaying or neutering and vaccinations. Though not official cast members, these adept hunters — who mostly come out at night — have earned a devoted following of their own. There are websites, Instagram feeds, and YouTube videos devoted to them. They’re not quite as popular as the actual rides at Disneyland, of course, but for cat lovers, they’re an attraction all their own. A train station in Disneyland plays a message in Morse code. Next time you find yourself on the Disneyland railroad, listen closely when the train pulls into its second station. New Orleans Square, which houses a telegraph office, plays a secret message in Morse code paraphrased from Walt Disney’s opening-day speech: “To all who come to Disneyland, welcome. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.” There are also many other secrets in the park, from the optical illusion that makes Sleeping Beauty Castle look bigger to Walt Disney’s favorite chili recipe at the Carnation Cafe. Source: About 200 feral cats roam Disneyland, where they help control rodents.

Fact of the Day - ARTIFICIAL BANANA FLAVOR Did you know.... Artificial banana flavoring was first sold in the United States around the 1850s, predating the widespread availability of the tropical fruit itself by more than two decades. Bananas were a known commodity in the United States for most of the 19th century, as the first recorded shipment arrived in New York City in 1804. But those shipments were rare and limited, and the fruit remained a highly desirable exotic luxury that few Americans had access to. In an effort to capitalize on these culinary curiosities, a so-called “banana essence” was created and sold in the U.S. by 1855. This flavoring was added to sugar candy and marketed as a purportedly authentic alternative to the fruit itself before advances in shipping and refrigeration made it easier to import bananas en masse. Real bananas only became widely available in the United States beginning in the 1870s. As noted by historian John Soluri in his 2005 book Banana Cultures, the fruit was slowly but surely introduced to the country through Central America via small-scale farms in Cuba and Jamaica. Bananas were later unveiled to the masses at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876, where they were wrapped in foil and sold for a dime each. The fair helped the formerly exotic fruit gain widespread popularity throughout the U.S. decades after the artificial flavor first came on the scene. The odorous durian fruit is banned in public areas throughout Asia. Durian is a fruit native to Southeast Asia that’s highly desired for its unique flavor — but along with that flavor comes an intense and pungent aroma that’s been compared to sewage or rotten food. This odor is so potent that the fruit is banned in public spaces throughout the region, including on public transportation and in hotels. Singapore is among the places with notably strict durian bans, having prohibited the fruit on public transport since 1988. Many Singaporean hotels charge lofty cleaning fees if a durian odor is detected in a guest’s room; the city’s Carlton City Hotel, for instance, imposes a fine of 500 Singapore dollars (roughly $391 USD). Despite the food’s notorious smell, however, it remains a popular and desirable item at many local restaurants and marketplaces. Source: Artificial banana flavoring was common in the U.S. long before real bananas.

Fact of the Day - RETRO TOYS Did you know.... In the 1950s, the science kits sold in toy stores may have contained real radioactive material. August 6 and 9, 2025, mark the somber 80th anniversaries of when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. These two catastrophic events led to the deaths of over 100,000 Japanese civilians and helped bring about the end of World War II in the Pacific. They also ushered in the Cold War era and the Atomic Age of science and technology, when, from the late 1940s through the 1960s, such devastating nuclear power inspired awe, fear, and some truly wild kids’ toys. You read that right. Products for children—including atomic bomb-themed card games, gadgets, and even a few toy sets that were literally radioactive—were invented in the spirit of scientific ingenuity at the time. Needless to say, they did not age well. Here’s a look at some of the strangest Atomic Age toys, some of which are still available for sale by collectors via websites like eBay and Amazon. Atomic Energy Labs—With Uranium In the early 1950s, one of the most dangerous toys ever designed—the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab—came with a Geiger counter and ”four glass jars containing natural uranium-bearing (U-238) ore samples” of “autunite, torbernite, uraninite, and carnotite from the Colorado Plateau region.” A detailed 60-page manual allowed kids to conduct mini nuclear experiments in the comfort of their own home. The set also included several nuclear spheres, “low-level radiation sources,” and a Wilson cloud chamber, among other models of atomic scientific equipment. As you can imagine, these aren’t around anymore. However, similar (albeit less lethal) versions featuring other chemicals like aluminum sulfate and sodium carbonate can be seen on display at the MINT Museum of Toys in Singapore. Atomic Space Guns According to the ORAU Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity, atomic ray guns were all the rage in the 1950s and 1960s. They took many shapes and sizes, and were called everything from atomic disintegrators to electronic space guns. One version was even modeled after comic book hero Buck Rogers’s very own atomic pistol. You can view a vintage atomic space gun on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Kid-friendly Versions of Atomic Geiger Counters In the 1950s, the Bell Products Company sold nuclear fun-loving toys like atomic Geiger counters—which detected ferrous metals (objects containing iron) to simulate real radioactivity detection. A deluxe version also came with an electronic radio station and a pair of walkie talkies to complete the atomic childhood experience. In 1949, the A.C. Gilbert Company offered similar items, namely the U-239 Geiger Counter, that would make clicking sounds through your headphones and light up whenever radioactive material reared its ugly head. Nuclear War, The Card Game Billed as “a comical cataclysmic card game of global destruction,” Nuclear War, a popular card game created in 1965, gives you and up to five friends the chance to pretend you’re “major world powers” and negotiate your nation’s fate using “propaganda” and “secrets” cards. Over the course of an hour, you’ll declare war and potentially destroy each other’s homelands before either one of you outlasts the others or peace is eventually reached. A special 50th anniversary version was created in 2015 and can be purchased on Amazon. Atomic Submarines, With Missiles What’s better than playing a game of global domination? How about being able to shoot your friends with missiles from an atomic submarine? This extremely rare toy was created by Louis Marx and Company in 1960. The 13-inch sub was made of tin and, thanks to its battery-operated feature, could launch little missiles. Modern collectors might be able to track one down on eBay or through other vintage toy sellers. Giant Atomic Bomb Toy Sets In 1955, kids had the opportunity to nuke their friends with a “safe, harmless giant atomic bomb,” as if their parents needed a reminder that these were indeed family-friendly toys. They were made of plastic, with caps that made cracking and popping sounds when they crashed. Today they can be seen on display at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as part of the “Memories, Wonders, and Dreams: Stories from 100 Years” exhibit. Dollhouses With Nuclear Bunkers Even the girls section of the toy aisle got in on the atomic action thanks to dollhouses that came with built-in nuclear fallout shelters. In a 1962 Sears catalog, one version of the Blueberry Lane collections’ Colonial Metal House came with a “conversation piece” featuring a fallout shelter complete with everything you’d need to withstand a nuclear holocaust painted on its walls—shelves stocked with canned food, first aid kits, and other supplies, plus two cots. There’s even a sundeck of sorts, ideal for any dolls who might want to take in views of the blast. Since these Louis Marx and Company dollhouses weren’t exactly sell-out items back then, only so many were built, which makes them highly coveted by collectors today. Source: Retro Toys From the Atomic Age

What's the Word: CREDENCE pronunciation: [KREE-dns] Part of speech: noun Origin: Anglo-Norman, 14th century Meaning: 1. Belief in or acceptance of something as true. 2. The likelihood of something being true; plausibility. Examples: "Charlotte gave no credence to the rumor the hotel was haunted and booked a room for the weekend." "My sister-in-law is a vet tech, so that lends credence to all advice she gives about our family pets." About Credence “Credence” is based on the Anglo-Norman “credenz,” meaning “belief” or “credit.” This was itself based on the Latin “crēdentia,” meaning “belief” or “faith.” Did you Know? “Credence” refers to one’s belief in the truth of a matter, but it is one of a family of words having to do with belief, faith, and trust. Its most familiar relative is “credential,” meaning “qualification proving suitability.” It is also closely related to “credo,” meaning “a statement of beliefs that guide one’s actions.” The word even shares a distant root with “credit” in the Latin word “crēdere,” meaning “to trust or lend money to.” A person would only give credit to a person whose circumstances they gave credence to — though credentials often help in establishing the necessary trust.

What's the Word: RIVIERE pronunciation: [riv-ee-AIR] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 19th century Meaning: 1. A necklace of gems that increase in size toward a large central stone, typically consisting of more than one string. Examples: "While a rivière is a striking piece of jewelry, it can make a subtle fashion statement." "The standard rivière is made with matching gems of the same cut and color, though the stones get larger toward the center of the necklace." About Rivière “Rivière” is taken from the French for “river.” Did you Know? The necklace style known as the “rivière” links gemstones together on a string or chain with a continuity that brings to mind the flow of a river — the root of the style’s name. The style emerged in 18th-century France, during the time of Queen Marie Antoinette, who was associated with a rivière called “le collier de la Reine” (“the Queen’s necklace”). This rivière was the subject of the infamous “Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” in which Marie Antoinette was accused of refusing to pay the crown jeweler for making the ornate rivière in 1845. It later emerged that Marie Antoinette had rejected the piece, but a notorious thief named Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy forged the queen’s signature, hoping to steal the set of jewels.

Fact of the Day - CACAO BEANS Did you know.... You may love chocolate, but probably not as much as the Aztecs did. This Mesoamerican culture, which flourished in the 15th and early 16th centuries, believed cacao beans were a gift from the gods and used them as a currency that was more precious than gold. The biggest chocoholic of them all was the ninth Aztec emperor, Montezuma II (1466–1520 CE), who called cacao “the divine drink, which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk for a whole day without food.” To say he practiced what he preached would be an understatement: Montezuma II was known to drink 50 cups of hot chocolate a day (from a golden goblet, no less). His preferred concoction is said to have been bitter and infused with chilis. Needless to say, that was an expensive habit. Aztec commoners could only afford to enjoy chocolate during special occasions, whereas their upper-class counterparts indulged their sweet tooth more often. That’s in contrast to the similarly chocolate-obsessed Maya, many of whom had it with every meal and often threw chili peppers or honey into the mix for good measure. Candy bars skyrocketed in popularity after World War I. Morale boosts were hard to come by during World War I, but one thing was sure to get the job done: chocolate. In America, the military chocolate tradition dates all the way back to the Revolutionary War, when the cocoa-loving George Washington included the treat in his soldiers’ rations. For our frenemies across the pond, every soldier received a King George Chocolate Tin in 1915; U.S. WWI rations were solicited from chocolate companies in 20-pound blocks, then cut down and hand-wrapped. Doughboys and Tommies (slang for U.S. and U.K. WWI soldiers, respectively) brought their sweet tooth home with them, and confectioners were happy to oblige. Candy bars became massively popular in the decade following World War I — more than 40,000 different kinds were produced in the U.S. alone by the end of the 1920s. These regional specialties began to die out following the one-two punch of the Great Depression and the outbreak of World War II, when Hershey’s was commissioned to create more than 3 billion ration bars for the U.S. Army. They’ve remained an industry titan ever since, and still claim the highest market share of any American confectionery by a sizable margin. Source: Aztecs considered cacao beans more valuable than gold.

Fact of the Day - NICKNAME Did you know.... Because medieval folks loved to rhyme. Margaret has plenty of nicknames that make sense: Marge, Maggie, Margo. And then there’s Peggy, which looks like a better fit for Paige or even Penelope. But upon closer investigation, what seems unconventional actually exemplifies a classic nicknaming convention. Why Is Peggy Short for Margaret? In the Middle Ages and beyond, people created new pet names by rhyming existing ones. Many are still in our regular rotation, like Bill (from Will/William), Bob (from Rob/Robert), and Dick (from Rick/Richard). Others haven’t survived. In The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Elizabeth Gidley Withycombe points out that rhyming nicknames starting with H have especially lacked staying power (she doesn’t hypothesize why). Examples include Hob for Robert, Hick and Hitch for Richard, and even Hibb for Isabel (rhymed from Ib). When the rhyme is based on a nickname that was already substantially altered from the full name, it’s not always obvious how it came to be. The connection can be even cloudier if the original nickname is no longer very common—or it’s now more heavily associated with a different name. That’s the case with Peggy: Margaret begot Meg and Mog, which became Peg(gy) and Pog(gy). These days, since Meg is often short for Megan, we don’t recognize it as the bridge between Margaret and Peggy. But Megan originated as the Welsh version of Margaret. Why Is Polly a Nickname for Mary? A similar thing happened with Polly. Molly began as a nickname for Mary, and people rhymed it to get Polly. Since Molly is now a full name in its own right, we forget that it once bridged Mary and Polly—making Polly seem much more random than it is. (How it became the go-to name for parrots is a whole other story.) Why Is Daisy a Nickname for Margaret? Peggy isn’t the only seemingly random sobriquet for Margaret. There’s also Daisy, which, like Peggy, turns out to have a pretty simple explanation: Marguerite is French for “daisy.” French parents have been naming their daughters Marguerite since the days of Old French; it has roots in a Greek word for “pearl” (which may have a Persian origin). Why Did People Make Up So Many Nicknames? Why this historical obsession with not using your full name? Some scholars have brought up the age-old belief that knowing someone’s true name grants you power over them (think Rumpelstiltskin). That’s all well and good as long as your intentions are pure, but witches, demons, and other evil forces might exploit the knowledge for nefarious purposes; ergo, people may have felt safer going by something else. But it’s hard to believe that a sorcerer couldn’t guess Margaret from Maggie. In all likelihood, these kinds of rhymes and riffs were often just a practicality. During the late medieval period, as surnames gained popularity and European communities became more closely knit, variation in first names shrank dramatically. With only so many monikers in circulation—and with such a big focus on passing names down—your baby Robert wouldn’t be the only Robert around. If one already answered to “Rob” and another to “Bob,” you might start calling yours “Hob” for clarity’s sake. The trend continued long after that era. Take Little Women’s multiple Margarets: Matriarch Margaret March is known as Marmee; eldest daughter Margaret is Meg; and Meg’s daughter is called “Daisy,” as Amy March explains, “so as not to have two Megs.” (Never mind that some characters call Meg March “Daisy” earlier in the story.) Even now, when offbeat names are more common, we still rely on nicknames to differentiate us. Maybe your class had a Katherine, a Katie, a Kate, and a Kat. Maybe you’re a James Jr. who goes by Jimmy. Thankfully, we’ve at least retired the more dreadful medieval offerings: Some Margarets answered to “Maggot.” Source: The Reason Why ‘Peggy’ Is Short for ‘Margaret’

What's the Word: LABELLUM pronunciation: [lə-BEL-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 19th century Meaning: 1. (Botany) A central petal at the base of an orchid flower, typically larger than the other petals and of a different shape. 2. (Entomology) Each of a pair of lobes at the tip of the proboscis in some insects. Examples: "Houseflies have a fused proboscis with a _______ at the end." "The labellum on certain species of orchids mimic female wasps, encouraging male wasps to visit." About Labellum Labellum originated in 19th century Latin, and is thought to be a diminutive of the word “labrum” (lip). Did you Know? Butterflies, mosquitoes, and houseflies — what do all these insects have in common? Their mouths, for one thing. Many insects with a proboscis (a long syringe-like tube extended to feed from a source) have a specialized labellum, or pair of lobes, at the base, which they use to drink with.

What's the Word: FAUBOURG pronunciation: [FOH-boorg] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 15th century Meaning: 1. (Usually in place names) A suburb, especially one in Paris. Examples: "The faubourgs of Paris were absorbed into the metropolis after the city walls expanded outward." "Much like Paris, Montreal contains many faubourgs that used to be considered distant suburbs, until the city grew to encompass them." About Faubourg “Faubourg” is a loanword from French. It was formed in Old French by combining “fors,” meaning “outside,” with “bourg,” meaning “town.” Did you Know? “Faubourg” is much older than the English word “suburb,” but the ideas are similar. With the Latin roots “forīs,” meaning “out of,” and “burgum,” meaning “town” or “fortress,” “faubourg” traditionally referred to a community or neighborhood located outside the gate or walls of a fortified city. The rise of the term “faubourg” occurred in Paris during the 16th century, at a time when that city was fortified by a wall. The original Parisian faubourgs were architecturally distinct urban areas that bore little resemblance to modern European and North American suburbs. After the demolition of the Parisian city wall in 1701, and the expansion of city borders in 1860, most Parisian faubourgs became a part of the city proper, and today, “faubourg” is a term to describe a longtime residential neighborhood.

What's the Word: PHLEGMATIC pronunciation: [fleg-MAD-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 14th century Meaning: 1. Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition. Examples: "Patrick’s phlegmatic temperament means he doesn’t anger easily." "Some people mask their emotions with a phlegmatic exterior." About Phlegmatic This word originates from the Old French “fleumatique,” which derives from the Greek “phlegmatikos,” meaning “inflammation.” Did you Know? The phrase “stiff upper lip” is British, but the phlegmatic philosophy is actually rooted in ancient Greece. The Spartans developed a strict culture of discipline that sparked inspiration for the English public school system.

What's the Word: VAGILE pronunciation: [VAJ-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 20th century Meaning: 1. (Biology) Free to move about. Examples: "When they retired, my grandparents became vagile and spent winters in the South, springs in Europe, and summers and falls here at home." "This river valley is on the flight path of many vagile birds, so we see many flocks land for the night during migration season." About Vagile “Vagile” is based on the Latin “vagus” (meaning “wandering”). Did you Know? In biology, a vagile organism is one that can adapt to changes in its environment, and often, this means an organism will change its location over time. The most visible vagile organisms are those that migrate to warmer climates in winter and return to cooler places in summer. Birds are known for their migratory habits, but other creatures including bats and insects also migrate seasonally. Monarch butterflies are legendarily vagile, flying as far as 3,000 miles to Mexico each fall from all across the North American continent.

Fact of the Day - WWW - HTTP Did you know... It’s nearly impossible to imagine life without the World Wide Web, which has had an indelible impact on the way we live, work, and connect. Today, roughly two-thirds of the world’s population has access to this vast network of more than one billion websites. But the internet didn’t always look like this. Initially, it was devoid of websites and was primarily used for email by universities, researchers, and government agencies, with early precursor networks dating back to the 1960s. Then, on January 1, 1983, the internet was “born” with the establishment of a universal language, a communications protocol called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). While this allowed for file transferring and text-based directories, “dot-coms” did not yet exist. This lasted until August 6, 1991, when the world’s very first website — a page explaining what a website is — launched. This invention, defined as a collection of materials stored in a file archive for public access via the internet, changed the world forever. Since that groundbreaking development, billions of users have visited countless web addresses, most of which begin with the familiar letters “WWW” or “HTTP.” Created in the late 1980s, those acronyms, which stand for “World Wide Web” and “Hypertext Transfer Protocol,” respectively, are the building blocks of the modern internet, designed to allow users to connect via websites across a global network. So how did we go from one lonely website to billions of them, and what’s the significance of those acronyms? Let’s jump in and decode these mysteries. The World Wide Web’s Humble Beginnings In 1989, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee was working at CERN (a French acronym for the European Organization for Nuclear Research) when he had a breakthrough idea that led to the creation of the World Wide Web. “There have always been things which people are good at, and things computers have been good at, and little overlap between the two,” Berners-Lee explained in 1998. He noted that computers worked “mechanically in tables and hierarchies” while humans usually opted for “intuition and understanding.” He imagined a system that could bridge the gap. Berners-Lee’s vision was to develop a way to view and link documents across different computers, using the internet as the backbone. He partnered with Belgian systems engineer Robert Cailliau on the project and coined the term “World Wide Web” in 1989 to emphasize the global reach and decentralized nature of the web. On a NeXT computer (designed by none other than Steve Jobs), the team created a network of hypertext documents viewable on web browsers. By the time Berners-Lee was ready to launch in 1991, he had invented “HTML” (Hypertext Markup Language), “HTTP” (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), “URL” (Uniform Resource Locator), and, of course, the World Wide Web itself. The World’s First Website On August 6, 1991, the world’s first website, info.cern.ch, was launched by CERN. The site provided instructions for users to create their own web pages and explained the function of hypertext — coded text that links to content on the internet. Still active today, the site also now explains the history of Berners-Lee’s project. By 1992, there were only 10 websites on the World Wide Web, but by the late 1990s, in large part due to the launch of Google, that number had ballooned to 2 million. Unfortunately, most early websites weren’t archived and have since vanished. In 2013, however, CERN revived its original site, unveiling what some may call a digital fossil of the early web. The resurgence of info.cern.ch brought about an interesting question: Why didn’t that URL include”WWW” or “HTTP”? So Why Do We Use “WWW”? The “WWW” in a URL is an abbreviation for “World Wide Web,” but contrary to what some may believe, this part of a URL isn’t actually necessary for a website to work. You could type in “google.com” instead of “www.google.com” and still land in the same place. That’s because “WWW” is more of a naming convention than a technical requirement: Back in the 1990s, it helped distinguish websites from other services, such as email servers. Today, many websites omit the “WWW” completely, but it’s still widely used as a stylistic choice in certain instances, such as marketing and print materials. When featured on billboards, postcards, TV commercials, and magazine ads, “WWW” clearly signals that the address in question is a website. Basically, while “WWW” isn’t essential anymore, it remains one of the most recognizable acronyms on the web, earning it a permanent place in internet tradition and history. What’s the Meaning of “HTTP” and “HTTPS”? Another acronym often seen in website URLs is “HTTP,” but this one actually does serve a functional purpose. It stands for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol” — that is, a communication protocol allowing browsers and servers to exchange information and permitting users to access websites. It essentially acts as a set of rules that lets your browser “talk” to the server, enabling it to load text, images, videos, and everything else you see and hear on web pages. Without “HTTP,” the World Wide Web couldn’t function. You may notice there is sometimes an “S” at the end of the “HTTP” acronym, which stands for “secure.” If a URL starts with “HTTPS,” it means the site in question encrypts your data. This adds a layer of security to protect users and safeguard sensitive information, including passwords and credit card numbers. Most websites today use “HTTPS,” and browsers may even warn you if a site doesn’t use it and therefore isn’t secure. Are There Other URL Protocols? While “HTTP” and “HTTPS” are by far the most commonly seen internet protocols at the beginning of web addresses today, they’re just two among thousands of others. These protocols generally fall into three main categories: communication, management, and security, with “HTTP” and “HTTPS” belonging to the security category. Most alternative protocols are rarely encountered by everyday users, either because they serve technical functions or because they operate in areas of the internet that aren’t easily accessible to the public. That said, you may still have utilized a few of them while surfing the net. For instance, “mailto://” opens your default email application to start a draft addressed to the email in the URL, while “ftp://” transfers files between computers over a network. So if you stumble across a URL that starts with something unfamiliar, it may not be a red flag for a dangerous site; it’s probably just a different protocol designed for a specific purpose. The internet is much more flexible than we probably realize and likely much more expansive than Tim Berners-Lee could have ever imagined. Source: Why Do Websites Use “WWW” and “HTTP”?

I restarted my playthrough of The Plucky Squire (PS5), after finally platinuming and 100%ing Bloodborne (PS4). After I plat The Plucky Squire, I plan on replaying Final Fantasy IX (PS4) and finally playing Night in the Woods (PS4).

Fact of the Day - DEFECTIVE CARS Did you know... Having your engine burst into flames after driving off the car lot is a sour experience. But where did the association with lemons come from? Shopping for a car, new or used, can be a nerve-wracking experience. If you buy new, you risk sticker shock and dealer add-ons. Purchase used cars and you’re never quite sure if your new vehicle will turn into a headache 10 miles down the road. In the latter case, we sometimes refer to defective cars as “lemons.” States even refer to their consumer protection bills against crummy cars as “lemon laws.” But why do we associate a death trap with a tangy fruit? The Connection Between Cars and Lemons According to Green’s Dictionary of Slang, using lemon to denote a fraudulent or worthless purchase dates back to 1909; its use in reference to cars specifically goes back to 1923, when one used car dealer profiled in The Oakland Tribune is said to have “congratulated himself upon having rid himself of a lemon finally.” Lemon as a noun or adjective has often been associated with something unpleasant or unpalatable—as some people find the tartness of the lemon to be—or something that’s turned sour. The car-lemon connection may have been cemented with an ad Volkswagen ran in the 1960s. Like most of their minimalist advertising from the period, it consisted of a photo of a car and a stark caption: “lemon.” The copy goes on to say that Volkswagen’s quality inspectors had caught several flaws with this particular car, ensuring it didn’t arrive to a dealership with those blemishes intact. “We pluck the lemons,” the ad concluded. “You get the plums.” The Origin of Lemon Laws It wasn’t until 1975, though, that consumers had federal lemon protection. The Magnuson Moss Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act guaranteed consumers wouldn’t be stuck with a faulty consumer product, including cars, or suffer unreasonable warranty terms. The law applies to consumer items of all types, though cars were of particular concern as they’re often the most expensive item prone to mechanical failure a person can buy. It quickly became known as “the lemon law,” though it really refers more to the warranty of the vehicle than the vehicle itself. In New York, for example, state law says that a new car must conform to the manufacturer’s warranty and that, if repair cannot be made within a reasonable number of attempts, the purchaser is due a refund. The lemon laws can vary by state and by vehicle condition, so it’s important to know which rules apply. It’s also crucial to get an inspection and pull a motor vehicle history report when buying used and to pay attention to what a dealer’s window sticker might say about a vehicle being sold with a guarantee or as-is. There is one situation where having a lemon can pay off—sort of. According to analysts at iSeeCars, who examined used car prices against the MSRP of a new car, one color had the lowest depreciation at 4.5 percent, far lower than the average of 15 percent. That color? Yellow. Source: Why Do We Call Defective Cars “Lemons”?

What's the Word: BUNBURYING pronunciation: [BUN-bər-ee-ing] Part of speech: verb Origin: British English, 19th century Meaning: 1. (Humorous) Avoiding one's duties and responsibilities by claiming to have appointments to see a fictitious person. Examples: "My boss had a habit of Bunburying out of his obligation to meet the CEO each time she visited our office." "As a student, I tried Bunburying my way out of an exam, but my teacher didn’t believe me." About Bunburying “Bunburying” is a verb based on the character of Bunbury in Oscar Wilde’s 1895 play “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Did you Know? English author Oscar Wilde coined the term “Bunburying” in his play “The Importance of Being Earnest,” as a verb that evoked a character named Bunbury. Though Bunbury is discussed in the play, he never appears onstage — Bunbury is a fictitious character whom another character references to create excuses that get him out of situations he wishes to leave. As a humorous verb, “Bunburying” means inventing a made-up appointment with a fictitious person in order to avoid one’s responsibilities.

What's the Word: DUUMVIRATE pronunciation: [doo-UHM-vər-it] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. A coalition of two people having joint authority or influence. Examples: "After the founder brought her husband into the company, the pair operated as an equal duumvirate." "Northern Ireland is a modern duumvirate ruled by the first minister and deputy first minister, who share identical powers." About Duumvirate “Duumvirate” is based on the Latin “duumvirātus,” formed by combining “duumviri” (meaning “of two men”) and the suffix “-ātus,” describing possession of a feature. Did you Know? A duumvirate is a circumstance in which two people hold joint authority or power. Numerous countries have governing duumvirates (also called “diarchies”). While “duumvirate” often describes political systems, the term can also be used to describe any situation led by two equals. For example, a company run by a partnership between its CEO and its president is a duumvirate.

Fact of the Day - EXPRESSION Did you know.... For most of us, literally putting our feet in our mouths isn’t a physical possibility once we reach adulthood. So, where did this curious expression originate? We’ve all put our foot in our mouths at least once—metaphorically, at least. This vivid little expression commonly refers to making an awkward blunder in a conversation, like mixing up someone’s name or making an ill-timed joke. It first appeared in print in the late 18th century, but its exact origins are murky. Putting your foot in your mouth came about only after the phrase put your foot in it had established itself in the English language as a way to refer to making a mistake. The first print appearance of the expression was in a 1796 play. In Bannian Day, a play by George Brewer, one character expresses their uncertainty: “To be sure I an’t now a little at a loss to know whether I’ve made a good hand of this, or whether I’ve put my foot in it.” The fact that the phrase was tapped for a medium that’s meant to be acted out suggests that people may have been saying something similar, if not identical, aloud regularly before it was ever written down. It’s thought that this original expression may first have emerged from the idea of accidentally stepping in something undesirable, like mud or feces. It’s not clear if putting your foot in your mouth, in particular, was a derivative of this first phrase or if it emerged independently, but it wasn’t until 1879 that the version we know initially appeared. The Iowa-based Waterloo Courier reported that someone was “bound to put his foot in his mouth whenever he [opened] it,” and in 1902, the Atlanta Constitution wrote, “General Bragg has gone and done it again! His happy faculty of putting his foot in his mouth whenever he opens it hangs to him like a toper’s appetite.” Putting Your Foot in It vs. In Your Mouth: What’s the Difference? Still, as similar as they may appear to be, there are slight differences between these two phrases. For one, put your foot in it is more often used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, whereas put your foot in your mouth both emerged in and more commonly appears in the American lexicon. But put your foot in it is also a much more general saying. Conversely, putting your foot in your mouth is reserved for conversational mishaps—your foot is in your mouth because of a verbal mistake, specifically—while put your foot in it could refer to any erroneous action. So, for example, while accidentally spoiling a surprise gift for someone would be considered both putting your foot in your mouth and putting your foot in ‘it,’ buying someone a terrible gift would only ever be called putting your foot in it. Moving away from its original construction, putting your foot in your mouth further evolved in the mid-20th century into the term foot-in-mouth disease for those who can’t help but make constant social blunders. It’s a tongue-in-cheek term referencing foot and mouth disease, which is a real illness that affects livestock with hooves, like cows, pigs, and sheep. Usually, animals that contract this illness are put down to avoid it spreading to others—though luckily for humans with foot-in-mouth disease, the consequences aren’t usually so severe. Interestingly, however, putting your foot in something may not always be used negatively. A notable exception to the usual association is the phrase’s definition within African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). Instead of referring to an embarrassing mistake, the phrase is used to compliment particularly delicious cooking. If someone made an especially phenomenal meal, they’re said to have put their foot in it. So, next time someone tells us we’ve put our foot in something, we can only hope they’re talking about a dish we’re serving them and not something we’ve just said. Source: Where Does the Expression ‘Put Your Foot in Your Mouth’ Come From?

Fact of the Day - BICYCLES Did you know.... The Wright brothers are best known for their historical flight over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903, but years before the siblings made aviation history, they were busy running a bicycle shop in western Ohio. Wilbur Wright and his younger brother Orville had long dreamed of gliding through the wild blue yonder, but it would take years of work to finance their costly first attempts. In the 1880s, the brothers undertook their first joint business, a small printing shop in Dayton that churned out local newspapers, church pamphlets, and bicycle parts catalogs. By 1892 the brothers had moved from printing for bicycle companies to starting their own, inspired by their shared passion for cycling; Wilbur reportedly loved leisurely rides through the countryside, while Orville was known for participating in bike races. The Wright Cycle Company initially offered repairs and rentals, but as cycling became more popular, the brothers turned to manufacturing their own designs in an effort to compete with the dozens of nearby bike shops. Their first model, the “Wright Special,” was released in May 1896, followed by the “Van Cleve.” Together, Wilbur and Orville hand-built around 300 bikes per year during their peak production years before 1900, using the profits to fund their flight experiments. By 1908, they had abandoned their shop to focus solely on aeronautics. Today, only five antique Van Cleve bikes exist, two of which remain in the brothers’ hometown at the Wright Brothers National Museum in Dayton. Wilbur and Orville Wright flew together only one time. Before takeoff at Kitty Hawk in 1903, the Wright brothers had to decide who would man their one-passenger plane for the first time, making the decision with a coin toss. But even when the duo expanded their planes to two-seaters, they were rarely airborne together, sharing only one flight during their lives. Orville and Wilbur reportedly promised their father they would never fly together because of the risk of a plane crash; the brothers gave their word, which also ensured that one of them could continue their aeronautical work in case of a fatal accident. In September 1908, Orville did survive the world’s first deadly plane crash, during a demonstration for the U.S. Army (his passenger was U.S. Army Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge). The accident, however, didn’t deter Orville or his brother, and two years later the siblings shared their only joint flight, soaring for six minutes while their father watched from the ground. Afterward, Orville took the excited 82-year-old on the sole flight of his life. Source: Before they built airplanes, the Wright brothers owned a bicycle shop.

What's the Word: ENJAMBMENT pronunciation: [en-JAM-mənt] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 19th century Meaning: 1. (In verse) The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza. Examples: "The technique of enjambment can make reading poetry tricky, as it’s natural to want to pause at the end of the line instead of reading it through." "Poets toying with enjambment were responsible for some of the 20th century’s most interesting poems, such as T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land.’" About Enjambment “Enjambment” is a loanword from French, in which it means “the state or action of straddling.” Did you Know? In poetry, “enjambment” refers to the practice of breaking a continuing line in the middle of a sentence or phrase. A poet might want to visually emphasize certain words and ideas by breaking sentences off in surprising places. In poetry read aloud, enjambment might be hard to hear — its role is to bring together words that appear more broken on the page. As a result, there are many poems full of enjambment that read aloud like normal prose. It’s only when enjambed lines are viewed on the page that the reader can see their unexpected breaks and rhymes.

What's the Word: ABDITIVE pronunciation: [AB-dih-tiv] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 18th century Meaning: 1. Capable of hiding or concealing. Examples: "The babysitter found the toddler under the abditive tablecloth during the game of hide-and-seek." "The decorative screen serves an abditive function to block off the messy parts of our living room." About Abditive “Abditive” is based on the Latin “abditīvus,” meaning “separated from,” which is based on “abdō,” meaning “hide.” Did you Know? There’s a growing trend in home renovation — abditive spaces, or hidden nooks and concealed features. An example might be a dog “room” underneath a staircase, or a pantry hidden behind a secret wall panel. Other abditive spaces are less sneaky, and more subtle — a large blackboard, artwork, or mirror at the end of a hall might obscure a functional door into a room or closet.

What's the Word: EMMETROPIA pronunciation: [em-ih-TROH-pee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. The normal condition of the eye. Examples: "The ophthalmologist told Lesley she had emmetropia and wouldn’t need glasses." "Emmetropia is a prerequisite for a number of jobs, including firefighter and air traffic controller." About Emmetropia “Emmetropia” was coined by joining the ancient Greek “ἔμμετρος” (“émmetros,” meaning “in measure”) with the suffix‎ “-opia” (meaning “vision”). Did you Know? Pioneering Dutch ophthalmologist Franciscus Donders coined the term “emmetropia” in the mid-19th century to describe a state of perfect vision in the eye. Today, perfectly clear vision is a condition for a variety of jobs, most notably in aviation. While standards vary from country to country, and between commercial and military pilots, a general rule of thumb is that pilots must have 20/20 vision (meaning they can see clearly and accurately from a distance of 20 feet). Pilots need not have emmetropia naturally, however — in the U.S. and many other countries, pilots can wear corrective eyewear to achieve 20/20 vision.

What's the Word: COMPEER pronunciation: [kəm-PEER] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 15th century Meaning: 1. A person of equal rank, status, or ability. 2. A companion or associate. Examples: "The company founder met her lawyer in New York, along with his compeer from a firm in Los Angeles, to discuss moving the head office to the West Coast." "Richard was a compeer of my mother’s from her office, but I had no idea he’d once been famous as a folk singer." About Compeer “Compeer” is based on the Middle English “comper,” from the Latin “compater,” meaning “first cousin” or “good friend.” Did you Know? “Compeer” is a term with many equivalents, most notably the Spanish “compadre,” meaning “friend or companion”; the Sicilian “cumpari,” meaning “buddy”; and the modern American term “goombah.” This last term, meaning “pal” or “associate,” is the product of English speakers mishearing the Southern Italian pronunciation of “cumpari,” which does not emphasize the final syllable. “Goombah” has a close relative in Peru, Chile, and Argentina, where “cumpa” means “buddy.” The English “compeer” builds on the Middle English “comper” by adding the term “peer,” so that the term denotes a close companion of equal standing.

What's the Word: UMBRIFEROUS pronunciation: [um-BRIF-ər-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Casting or making a shade. Examples: "The umbriferous willow tree provided the perfect spot for our picnic." "We built a screened-in porch not only to provide shelter from rain and bugs, but also to be umbriferous on sunny days." About Umbriferous “Umbriferous” is based on the Latin “umbrifer,” formed by combining “umbra” (meaning “shade”) and “ferre” (meaning “to bear”). Did you Know? After long months of winter, and what seems like more hours spent in the dark than in the light, people are drawn to spend time in the sun. But even the most dedicated sun worshippers need to find a spot with an umbriferous (shade-casting) structure at times. From the Latin, “umbra” means “shade,” which should be recognizable in an umbriferous noun: “umbrella.” Anything that provides shade or shelter from the sun can be described with the adjective “umbriferous.”

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