"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Friday 24 December 2010

Gravelled

   
In former times to be gravelled meant to be perplexed. The word was still in common usage in Victorian times.

Thursday 23 December 2010

Volute

   
A volute is the spiral curve on an Ionic capital; spiral; ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a centre with an increasing distance from the centre.

Wednesday 22 December 2010

Animadvert

   
To animadvert means to opine: express one's opinion openly and without fear or hesitation; express blame or censure or make a harshly critical remark

Thursday 2 December 2010

Divan

   
A divan (pronounced with a short i like divine) is a long backless sofa (usually with pillows against a wall). In former times the name was also applied to a smoking room. Cigar and tobacco sellers would sometimes have an upstairs room where men (only!) could chill out with a cup of ciffee and a cigar - these were called divans.

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Chimera

   

The chimera is a fire-breathing creature with a lion’s head, goat’s body, and a snake’s tail.