Promethean Logophile -

An Indefinite Hiatus

admin — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 19:28:56 -0700

indefinite adjective: not clearly defined or determined; not precise or exact.
hiatus noun: a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.

I'm afraid Promethean Logophile is going on an indefinite hiatus. It may be back some day in the future, or it may remain an archive of nearly two years. Time will tell.

Speak

Lori Barber — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:40:39 -0700

Reason, I told myself, is a compliment wrapped in a lie. To lure Kara’s talented gardener’s hands into my yard, I’ve committed myself to this new friendship, while my yard takes on an attractive shape. In truth, Kara talks too much at the most inappropriate times, and constantly clicks her tongue against her teeth. The irritating sound a perfect match to a lovelorn bird in heat.

I counted myself quite cleaver to invite Kara for tea and dainty cucumber sandwiches in my shabby backyard. The tangle of honeysuckle all but strangled the porch rail, a limp pink dogwood tree, an overgrown purple rhododendron, and had begun to encroach on the small iron table and matching chairs, laden with the lunch for my honored guest. The yard at least smelled wonderfully sweet, to the point of nauseousness.

Weekly Word: insouciant

Logophile — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:55:19 -0700

insouciant - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

insouciant (in-SOO-see-uhnt) adjective

Marked by blithe unconcern; nonchalant.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

You're The Best

Lori Barber — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 15:59:19 -0700

The pain in his eyes tugged at my heart and tore the lining in a soft spot worn thin from worry. Over night, his face had become sunken and shapeless, like the bones had been eaten away by the cancer in his body. Each day grew harder for both of us.

He sipped the homemade chicken broth I brought, wincing each time he swallowed. Not one part of him didn’t hurt. Not one part of me didn’t hurt with him.

Weekly Word: habitue

Logophile — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 10:31:32 -0700

habitue - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

habitue (huh-BICH-oo-ay; huh-bich-oo-AY) noun

One who frequents a particular place, especially a place offering a specific pleasurable activity.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Fishing For Dinner

Lori Barber — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 21:48:09 -0700

If Mrs. Goldstein had wanted the last salmon at Fishel’s Fish Market she should have spoken up and claimed it. Instead, she bit her fingernail with indecisive vigor and cautiously adumbrated a years worth of dinner meals. The salmon wouldn’t stay fresh forever. It’s watery, bulging eyes would turn dry and sunken. It’s wet and shiny body would soon wrinkle and become dull.

Mr. Fishel rocked back and forth on his heels and wrung his hands together, one, two, three times. With each tick of the clock on the wall his smile stretched thin, like soup made to accommodate company.

Weekly Word: adumbrate

Logophile — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 09:21:11 -0700

adumbrate - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

adumbrate (AD-uhm-brayt; uh-DUHM-) transitive verb

To give a sketchy outline of.

To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow.

To disclose partially or guardedly.

To overshadow; shadow or obscure.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Eye Of The Soul

Lori Barber — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:29:32 -0700

The old man had lived at the end of the road in the three story Italian villa all his life. Many have dubbed him the eremite; a religious recluse who orders his world as he pleases inside the walls of his private estate.

In Katray’s thirteen years as a neighboring resident, she’d not gotten so much as a glimpse of him. Today, she would rectify the situation and soothe her curiosity hinged to her recent confusing dreams. She embarked from her moderate home nestled at the mouth of the road, and clutched a plate of lemon bars. She intended to introduce herself, hand him the fresh bake goodies, and study the old man with a long ample gaze. He would have to take the lead from there.

Weekly Word: eremite

Logophile — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:00:28 -0700

Online Etymology Dictionary (etyemology):

eremite (ER-uh-myt) noun

A recluse or hermit, especially a religious recluse.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Forget

Lori Barber — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 11:06:55 -0700

“I lied.” Marge sat unaware she twisted the tissue in her hands. “For the past six months my life’s been so far from normal you need a strong powered telescope to spot me dangling beyond the edge of the earth’s surface.”

Saddie offered her best friend another tissue. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I wanted to wait until things improved, so I’d have something positive to say, but things just keep getting worse. Every time I thought things might be getting better and I prepared to release my breath and relax a little, something new developed and I’d paused with breath held again.” Marge wiped at a fallen tear.

Weekly Word: nescience

Logophile — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 13:44:33 -0700

nescience - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

nescience (NESH-uhn(t)s; NESH-ee-uhn(t)s) noun

Absence of knowledge or awareness; ignorance.

Agnosticism.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Changes

Lori Barber — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 16:21:46 -0700

Every time I see a quarter horse with one white sock I think of Susie, then I remember how we met and start laughing. How many women can say they met their best friend in the men’s bathroom?

I couldn’t wait in the long line marked ‘Women’s.’ Instead, I had dashed into the men’s bathroom. Seconds later another girl followed behind me.

I smiled. “Alright, a kindred spirit.”

Weekly Word: indurate

Logophile — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 12:30:33 -0700

indurate - Definitions from Dictionary.com:

indurate (IN-dur-it; -dyur-) adjective

Hardened; obstinate; unfeeling.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Death

Lori Barber — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:52:16 -0700

Sally sipped tea, ate thick slices of zucchini bread, and read her latest romance novel in the comfort of a cushioned lounge chair under a broad umbrella. To some it may seem silly to take a vacation in the middle of winter in your backyard, but Sally thought it was perfect. Well, almost perfect, if thirty degree temperatures didn’t bother you. Old ski boots, a snowsuit, gloves, down coat with hood, two wool scarfs, and a wool blanket took care of the cold weather. She called this phase of her vacation, ‘Testing The Water.’ With languid snowflakes falling, maybe a more appropriate title would be ‘Testing The Temperature.’

Weekly Word: vituperation

Logophile — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 09:52:22 -0700

vituperation - Definitions from Dictionary.com (etymology):

vituperation (vy-too-puh-RAY-shuhn, -tyoo-) noun

The act or an instance of vituperating; abusive censure.

Sustained, harshly abusive language; invective.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Editio
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.