FACEBOOK WORD PUZZLES-2601-2700

FACEBOOK QUIZZES 2601-2700

Quiz2601-Anagram   porcine power     

2602-Split Definitive   South American country chant    (8)   (s)

2603-Convergent      mama-off-bush   shoe-sweet-tree    cottage-Eskimo-hole

2604-Commonality     pepper-man-serpent

2605-Split Definitive   Perverse for each small poem     (8)   (p)

2606-Convergent    park-hot-gate    eye-egg-lobster    vine-computer-juice

2607-Anagram      labelled gizmo  

2608-Split Definitive     law proposal outstanding  (9)    (b) 

2609-Convergent     dresser-dryer-dye       warmer-great-little   watch-band-wrestling

2610-Commonality    underling-canon-grating 

2611-Split Definitive      exist talked   (7)  (b)

2612-Convergent    tolerate-for-spray      market-sun-saw    ballot-effect-iron

2613-Commonality   cable-cage-impish

2614-Split Definitive     dog lease  (7)  (r)

2615-Convergent       wood-carrier-post    sea-punch-bullet   town-frighten-girl

2616-Anagram       new middle

2617-Split Definitive     friend attempt  (6) (p)

2618-Convergent     tap-spur-cad   white-dry-shank      rot-level-cat

2619-Anagram cleaning up pride and self-respect

2620-Split Definitive     severely criticize pain   (7) (p)

2621-Convergent      inter-ass-cake    tile-of-sword     piano-bed-eye

2622-Commonality     mick-sled-wing

2623-Split Definitive     Great Lake engine revolution (7) (r)

2624-Convergent     saw-up-shot  simpleton-dropping-toe    water-witness-tolerate

2625-Commonality   abductor-brought-rebound

2626-Split Definitive     launching mandatory stake     (9)   (a)  

2627-Convergent     bag-circus-pit      feed-feet-blind   ball-golden-wheel

2628-Commonality    ere-hashes-sone    

2629-Split Definitive     collapsible lightweight bed great lake  (7)  (c)

2630-Convergent    opera-pin-old    bath-dis-ward   bottoms-game-party

2631-Commonality     piled-viler-fellate

2632-Split Definitive     Masculine wag   (7) (p)

2633-Convergent     hunt-hound-party    cow-trap-keeper       seal-snow-spot

2634-Anagram       penalized dastard

2635-Split Definitive       prisoner who’s a slow learner   (8)  (d)

2636-Convergent   funny-poker-cliff     soft-square-room    music-conversation-king

2637-Commonality    Istanbul-Medina-Nagaram 

2638-Split Definitive     obtain a friend   (6) (g)

2639-Convergent    fowl-vitamin-melt      pole-field-counter         rent-up-dice

2640-Anagram   didn’t own a Japanese car    

2641- Split Definitive     leave a  monarch  (9)  (p)

2642-Convergent     mess-sea-shadow     silk-cloth-wolf     guard-car-way

2643-Commonality    varies-delete-bride

2644-Split Definitive     record mislay  (8)  (l)

2645-Convergent     fondle-filler-warmer     spoon-ion-money    dew-dog-land

2646-Anagram     therefore coagulated blood of an evil monster  

2647-Split Definitive     obvious fury (8)  (o)

2648-Convergent    crossing-tick-blind      ball-golden wheel        march-sea-times   

2649-Commonality    What do America, Canada, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates have in common?

2650-Split Definitive     unit for transmitting inherited characteristics    (9)   (r)

2651-Convergent     grind-egg-oil    ladder-lady-lion    ghost-fiddler-cake

2652-Name a Pig Latin term that is listed in the OED? 

2653-Split Definitive     bend under weight Italian love   (8)  (a) s

2654-Convergent     trust-wave-lame   play-money-charge     ally-yellow-ding

2655-Commonality    tarnation-slender-scurry-twirl     

2656-Split Definitive     make pigeon sound connect things   (6)  (c)

2657-Convergent    area-window-leaf    sight-I-be    lantern-wheel-fire

2658- Commonality farm-fast-flit 

2659- Split Definitive       emblem encircle (9)  (b)   

2660-Convergent     call-up-bed     speed-up-first       air-works-ern

2661-Anagram    Involved newspaper article time marker     

2662- Split Definitive       formal social gathering gamble   (7)  (d)

2663-Convergent      air-blower-elk       brown-cream-save    fall-fat-feed

2664- Anagram    Highly unusual tray for holding burning coal   

2665- Split Definitive     horizontally-challenged confederate     (7)  (a) 

2666-Convergent   bottlenose-river-spotted    tiger-swindler-sucker   pat-pen-patch

2667- Anagram    From being mildly miffed to being apoplectic   

2668- Split Definitive        segregation   (d)  (14)

2669-Convergent   end-roast-overt   swill-fat-Delhi   wash-wandering-wear

2670-Commonality   chore-defy-untied 

2671- Split Definitive        in favour of con artist   (r) (8)

2672-Convergent    casserole-salad-maker       skin-tea-green   rabbit-chip-dip

2673- Anagram    Most decorated stretch material    

2674-Split Definitive     attractive writing   (p)   (9)

2675-Convergent   shutter-spittle-spray   polo-pit-up    carpenter-line-ping

2676-Commonality      deify-outing-reify  

2677- Split Definitive     twitch in this place    (h) (7)

2678-Convergent    board-a-path    big-queer-sore    frond-pilot-beach

2679- Commonality    aimless-angled-inane                                            

2680- Split Definitive     interpret only   (r)   (8)

268-Convergent     blue-candy-top     toe-tor-room         union-executive-ability

2682-Commonality    tread      end      mead                       

2683-Split Definitive     depressing fighter pilot   (g)    (7)

2684-Convergent    splitter-way-complain   pecker-ides-wagon   silver-sec-expect

2685-Anagram    Empty pastrami house 

2686-Split Definitive     can I?    (a)   (7)  

2687-Convergent     bar-mental-flying     apple-cane-eye    sing-party-sweet

2688- Anagram    Russian empress craftsperson 

2689-Split Definitive     curve twitch   (a)  (6)

2690-Convergent  lap-to-span     bump-barrel-pump       tin-dog-worm

2691-Commonality   art-ban-bed-boa-can-con-dew-die-end-era-gin-lea-nip-oat-pay-per-red-ref-ret-rum-sea-set

2692-Split Definitive     friend to a $5 bill   (f)  (7)

2693-Convergent  soap-soup-rose    Irish-cold-egg    force-dead-white

2694-Anagram        pioneer post   

2695-Split Definitive     applause, any?   (s)   (8)

2696-Convergent     requiem-loan-white    line-rink-desert     stink-bed-led

2697- Anagram    Had enough courage to  fear

2698-Split Definitive     used to look after        (t)    (8)

2699-Convergent   treasure-pain-war     bare-ball-under   cold-soft-length

2700-Anagram    Expropriator chaser        

Rule of Thumb myth

            Rule of thumb: Don’t believe folk etymologies

                                       by

                               Howard Richler

I’d  been getting together weekly with a group of friends for around a year where we indulge in some banter whist scoffing croissants and imbibing varieties of java. We originally called these meetings “The Summit” but  after several months of not coming close to solving any world problems and owing up to the mundane nature of our discussions we  re-dubbed it “the swamp.” In any case, one time during one of our rare erudite sessions, we must have discussed some language issue, because a lady came over to our table and said she was listening to our language bavardage and asked whether we knew that the origin of the expression “rule of thumb” came about to dictate the legal length of an object a man could use in order to beat his wife.  Alas, I had to disabuse of as to the veracity of this explanation.

Mind you, this myth is oft repeated. Take the following explanation found in Women: A Feminist Perspective, edited by Jo Freeman: "The popular expression 'rule of thumb' originated from English common law, which allowed a husband to beat his wife with a whip or stick no bigger in diameter than his thumb. The husband's prerogative was incorporated into American law. Several states had statutes that essentially allowed a man to beat his wife without interference from the courts."

In the 1980s, Time magazine wrote, “The colloquial phrase ‘rule of thumb’ is supposedly derived from the ancient right of a husband to discipline his wife with a rod ‘no thicker than his thumb,’ ” and in 1989 Washington Post added, “A husband's right to beat his wife is included in the 1768 codification of the common law. Husbands had the right to ‘physically chastise’ an errant wife so long as the stick was no bigger than their thumb - the so-called ‘rule of thumb’”.

Actually, nobody has been able to find a single English or American law that ordains this conjugal thumb right to a husband.  It has been claimed that in 1782 British judge Sir Francis Buller proclaimed that a husband may beat his wife with a stick not thicker than his thumb but nobody has been able to discover documentation of such. On the contrary, 18^th century British and American law  prohibit wife beating (though often this provision was only casually enforced.)

That the phrase did not originate in legal practice is verified by the “rule of thumb” entry  in the OED: “A method or procedure derived entirely from practice or experience, without any basis in scientific knowledge; a roughly practical method. Also, a particular stated rule that is based on practice or experience.” The first citation is from 1658: “Many profest Christians are like foolish builders who build by guess and by rule of thumb.”

 The expression probably comes from the world of wood-working where ancient practitioners would rarely use rulers but would measure things by the length of their thumbs. It’s most likely that the saying comes from the length of the first joint of the thumb, which measures approximately one inch. An alternate theory, posited by other etymologists, credits the origin with brewmasters who often tested the temperature of the beer (before the invention of the thermometer by dipping a thumb in the brew. This seems unlikely to me as the thumb is not that sensitive and the fermentation range between too warm and too cool is not appreciable.  

In a subsequent column, I’ll look at some other folk etymologies.

Richler’s latest book is Wordplay: Arranged and Deranged Wit

Simcha Torah

                          A Secular Celebration of the Torah

                                                   by

                                       Howard Richler

At sundown on October 21^{st ,} observant Jews will celebrate Simchat Torah, “rejoicing in the Torah,” as this  marks the end of the annual cycle of reading the Torah and hence the time to start anew. During this holiday, the last section of Deuteronomy and the first section of Genesis are read in succession after a festival parade of the Torah scrolls embellished with singing and dancing. For secular Jews such as myself, or non-Jews, who feel left out of this celebration, we can take solace that as English speakers we're able to rejoice in the many words and phrases that the  five books of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) have contributed to the English vernacular. 

     Mostly, these words and expressions found their way into English through translations of the Torah, such as the King James Bible (KJB).

          Take the word “jubilee.” While a jubilee might be an occasion for an English queen to be jubilant, as in the 2012 “Queen's Diamond Jubilee,” celebrating the 60^th anniversary of Elizabeth II ascension, the word bears no etymological ode to joy. The first definition of this word in the OED is “A year of emancipation and restoration, which according to Leviticus 25 was to be kept every 50 years, and … proclaimed by the blast of trumpets.. ; during it the fields were … left uncultivated, Hebrew slaves were …set free, and lands and houses in the open country.. that had been sold were to revert to their former owners or their heirs.” This august year takes its name from the Hebrew word yobhel, “ram’s horn,” which was used to proclaim the advent of this event. The word “jubilee” is first used in John Wycliffe’s 1382 translation of the Bible: “Thow shalt halowe the fyftith yeer.. he is forsothe the iubilee.” Chaucer was the first person to use the word without its religious context and by the late 16^th century its secular sense became the dominant meaning.

         “Scapegoat” is another word first found in Leviticus and once again its progenitor is Wycliffe who renders Leviticus 16 as “And Aaron cast lottes ouer the.. gootes: one lotte for the Lorde, and another for a scapegoote.”  Most people think of a scapegoat as an innocent person or group that bears the blame for others and suffers a punishment in their stead. However, in the biblical ritual of the Day of Atonement  a scapegoat referred to one of two goats that was sent alive into the wilderness. The sins of the people had been symbolically laid upon this “escaped” goat, while the other goat was sacrificed to God. So, I suppose, in the original sense, being a scapegoat was better for your well-being than the alternative.

          Also, our vocabulary has been enriched by several colourful expressions found in the five Books of Moses. These include: “brother's keeper,” (Genesis 4:9), “land of milk and honey”(Exodus 3:8), “an eye for an eye” (Exodus 21:23-27),  and “fat of the land” (Genesis 45:18)

          Actually, there are several words and phrases thought to have a biblical provenance that, in fact, do not. Such is the case of “helpmate.” We read in Genesis 2:18, in the KJB, “God, having created man, observed, 'It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him' ”, i.e, a “suitable help.” Hearing “help meet” pronounced,  by the end of the 17^th century churchgoers rendered the term as help-meet and by the 18^th century this hyphenated term transmogrified into “helpmate.” Another Genesis term whose meaning has been misconstrued  is “mark of Cain.” We think of this phrase to signify a murderer just as the letter A denoted an adulterer in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. However, when God puts a “mark upon Cain” it is placed so that Cain will be labelled so that others would know not be punish him further.

          One of the best-known supposedly biblical expressions is “forbidden fruit,” but in Genesis 2 and Genesis 3 Adam and Eve are only instructed not to partake of the fruit of “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”  According to the OED, “forbidden fruit” is first used in Edward Stillingfleet's 1662 Origines Sacræ: “He required from him the observance..of not eating..the forbidden fruit.” Also, surprisingly, not found in Scripture is the expression “promised land” as this phrase was first used in Thomas Norton's  translation of  Calvin's Instutio Christianae  Religionis written in 1561.

          N.B. This article is aimed for all readers; those who “walk with God” (Deuteronomy 10:12) or those who worship  “the golden calf” (Exodus 32:4)

hrichler@gmail.com

Howard's  latest book is Wordplay:  Arranged & DerangedWit.

Semantic & Etymological Reflections on Nerds & Geeks

Can you speak geek about a word nerd?

                           by

                 Howard Richler

Is there a difference between a geek and a nerd?

This existential question was posed to me last year by a friend. He had recently read  an article  in the New York Times where the writer used these terms interchangeably. My friend felt strongly that the two terms referred to slightly different people and checked his Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary that  indicated that  “the words do not mean the same kind of person, although to my surprise nerd includes ‘unattractive’ person in the definition and geek does not, which I would have thought was the other way around. ” 

To my mind,  most people would give a geek a slightly higher status than a nerd. While both terms imply obsession with a particular activity,  for me the obsession that the geek possesses comes also with knowledge of his subject whereas I don’t necessarily regard the nerd as being equally knowledgeable.Also,  I view a geek as  more hireable than a nerd. Although the terms “computer nerd” and “computer geek” are often interchangeable, I wouldn’t describe Mark Zuckerberg as a computer nerd but only as a “computer geek.”

What I am reflecting here is not so much the actual meaning of these words but the way in which I and every speaker employs particular words. I know people who ascribe a higher status to the term nerd than to geek. Dictionaries are not that helpful in settling this debate. OED defines “nerd” as “an insignificant, foolish, or socially inept person; a person who is boringly conventional or studious” whereas the Encarta World English Dictionary (EWED) characterizes a nerd as “an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody’s, especially a man or boy’s social skills or intelligence.” It also mentions that a nerd can be a “single-minded enthusiast.”   For “geek,” the OED says “Frequently depreciative. An overly diligent, unsociable student; any unsociable person obsessively devoted to a particular pursuit” and EWED says a “geek” is “someone who is considered unattractive and socially awkward.”

 

One can see from these definitions that some people would view the two terms as synonymous and others would not. 

In any case I believe that due to the fact that many people who were labeled geeks or nerds in high school went on to become very wealthy imparted a higher status to these words. After all, being a billionaire is seen as cool in society notwithstanding that the billionaire may be a geek or a nerd.

Both words have interesting etymologies. The first OED citation of geek is in 1876 in a glossary of words from northern England where it is defined as “a fool” a person uncultivated; a dupe.” It was also used in the United States for a good part of the 20th century to refer to circus performers who performed bizarre feats such as biting of the head of a chicken. Its first usage in the modern context occurs in a letter written in 1957 by writer Jack Kerouac and the word is used in a clearly depreciative manner: “Unbelievable number of events almost impossible to remember, including..Brooklyn College wanted me to lecture to eager students and big geek questions to answer.” The words origin is uncertain but it is generally believed to be a variation for the word “geck,” a word that arose in the 16^th century to refer to a simpleton.

The word “nerd” appears to have been derived  from a fictional animal found in Theodore Geisel’s  (aka Dr. Seuss)  story If I Ran the Zoo written in 1950. This creature was depicted as a small, unkempt, humanoid creature with a large head and a comically disapproving expression. The following year Newsweek magazine stated, “In Detroit, someone who once would be called a drip or a square is now, regrettably, a nerd.” The term, however did not become popular until the late ‘60s when it became a shibboleth among college students and surfers to mark those considered “uncool.”

P.S.   I have no intention of changing the name of this column from Word  Nerd to Geek Freak.

Howard Richler’s latest  book is Wordplay:Arranged and Deranged Wit

FACEBOOK PUZZLES-2500+

FACEBOOK PUZZLES-2501-2600

2501-Discern   board-roll-middle    bath-pure-first   queer-patch-dead

2502-Split Definitive   fashion allowance   (10)  (r)

2503-Commonality    bout-dial-fish  

2504-Discern   thin-silicon-communion     all-pumpkin-zest    wheel-wing-job   

2505-Split Definitive   best writing implement    (11)    (u)

2506-Commonality ovine-token-fortify        1-10-40

2507-Discern    loss-maiden-net   tenor-bill-shoe     rose-wars-pie

2508-Split Definitive      energy seaside structure      (7)  (p)

2509-Commonality   Tagalog-uniformed- finish

2510-Discern      lab-hanger-white   over-sales-road     scrub-ability-sailor

2511-Split Definitive         reinforce era   (7)   (l)

2

512-Anagram  Legally prevent rhymers of verse     

2513-Discern    nose-sea-jay    tired-top-toy     bank-northern-pine

2514-Split Definitive         except that lock of hair    (8)  (b)

2515-Commonality    chart-drama-pinned

2516-Discern       black-top-winter      bonnet-ornament-nun       gold-hand-batting

2517-Split Definitive         gain a few  (7)  (w)

2518-Anagram Hudson is the name of a town in New York, Quebec, (and probably elsewhere) and if it wanted to have an anagrammatic sports team in could be called Hudson Hounds. Name another city, anywhere in the world that likewise can have  an anagrammatic sports team

2519-Discern     wear-web-well     bill-blower-shoe       gold-pointing-puppet

2520-Split Definitive         quantitative fact connection  (6) (i)

2521-Commonality    prose-apse-tramline

2522-Discern    lily-land-holy      line-short-raisin  dragon-cup-bat

2523-Split Definitive  long novel, to a greater extent   (8)   (m)

2524-Anagram   fish instructor  

2525-Discern  laugh-war-play   sacrifice-fire-away    show-ride-up

2526-Split Definitive   mens’ groups   (12)   (m)

2527-Anagram     palm tree fiber matter            

2528-Discern   life-box-post      nun-cup-walk     bed-sweet-up

2529-Split Definitive  for each church tapering structure    (8)  (s)

2530-Commonality     facial-vicious-sage  

2531-Discern    span-it-so    power-lizard-tree   date-face-oil

2532-Split Definitive   prior to talk   (10)  (d)

2533-Commonality    mausoleum-draconian-thespian-pyrrhic 

2534-Discern    cotton-jar-John   spoiled-dud-money       hole-Indian-laws

2535-Split Definitive   type of synthetic organic compound    (8) (a)

2536-Anagram    Possible  noises from places where livestock are kept 

2537-Discern    over-dog-dew   set-wrong-dough     tippy-turf-hold

2538-Split Definitive   widely distributed notice to a truckdriver  (12)  (c)

2539-Anagram   unbleached linen healing

2540-Discern     capping-bend-slapping      channel-red-formation      shoe-silver-acid

2541-Split Definitive   cut off friend    (7) (s)

2542-Commonality   convent-undoing-ally  

2543-Discern   front- work-brown     ass-black-high   school-coo-hog

2544-Split Definitive     formal social gathering gamble   (7)   (d)

2545-Commonality   cement-greed-prone

2546-Discern   by-an-it     jet-tough-page    sit-dirt-cadaver

2547-Split Definitive      obese type of pigeon    (9)   (h)

2548-Anagram   Confer with competitor  

2549-Discern droppings-sea-war    nose-tied-line   weed-biker-flick

2550-Split Definitive   commercial dare  (9)  (v)

2551-Commonality   abed-page-vex   

2552-Discern  cup-for-name        minute-dinner-knife      crystallized-snaps-ale

2553-Split Definitive   section of sheet of stamps ordered series (8)  (l)

2554-Anagram   Very detailed CV   

2555-Discern    chemistry-cap-case    feel-dart-fall    strain-exam-my

2556-July 1 Quiz

Name a city in Ont that is an anagram of a resident of an Asian country

Name a city in B.C. that can be found by adding an L to a city in Utah and then anagramming the letters.   

Name a Canadian  city that you get by adding an A to an African country then anagramming the letters. 

2557-Commonality   coming-super-reed 

2558- Discern   stock-care-cart      bearing-bomb-passion    bad-wood-empire

2559-July 4^th Quiz

Name a  city  of approx.  200000   whose name becomes name of its state when you change last letter to W then anagram it  

Name US city that is an anagram of diagnose

Name US city of 4 letters whose population increases when you anagram it. Then turn these two cities into a city found in at least 2 states by adding an L

Name a state that becomes a European city if you change an A in the state to an S and then anagram the letters 

Name 2 US cities that are comprised only of letters in the second half of the alphabet.

What do these words have in common?-   alarms-alpaca-arcade-arcane-candor-demand-income-inlaid-inland-Malaga-mescal-nectar-ordeal-pascal-scrims-vandal  

What do these words have in common?-   imps-nest-lamb

2560-Commonality   really-union-reify 

2561-Discern  flesh-feathers-mother  tape-tree-legs      devil-sit-red

2562-Anagram    Throw out wold animal like cat 

2563-Split Definitive     unconcealed buttocks    (9)  (o)  

2564-Discern   dried-per-pie   kicks-jam-an    tax-toilet-top   

2565-Commonality   dissed-taming-dray   

2566-Split Definitive   formerly related to the ear  (6)   (o)

2567-Discern   chemise-graveyard-stick    nut-left-to    spring-back-turn

2568-Commonality   reamed-gene-adios

2569-Split Definitive   charge alien (6)  (b)

2570-Discern  ale-guitar-striped      game-go-gold    road-back-heaven

2571-Anagram   Hipness control panels  

2572-Split Definitive   each male child friend  (10)    (s)

2573-Discern     kin-house-tail              plant-river-oil      feed-box-Charlie

2574-Commonality     deer-lion-moose-moth-mouse-tick-turkey

2575-Split Definitive     father non-worker male bee   (7)  (d)

2576-Discern   cow-sauce-apple    beans–art-ball     eating-Eskimo-eyed

2577-Name  a member of SCOTUS, past or present, whose surname is made up of state postal abbreviations.

2578-Split Definitive   elapsed spoken exam  (8)   (p)

2579-Discern     readers-replacement-pie    fall-note-big   white-wish-yard

2580-Anagram    secret small exclusive groups 

2581-Split Definitive   cheese aviate    (7)   (f)  

2582-Discern    cargo-Tory-top    brake-elevator-tree    jean-smoking-mess

2583-Anagram   dam cable 

2584-Split Definitive       fling consignment (10)   (r)

2585-Discern    tin-tenor-blower     trumpet-app-wax   brained-breadth-brush

2586-Commonality   alter-center-pass 

2587-Split Definitive   spot preacher   (10)    (a)

2588-Discern    pole-call-hell    dumb-ears-dust     hell-blood-news

2589-Anagram     onus seared 

2590-Split Definitive  Marxist revolutionary fog    (7) (m)

2591-Discern     bunny-house-ballet    sweater-bra-suicide       bed-dressing-tea

2592-Anagram    Belarus  furs 

2593-Split Definitive     Utah city only   (9)   (l)

2594-Discern      irons-ion-work     empire-shirt-coat             backs-belt-eye

2595-Anagram  Bahamian steam baths   

2596-Split Definitive   little devil ore deposit   (7)  (l)

2597-Discern      calf-cancer-cell    guild-man-woman    elbow-penguin-pipe

2598-Commonality   Pamela, Gail, Rico,  Neil

2599-Split Definitive     delay leaving that is  (8)   (l)

2600-Discern    razor-shell-up     weed- roasted-rubber       rescue-house-meat