Todays Word

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

gasconader

PRONUNCIATION:

(gas-kuh-NAY-duhr) 

MEANING:

noun: A braggart.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Gascon, a native of the Gascony region in France, from the stereotype of Gascons as boasters. Earliest documented use: c. 1709.

NOTES:

A gascon was a braggart to begin with, which spun off the verb gasconade (to boast) and then we formed the noun again: gasconader (one who brags). Now we just need to wait for the verb gasconaderade to arrive. See also, roister.

And speaking of boasting: Disney’s Gaston (Beauty and the Beast) may or may not be a Gascon, but he’s a gascon or gasconader.

USAGE:

“[José Nicolás de Azara] was considered somewhat of a Spanish gasconader and a bully. He more frequently boasted of his wounds and battles than of his negotiations or conferences.”
Lewis Goldsmith; Memoirs of the Court of St. Cloud; LC Page & Co; 1900.

Todays Thought

We are not an endangered species ourselves yet, but this is not for lack of trying. 

-Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)

Todays Thought

Anyone who wishes to become a good writer should endeavour, before he allows himself to be tempted by the more showy qualities, to be direct, simple, brief, vigorous, and lucid. 

-H.W. Fowler, lexicographer (10 Mar 1858-1933)

Homework

 "Give me a call when u aren't busy. Just want to hear your voice."

That was the text I saw pop up from my mom on Saturday. It wasn't an unusual text - if I had gotten busy and hadn't called in a while Id get something along that theme. I called and we chatted about a whole lot of nothing but in the mundane she slipped in "Im going in for a CAT scan tomorrow" Still not unusual since mom once fell in the bathtub she was using as a makeshift platform to paint the bathroom walls. She had tweaked her neck and as the years marched on she found it necessary to get 3x's yearly epidural shots to help quiet the pain. This was different though and of course I had to tease out the details otherwise they wouldn't be forthcoming. 

"Well, Ive been having tummy trouble" 

"Like, are you seeing blood?"

"Ya, I've been seeing more blood lately"

"Did they give you any idea how long you have to wait to hear any results?"

"No, but they did set up another appointment for a couple of weeks out"

"OK, well let me know how it goes cus you me and Kimbra all have the same screwed up gut so whatever you experience is something we both are gonna have happen."

So ya, we'll see how this turns out. I gotta be honest and say Im worried. She just had a birthday a few weeks ago and turned 84. I mean, its not what I would call 'at deaths door' but its not 'spring chicken' either. Health is a precious commodity along with time and we guard both jealously.

Todays Thought

Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than in the one where they sprang up. 

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., US Supreme Court Justice (8 Mar 1841-1935)

Homework

My jog path is about 3 1/2 miles from my door and back again. After work it was cool and breezy with the sun about to set - perfect. I headed out as I usually do with the first mile trying to suppress thoughts of turning around and plopping down on the couch. After leaving the sidewalks of my block I moved on to the bike path that follows the canal here in Phoenix. It was a little uncomfortable with the wind blowing head on into my face - I swear it was at least strong enough to add resistance I wasn't expecting. Be that as it may I kept on at my regular pace which was somewhere slightly faster than old man in Pixar's 'Up'. I often see wild life out here even with this being smack dab in the middle of Phoenix. This is not a new development - my house was built in 1969. But I have seen coyotes beebopping down the road looking for their missing ACME package and Owls and other fowl and the random house pet. Today we had a goose chilling by the canal - not cool enough cus as soon as I started to get close he (or she) started to make a path from the canals edge to the bike path and intercept me. I didn't pay too much attention since I was enjoying my 80s mix and I lost sight of it was it was behind me. That's when I felt wing on the top of my head as it decided to make a short flight above me and just as quick landing in front of me.