Humor will not be tolerated!! -Portia

sinecure - a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit

putsch - a violent attempt to overthrow a government

quondam - that once was; former

Katya wrote:quondam - that once was; former

Much Ado? (I feel like I look that word up every time I watch it, and then forget it again.)

UffishThought wrote:

Katya wrote:quondam - that once was; former

Much Ado? (I feel like I look that word up every time I watch it, and then forget it again.)

New Yorker article, but it's good to know that's not the only place it's used.

flag - an iris or other flower with swordlike leaves

peen (v.) - to strengthen (a metal surface) by light hammering or by bombardment with steel balls or shot.

Yarjka wrote:peen (v.) - to strengthen (a metal surface) by light hammering or by bombardment with steel balls or shot.

Sounds like that's probably the source of a ball peen hammer.

I thought I dreamt a cool word. Azuza: the smooth water directly between the arms of a wake.

This is not so. Googling Azuza comes up with Azusa, CA. And I can't find the word that defines the water spot that I thought this word did. Any help would be appreciated.

eddy cushion? http://www.pinnacle-travel.org/whitewat ... -glossary/

My boyfriend dreamt about the Arrs, a sheeplike shapeshifting llama. DON'T KILL THE ARRS THEY'RE HUMANOID.

Whistler wrote:eddy cushion? http://www.pinnacle-travel.org/whitewat ... -glossary/

Hmm... I feel like there ought to be a specific, awesome sounding word for this phenomenon. But I begin to suspect it doesn't exist, unfortunately. Thanks for finding a term that I can use, though, Whistler!

chit (n.) - (chiefly British) a note; short memorandum.

From The Daily Show's coverage of the India elections.

macerate - (especially with reference to food) soften or become softened by soaking in a liquid

Katya wrote:macerate - (especially with reference to food) soften or become softened by soaking in a liquid

Another boon because of my cooking knowledge. In serving a cheesecake with a strawberry topping once, I was asked how I made the topping. I replied that the strawberries were simply macerated and dusted with sugar. I received a blank stare in return. I forget how uncommon words like those are outside of cooking (deglazing is another one that comes to mind.)

er·satz
ˈerˌsäts,-ˌzäts,erˈzäts/Submit
adjective
adjective: ersatz
(of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.

I look up this word every time I encounter it.

campanile - an Italian bell tower, especially a freestanding one

legerdemain - skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks

Katya wrote:legerdemain - skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks

Isn't that "light of hand" in French all squished together, or am I just making things up?

Indefinite Integral wrote:

Katya wrote:legerdemain - skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks

Isn't that "light of hand" in French all squished together, or am I just making things up?

You're correct.