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#309: avuncular

4/13/2016

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though just eight years old
his avuncular caring
touched his real uncle

Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester,
Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley.
The Addams Family, circa 1964-1966.

DEFINITION of this 4-syllable adjective:

of, relating to, or characteristic of an uncle: avuncular affection.

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#308: ossify

4/12/2016

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o'er time and troubles
her body would ossify
but her spirit still soared

31 May 2015, Harriette Thompson, 92-years-young, finishes the San Diego Marathon. Hurrah!

Live. Life. Large.

DEFINITION of this 3-syllable verb:

to become rigid or inflexible in habits, attitudes, opinions, etc.: a young man who began to ossify right after college.
to convert into or cause to harden like bone.
to become bone or harden like bone.

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#307: fuliginous

4/11/2016

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they're industrious
strong-voiced though fuliginous
chimney sweep chorus

Dick Van Dyck and Julie Andrews in the forever classic Mary Poppins!

DEFINITION of this 4-syllable adjective:

sooty; smoky: the fuliginous air hanging over an industrial city.
of the color of soot, as dark gray, dull brown, black, etc.

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#306: namby-pamby

4/10/2016

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namby-pamby he
loving hoity-toity she
nitwit pair they be

... So there!

DEFINITION of this 4-syllable adjective:

lacking in character, directness, or moral or emotional strength: namby-pamby writing.
without firm methods or policy; weak or indecisive: namby-pamby handling of juvenile offenders.
weakly sentimental, pretentious, or affected; insipid.

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#305: MAJUSCULE

4/9/2016

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MAJUSCULE LETTERS
IN HAIKU LIKE MAN ALWAYS
TALKING WAY TOO LOUD!!

ALL CAPS!!! Stop. It.
Why?

Harder to read
Makes you look ignorant
Lose opportunity for emphasis
Your message is not that important
GET OVER IT.

DEFINITION of this 3-syllable adjective:

large, as either capital or uncial letters.
(of letters) capital.
written in such letters (opposed to minuscule).

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#304: raconteuse

4/8/2016

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she, a raconteuse
he, a secretive recluse
they, uneasy truce

she, could not educe
he, in hiding angst subdues
they, tense yet defused

Great female storytellers that came to mind were Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey, then I looked it up: J.K. Rowling is in the Top Six of all time! Of course she is. A wonderful book and movie series with worldwide, ageless appeal.

DEFINITION of this 3-syllable noun:

a woman who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

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#303: ersatz

4/7/2016

Comments

ersatz hairdo lost
a hard-fought battle against
the raging hot air

Donald The Hair. That's how we'll remember him. Not The Great. NOT the 45th. Maybe The Surly.
He's in a class by himself: lowest. Even Sarah Palin can't get in. I said I wasn't going to get political... couldn't help myself seeing this brilliant image by ?? I hope I don't regret it when the Orange Shirts come after me.

DEFINITION of this 2-syllable adjective:

serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial: an ersatz coffee made from grain.
an artificial substance or article used to replace something natural or genuine; a substitute.

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#309: avuncular

#308: ossify

#307: fuliginous

#306: namby-pamby

#305: MAJUSCULE

#304: raconteuse

#303: ersatz

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