The definition of today’s word is pretty obvious. It means exactly what it says. It applies to books that are so engrossing it is impossible to put them down. I have heard this word many times but just assumed it was a cute marketing buzzword. But nope, this is a real word with its own little spot in the dictionary. So, I picked it because it is unbelievablyaword.
Shockwave.com has over 45 word games. There are some games on there that you might be familiar with like “text twist” and “bookworm”, but they are many unique and interesting games as well.
One cool thing about Shockwave.com is their varying levels of membership. If you don’t want to sign up with the site, you don’t have to. You can just play and there are many great games at this level. You can also sign up, for free, get a cool avatar and participate in the sites raffles. Want more? You can sign up for “Club Shockwave” or “Shockwave exclusive” at a cost and gain access to more games and more functions.
I’ve played all of the word games on this site and “Super Word Scrapers” is my pick. In this game, you build words from letters like most other word games, but during “intermissions” you get a chance to earn bonuses by answering trivia questions. It’s this mix of word game and trivia that makes it stand out and adds something extra that you don’t find in most word games.
It is my quotidian duty to bring you a new word. I hope checking in on this blog makes it on your quotidian to-do list. If you haven’t figured it out by now, quotidian means daily or every day.
Speaking of Q words, I think we all need to take a minute and recognize the word qwerty for being the standout, trailblazer that it is. Qwerty is the only English word beginning with a Q that is not followed by a U.
Qwerty has laughed in the face of society’s standards and has made it’s own way. Later, when there are more Q words followed by a letter other than U they will have Qwerty to thank.
Now, I know what you’re thinking- it’s not really a word. It just happens to be the letters on the keyboard. My fellow wordphiliacs, I ask you, did Rosa Parks just sit down on a bus?
No one wants to own a flivver, unless the government is giving you big bucks for it. A flivver, is a clunker my friend. An old or cheap car to be exact.
Etymology is the study of the origins of words. If you throw an “ize” on the end of it you have eytmologize, which is to find the origin of a specific word.
I chose Martini because I happen to be a big fan of the apple Martini, chocolate Martini, Jolly Rancher Martini, olive Martini….ok, you get the drift. I happen to be a fan of almost all Martinis.
Like most, I assumed that martinis got their name from the bottlers “Martini & Rossi” but as it turns out, the name martini is a toponym. A toponym is something (or someone) that gets its name from a place, usually the place it was made or born.
Originally the martini was called the Martinez. It was named after the place where it was created, Martinez, California. But soon after Martini & Rossi began distributing, around 1882 the cocktail took on their name.
Now, if this is news to you, I think you should celebrate your new found knowledge. What better way to do that than with a “Martinez” cocktail.
Out in the Milky Way Martini
Ingredients
* 6 ounces of freezing Absolut Vanil vodka
* 1 Milky Way candy bar sliced into smallish pieces
* 1 tablespoon of sweet chocolate shavings
* 2 slightly chilled Martini glasses.
* A well chilled, stylish martini shaker.
The mix
* Put the sliced candy bar into your microwave oven and heat until it melts.
* Pour the vodka into your cocktail shaker, which is half full of cracked ice.
* Shake, shake, shake. A good dozen vigorous shakes should do the trick.
* Let your shaker rest while you prep your glasses.
* Spoon 1 teaspoon of the gooey candy bar into the bottom of each glass.
* Strain the vodka equally (make mine a bit heavier–of course).
* Top each glass with some chocolate shavings.
recipe courtesy of Martiniart.com
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or so I’ve heard. Really, the phrase should go something like, “Hell hath no fury like a virago”, since a virago is a fierce or abusive woman. It can also mean a woman with masculine strength or spirit or a woman warrior. Virago…yeh, I kinda like this word.
King.com is a community game site that hosts a variety of games and allows you to play for fun or cash. The site is based in the UK and there is a large international community. If you want to meet people closer to you, you can do that to. In the “community” section, just select you location and you will be introduced to people living and playing near you. You can send and receive messages and challenge your friends in game.
King.com currently has four word games. They are all “link-letter” types of games where you must spell the most, best, or original words out of a grid of letters. One game stands out, though, and that is Word Battle.
Word Battle is great because unlike most online word games where you compete against yourself or too many people, you only compete with five people here. Just like the name of the game it really feels like a battle. If you are competitive and would like some recognition for being the butt kicking wordphiliac that you are, then this is the game for you. After your win, your competitors a forced to look at you gloating avatar while you are announced the winner. I’m always up for a good challenge myself and if you want to go toe to toe with me, I’m QueenOfNowhere on there.
Titivate is a delicious little three syllable word. It has a rhythm to it and is just plain fun to say. While the word may have brought some other things to mind, the word means- to spruce up, adorn or put the finishing touches on.
As in: Some one needs to titivate that tree.
Freerice.com is a very cool site that has been around since 2007. Visitors to the site play a variety of trivia games in several categories including art, math, chemistry, language learning, English grammar and vocabulary. Needless to say, the vocabulary quizzes are my favorite. And better yet, while you play you have the opportunity to help thousands of starving people around the world.
For every answer you get correct, ten grains of rice are donated and distributed to people who need it. Ten grains of rice may not be much but when when thousands of people play, it adds up quick. To date, Freerice.com has donated 72,881,139,820 grains of rice!
The vocabulary words get harder as you correctly answer the multiple choice questions, so there’s no getting bored here. I have to warn you, the game is quite addictive. But what’s better than feeding your brain while you feed the world?
