Lexis Flexis
Pursed Lip Breathing
This week's theme:
words about kissing
Let's face it, besides osculate and peck, there's only smooch, smack as the other two synonyms for kiss.
Am I missing anything else, let me know. Anyway, this gives me a perfect excuse to explore the subject matter. So for today's word, we will explore...
Pursed Lip Breathing
What is it?
A method to control shortness of breathing. (see link)
Example:
I just saw [choose one: Tila Tequila, Joe Jonas, Kim Kardashian, Hugh Hefner] wink at me. I'm hyperventilating. I need to do Pursed Lip Breathing.
words about kissing
Let's face it, besides osculate and peck, there's only smooch, smack as the other two synonyms for kiss.
Am I missing anything else, let me know. Anyway, this gives me a perfect excuse to explore the subject matter. So for today's word, we will explore...
Pursed Lip Breathing
What is it?
A method to control shortness of breathing. (see link)
Example:
I just saw [choose one: Tila Tequila, Joe Jonas, Kim Kardashian, Hugh Hefner] wink at me. I'm hyperventilating. I need to do Pursed Lip Breathing.
peck
This week's theme:
Smoochy; about kisses
peck
as a verb:
1) a light kiss.
2) to strike with a beak or with a point.
3) To nibble or eat in small quantities.
4) to incessantly criticize.
as a noun:
1) A dry volume equivalent to 8 quarts (a fourth of a bushel)
2) A large quantity.
Examples:
as a verb:
for 1: Johnny blushed after Melinda gave him a light peck on the cheek.
for 2: Susie's shoes got pecked to bits by ferocious green chickens.
for 3: Carlos glumly pecked at his cafeteria lunch - nothing worse than fried green chicken.
for 4: Rachel's output was constantly pecked by her boss that she wished she could find another job.
as a noun:
for 1: There are about 25 oysters in a peck of oysters.
for 1: So tell me again why Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers?
for 2: Driving cross-country was a peck of fun.
Smoochy; about kisses
peck
as a verb:
1) a light kiss.
2) to strike with a beak or with a point.
3) To nibble or eat in small quantities.
4) to incessantly criticize.
as a noun:
1) A dry volume equivalent to 8 quarts (a fourth of a bushel)
2) A large quantity.
Examples:
as a verb:
for 1: Johnny blushed after Melinda gave him a light peck on the cheek.
for 2: Susie's shoes got pecked to bits by ferocious green chickens.
for 3: Carlos glumly pecked at his cafeteria lunch - nothing worse than fried green chicken.
for 4: Rachel's output was constantly pecked by her boss that she wished she could find another job.
as a noun:
for 1: There are about 25 oysters in a peck of oysters.
for 1: So tell me again why Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers?
for 2: Driving cross-country was a peck of fun.
Osculatory
To celebrate the last day of the month of love, let me present five words about a lip's more satisfying activities: Kissing. After all, kissing is an integral part of our history and lives. Louis Armstrong swore to build a dream on a kiss. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons rocked the world with their sound and makeup in their band KISS. The culmination of Judas' betrayal of Jesus was with a kiss. Auguste Rodin's scupture Francesca da Ramini is more commonly known as The Kiss. One of America's favorite chocolate is, yup, a Kiss. And of course, in case we have forgotten, we've got the reminder to K.I.S.S. or Keep It Simple Simpleton (or something like that).
Today's word is...
Osculatory
Yes, it sounds rather antiseptic but it simply means "of or relating to kissing".
So when the Holidays rolls around (I know, good riddance, we just surfaced from one), and you find yourself and a special someone under a mistletoe, go ahead and perform the osculatory motion.
Forms:
The verb is osculate.
The noun is osculation.
Example:
"Cover your eyes, son. You don't want to see this part of the movie."
"Why mom, is it gross and bloody."
"Worse, son, it's deeply osculatory."
Digression Point:
Hershey produces over 80 million kisses a day.
noisome
This weeks theme: "some" words.
noisome
Meaning:
Obnoxious or offensive, especially to the sense of smell.
Harmful or dangerous; noxious.
Examples:
"We smelled noisome fumes exhausted from the restaurant's kitchen as we walked from the back parking lot. We decided then to not eat out but to cook dinner at home instead."
"Charley's noisome behavior at the last company party actually got him fired."
noisome
Meaning:
Obnoxious or offensive, especially to the sense of smell.
Harmful or dangerous; noxious.
Examples:
"We smelled noisome fumes exhausted from the restaurant's kitchen as we walked from the back parking lot. We decided then to not eat out but to cook dinner at home instead."
"Charley's noisome behavior at the last company party actually got him fired."
mettlesome
This weeks theme: "some" words.
Meaning:
Vigorous; spirited.
Archaic form:
metalsome
Example:
"Prefontaine's natural abilities as well as his mettlesome hard work and determination made him a legend in the field of long-distance running."
Discussions:
Don't confuse mettlesome with meddlesome (given to meddling) as in "If it weren't for Scooby Doo and those meddlesome kids, I would have gotten away with my overly contrived robbery."
A mettlesome person is someone full of mettle (an alteration of the word "metal") which figuratively, could mean vigor, stamina, or disposition, temperament.
"You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing." - William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Meaning:
Vigorous; spirited.
Archaic form:
metalsome
Example:
"Prefontaine's natural abilities as well as his mettlesome hard work and determination made him a legend in the field of long-distance running."
Discussions:
Don't confuse mettlesome with meddlesome (given to meddling) as in "If it weren't for Scooby Doo and those meddlesome kids, I would have gotten away with my overly contrived robbery."
A mettlesome person is someone full of mettle (an alteration of the word "metal") which figuratively, could mean vigor, stamina, or disposition, temperament.
"You are gentlemen of brave mettle; you would lift the moon out of her sphere, if she would continue in it five weeks without changing." - William Shakespeare, The Tempest
irksome
This weeks theme: "some" words.
Meaning:
Annoying, irritating.
Forms:
irksomeness (noun)
irksomely (adverb)
Examples:
"The irksomely dry acting had me watch-checking after five minutes from curtains up."
"My pollen allergies is all the more irksome by the fact that I'm an avid gardener."
Meaning:
Annoying, irritating.
Forms:
irksomeness (noun)
irksomely (adverb)
Examples:
"The irksomely dry acting had me watch-checking after five minutes from curtains up."
"My pollen allergies is all the more irksome by the fact that I'm an avid gardener."
toilsome
This week's theme: some words with "some" in them.
toilsome
Meaning:
laborious and tiring.
Forms:
toilsomeness (noun)
toilsomely (adverb)
Example:
"The construction of a bridge is toilsome but interesting as well as dangerous since it involves conquering and bringing under control the invincible forces of nature." - Poushali Ganguly; "Famous Bridges of the World", www.buzzle.com; Dec. 27, 2007.
toilsome
Meaning:
laborious and tiring.
Forms:
toilsomeness (noun)
toilsomely (adverb)
Example:
"The construction of a bridge is toilsome but interesting as well as dangerous since it involves conquering and bringing under control the invincible forces of nature." - Poushali Ganguly; "Famous Bridges of the World", www.buzzle.com; Dec. 27, 2007.
lissome
This weeks theme: "some" words.
lissome
Meaning:
Easily flexed; supple. Agile, nimble.
Forms:
lissom (variant, adjective)
lissomeness (noun)
lissomely (adverb)
Examples:
"She stood lissomely by the doorway framed like a Gustav Klimt painting."
"The pianist's lissome fingers danced over the black and ivory keys with no hesitation."
Digression Point:
Gustav Klimt, Austrian painter (1862-1918). See his paintings here.
A movie ("Klimt") was made about him back in 2006 starring John Malkovich.
lissome
Meaning:
Easily flexed; supple. Agile, nimble.
Forms:
lissom (variant, adjective)
lissomeness (noun)
lissomely (adverb)
Examples:
"She stood lissomely by the doorway framed like a Gustav Klimt painting."
"The pianist's lissome fingers danced over the black and ivory keys with no hesitation."
Digression Point:
Gustav Klimt, Austrian painter (1862-1918). See his paintings here.
A movie ("Klimt") was made about him back in 2006 starring John Malkovich.
admonish
This weeks theme: a miscellany of ordinary but lively words.
admonish
Meaning:
1. To warn or indicate disapproval especially in a gentle manner.*
2. To urge to duties and responsibilities.**
3. To give advice or encouragement.
Forms:
admonishment, admonisher (nouns).
admonishingly (adverb).
Examples:
*"My father admonished me that when he and my mom returns from their vacation that they should see no signs of me partying especially on their newly installed carpeting."
**"The jury [is] admonished by the court that it is their duty not to converse among themselves, or with anyone else, on any subject connected with the trial, or to form or express any opinion thereon until the cause is finally submitted to them." - Penal Code Section 1122, Superior Court of California, County of Riverside.
admonish
Meaning:
1. To warn or indicate disapproval especially in a gentle manner.*
2. To urge to duties and responsibilities.**
3. To give advice or encouragement.
Forms:
admonishment, admonisher (nouns).
admonishingly (adverb).
Examples:
*"My father admonished me that when he and my mom returns from their vacation that they should see no signs of me partying especially on their newly installed carpeting."
**"The jury [is] admonished by the court that it is their duty not to converse among themselves, or with anyone else, on any subject connected with the trial, or to form or express any opinion thereon until the cause is finally submitted to them." - Penal Code Section 1122, Superior Court of California, County of Riverside.
toothsome
There's lots of "some" words out there. That is, words with the -some suffix; words like awesome, handsome, wholesome, worrysome, cumbersome, loathsome, lonesome. In case, you want to know some more (sorry), we'll feature five of these adjectives this week.
We'll start with a tasty one...
toothsome
Meaning:
1. Delicious, pleasant to the taste.
2. Desirable or pleasing.
3. Sexually appealing.
Forms:
toothsomeness (noun)
toothsomely (adverb)
Examples:
"Their summer picnic was a toothsome affair with all the burgers, hot dogs and watermelons you could eat."
"She toothsomely eyed the two Josh Groban concert tickets which the scalper held in front of her face."
"The scalper was so smitten by the toothesome woman in red, he gave her two Josh Groban tickets."
Digression Point:
If you don't know who Josh Groban is, chances are you're a guy.
We'll start with a tasty one...
toothsome
Meaning:
1. Delicious, pleasant to the taste.
2. Desirable or pleasing.
3. Sexually appealing.
Forms:
toothsomeness (noun)
toothsomely (adverb)
Examples:
"Their summer picnic was a toothsome affair with all the burgers, hot dogs and watermelons you could eat."
"She toothsomely eyed the two Josh Groban concert tickets which the scalper held in front of her face."
"The scalper was so smitten by the toothesome woman in red, he gave her two Josh Groban tickets."
Digression Point:
If you don't know who Josh Groban is, chances are you're a guy.