THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL

by **Paul** Mon 05 Jun 2023, 4:43 am

Where are you likely to find a tourbillon?

Swiss watch

Any part of a machine with a spiral movement.

Tourbillon

TOOR-bil-yən

Part of Speech noun

Any part of a machine with a spiral movement.

A whirlwind.

This antique watch has a tourbillon that prevents gravity from throwing off its timing.
Watches featuring tourbillon movements can easily cost more than $10,000.

by **Paul** Sat 17 Jun 2023, 11:27 am

What is a person feeling cacoethes drawn to do?

Something unwise

An urge to do something inadvisable.

Cacoethes
ka-kə-WEE-theez
Part of Speech noun
An urge to do something inadvisable.
My brother admits to feeling a nagging cacoethes to pull pranks whenever our whole family gets together.
I’m glad I followed the cacoethes to invest my money, since the return was enormous despite the risk.
Latin, 17th century

by **Paul** Mon 26 Jun 2023, 9:13 am

Churches

A split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.

by **Paul** Fri 07 Jul 2023, 2:02 pm

What kind of procession is a “callithump”?

Noisy and chaotic

(U.S.) A somewhat riotous parade, accompanied with the blowing of tin horns and other discordant noises.
Read more

Callithump
KAL-ə-thəmp
Part of Speech noun
(U.S.) A somewhat riotous parade, accompanied with the blowing of tin horns and other discordant noises.
The high school football team’s victory parade was the biggest callithump our town had all year.
The avant garde music on the radio sounded more like a callithump than a symphony.
American English, 19th century

by **Paul** Sun 16 Jul 2023, 10:30 pm

What does embolalia consist of?

Words meaning nothing

Automatic speech; verbalization that occurs without conscious effort by the individual, such as repetitions and filler words

by **Paul** Sat 14 Oct 2023, 9:40 am

Rehearsed

ik-stem-pə-RAY-nee-əs

Part of Speech adjective

Spoken or done without preparation.

I was surprised to be asked to give an extemporaneous speech at the wedding.
The director stood up to give a few extemporaneous remarks at the end of the day.
Latin, late 17th century

by **Paul** Wed 25 Oct 2023, 11:11 am

by **Paul** Sun 29 Oct 2023, 7:49 am

Exoplanet
EKS-oh-plan-ət

Part of Speech Noun
A planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.
You will need an instrument much stronger than your backyard telescope to see an exoplanet.
Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets outside the Milky Way.

by **Paul** Thu 09 Nov 2023, 6:01 pm

Triptych

Triptych
TRIP-tik

Part of Speech Noun
A picture or relief carving on three panels, typically hinged together side by side and used as an altarpiece.
A set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical works intended to be appreciated together.
The middle panel of the triptych was lost at least 50 years ago.
If you listen to the first piece of the triptych, you have to listen to all three.
Greek, mid-18th century