Welcome back!  Note that, since this was the last set of words from our previous competition, I have gone ahead and included those old guesses in the discussions of the answers here, as well as the new comments.  This is your last chance to get off that easily, folks - and remember that you can e-mail me your responses if you'd prefer not to "comment" here!

Correct Answers:

Parosmia (from Greek osme, "smell" + par(a) in its meaning as "incorrect, abnormal"; a term in New Latin from pathology):

A disorder or distortion of the sense of smell.

K and BLE (previously) got this one right, pretty much!  Bleet's definition was a bit too broad, but on the right track.  JMJ's thought of "some sort of illness, mainly in the brain and that flows across some tissues" could apply to many things, but probably not this.  Van and Jeff both (previously) guessed blindness/loss of vision which was interesting, but not cigar this time, guys.

Jactitation (from Med. Latin iactitatio "false declaration" from Latin iactitare "to utter", freq. of iactare "to boast", in turn frequentative of iacere "to throw."):

1.  A false boasting or claim, especially one detrimental to the interests of another.

2. Extreme restlessness or tossing in bed, as can occur with some forms of acute disease.

(Above definition is from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed.  Other sources defined the tossing/twitching/restlessness as having to do with psychiatric illness.)

Jeff (prev) guessed "utterance," interesting because I would've expected him to get this right!  Oh, well.  Other guesses were similar, including repetitive chattering, jabbering, and "impressions of people's voices" (from Van).  Apparently the doubly-frequentative nature of the word was obvious to all of you! K was the closest this time - good job!

Sabbatize (virtually unchanged from Middle English sabbatisen, Late Latin sabbatizare, and Greek sabbatizein):

To keep the Sabbath, or to keep as the Sabbath (when used with an object).

Both Van and Jeff (prev) guessed that this word meant "rest," which is close but not specific enough.  JMJ (prev) guessed "Celebrate the Sabbath?" which is again not exactly right but pretty close.

Okay, good job, guys.  K, you might be doing too well...no checking the answers before you take the test! Just kidding - I know you're just too smart.

This week's vocabulary items are all words that the game "Scramble" says are words, but that I have never heard of.  Of course, they do not accept "rebend," "erse," or "zen" as words, so I'm not sure about the judging.  I rebend stuff all the time.  Anyway, I like these words, and I hope you will, too:

TREEN

SCANDENT

SNED

Good luck, and have fun!

WWT #3.24 -- 5/13/03

Hey, there!  As promised, this is the last/final edition of the former WWT.  I've reprinted it pretty much verbatim here...just added a few words to make it understandable for the newly-initiated.  The beginning of it, therefore, is actually the answer section for the previous week's words (lissom, crawk, and haptic).  The words for you all to guess this week are at the end.  Enjoy:

WWT #3.24

5/13/03

A quiz:
1. The best meaning for “lissom” is:
a) svelte, comely
b) lithe and supple
c) full of cellulite and very arthritic
d) serpentine

2. One meaning for “crawk” is:
a) to utter a birdsound
b) a crow’s head on a hawk’s body
c) a hawk’s head on a crow’s body
d) a sham or trick

3. The correct meaning for “haptic” is:

a) happy but in a hidden way

b) eccentric, erratic, irregular

c) relating to touch and the sense of touch

d) very openly sad

LISSOM(E) (alternative form of “lithesome”)—answer “b,” though “a” is close (congrats to VAN for getting this one right, and also a nod to Brendan, Jill, and Jeff).
1. easily flexed: slender, lithe, limber.
2. quick and light in action: nimble.
Also: lissome (2) is an adverb meaning: in a lissome manner: supplely, nimbly.
(from Middle English “lithe, lith,” from Old English “lithe,” meaning “mild, gentle,” akin to Old Scottish “lithi,” meaning “mild, gentle;” Old High German “linidi;” Latin “lentus;” meaning “flexible, slow;” Welsh “llathr,” meaning “bright, smooth;” and Sanskrit “lata,” meaning “vine, liana.” Basic meaning: “flexible.”)

CRAWK (1) – answer “a” is closest to this first definition (great job JILL)
verb, imitative: to utter a harsh squawk
CRAWK (2)
noun; a sound-effects man who imitates animals (as for radio programs).

HAPTIC – “c” is the correct answer, as BRENDAN knew!
1. relating to or based on the sense of touch (“haptic impressions”)
2. characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch (“a haptic person”)
(From Greek “haptein,” meaning “to fasten.”)

Next week’s words, with a hint to start you off:

PAROSMIA (“As a haptic person, the parosmia did not debilitate him as much as it might have.”)
JACTITATION (“Mary’s jactitation sounded to Barb as a vulture’s crawk to an eagle.)
SABBATIZE (“Ron’s lissome wife made it difficult for him to sabbatize.”)

Have fun!

The WWT Returns

Welcome Back!  Or just Welcome!  ... to the new incarnation of Weekly Word Trivia!  To those of you not privy to the first version, this is a major change: a move into the 21st century, you could say (though the first version began in 2000).  This vocabulary challenge/questioning about words and our language started as a very basic e-mail exchange: I'd send an e-mail with the word of the week, people would send back their guesses as to what the words meant, and I'd compile the best and funniest responses, along with the right answers, and send it back to the list.  I'm hoping that this blog will be, well, a lot easier for me, but also a means to further the linguistic examination and exploration.  You'll get to read everyone's answers, and comment on whatever you want!  

But note: this only works (that is, it is only fun for me, and therefore for you) if people respond with their trivia guesses.  You don't have to respond every week; you don't have to be right; you don't have to be funny.  Maybe you even want to go for the "balderdash" strategy and try to throw everyone off of the correct definition with your well-crafted piece of b.s. (hint: use "of or pertaining to" in your definition).  Of course, if you give a really stupid answer, everyone will know, because this is a blog and the comments are public.  You will have to decide if this is something you are willing to risk (I clearly am, because I am writing this whole darn thing).

Look for these posts to come:

• The last issue of the old WWT to start us off...how much do you remember?
  
• New words of the last 4 years
• The archives! - I hope to get all of the old WWT issues up on here eventually, assuming that I can find them

Suggestions welcome: format, title, words, topics all open for comment!