Quire – Wordplay Wednesday™ 06/24/2020

Useless Is as Useless Does …  

Thumbing through the dictionary, I often wonder if all those words are truly necessary. Just think of how much paper we’d save (or digital space and hassle) if duplicate meanings and superfluous syntax were deleted …

QUIRE (kwīr) n. – a set of 24 or 25 sheets of paper of the same size and stock, the twentieth part of a ream. [WW #274]

Now, this likely is a word you will never use in prose or casual conversation. In fact, maybe I’m shortsighted, but I don’t see why anyone would care about a quire portion of a ream of paper. Except, perhaps, someone in the publishing or paper manufacturing industries. So if that’s where your novel is set, have at it!  

Beyond that, besides being the archaic spelling of choir, quire is particularly popular in Scrabble and Words With Friends—great points! Just thought you might be curious as to how it might fit into your life in a more … ahem … cerebral manner.

I finally broke down and bought the current—Eleventh Edition—of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, just so I can be on top of things for you! The paper is thinner (more quires to count), which rather makes it difficult to read, as you can almost see through to words on the other side of the page. (Thank goodness it came with a one-year subscription to their online unabridged tome.) Nevertheless, it holds my world of words.

Word Challenge: QUIRE. A great word to know if you’re planning to print company stationery or your character is a publisher! Get creative with quire as you consider its usefulness in your week of definitive writings.

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost, simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

Cheers to learning a new word today!

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

[LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books in her Blast from Your Past series (of three) about pioneering R&R Radio DJs. True behind-the-mic tales make GREAT Holiday and anytime Gifts available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic Seventies!]

*Note: 1) Dictionary definitions are quoted from Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Yes, we sometimes present them out of “official” context—but that’s half the fun! Think of it as “creative context.” 2) Neither I (LinDee Rochelle) nor Penchant for Penning are responsible for how you use information found here, that may result in legal action.

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz  

Veridical – Wordplay Wednesday™ 06/17/2020

Truth Be Told … 

Do you always tell the truth? Truth be told … very few truths are absolute.

Exploring truth isn’t as easy as it might sound. Perhaps if we give it another name …

VERIDICAL (vɘ ridʹI kɘl) adj. – 1) truthful, veracious; 2) corresponding with reality or facts (n. – veridicality) [WW #273]

Below are oft-used words commonly interchangeable in fiction, nonfiction, and casual conversation, that all contain a veridical reference in definition. Truth preceded by accepted or general, may be more of interpretation rather than established principle or literal meaning.

However, you should know the differences that can greatly alter their meanings and distort the veridicality of your writing.

According to the dictionary, three of these words include a veridical definition; only one deals with near absolutes and another is often included as a synonym, but scarcely compares meaning to the others.

adage / axiom / idiom / maxim 

 

Do you, in truth, know when to use them?

-       adage: an old saying that has been popularly accepted as a truth.

-       axiom: 1) a statement universally accepted as true, maxim; [LR: to confuse the issues, while the first meaning allows the truth to be subjective, the next two definitions of this word are “proven” veridical] 2) an established principle or law of a science, art, etc.; 3) Logic, Math. a statement or proposition that needs no proof because its truth is obvious, or one accepted as true without proof.

-       idiom: 1) the language or dialect of a people, region, class, etc; 2) the usual way in which the words of a particular language are joined together to express thought; 3) a phrase, construction, or expression that is recognized as a unit in the usage of a given language & either differs from the usual syntactic patterns or has a meaning that differs from the literal meaning of its parts taken together …

o    LR: While the phrase of an idiom may not be a truth, its origin is true to the language, people or region it represents.

-       maxim: a concisely expressed principle or rule of conduct, or a statement of a general truth; SYN.: saying.

The problem with veridical references, is one person’s truth can be another’s pure hogwash.

BlastFromYourPast.net Survey Collection

Fun Fact: Truth … veridical or otherwise … has been explored since ancient civilization began. Even in song: ♪ And the lonely voice of youth cries | "What is Truth?"* ♪ Johnny Cash asked us, in his crossover Country Rock song that climbed high on the U.S. radio chart ladders. Lots of listeners asked the question as they boosted it to #6 at KFRC/San Francisco, April 22, 1970. *Listen to the song. We’re still asking, fifty years later.

Word Challenge: VERIDICAL. Carefully consider the context of how you use the above four words, to maintain veridicality in your week of clever writings.

Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening! Expanding your mind is a no-cost, simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.

Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle) 

Cheers to learning a new word today!

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

[LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books in her Blast from Your Past series (of three) about pioneering R&R Radio DJs. True behind-the-mic tales make GREAT Holiday and anytime Gifts available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years 1954-1959; and Book 2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic Seventies!]

*Note: 1) Dictionary definitions are quoted from Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Yes, we sometimes present them out of “official” context—but that’s half the fun! Think of it as “creative context.” 2) Neither I (LinDee Rochelle) nor Penchant for Penning are responsible for how you use information found here, that may result in legal action.

E-N-Dzzzzzzzz