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#21
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Spain, Portugal, Morocco
Last post by Dark Lightning - February 23, 2026, 03:38:52 PM
:lol: Good answer!
#22
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Spain, Portugal, Morocco
Last post by Ecurb Noselrub - February 23, 2026, 03:09:20 PM
I am going to learn "I didn't vote for him" in 3 languages.
#23
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Atheist Image Dump II
Last post by Recusant - February 23, 2026, 06:15:47 AM
Welp, it's been great, but ...

#24
Laid Back Lounge / Re: i was today years old when...
Last post by Recusant - February 23, 2026, 04:44:48 AM
Quote from: Icarus on February 23, 2026, 04:10:53 AMWe are expanding our vocabulary. Thanks Bruce.

Rec, with his impressive vocabulary,  has often caused me to consult my OED, which has expanded my brain a tiny bit.

It can be argued that in order to understand a concept, one must be familiar with a word that describes the concept.

One of my most memorable purchases when I had a bit of money of my own was a Merriam-Webster's Unabridged in the big single volume edition.

It was reading 19th century writers that got me on that trail--they were much more willing to use arcane words in their work than contemporary writers. I got many superb words from Herman Melville for instance. From his short but excellent novel The Confidence Man my list of new words came close to 20 as I recall. The Merriam-Webster's was lost in a minor disaster, so now like you I go to the OED. Maybe eventually a hard copy but for now through my library I get access to the online version.

I have a 2-volume Funk & Wagnalls unabridged that cost practically nothing and it's proven useful on occasion but the OED is unquestionably the gold standard.
#25
Laid Back Lounge / Re: i was today years old when...
Last post by Recusant - February 23, 2026, 04:34:36 AM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on February 23, 2026, 12:59:04 AMI just finished the "Hunchback of Notre Dame", and I came across the word "lucubrate". It means "write or study, especially by night" - a scholar burning the midnight oil. First time I had encountered the word in my 73.5 years.

In my reading, mostly encountered as "lucubration" or "lucubrations." As in "Her lucubrations were interrupted by an untimely visitor."  It's a bit over-the-top, but a translation of Victor Hugo seems like a natural place for it. ;)
#26
Laid Back Lounge / Re: i was today years old when...
Last post by Icarus - February 23, 2026, 04:10:53 AM
We are expanding our vocabulary. Thanks Bruce.

Rec, with his impressive vocabulary,  has often caused me to consult my OED, which has expanded my brain a tiny bit.

It can be argued that in order to understand a concept, one must be familiar with a word that describes the concept.
#27
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Spain, Portugal, Morocco
Last post by Icarus - February 23, 2026, 04:00:32 AM
Sounds like a damned good idea DL.
#28
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Spain, Portugal, Morocco
Last post by Dark Lightning - February 23, 2026, 01:26:07 AM
Get a Canadian passport.
#29
Laid Back Lounge / Spain, Portugal, Morocco
Last post by Ecurb Noselrub - February 23, 2026, 01:08:16 AM
Going to Madrid, Lisbon and Marrakech in May. Looking for good places to eat and things to see. Anyone ever been? Tips accepted.
#30
Laid Back Lounge / Re: i was today years old when...
Last post by Ecurb Noselrub - February 23, 2026, 12:59:04 AM
I just finished the "Hunchback of Notre Dame", and I came across the word "lucubrate". It means "write or study, especially by night" - a scholar burning the midnight oil. First time I had encountered the word in my 73.5 years.