Sunday 31 December 2017

Eve

EVE

-noun
1. the evening or day before some special event or festival
2. the period immediately before an event
3. (archaic) evening








Flaming eve
Promising chaos
And haphazard thoughts
Tempered ice morning



Saturday 30 December 2017

Serene

SERENE

-adj.
1. peaceful or tranquil; calm
2. clear or bright
3. (often capital) honoured (used as part of certain royal titles)

























Maybe a stray
But a serene one

Free from cold and want

Friday 29 December 2017

Subject

SUBJECT

-noun [ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ]
1. the predominant theme or topic, as of a book, discussion, etc
2. any branch of learning considered as a course of study
3. (grammar, logic) a word, phrase, or formal expression about which something is predicated or stated in a sentence
4. a person or thing that undergoes experiment, analysis, treatment, etc
5. a person who lives under the rule of a monarch, government, etc
6. an object, figure, scene, etc, as selected by an artist or photographer for representation
7. (philosophy)
a. that which thinks or feels as opposed to the object of thinking and feeling; the self or the mind
b. a substance as opposed to its attributes
8. Also called: theme music . a melodic or thematic phrase used as the principal motif of a fugue, the basis from which the musical material is derived in a sonata-form movement, or the recurrent figure in a rondo
9. (logic)
a. the term of a categorial statement of which something is predicated
b. the reference or denotation of the subject term of a statement.
10. an originating motive
-adj. [ˈsʌbdʒɪkt ] (usually postpositive; and followed by “to”)
11. being under the power or sovereignty of a ruler, government, etc
12. showing a tendency (towards)
13. exposed or vulnerable
14. conditional upon
-verb [səbˈdʒɛkt ] (trans.)
15. (followed by “to”) to cause to undergo the application (of)
16. (often passive; followed by “to”) to expose or render vulnerable or liable (to some experience)
17. (followed by “to”) to bring under the control or authority (of)
18. (rare) . to subdue or subjugate
19. (rare) . to present for consideration; submit
20. (obsolete) . to place below

























A trenchant winter
Subjects the scenery
To death by multiple cuts

Of bitter and hypenemious gales

Thursday 28 December 2017

Naevus

NAEVUS

-noun
any congenital growth or pigmented blemish on the skin; birthmark or mole . Also called: naeve

























History
Placed a naevus
On that cheek
And alabaster chin






Plate by Fornasetti

Wednesday 27 December 2017

Want

WANT

-verb
1. (trans.) to feel a need or longing for
2. (when trans., may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to wish, need, or desire (something or to do something)
3. (intr.; usually used with a negative and often followed by “for”) to be lacking or deficient (in something necessary or desirable)
4. (trans.) to feel the absence of
5. (trans.) to fall short by (a specified amount)
6. (trans.) (mainly British) to have need of or require (doing or being something)
7. (intr.) to be destitute
8. (trans.; often passive) to seek or request the presence of
9. (intr.) to be absent
10. (trans; takes an infinitive) (informal) . should or ought (to do something)
-noun
11. the act or an instance of wanting
12. anything that is needed, desired, or lacked
13. a lack, shortage, or absence
14. the state of being in need; destitution
15. a sense of lack; craving


-noun
(English dialect)  a mole (in the sense of any congenital growth or pigmented blemish on the skin; birthmark)




















Disapproval
For want of desire
Or its opposite


Tuesday 26 December 2017

Entertain

ENTERTAIN

-verb
1. to provide amusement for an audience
2. to show hospitality to people
3. (trans.) to hold in the mind

























Eternity
No finer for immensity
Or for being expelled
From anyone’s mind
To entertain dwarf islands
With unicorn’s blood

In a rite of winter being cast away

Monday 25 December 2017

Feast

FEAST

-noun
1. a large and sumptuous meal, usually given as an entertainment for several people
2. a periodic religious celebration
3. something extremely pleasing or sumptuous
-verb
4. (intr.) to eat a feast
5. (intr.; usually followed by “on”) to enjoy the eating (of), as if feasting
6. (trans.) to give a feast to
7. (intr.; followed by “on”) to take great delight (in)
8. (trans.) to regale or delight


Feast your eyes upon darkness
A library turned cake at night
By liberal application of light

Whipped into seasonal frenezy


Sunday 24 December 2017

Christmas

CHRISTMAS

-noun
1. the annual commemoration by Christians of the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25
b. Also called: Christmas Day . December 25, observed as a day of secular celebrations when gifts and greetings are exchanged
2. Also called: Christmas Day (in England, Wales, and Ireland) . December 25, one of the four quarter days

3. Also called (archaic or literary): Christmastide . the season of Christmas extending from December 24 (Christmas Eve) to January 6 (the festival of the Epiphany or Twelfth Night)

























Looking forward to
Meek and excellent
Christmas food and cheer

Saturday 23 December 2017

Antithalian

ANTITHALIAN

-adj.
disapproving of fun or festivity




















The grump is back
In all her antithalian splendour
Calling off Christmas

Friday 22 December 2017

Profligate

PROFLIGATE

-adj.
1. shamelessly immoral or debauched
2. wildly extravagant or wasteful
-noun
3. a profligate person
























Get ready for
Profligate times ahead
So predictable
So tedious

Thursday 21 December 2017

Anfractuous

ANFRACTUOUS
[ænˈfræktʃʊəs]

-adj.
characterized by twists and turns; convoluted





















One shade the more to the night
So red the nameless grace
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Thus mellowed to that anfractuous light
Which heaven to dwelling day denies.





Found in She walks in Beauty (Lord Byron)
Refurbished by yours truly

Wednesday 20 December 2017

Vacation

VACATION

-noun
1. (mainly British) . a period of the year when the law courts or universities are closed
2. (mainly US and Canadian) . a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation 
Also called - in Britain and certain other countries - holiday
3. the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc.
-verb
4. (intr.) (US and Canadian) . to take a vacation; holiday
























Looking up
So red the nameless grace
Of vacation all glitter
In the rain

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Courteous

COURTEOUS

-adj.
polite and considerate in manner

























Meeting the moon wanes to third quarter
She empties the courteous rain drumming
Her broken windows shed tears of bridges
And I in the arboretum, awaiting
While lark’s tongues still chatter

Monday 18 December 2017

Polite

POLITE

-adj.
1. showing regard for others, in manners, speech, behaviour, etc.; courteous
2. cultivated or refined
3. elegant or polished

























The sky
That only stone
As far as anyone could see,
Polite shades of day,
But not quite so odd;

Her voice half empty
A landscape that might see
Half a dozen horses,
Any colour of paper balloon
Every minute.

Sunday 17 December 2017

Temse

TEMSE

-noun (dialect)
1. a sieve used to strain meal
-verb (trans.)
2. to sift (flour)

























From solace too slowly
The candour forgets.

From solace to dragon
Temsed dreams
Coated in confectioner’s sugar


Blooms let go




Saturday 16 December 2017

Repose

REPOSE

-noun
1. a state of quiet restfulness; peace or tranquillity
2. dignified calmness of manner; composure
-verb
3. to place (oneself or one's body) in a state of quiet relaxation; lie or lay down at rest
4. (intr.) to lie when dead, as in the grave
5. (intr.; followed by “on”, “in”, etc) (formal) . to take support (from) or be based (on)

-verb (trans.)
1. to put (trust or confidence) in a person or thing
2. to place or put (an object) somewhere

























If she had goals, hungers:

There she is thus trying a dream to chew on,
Just shy of huge or mindless,
And pull, as if she had been and mattered - a decaying mind;
And pull, as if she had somebody else’s heart.

Without repose.

Friday 15 December 2017

Disreputable

DISREPUTABLE

-adj.
1. having or causing a lack of repute
2. disordered in appearance

























A golden vine hidden from view
Bloom on those cheeks
A blush of every hue on mines

Such disreputable encounter

Thursday 14 December 2017

Request

REQUEST

-verb (trans.)
1. to express a desire for, in particular if politely; ask for or demand
-noun
2. the act or an instance of requesting, in particular in the form of a written statement; petition or solicitation

























Six pink pepper-corns implied
Among the false shadows
Crouching there
Filthy truth and red contour
Metamorphosis request

For wine denied

Wednesday 13 December 2017

Vagabond

VAGABOND

-noun
1. a person with no fixed home
2. an idle wandering beggar or thief
3. (modifier) of or like a vagabond; shiftless or idle

























Here come
Our vagabond hours
Braking their chains
On the road

Of our emotions



Tuesday 12 December 2017

Advent

ADVENT

-noun
an arrival or coming, in particular one which is awaited





















There he stands in the shades
Awaiting the advent of tomorrow
And a long promised immortality
Unaware that he already has

As much as he’s ever likely to get.

Monday 11 December 2017

Term

TERM

-noun
1. a name, expression, or word used for some particular thing, often in a specialized field of knowledge
2. any word or expression
3. a limited period of time
4. any of the divisions of the academic year during which a school, college, etc, is in session
5. a point in time determined for an event or for the end of a period
6. Also called : full term . the period at which childbirth is imminent
7. (law)
a. an estate or interest in land limited to run for a specified period
b. the duration of an estate, etc.
c. (formerly) a period of time during which sessions of courts of law were held
d. time allowed to a debtor to settle
8. (mathematics) . either of the expressions the ratio of which is a fraction or proportion, any of the separate elements of a sequence, or any of the individual addends of a polynomial or series
9. (logic)
a. the word or phrase that forms either the subject or predicate of a proposition
b. a name or variable, as opposed to a predicate
c. one of the relata of a relation
d. any of the three subjects or predicates occurring in a syllogism
10. Also called : terminal, terminus, terminal figure architecture 
11. (Australian Rules) (football) the usual word for quarter
12. (archaic) a boundary or limit
-verb
13. (trans.) to designate; call

























For a brief term
I‘ve come to terms with my emotions
And a brief romance
Is orchestrated  in the lapse
It takes for my camera

To go “click”













Sunday 10 December 2017

Bake

BAKE

-verb
1. (trans.) to cook by dry heat in or as if in an oven
2. (intr.) to cook bread, pastry, etc., in an oven
3. to make or become hardened by heat
4. (intr.) (informal) . to be extremely hot, as in the heat of the sun
-noun
5. (US) a party at which the main dish is baked
6. a batch of things baked at one time
7. (Scottish) a kind of biscuit
8. (Caribbean) a small flat fried cake

























One of winter’s delight
Baked goods and cakes
Quinces and roses


Saturday 9 December 2017

Doze

DOZE

-verb (intr.)
1. to sleep lightly or intermittently
2. (often followed by “off”) to fall into a light sleep
-noun
3. a short sleep

























How I admire
His artless dozing

Power naps

Friday 8 December 2017

Spurious

SPURIOUS

-adj.
1. not genuine or real
2. (of a plant part or organ) having the appearance of another part but differing from it in origin, development, or function; false
3. (of radiation) produced at an undesired frequency by a transmitter, causing interference, etc.
4. (rare) . illegitimate

























Lost in internal worth
A true want of poetry,
And spurious relish for truth.

Thursday 7 December 2017

Reminder

REMINDER

-noun
1. something that recalls the past
2. a note to remind a person of something not done


























You have demanded the world to play with
But it became metallic and you can't remodel it:
We need a reminder of its feudal tyranny
How is supposedly went down in fire and blood
Only to raise its ugly head in the clutch of economy


Wednesday 6 December 2017

Inspire

INSPIRE

-verb
1. to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon (a person); animate or invigorate
2. (trans.; followed by “with” or “to”; may take an infinitive) to arouse (with a particular emotion or to a particular action); stir
3. (trans.) to prompt or instigate; give rise to
4. (trans.; often passive) to guide or arouse by divine influence or inspiration
5. to take or draw (air, gas, etc.) into the lungs; inhale
6. (trans.) (archaic)
a. to breathe into or upon
b. to breathe life into

























Looking for something to inspire
A seasonal shopping spree

And only find frantic desperation 

Tuesday 5 December 2017

Fake

FAKE

-verb
1. (trans.) to cause (something inferior or not genuine) to appear more valuable, desirable, or real by fraud or pretence
2. to pretend to have (an illness, emotion, etc.)
3. to improvise (music, stage dialogue, etc.)
-noun
4. an object, person, or act that is not genuine; sham, counterfeit, or forgery
-adj.
5. not genuine; spurious


-verb
1. (trans.; usually followed by “down: ) (nautical) . to coil (a rope) on deck
-noun
2. (nautical) . one round of a coil of rope


















Mist and stones
Over the mountain
All faked by decay

Spontaneous abstract art

Monday 4 December 2017

Mourn

MOURN

-verb
1. to feel or express sadness for the death or loss of (someone or something)
2. (intr.) to observe the customs of mourning, as by wearing black
3. (trans.) to grieve over (loss or misfortune)
















Time passes
Teaching us to mourn
And let go

Sunday 3 December 2017

Croustade

CROUSTADE

-noun
a hollowed pastry case or piece of cooked bread, potato, etc., in which food is served

























All hail old bread
For its power
To turn into croustade

For a fancy fried breakfast!

Saturday 2 December 2017

Reveille

REVEILLE
[rɪˈvælɪ]

-noun
1. a signal, given by a bugle, drum, etc., to awaken soldiers or sailors in the morning
2. the hour at which this takes place

























In a sort of strong habit
He sleeps through reveille
The secret magic of rising sun
Not casting a shadow upon his vibrissae
Anymore

Friday 1 December 2017

Reveal

REVEAL

-verb (trans.)
1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) . to disclose (a secret); divulge
2. to expose to view or show (something concealed)
3. (of God) to disclose (divine truths) either directly or through the medium of prophets, etc.
-noun
4. the act of exposing something that has been concealed, in particular as the climax of a theatrical performance or magic trick
5. (architecture) . the vertical side of an opening in a wall, like the side of a window or door between the frame and the front of the wall


















Our journey
Reveals untold beauties

And forgotten ones

Thursday 30 November 2017

Dominancy

DOMINANCY
[ˈdɒmɪnənsɪ] or Dominance [ˈdɒmɪnəns ]

-noun
control; ascendancy















Exerting dominancy
Over my anger

Saving crowds

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Legacy

LEGACY

-noun
1. a gift by will, often of money or personal property
2. something handed down or received from an ancestor or predecessor
3. (modifier) . surviving computer systems, hardware, or software

























Dew and tender leaves
Hiding a tasty legacy

From the hands of frost

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Rainbow

RAINBOW

-noun
1. a bow-shaped display in the sky of the colours of the spectrum, caused by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays through rain or mist
2. any similar display of bright colours
3. an illusory hope
4. (modifier) of or relating to a political grouping together by several minorities, in particular of different races











Weather playing hard to get
A real drama drag queen

With a rainbow for a feather boa


Monday 27 November 2017

Realia

REALIA
[rɪˈeɪlɪə ]

-plural noun
real-life facts and material used in teaching

























Working on presentation skills
Playing along with realia

In order to draw in emotions


Sunday 26 November 2017

Lasagne

LASAGNE

-noun
1. a form of pasta consisting of wide flat sheets
2. any of several dishes made from layers of lasagne and meat, cheese, etc.

(also: (chiefly American) lasagna)

























Sunday oven treat
Lasagne with just a touch of ragu
And fragrant béchamel

Saturday 25 November 2017

Warden

WARDEN

-noun
1. a person who has the charge or care of something, like a building, or someone
2. any of various public officials, in particular one responsible for the enforcement of certain regulations
3. a person employed to patrol a national park or safari park
4. (mainly US and Canadian) the chief officer in charge of a prison
5. (British) . the principal or president of any of various universities or colleges
-noun
a variety of pear that has crisp firm flesh and is used for cooking

























Trespassing,
I am shouted at

By the warden








Friday 24 November 2017

Hygrophobe

HYGROPHOBE

-noun
a plant that grows best with little or no moisture



















No doubt
That such tree
Is an hygrophobe

Electric feasts

Thursday 23 November 2017

Besoin

BESOIN
[bəzwɛ̃]

-noun
need


















Little stars
Turn to sun
Their besoin

So great in the cold

Wednesday 22 November 2017

Bemoil

BEMOIL
[bɪˈmɔɪl]

-verb
(trans.) (archaic) to soil with mud

























Getting myself wet
And bemoiled just to
Get an idea of size

For a mushroom

Tuesday 21 November 2017

Eloign

ELOIGN
[ɪˈlɔɪn]

-verb
(trans.) (archaic) to remove (oneself, one's property, etc.) to a distant place. Also spelled “eloin”

























The more I climb
The more my goal
Appears to eloign

Eaten away by fog

Monday 20 November 2017

Carnaptious

CARNAPTIOUS

-adj.
(Scottish dialect) . ill-tempered or cantankerous

























After a violent bout
Of carnaptious weather

Feeble hope

Sunday 19 November 2017

Ragu

RAGU

-noun
an Italian sauce made with meat and tomatoes
























Sunday lunch
Tagliatelle with ragu

Shared with the family

Saturday 18 November 2017

Commend

COMMEND

-verb (trans.)
1. to present or represent as being worthy of regard, confidence, kindness, etc.; recommend
2. to give in charge; entrust
3. to express a good opinion of; praise
4. to give the regards of

























Such gentleness
Such enthusiasm
I commend the guardian
To the museum authorities
Though she shed hair

All over my trousers

Friday 17 November 2017

Discipline

DISCIPLINE

-noun
1. training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc.
2. systematic training in obedience to regulations and authority
3. the state of improved behaviour, etc., resulting from such training or conditions
4. punishment or chastisement
5. a system of rules for behaviour, methods of practice, etc.
6. a branch of learning or instruction
7. the laws governing members of a Church
8. a scourge of knotted cords
-verb (trans.)
9. to improve or attempt to improve the behaviour, orderliness, etc., of by training, conditions, or rules
10. to punish or correct




















Materials into light
Light into colours

A discipline fully mastered

Thursday 16 November 2017

Pass

PASS

-verb
1. to go onwards or move by or past (a person, thing, etc.)
2. to run, extend, or lead through, over, or across (a place)
3. to go through or cause to go through (an obstacle or barrier)
4. to move or cause to move onwards or over
5. (trans.) to go beyond or exceed
6. to gain or cause to gain an adequate or required mark, grade, or rating in (an examination, course, etc.)
the examiner passed them all
7. ( often followed by “away” or “by”) to elapse or allow to elapse
8. pass the time of day with someone
9. (intr.) to take place or happen
10. to speak or exchange or be spoken or exchanged
11. to spread or cause to spread
12. to transfer or exchange or be transferred or exchanged
13. (intr.) to undergo change or transition
14. ( when trans., often followed by “down”) to transfer or be transferred by inheritance
15. to agree to or sanction or to be agreed to or receive the sanction of a legislative body, person of authority, etc.
16. (trans.) (of a legislative measure) to undergo (a procedural stage) and be agreed
17. ( when trans., often followed by “on” or “upon”) to pronounce or deliver (judgment, findings, etc.)
18. to go or allow to go without comment or censure
19. (intr.) to opt not to exercise a right, as by not answering a question or not making a bid or a play in card games
20. (physiology) . to discharge (urine, faeces, etc.) from the body
21. (intr.) to come to an end or disappear
22. (intr.; usually followed by “for” or “as”) to be likely to be mistaken for or accepted as (someone or something else)
23. (intr.; followed by “away”, “on”, or “over”) a euphemism for die
24. (trans.) (mainly US) . to fail to declare (a dividend)
25. (intr.; usually followed by “on” or “upon”) (mainly US) . (of a court, jury, etc.) to sit in judgment; adjudicate
26. (sport) . to hit, kick, or throw (the ball) to another player
-noun
27. the act of passing
28. a route through a range of mountains where the summit is lower or where there is a gap between peaks
29 (capital) as part of a name for a location
30. a way through any difficult region
31. a permit, licence, or authorization to do something without restriction
32. (administration)
a. a document allowing entry to and exit from a military installation
b. a document authorizing leave of absence
33. (British) the passing of a college or university examination to a satisfactory standard but not as high as honours
34. a dive, sweep, or bombing or landing run by an aircraft
35. a motion of the hand or of a wand as a prelude to or part of a conjuring trick
35. (informal) . an attempt, in words or action, to invite sexual intimacy
36. a state of affairs or condition, in particular a bad or difficult one
37. (sport) . the transfer of a ball from one player to another
38. (fencing) . a thrust or lunge with a sword
39. (bridge) . the act of passing (making no bid)
40. (bullfighting) .  a variant of “pase”
41. (archaic) . a witty sally or remark
-exclamation
42. (bridge) . a call indicating that a player has no bid to make

























Clouds and snow
Over the pass

Conflicted zone

Wednesday 15 November 2017

Ballistics

BALLISTICS

-noun (functioning as singular)
the study of the flight dynamics of projectiles, either through the interaction of the forces of propulsion, the aerodynamics of the projectile, atmospheric resistance, and gravity (exterior ballistics), or through these forces along with the means of propulsion, and the design of the propelling weapon and projectile (interior ballistics)

























Looking up
Studying the ballistics
Of  ripe persimmons
And the probability
For a hefty gale

To send them my way

Tuesday 14 November 2017

Range

RANGE

-noun
1. the limits within which a person or thing can function effectively
2. the limits within which any fluctuation takes place
3. the total products of a manufacturer, designer, or stockist
4. (ballistics)
a. the maximum effective distance of a projectile fired from a weapon
b. the distance between a target and a weapon
5. an area set aside for shooting practice or rocket testing
6. the total distance which a ship, aircraft, or land vehicle is capable of covering without taking on fresh fuel
7. (physics) . the distance that a particle of ionizing radiation, such as an electron or proton, can travel through a given medium, like air, before ceasing to cause ionization
8. (mathematics , logic)
a. (of a function) the set of values that the function takes for all possible arguments
b. (of a variable) the set of values that a variable can take
c. (of a quantifier) the set of values that the variable bound by the quantifier can take
9. (statistics) . a measure of dispersion obtained by subtracting the smallest from the largest sample values
10. the extent of pitch difference between the highest and lowest notes of a voice, instrument, etc
11. (US and Canadian) . an extensive tract of open land on which livestock can graze
12. the geographical region in which a species of plant or animal normally grows or lives
13. a rank, row, or series of items
14. a series or chain of mountains
15. a large stove with burners and one or more ovens, usually heated by solid fuel
16. the act or process of ranging
17. (nautical) . a line of sight taken from the sea along two or more navigational aids that mark a navigable channel
18. the extension or direction of a survey line, established by marking two or more points
19. a double-faced bookcase, as in a library
-verb
20. to establish or be situated in a line, row, or series
21. (trans; often reflexive ; followed by “with”) to put into a specific category; classify
22. (followed by “on”) to aim or point (a telescope, gun, etc) or (of a gun, telescope, etc) to be pointed or aimed
23. to establish the distance of (a target) from (a weapon)
24. (intr.) (of a gun or missile) to have a specified range
25. (when intr., followed by “over”) to traverse (an area); roam (over)
26. (intr. ; followed by “over”) (of an animal or plant) to live or grow in its normal habitat
27. (trans) to put (cattle) to graze on a range
28. (intr.) to fluctuate within specific limits
their ages range from 18 to 21
29. (intr.) to extend or run in a specific direction
30. (trans.) (nautical) . to coil (an anchor rope or chain) so that it will pay out smoothly
31. (intr.) (nautical) . (of a vessel) to swing back and forth while at anchor
32. (trans.) to make (lines of printers' type) level or even at the margin
















Saltpetre playing out
Challenging the range
Of my imagination

Silhouettes lost in the frost

Monday 13 November 2017

Crouse

CROUSE

-adj.
(Scottish and Northern England) (dialect) . lively, confident, or saucy















A slew of graffiti
Laced with crouse interjections
A call to love

Or for help?