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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community Comment archive for March 2013

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

A Word A Day -- balneology

Good morning Netizens... March 31, 2013 Word of the Day balneology \bal-nee-AH-luh-jee\ DEFINITION noun : the science of the therapeutic use of baths EXAMPLES Balneology is used at the spa as a means of treating injured muscles. "Fortunately, our collection contains a large number of…

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SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2013

A Word A Day -- obviate

Good afternoon Netizens... March 30, 2013 Word of the Day obviate \AHB-vee-ayt\ DEFINITION verb : to anticipate and prevent (as a situation) or make unnecessary (as an action) EXAMPLES Rob checks every ledger entry twice to obviate any problems when it comes time for an…

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The solution to petty crime... 

Good morning Netizens... From the Spokesman-Review: Spokane police Chief Frank Straub said Friday that the disbanding of the department’s property crimes unit in 2011 is an “urban legend” perpetrated by former administrators looking to boost funding for the department. The story goes on to state…

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

A Word A Day -- fuliginous

Good morning, Netizens... March 29, 2013 Word of the Day fuliginous \fyoo-LIJ-uh-nus\ DEFINITION adjective 1 a : sooty b : obscure, murky 2 : having a dark or dusky color EXAMPLES Theo's journalism professor encouraged him to eschew fuliginous prose in favor of simple, straightforward…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013

Is it ok to kill my neighbor for my car? 42 

First, we have issues in Spokane with overuse of power; then the mayor says that police are not going to respond to personal property crimes; then we have to protect ourselves; then nutso people run rampage with guns and kill several children; then we start…

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A Word A Day -- laudable

Good morning Netizens... March 28, 2013 Word of the Day laudable \LAW-duh-bul\ DEFINITION adjective : worthy of praise : commendable EXAMPLES Parents, faculty, and members of the community commended the students for their laudable efforts at cleaning up the park and renovating its play structures.…

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013

A Word A Day -- flehmen

Good evening Netizena... March 27, 2013 Word of the Day flehmen \FLAY-mun\ DEFINITION noun : a mammalian behavior (as of horses or cats) in which the animal inhales with the mouth open and upper lip curled to facilitate exposure of the vomeronasal organ to a…

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TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

A Word A Day -- hallmark

Good morjnming, Netizens... March 26, 2013 Word of the Day hallmark \HAWL-mahrk\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a mark put on an article to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness 2 : a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature EXAMPLES The entertainer's new book features the same kind…

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MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013

A Word A Day -- nascent

Good morning Netizens..., March 25, 2013 Word of the Day nascent \NASS-unt\ DEFINITION adjective : coming or having recently come into existence EXAMPLES Brent began working at the company when it was in its nascent stage, with just a single one-room office and four employees.…

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SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2013

A Word A Day -- canorous

Good morning, Netizens... March 24, 2013 Word of the Day canorous \kuh-NOR-us\ DEFINITION adjective : pleasant sounding : melodious EXAMPLES A canorous chorus of birdsong filled the morning air. "The album features fast and brooding melodies … and standout canorous piano and clean guitar moments…."…

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SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013

A Word A Day -- riposte

Good morning Netizens... March 23, 2013 Word of the Day riposte \rih-POHST\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry 2 : a retaliatory verbal sally : retort 3 : a retaliatory maneuver or measure EXAMPLES The lifelong friends always greeted…

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FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013

A Word A Day -- grift

Good evening, Netizens... March 22, 2013 Word of the Day grift \GRIFT\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to obtain (money) illicitly (as in a confidence game) 2 : to acquire money or property illicitly EXAMPLES John grifted much of his income by carrying out elaborate cons…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

A Word A Day -- demotic

Good evening, Netizens... March 21, 2013 Word of the Day demotic \dih-MAH-tik\ DEFINITION adjective 1 : of, relating to, or written in a simplified form of the ancient Egyptian hieratic writing 2 : common, popular 3 : of or relating to the form of Modern…

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

A Word A Day -- plaudit

Good evening, Netizens.,., March 20, 2013 Word of the Day plaudit \PLAW-dit\ DEFINITION noun 1 : an act or round of applause 2 : enthusiastic approval — usually used in plural EXAMPLES The latest installment in the movie series earned plaudits from critics and fans…

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TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013

A Word A Day -- sacrosanct

Good afternoon, Netizens... March 19, 2013 Word of the Day sacrosanct \SAK-roh-sankt\ DEFINITION adjective 1 : most sacred or holy : inviolable 2 : treated as if holy : immune from criticism or violation EXAMPLES Our family traditions may seem silly to outsiders, but to…

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KAGU off the air...

Good morning, Netizens... I listen to very few radio stations in Spokane, primarily because I have an allergic reaction to radio advertising of all kinds and very specific tastes in musical fare. All I have to do is hear one smarmy advertisement and I either…

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MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013

A Word A Day -- fetter

Good afterlnoon, Netizens.., March 18, 2013 Word of the Day fetter \FET-er\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a chain or shackle for the feet 2 : something that confines : restraint EXAMPLES John keeps his smartphone with him when he goes hiking, but Linda leaves hers…

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SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

A Word A Day -- katzenjammer

Good evening Netizens... March 17, 2013 Word of the Day katzenjammer \KAT-sun-jam-er\ DEFINITION noun 1 : hangover 2 : distress 3 : a discordant clamor EXAMPLES The morning after the wedding, Pamela woke up with a blinding katzenjammer. "Combating your attack of the katzenjammers with…

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SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013

A Word A Day -- carminative

Good evening, Netizens... March 16, 2013 Word of the Day carminative \kahr-MIN-uh-tive\ DEFINITION adjective : expelling gas from the stomach or intestines so as to relieve flatulence or abdominal pain or distension EXAMPLES Fennel is a carminative herb that helps alleviate gas after a spicy…

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FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013

A Word A Day -- voracious

Good evening Netizens... March 15, 2013 Word of the Day voracious \vaw-RAY-shus\ DEFINITION adjective 1 : having a huge appetite : ravenous 2 : excessively eager : insatiable EXAMPLES Cemal is a voracious reader who whips through three or four books each week. "Hundreds of…

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Cruising on Carnival Cruise Lines...

Good morning, Netizens... In my generation, vacations consisted of pouring members of the family into the family transportation, complete with various snacks, books and other entertainments and facing the long drive to wherever the family collective was heading. This itinerary was, of course, subject to…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

A Word A Day -- quirk

Good evening, Netizens... March 14, 2013 Word of the Day quirk \KWERK\ DEFINITION verb : curve, twist EXAMPLES "She was surprised by the humor that quirked his fine straight lips." — From Elizabeth George Speare's 1958 book The Witch of Blackbird Pond "Refusing to relinquish…

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013

A Word A Day -- behemoth

Good evening, Netizens March 13, 2013 Word of the Day behemoth \bih-HEE-muth\ DEFINITION noun : something of monstrous size, power, or appearance EXAMPLES The town has voted against letting the retail behemoth build a store on the proposed site. "Interviews with an array of industry…

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TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013

A Word A Day -- piggyback

Good evening, Netizens... March 12, 2013 Word of the Day piggyback \PIG-ee-bak\ DEFINITION adverb 1 : up on the back and shoulders 2 : on or as if on the back of another; especially : on a railroad flatcar EXAMPLES The youngest of the hikers…

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MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

A Word A Day -- cajole

Good evening, Netizens... March 11, 2013 Word of the Day cajole \kuh-JOHL\ DEFINITION verb 1 a : to persuade with flattery or gentle urging : coax b : to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion 2 : to deceive with soothing words or false promises…

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Spokesman-Review readers blog about news and issues in Spokane written by Dave Laird.



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