A Pillow Book from the Land of Artichokes

Wednesday, September 04, 2002

Satisfying Words

deliquesce -- (1) to melt away (2) Biol. (a) to melt away in the course of growth or decay, as parts of certain fungi (b) to branch into many fine divisions, as leaf veins (3) Chem. to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air -- deliquescence n. -- deliquescent adj.

palimpsest -- a parchment, tablet, etc. that has been written upon or inscribed two or three times, the previous text or texts having been imperfectly erased and remaining, therefore, still partly visible

scumble -- (1) (a) to soften the outlines or color of (a painting) by applying a thin coat of opaque color (b) to apply (color) in this manner (2) to soften the outlines of (a drawing) by rubbing or blurring (3) to make by either of these processes -- n. (1) a coat of color added in scumbling (2) the softening of outline produced by scumbling

uvula -- (prounounced "you-view-lah"(!) which I think is delightful, by the way) -- the small, fleshy process hanging down from the middle of the soft palate above the back of the tongue

chiaroscuro -- (1) light and shade in a painting, drawing, etc. treated so as to produce the illusion of depth, a dramatic effect, etc. (2) a style of painting, drawing, etc. emphasizing this (3) a painting, drawing, etc. in which chiaroscuro is used -- chiaroscurist n.

embouchure -- (1) the mouth of a river (2) Music (a) the mouthpiece of a wind instrument (b) the method of applying the lips and tongue to the mouthpiece of a wind instrument

Posted by Artichoke Heart | 11:51 PM |