Learn-A-Word Wednesday: otiose \OH-shee-ohs; OH-tee-\

Posted on January 7, 2009 by wendy| 5 Comments

adjective:

1. Ineffective; futile.
2. Being at leisure; lazy; indolent; idle.
3. Of no use.

Although the wild outer movements and the angular Minuet can take such clockwork precision, the Andante, with its obsessive, claustrophobic dialogues between strings and bassoons, seemed sluggish and otiose.
– Tim Ashley, “VPO/Maazel”, The Guardian, April 16, 2002

Otiose is from Latin otiosus, “idle, at leisure,” from otium, “leisure.”

I’ve been rebelling against the New Year’s resolutions deal. Sure, I’ve been thinking about them, those positive changes, health issues, to-do lists, de-clutter projects, yada yada. But mostly I’ve been otiose.

Just the word “resolutions” makes me need to sit down. I imagine a large summit meeting, draft resolutions circulated, committee meetings, wording revisions, then at last, a very public signing ceremony for the Final Resolutions. Which get violated the next month by each party.

That’s what has been happening in my head.

And you? Are you jumping on those resolutions? It’s been a week!

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5 Responses to Learn-A-Word Wednesday: otiose \OH-shee-ohs; OH-tee-\

  1. Scout's Honor | January 7, 2009 at 11:13 am |

    My resolutions not working so well this year… except maybe this TMI one:

    “10. And here’s the one my husband will love the verry best: Have more sex despite my nonexistent libido.”

    Heh! My husband loves this one.

  2. Kristen M. | January 7, 2009 at 11:48 am |

    I am totally not a resolution person … more of the “gradual change” sort. Plus, I think that the middle of winter in the PNW is the worst time to try and change anything, what with the SAD and the rain and all. Let’s let things be until the happy and (relatively) warmer spring.

    Kristen M.s last blog post.."London. Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln’s Inn Hall."

  3. Brooke | January 7, 2009 at 12:41 pm |

    You’d like my friend, Kristi’s, most recent blog post: Resolute this, baby!
    http://kunz-4.blogspot.com/2009/01/resolute-this-baby.html

    I, on the other hand, am a New Year’s Resolution junkie! I LOVE humoring myself that I’m actually going to do something differently this year. (I’m not crazy enough to make one like Scout’s Honor, though. Good luck with that.) :-)

    Brookes last blog post..Holding the Hand of a Jew

  4. wendy | January 7, 2009 at 4:38 pm |

    Oh, Scout! You’re a good wife after all….