Category Archives: words

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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1. an interval of time between the close of a sovereign’s reign and the accession of his or her normal or legitimate successor.
2. any period during which a state has no ruler or only a temporary executive.
3. any period of freedom from the usual authority.
4. any pause or interruption in continuity.
Origin:
1570–80; < L, equiv. to inter- inter- + rēgnum reign

Our country is in an interregnum now, in case you didn’t know, and the economy is not happy about it.

At our house, we had an interregnum recently when I visited a friend in Portland for a weekend. Kid was not happy about it. At least not when we talked on the phone Friday night and her anger contorted into a loud, weepy, swirling heap.

That was fun to hear long distance when dining out with friends. Then I hung up and ordered wine.

We both got over it.

Let’s hope our economy gets over it, too. Go buy wine, everyone!

Helps the economy and calms the ruffled psyche.

And as part of a healthy Sardinian diet, it’s good for you, too. Ask Dr. Oz.

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noun:
Contemplation of one’s navel as an aid to meditation.

It is well known in the usually jocular phrase directed towards self-absorbed pursuits.
From Greek omphalos (navel) + skepsis (act of looking, examination).

You know you love this word. I think the Kid must do this a lot. She can easily because she’s naked much of the time.

As you age, your contemplation might turn from “hey, where’d that color of lint come from?” to “hey, am I imagining things or is my belly button bigger and where is that bag of chips I just put down?”

What deep thoughts do you contemplate while navel gazing?

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noun:

An imaginary land of ease and luxury.

Everyone was seeking renewal, a golden century, a Cockaigne of the spirit.
– Umberto Eco, Foucault’s Pendulum

Cockaigne comes from Middle English cokaygne, from Middle French (pais de) cocaigne “(land of) plenty,” ultimately adapted or derived from a word meaning “cake.”

Any land of ease and luxury must be imaginary, right? So I find this definition slightly redundant. But who wouldn’t love a word derived from a word meaning CAKE?? Come on. Everyone loves cake, right?

After discussing with a buddy here my hankering for chocolate chocolate cake, I’m still planning to make this one from the Pioneer Woman. Real soon.

Hey, maybe that will make my life closer to a Cockaigne.

What would make your life closer to being a Cockaigne?

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