perorate \PUR-uh-rayt\ (intransitive verb) - 1 : To conclude or sum up a long discourse. 2 : To speak or expound at length; to declaim.
"After years of interminable meetings, Freda had come to the conclusion that management didn't merely talk, they perorated, pontificated, and bombasted endlessly."
Perorate comes from Latin perorare "to speak at length or to the end," from per-, "through, throughout," + orare, "to speak."
I most certainly agree, although the one that brings a smile to my face is "phillipic" ("filípica" in Spanish,) because that is what I am inclined to resort to when lecturing my stepson about the good and the bad things in life. Poor guy! Can you imagine? I could put NYC to sleep, no matter what old blue eyes may say.
Roddie
PS And yes, I do love etymology. Highly useful, and extremely fun!
Hi, Lucrezia!
Interesting how inveigh has that meaning, yet a closely spelled word, "inveigle" means something so different (influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering. As you explain, "vehere" is the key.
Regards to the rest of the Borgias!
Roddie
Orientate
I do not know about today, but they used to give people orientation courses upon entering new job (history of the company, fringe benefits, etc.) Some trainers speak of their role in "orientating" a new person.
Most language authorities condemn "orientate" as a needless variant of "orient," and they have a point. Why insert an extra syllable?
Other authorities see "orientate," a verb that was backformed from "orientation" during the mid-1800s, as a harmless and acceptable alternative to "orient." Some even say "orientate" trips from the tongue with more natural rhythm and force than "orient."
Britons seem to use "orientate" much more Americans.
Roddie
British recent contributions to American English: "at the end of the day" - "gone missing". Gotta go, now! They are showing "Murder on the Orientate Express".
"Inimical"
inimical \ih-NIM-ih-kul\ (adjective) - 1 : Having the disposition or temper of an enemy; unfriendly; unfavorable. 2 : Opposed in tendency, influence, or effects; antagonistic; adverse.
"The current environment in the office seemed designed to be inimical to anything resembling actual work getting done."
Inimical comes from Late Latin inimicalis, from Latin inimicus, unfriendly, adverse, hostile, from in-, not + amicus, friendly, well-wishing, favorable to, from amare, to love.
Roddie
A license or licence is a document or agreement giving permission to do something. The spelling license is usual in American English. In British English, licence is the noun form, and license is the verb, so a when a licensee has a licence, they are licensed by a Licensing Authority. In Canadian English, the spellings denote different meanings (e.g. a licence to drive would refer to a legal permission, whereas a license to drive could refer to a permission of circumstance.)
Roddie
small beer \small beer\ (noun) - 1 : Weak beer. 2 : Insignificant matters; something of little importance.
(adjective) - 1 : Unimportant; trivial.
"While Mary was concerned that they would be considered insignificant posers by the 'old money' in their neighborhood, Hugh considered that small beer, as their house was one of the most architecturally significant on their block."
Small beer is beer of only slight alcoholic strength; the other senses are derivative.
Explorator? Sounds like a soldier on a search and destroy mission, a blend of explorer and terminator.
Anyway, you should show more respect for your son's mother (tongue,) Alicia.
And now that you mention déjà vu, here's another term for today:
Déjà moo: A strong feeling that you've heard this bull before.
"My wife swore that had been the last cigarette she would ever smoke. However, this was all déjà moo to me."
Roddie
Well, a case of dèjà loo would be worse, huh? Just coined the expression, as I have a teenager in the house with a strong case of that.
Déjà loo: The irresistible tendency to go to the toilet every five minutes to make sure your hair is allright (and exit afterwards leaving the darn lights on!)
Roddie
Woebegone
woebegone \WOE-bee-gon\ (adjective) - 1 : Beset or overwhelmed with woe; immersed in grief or sorrow; woeful. 2 : Being in a sorry condition; dismal-looking; dilapidated; run-down.
"When the lunch bell rang the woebegone employees all trudged joylessly to the cafeteria for their tasteless sustenence."
Woebegone is from Middle English wo begon, from wo (from Old English wa, used to express grief) + begon, past participle of begon, "to go about, to beset," from Old English began, bigan, from bi-, "around, about" + gan, "to go."