{"id":556,"date":"2021-10-15T15:21:18","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T20:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/?p=556"},"modified":"2021-10-16T08:42:18","modified_gmt":"2021-10-16T13:42:18","slug":"word-of-the-week-70-fatuous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/?p=556","title":{"rendered":"W<\/strong>ORD OF THE <\/strong>W<\/strong>EEK <\/strong>#70 \u2013 <\/a>fatuous<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cRe-center the narrative\u201d – This is fatuous<\/strong> babble that somehow means everything in today\u2019s world. So many young folks I meet seem to have the same personal narrative: Change the world. Make the world a better place. These are simple narratives, but simply adding the word \u201csustainable\u201d or \u201cequity\u201d doesn\u2019t change the world. \u2026..Markets are messy. Merit is muddy. Hard work is too hard. Culture is chaotic. Sadly, these don\u2019t make for easy narratives – WSJ<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another great word for the fabulous \u201cWord of the Week\u201d. It is simple, used often by smart people and easy to pronounce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an adjective, fatuous <\/strong>means silly and pointless, inanely foolish, \u201cA fatuous<\/strong> comment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is pronounced kind of like FAT chew us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other recent examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weil neatly disarmed this fatuous<\/strong><\/em> attempt to portray him as an academic with his head in the clouds.\u2014 <\/em>LA Times, 20 July 2021<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did Wilder, in this story, foresee the endless, fatuous<\/strong><\/em> smiling optimism that preceded the Wall Street crash… The New Republic, 28 May 2021<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about this great word and to hear the proper pronunciation go to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/fatuous<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous \u201cWord of the Week\u201d revisited<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

confabulate – to talk normally or to hold a discussion. “He likes to confabulate.”

Phrase of the Week:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPregnant people\u201d  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Per The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, we no longer have pregnant women, instead we have pregnant people.  Is that the definition of fatuous or what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Biden\u2019s federal budget proposal officially calls mothers \u201cbirthing people\u201d I\u2019m guessing that that is the new politically correct way to refer to a woman who has given birth to a child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And no, I didn’t make either of these up. Happy Birthing Person\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what should men be called that contributed 50% to the creation? Instead of fathers perhaps “sperm contributors”?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In California, retail stores that sell toys are now required to have a gender-neutral aisle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The huge cultural changes that are swiftly taking hold are beyond me. Many I feel are fatuous and defy common sense. Re-center the narrative? Clearly I have been left behind, and can’t help but think of my imaginary cabin in the woods, a stone fireplace, a glass of red wine, a comfortable chair with an Irish Setter by my feet, and one of those famous novels I\u2019ve always intended to read\u2026maybe \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d\u2026..happy to let the world move on without me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and maybe an AK-47 next to the setter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quote of the Week:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Orwell 1903 – 1950<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Orwell\u2026.known most famously for the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterized by lucid prose, biting social criticism, opposition to t<\/a>otalitarianism, and outspoken support of democratic socialism. From Wikipedia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his relatively short life, he sure accomplished a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(I note Orwell’s opposition to totalitarianism (authoritarianism), which I think of as a bit like bankruptcy.  The process starts out very slowly and then goes really really fast.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Until next Saturday,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gramps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

70 weeks of great words<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 \u2013   exacerbate \u2013 to make worse \u201cYour input just exacerbates an already difficult situation.\u201d
2-   assuage \u2013 to make a situation or feeling less intense. \u201cI pray our Heavenly Father may assuage you of the anguish of your grief.\u201d.3 \u2013   force majeure\u2019 \u2013  unforeseeable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract. \u201cThe tenant will not be required to pay rent due to the force majeure\u2019 clause.
4 \u2013   sanguine \u2013 <\/a>optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation. \u201cI\u2019m trying to be sanguine about this, but I see a major roadblock\u201d
5 \u2013   segue \u2013 (seg way) proceed to what follows without pause.  \u201cShe has the skill to easily segue from political conversations into subjects less controversial.\u201d
6 \u2013   bifurcate \u2013 to cause to divide into two branches or parts. \u201cWe have decided to bifurcate this large project.\u201d
7 \u2013   indolent \u2013 habitually lazy \u2013 \u201cHis failure in life may stem from his indolent ways as a youth\u201d.
8 \u2013   ameliorate \u2013 to make better or more tolerable \u2013  \u201cthis drug should ameliorate your pain\u201d
9 \u2013 <\/a>truncate \u2013 to shorten by or as if by cutting off \u2013 \u201cA truncated version of this report is on the web.\u201d
10 \u2013 nascent \u2013 coming or having recently come into existence  \u201cHis nascent idea for a business turned into a goldmine\u201d
11 \u2013 b\u00e9chamel \u2013 a rich white sauce \u2013 \u201cHe made a lump-free b\u00e9chamel for her, and, in return, she gave him her love.\u201d
12 \u2013 anarchy \u2013  absence of government \u2013 \u201cThe revolution began when anarchy took root in just one city\u201d.
13 \u2013 rhetorical question \u2013 a question not intended to require an answer. \u201cIs this a beautiful day or what?\u201d
14 \u2013 milieu \u2013 the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops.- \u201cHis discipline is a result of growing up as part of the military milieu\u201d
15 \u2013 nadir \u2013 the lowest point \u2013 \u201cThe stock market reached its current nadir in March\u201d
16 \u2013 black swan event \u2013 comes as a surprise and has a major effect. \u201cThis pandemic is considered by many to be a black swan event.\u201d
17 \u2013 myopic \u2013 narrow in perspective and without concern for broader implications.  \u201cYour myopic view of this project is disturbing\u201d.
18 \u2013 quixotic \u2013 foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals \u2013 \u201cHis quixotic pursuit for her affection was quite simply foolish.\u201d
19 \u2013 prescience \u2013 human anticipation of the course of events \u2013 foresight.  \u201cHis intuitive prescience helped to make him a success\u201d
20 \u2013 laconic and laconic riposte \u2013 use of a minimum of words, and a short clever response to an insult or challenge. In response to a demand to immediately surrender the general sent back the following: Nuts\u201d21 \u2013 protean \u2013 ability to change, versatile.  \u201cThe coronavirus is protean in its ability to either make you sick or not.\u201d
22 \u2013 ephemeral \u2013 lasting a very short time or perhaps only one day. \u201cCuster was chasing an ephemeral Indian city.\u201d
23 \u2013 catch-22 \u2013 a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.  From the novel \u201cCatch-22\u201d.
24 \u2013 arrogate \u2013 to take or claim something without justification. \u201cIn order to accomplish his dream he arrogated to himself controversial powers\u201d.
25 \u2013 obtuse \u2013 difficult to understand, lacking intellect.  \u201cThe responses to his remarks this week were even more obtuse.\u201d 
26 \u2013 purloin \u2013 to appropriate wrongfully (steal), often pertaining to a theft that is a breach of trust.  \u201cWhen she opened her new office she purloined one of my listings\u201d.
27 \u2013 salience \u2013 the quality of being particularly noticeable or important.  \u201cIt is not clear that raising the electoral salience of the Supreme Court will work to the president\u2019s advantage.
28 \u2013 confabulate \u2013 to talk normally or to hold a discussion.  \u201cHe likes to confabulate.\u201d
29 \u2013 animus \u2013 a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will. \u201cI have no animus or agenda for the Affordable Care Act.\u201d
30 \u2013 puerile \u2013 to act or communicate in a juvenile, silly or childish manner. \u201cHis puerile ways are giving a poor impression at his job interviews\u201d.
31 \u2013 regnant \u2013 having the greatest influence \u2013 \u201cThe regnant belief\u201d.
32 \u2013 roil \u2013 to be agitated or chaotic \u2013 \u201cthe politics of slavery was roiling the United States\u201d.
33 \u2013 sonder \u2013 The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
34 \u2013 inculcate \u2013 To instill or teach someone an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction. \u201cThey will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture.\u201d
35 \u2013 mendacity \u2013 untruthfulness, lying. \u201cHe blew the whistle on the mendacity of the politician.\u201d
36 \u2013 pejorative \u2013 Expressing contempt or disapproval.  Having negative connotations.   \u201cPermissiveness is often used a pejorative term\u201d.
37 \u2013 dystopian \u2013 A world or society in which people lead wretched, dehumanized fearful lives, often associated with a totalitarian government or an environmentally degraded world. \u201cThe dystopian future of a society bereft of reason\u201d.
38 \u2013 Occam\u2019s razor \u2013 The simplest answer may be the preferred answer.
39 \u2013 execrate or execrable \u2013 very bad \u2013 \u201cThe execrable hotel food.\u201d
40 \u2013 immutable \u2013 unchangeable \u2013 Do not make the mistake of assuming that public opinion is immutable.   
41 \u2013 prurient \u2013 having or encouraging an excessive or unwholesome interest in matters of sex. 
 \u201cShe\u2019d been the subject of much prurient curiosity\u201d.
42 \u2013 obsequious \u2013 exhibiting fawning attentiveness. Exaggerated deference of manner.  \u201cWaiters who are obsequious in the presence of celebrities.\u201d
43 \u2013 iconoclast \u2013  a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions \u201cHe was a prolific writer with a reputation for iconoclastic insight and irreverent prose.\u201d
44 \u2013 oblique \u2013 something not parallel nor at a right angle to a specified or implied line \u2013 slanting.
\u201cWe sat on the settee oblique to the fireplace. Or something not done in a direct way such as \u201cHe issued an oblique attack on the president\u201d.
45 \u2013 profligate \u2013 wasteful \u2013 wildly extravagant.  \u201cHe has always been a profligate spender, which is why he is broke.\u201d
46 \u2013 raconteur \u2013 a good teller of stories.  \u201cWe always invite her to dinner because she is a fine raconteur\u201d.
47 \u2013 taciturn \u2013 a person who is reserved or uncommunicative in speech\u2026saying little.  It usually connotes unsociability. \u201cNothing bothered the taciturn <\/strong>Hogan more that excessive praise.\u201d<\/em>
48 \u2013 fungible \u2013 capable of mutual substitution: interchangeable\/  \u201cThe court\u2019s postulate is that male and female jurors must be regarded as fungible<\/strong>.\u201d
<\/em>49 \u2013 filibuster \u2013 The use of tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly. This currently requires a 60 vote Senate majority. \u201cThey stopped the bill from coming to a vote by the use of a filibuster\u201d.
<\/em>50 \u2013 hegemony \u2013 preponderant influence or authority over others: Domination. \u201cThey battled for hegemonyin Asia.\u201d<\/em>
51 \u2013 de facto \u2013 being such in effect though not formally recognized or contrary to established law \u201ca de facto state of war\u201d <\/em>for a war that has not been officially declared.
52 \u2013 blockchain \u2013 an open, distributed leger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.
53 \u2013 b\u00eate noire \u2013 A person or thing one particularly dislikes or is strongly detested. \u201cThe abuse of women was a b\u00eate noire for Lincoln.\u201d
54 \u2013 evince -\u201cto constitute outward evidence of\u2026.to display clearly: reveal. \u201cHe evinced a depraved mind.\u201d
55 \u2013 virago \u2013 a loud overbearing woman.  Domineering, violent, or bad tempered. \u201cDemocrats, on the other hand, saw Jessie as a Republican virago.\u201d
56 \u2013 metonym \u2013  a name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated. \u201cWashington is a metonym for the federal government of the US.\u201d<\/em>
57 \u2013 felicitous is an adjective and is defined as   well chosen or suited to the circumstances such as \u201ca felicitous phrase\u201d.
58 \u2013 ennui \u2013 a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. \u201cHe succumbed to ennui and despair\u201d
59 \u2013 Imprimatur is a noun meaning sanction or approval. \u201cHe gave the book his imprimatur.\u201d
60 \u2013 fiat \u2013 A command or act of will that creates something without further effort.  An authoritative determination. \u201cHe runs the company by fiat.\u201d<\/em>
61 <\/em>\u2013 salient \u2013 <\/em>meaning most notable or important.  Of notable significance. \u201cIt succinctly covered all the salient point of the case.\u201d<\/em>
62 \u2013<\/em> meme \u2013 an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.  \u201cThe band encouraged fans to make memes to advertise the U.S. release of their EP.\u201d<\/em>
63 \u2013  <\/em>delectation \u2013 <\/em>delight or enjoyment. \u201cHere are some chocolates for your delectation.\u201d<\/em>
64 \u2013 feckless \u2013 acting in an irresponsible, weak, or cowardly manner. Inept, incompetent. \u201cfeckless leadership.\u201d<\/em>
65 \u2013 Ignominious \u2013 Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame. despicable, \u201cHis was an ignominious withdrawal.\u201d<\/em>
66 \u2013 mollify \u2013 to soothe in temper or disposition. \u201c<\/em>He mollified his staff with promises of future raises.\u201d
67 – prosaic – dull, unimaginative, commonplace. “prosaic advice.”<\/em>
68 – diaspora – a noun meaning the dispersion of any people from their original homeland. “A diaspora of thousands of Afghans has arrived in the United States.”<\/em>
69 – t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate – a private conversation between two people. “They had a t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate last night over a quiet dinner.<\/em>
70 – fatuous – silly and pointless. inanely foolish, \u201cA fatuous comment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cRe-center the narrative\u201d – This is fatuous babble that somehow means everything in today\u2019s world. So many young folks I meet seem to have the same personal narrative: Change the world. Make the world a better place. These are simple narratives, but simply adding the word \u201csustainable\u201d or \u201cequity\u201d doesn\u2019t change the world. \u2026..Markets are … Continue reading W<\/strong>ORD OF THE <\/strong>W<\/strong>EEK <\/strong>#70 \u2013 <\/a>fatuous<\/strong><\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=556"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":578,"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556\/revisions\/578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordofweek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}