This week's theme: There is a word for it. velleity (vuh-LEE-i-tee) noun
Volition at its faintest. [From Latin velle (to wish), ultimately from Indo-European root wel- (to wish, will) which is also the ancestor of well, will, wealth, wallop, gallop, voluptuous, and voluntary.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=velleity Finally, a word to describe a few of those things we can't wait to do: filling out tax forms, for example. Velleity is volition at its weakest. It's a mere wish or inclination, without any accompanying effort. But who could tell just by looking at the word? So next time you're late in filing your tax return and the tax department sends a reminder, just send them a polite letter vouching for your velleity. The taxman will think the check (or cheque, as our Canadian grammar guru Carolanne Reynolds would write) is coming soon and you've been completely forthright. -Anu Garg (gargATwordsmith.org) "Croatia briefly mouthed velleities about inviting the Serbs to return. But last week, Croatia's President, Franjo Tudjman, expressed his true sentiments." Roger Cohen; Finally Torn Apart, The Balkans Can Hope; The New York Times; Sep 3, 1995. Sponsors' Messages: Try an awesome stress reliever: Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty! In adult-sized handfuls and amazing colors, http://puttyworld.com The delights of "Prinderella and the Since," "Beeping Sleauty," and 41 other tales twisted by Col Stoopnagle can be yours from http://stoneandscott.com ............................................................................ In some circumstances, the refusal to be defeated is a refusal to be educated. -Margaret Halsey, novelist (1910-1997) Looking for a word/quotation previously featured in AWAD? Archives are at http://wordsmith.org/awad/archives.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/velleity.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/velleity.ram Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/velleity.html This message was sent to "[email protected]".
