At 2022-11-18T13:29:47+1100, John Gardner wrote: > > an *embolus* in my brain > > $ echo "embolus" >> ~/Words-that-Branden-taught-me.txt > $ cat $_ > inimical, inimicable: harmful; hostile [...]
In the spirit of full disclosure, I don't think the latter form is a standard English word. I don't recall using it, but if I did, it may have been a nonce; I was punning on someone's inimitably inimical nature; or I was simply temporarily(?) demented. If you want an expanded vocabulary, masterful writing, strident opinions, and many pointers to further reading, I cannot but suggest the essays of Christopher Hitchens, who prompted me to create a similar list of words new to me (but which I have now misplaced--sigh). Many people get hung on up on whether he should be recommended or even read based on the content of his opinions; that's beside the point. Great writing is great writing, and if one wants to argue with the author as one goes, mentally practicing one's ripostes makes one a better reader anyway. Bad writing need not be proscribed by gatekeepers; anyone may feel free to give it a glimpse and appreciate its negligible worth with minimal time lost; excellent writing rewards as much time as one invests. groff's purpose is to aid the transmission of written language, and we ill serve its legacy when we distract ourselves with how best to polish marble statues of the Unix operating system and its progenitors. Regards, Branden
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