teleological
(en)
the philosophical attempt to describe things in terms of their apparent intrinsic purpose, directive principle, or goal, irrespective of human use or opinion
13
A nerve-rich sense organ right between the sharpest, hardest bones powered by the strongest muscles: There was antiteleological argument.
(the tongue)
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
A nerve-rich sense organ right between the sharpest, hardest bones powered by the strongest muscles: There was antiteleological argument.
(the tongue)
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
dialectic
(en)
a discourse between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject but wishing to establish the truth through reasoned arguments
20
"[...] I wanted to see the final swing of the materialist dialectic. [...]"
Cory's boss, Taren (his voice is wholly unconvincing)
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
"[...] I wanted to see the final swing of the materialist dialectic. [...]"
Cory's boss, Taren (his voice is wholly unconvincing)
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
realpolitik
(en)
(noun) politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives
34
She knew the shady pragmatics of small business ownership had shaped his cynical realpolitik
Cory's dad
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
She knew the shady pragmatics of small business ownership had shaped his cynical realpolitik
Cory's dad
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
lariat
(en)
(noun) a rope used as a lasso or for tethering
36
A lariat of stress tightened around Cory's ribs.
great word
unknown
7 years, 3 months ago
A lariat of stress tightened around Cory's ribs.
great word
unknown
7 years, 3 months ago
nacre
(en)
(noun) mother-of-pearl
47
trellis
(en)
(noun) a frame of latticework used as a screen or as a support for climbing plants / (noun) a construction (as a summerhouse) chiefly of latticework / (noun) an arrangement that forms or gives the effect of a lattice / (verb) to provide with a trellis / (verb) to train (as a vine) on a trellis / (verb) to cross or interlace on or through; interweave
55
Had he grown around the trellis of stereotype or was he maliciously complying with it?
Will, on dating Vanya being the only non-stereotypical thing he's ever done
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
Had he grown around the trellis of stereotype or was he maliciously complying with it?
Will, on dating Vanya being the only non-stereotypical thing he's ever done
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
valorization
(en)
give or assign a value to, especially a higher value: "The prophets valorized history"
64
guys wearing T-shirts of the tech companies they worked for, or that guy wearing ... cat ears? Cultures of permission valorized bad taste as liberation. Ecosystems needed predators. Yet San Francisco was nothing if not vegetarian.
kinda funny and not all that wrong
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
guys wearing T-shirts of the tech companies they worked for, or that guy wearing ... cat ears? Cultures of permission valorized bad taste as liberation. Ecosystems needed predators. Yet San Francisco was nothing if not vegetarian.
kinda funny and not all that wrong
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
sfumato
(en)
(noun) the definition of form in painting without abrupt outline by the blending of one tone into another
71
Like every day before, the weather was keen blue, dusty sunlight throwing a sfumato over everything.
if only the rest of the book had been written like this
confirm
7 years, 3 months ago
Like every day before, the weather was keen blue, dusty sunlight throwing a sfumato over everything.
if only the rest of the book had been written like this
confirm
7 years, 3 months ago
abjure
(en)
(verb) to renounce upon oath / (verb) to reject solemnly / (verb) to abstain from; avoid
76
Abjuring friendship, Linda had plowed through the English major requirements in two years.
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
Abjuring friendship, Linda had plowed through the English major requirements in two years.
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
pleonasm
(en)
(noun) the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense (as in the man he said); redundancy
77
ease up on academic pleonasms, e.g., "employ" vs. "use", "explicate" vs. "explain",
this just felt like the author jerking off about feedback he had gotten
notable
7 years, 3 months ago
ease up on academic pleonasms, e.g., "employ" vs. "use", "explicate" vs. "explain",
this just felt like the author jerking off about feedback he had gotten
notable
7 years, 3 months ago