Podcast talk:The Son Also Rises

RDM's Word of the Week

stal·wart /ˈstɔlwərt/ [stawl-wert]
–adjective
1. strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust.
2. strong and brave; valiant: a stalwart knight.
3. firm, steadfast, or uncompromising: a stalwart supporter of the U.N.
–noun
4. a physically stalwart person.
5. a steadfast or uncompromising partisan: They counted on the party stalwarts for support in the off-year campaigns.
[Origin: 1325–75; ME (Scots), var. of stalward, earlier stalwurthe; see stalworth]

—Related forms
stal·wart·ly, adverb
stal·wart·ness, noun

This one far outstrips any RDM Words of the Week I've encountered so far :) (It should be noted though that it was Terry who actually said it) --Catrope^{(Talk to me or e-mail me)} 07:39, 16 March 2007 (CDT)

From the podcast for "A Day in the Life":

har·ri·dan (hăr'ĭ-dn) pronunciation

n. A woman regarded as scolding and vicious.

[Possibly from French haridelle, gaunt woman, old horse, nag.]

RDM uses some pretty obscure diction at times, but this was one of the few words that I've had to straight up look up to figure out what it meant (and how to spell it).--Steelviper 07:49, 16 March 2007 (CDT)

Well "stalwart" wasn't the only word I had to look up, but thank the Gods is easy to spell. "Qualms" was also a new word for me, but at least you can make up its meaning from the context. --Catrope^{(Talk to me or e-mail me)} 08:38, 16 March 2007 (CDT)

I don't think "stalwart" is that difficult. It's not exactly rare or exotic. --Serenity 08:47, 16 March 2007 (CDT)

It's not too difficult to spell either, but I think a lot of people (even native Americans) don't know what it means. Same with harridan, and a range of other words RDM uses. --Catrope^{(Talk to me or e-mail me)} 09:45, 16 March 2007 (CDT)