October 20, 2015

SMC links every day to A.Word.A.Day website.  Most days I barely glance at the word of the day, and when I do, I usually know it and maybe smile at a more obscure word finally seeing the light of day (even if just one day in the limelight). Rarely do I come across words I not only don't know, but can't even guess at what they might mean.  Then, this week, A.Word.A.Day has devoted itself to words with Dutch origins.  And I am tickled.

Today's word is "toenadering," meaning "establishing or re-establishing of cordial relations, especially between nations."  I have never heard of toenadering before, but certainly see it occupying a valuable place in my lexicon moving forward.  What better dirty-sounding word to use when your frosty interactions with a pissed significant other wear off and you are both ready to kiss and make up ("c'mon, dear, let's toenader and make up!").

More important "toenadering" is a word necessary to breach some of the disputes that plague academia.  Look at all the recent Inside Higher Ed stories that are improved with a little toe-nadering.

"Civil War in UMass Chemical Engineering Department" -- "Toenadering unlikely to occur until department chair steps down."

"Protest and Counterprotest over Mississippi Flag" -- "Confederate-supporting faction denounces governor's attempt at toenadering. 'Every southern state has a law specifically forbidding such heathen activity,' proclaims Billy Bob Bunco.

"Southeastern Conference Asks Jeb Bush to Stop Selling Beer Accessories" -- "The campaign will continue regardless of the political pressure to gerrymander, filibuster, or toenader," cites a Bush spokesperson.

"Petitions and Protest Against Columbus Day"  -- "'Heck, no, we won't toenader,' said one government official who wished to remain anonymous. 'America was discovered by Chris Columbus not Abel Tasman.'"

"Byron College Restricts Faculty Meetings"  -- "Faculty overwhelmingly give a vote of no confidence to potential toenadering."

There are other words I really wish got into more higher ed stories:

"Flummox" -  "I dropped the ball and I flummoxed, pure and simple." University of Michigan kicker.  If a U of M student doesn't use flummox, what hope does it have?

"Exdysiast" -- "A Louisville spokesperson chastisted the media for referencing 'strippers' hired for recruits. 'They were clearly exdysiasts.'"

"Pettifogger" -- "The new [fill in the blank] university president quickly became known to the faculty as a master level pettifogger."

"Retardataire" -- "The donor criticized the university's 'retardtaire' style in the new library.  The college criticized the donor for his language, saying he should have called it "learning-disability-taire."

Look, America is being dumbed down anyway by a watered down education system.  The least we can do is send people to their dictionaries when they read about us.