my personal DNA

brit wit

I have a word of the day for you! I have been listening the news
about the release of journalist Alan Johnston. His fellow journalist
was interviewed about how much Alan was enjoying talking with his BBC colleagues just after his release (after having no one to talk to for 4 months of solitary confinement) and that he was still the same humble, funny and mordant conversationalist.

Ok, so sad mental note #1, can you imagine an American journalist using the word mordant in normal discourse?

And slightly cheery mental note #2, at least we have the Brits.

mordant

Pronunciation: 'mor-d&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French, present participle of mordre to bite, from
Latin mordEre; perhaps akin to Sanskrit mrdnAti he presses, rubs
1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : INCISIVE

My buddy Beth's comment (on receiving the above in email this morning):

Speaking of mordant, especially after such a painful ordeal, he said
he immediately got rid of the haircut with "that just-kidnapped look."

wee mee