#11 : Cypher : noun

1. a method of secret writing using substitution or transposition of letters according to a key
2. a secret message
3. the key to a secret message
4. an obsolete name for zero
5. any of the Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc, to 9) or the Arabic system of numbering as a whole
6. a person or thing of no importance; nonentity
7. a design consisting of interwoven letters; monogram
8. music a defect in an organ resulting in the continuous sounding of a pipe, the key of which has not been depressed.


verb
1. to put (a message) into secret writing
2. (intr)(of an organ pipe) to sound without having the appropriate key depressed
3. rare to perform (a calculation) arithmetically


Wow that's a lot of definitions! We saw this sign on a walk along the canal today and didn't really know what it meant, so I guess in a way it is a cypher, understandable only to those in the know!

#11 : interpolation : in-tur-puh-LEY-shuhn : noun

1. The act or process of introducing something additional or extraneous between other parts
2. Something interpolated, as a passage introduced into a text.
3. Mathematics. A. The process of determining the value of a function between two points at which is has prescribed values. B. A similar process using more than two points at which the function has prescribed values. C. The process of approximating a given function by using its values at a discrete set of points.


This is from a ma-HOO-sive electronics text book that I was given recently. I have no idea what it's showing because the book is from 1976 so it's all out of date... oh well.

#10 : Fusty : FUHS - tee : adjective

1. Having a stale smell; moldy; musty.
2. Old-fashioned or out-of-date, as architecture, furnishings, or the like.
3. Stubbornly conservative or old-fashioned; fogyish.


Another thing snapped in the JungleLand christmas decorations! Slightly bizarre and definitely old fashioned!

#9 : Adventive : ad-VEN-tiv : adjective

1. Not native and usually not yet well established, as exotic plants or animals.
noun
1. A not native and usually not yet well established plant or animal.


This is a picture of the base of a christmas tree they'd recently put in JungleLand, St. John's Garden Centre, Barnstaple. It doesn't look that well established yet!

#8 : Solatium : soh-LEY-shee-uhm : noun

1. Something given in compensation for inconvenience, loss or injury.

2. Law. Damages awarded to a plaintiff as compensation for personal suffering or grief arising from injury.

This is a difficult word! What on earth?!

Anyway...

:-)

Hiemal : HAHY-uh-muhl : adjective

1. Of or pertaining to winter; wintry.


Happy christmas everyone!


As it's christmas day, I didn't put much effort into this photo and it's somewhat predictable. It's a christmas tree!

:-)

#6 : canticle : KAN-ti-kuhl : noun

1. A song, poem, or hymn especially of praise
2. One of the nonmetrical hymns or chants, chiefly from the bible, used in church services.


I feel like there's a bit of a theme going on with these "word of the day"s... It's a bit like it's Christmas or something.


Anyway, here's today's picture. Fairly unimaginative again but it's been a busy day!

:-)