agist results

[Ranjit Bhatnagar]

Eric commented:
"Well done, sir, *every* definition looks ridiculous.  And most of us
parsed it as an adjective or adverb, a nice change from the usual
nouns."

And Hutch agreed:
"You've got to be kidding! One of these is the real definition???? 
Since NONE of them look believable, I'll go for the most unusual parts
of speech."

Elliott chimed in:
"The only running theme was the abaft/athwart/along 'a-'.  Other than that,
this word drew a lot of variety, none of it plausible.  Good word!"


And now, with a slight amount of further ado, the results:

We have a 6-pt tie between Fran's catalytic additive and Judith's real
operator.  The true definition is the one about feeding cattle - I
copied the def directly from an online dictionary but I can barely
understand what it's trying to convey.

Meanwhile, how do I choose between Fran's and Judith's defs?  Fran's
definition "sounds like the real one" and is "daring and different." 
Judith's, however, has "verve" and "sounds like a very active word." 
Each got two 2-pt votes and two 1-pt votes and two non-voting
comments.

OK- Judith's def has 9 words, for a total of 2/3rds of a point per
word.  Fran's has 13 words, yielding less than 1/2 point per word.  On
that basis, I award the crown to Judith.  Take it away!

("But Ranjit," I hear you say, "on that basis, '(biol) Having a single
ear' with 5 points is earning a whole point per word.  Isn't that even
better?"  To you I say "shut up.")





David Randall - 2 pts
agist - n. (fr. Czech acronym) - 1) a brand of mayonnaise, produced by
the Czechoslovak state, 1952-1966.  2) (in Czech emigre circles) spoiled
food.  3) (in Czech emigre circles) an informer.
"I like the progresion of these defs, even though I doubt such a brand name
and know nothing of Czech.  1 point."  - Linda
"Of course this reminds me of Thaddeus Kosciusko and
his mustard, even though he is Polish and not Czech.
One point for foreign condiments!" - Nora
"Honorable mention for the government mayo." - Elliott
"Doesn't czech out." - Pierre


Kir (+2 pts for guessing) - 5 pts
AGIST - adj - 1. off-topic; 2. opposing argument or point
2 pts from Judith
1 pt from Fran


Linda - 1 pt
Agist, adj, not having quite the right usage for a word.  "He said
his father was ailing, but that was agist, for there was no diagnosed
ailment, save a slight depression".
1 pt from Judith
"Iffy example. I rather like the def, though." - Kir


Pierre - 4.75 pts (see below!)
agist, adv. In a lying position.
"Nicely simple. But why not lying down, horizontal? Hm." - Kir
"Does this mean 'prone' or 'prevaricating'? Or maybe prone to
prevaricating?" - Linda
2 pts from Hutch
"No, that's 'dormie'!  Or couchant. Eh, whatever, one point." - Eric
1 pt from Jean-Joseph

Pierre's joke def:
agist. Indicates that the speaker recently or merely perfomed some action.
"Agist got home from work."
"Hrmm.  Don't we have a sometimes participant named 'Jed'? One could
imagine a Jed a-sayin' 'agist'." - Aussie, earning Pierre 1/4th pt
"My guess is Arthur." - Linda, for another 1/4th pt
"Heavens, that sounds like Aussie!" - Elliott, bringing Pierre up to
3/4th of a bonus pt


Jean-Joseph - 5 pts
agist - adj. (Biol.) Having a single ear.
"Heh." - Kir
2 pts from David
"This is such a weird def, I just have to vote for it.  1 point" - Linda
2 pts from Fran


Judith - 6 pts
Agist:  A person who gets things done.  A real "operator".
"Not me!" - Kir
"I like this one for verve. One point" - Aussie
"'Agist' really does sound like a very active word." - Linda
2 pts from Eric
1 pt from Pierre
2 pts from Jean-Joseph


Eric - 3 pts
agist, prep. downstream and across the river from. "The Walker
Plantation is agist the old dock."
"Heh. 1 pt." - Kir
"I almost voted for the 'less than 45 degrees', but I like this def
more, and it had a sentence.  1 point" - Linda
1 pt from Hutch
"This sounds familiar ... but I'm not biting." - Elliott


Fran - 6 pts
An additive which mixes particles quickly, enabling a catalyst to work more
effectively.
"A catalyst for a catalyst?" - Kir
1 pt from David
"This is daring and  different.  Two points." - Aussie
"effectively.  ie, a catalyst for a catalyst?" - Linda
"Like an agitator in a bottle.  One point." - Elliott
"Sounds like the real one. Two points." - Pierre


Dictionary - 4 pts
agist, v. t. (Law) To take to graze or pasture, at a certain sum; -
used originally of the feeding of cattle in the king's forests, and
collecting the money for the same.
"I first read 'vt' as Vermont, and thought 'Vermont law? With kings? What?'
Would love to see usage for this. 2 pts anyway." - Kir
"The David Randall Award?" - Linda
"This one has to do somewhat with flora, which my
definition (denied submission by mere seconds!) was
going to be about, so I give it two points." - Nora



eLLioTT
agist (n.) -- An only twin.
"Huh?" - Kir
"And 'My Brother Was An Only Child'. I suppose this means a surviving
twin." - Linda
"What's an only twin? A twin whose twin has died?" - Pierre


Aussie - 2 pts
agist -  (adj.) - Off-course by less than 45 degrees.
"Oy. Big range, there, of off-courseness!" - Kir
"Sorry, out of points." - Linda
"This reminds me of that Bob Seger song 'Agist the
wind, we were running agist the wind.'  And I guess we
were being blown off course.  hehehe..." - Nora
2 pts from Elliott


Nora's def came in too late to use, but she got 2 pts for guessing:
Agist - n. a small, yellow, flower with abundant
foliage of the genus Inula, commonly found in eastern
Europe.