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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>VETIVER REVEALED—AT LAST!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>We had a lot of choices this time, with close results. We even have a tie
between Fran and Eric—can you solve this dilemma yourselves, or should I
instigate a poetry contest????<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two
persons had to disqualify themselves after vetiver was on its way: Pierre had a
vial of the essential oil, and Ranjit came across an ad for vetiver, just before
he would have voted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Only time
I’ve ever seen this word, until now, is on a bar of soap my husband once bought
at an old-timey store in Westerly, RI, several years ago.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>1) vetiver, n.—the drawcord by which curtains, Venetian blinds, etc. are
opened and shut.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Melissa –2 points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(1-David R, 1 Judith)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ--I’ve repaired Venetian blinds, including replacing this cord, and I
don’t recall this word in the instructions that came with the kit. Not that this
means much.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—I’ve read the legalese on those safety labels, and I don’t think
the cords have a special name.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>2) vetiver, n.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(fr. Mid. Fr.
vestiviere)—1) the queen’s dressing-woman.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>2) a lady’s maid.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By David R—4 points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(2-Elliott, 1-Melissa, 1 Nicholas)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—Nice etymology, but too close to #4.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—very believeable.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Elliott—Plausible etymology; rings true.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">3) vetiver, n.—the larva of the fresh-water mussel.<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>By Pierre—1 point<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Judith-1, Ammocoete award
—JJ)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Nicholas—I don’t think mollusks have
larvae.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Pierre—In case anyone half-remembers “veliger”, I
shall define it as follows.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>4) vetiver, n.—vetiver, n.—a personal attendant to a queen or
princess.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Eric—5 points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(2-David R,
3 for correct guess)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—Bah. I have to choose between two queen’s attendants?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I guess…the first one in the list gets
the point. Sorry, number 4.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Elliott—Oddly similar to 2, but without the etymology. Was Vetiver Cheevy
born too late?</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>5) vetiver, n.—the masonry technique of placing bricks at right angles
and offset to create a herringbone pattern when the wall is complete.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Fran—5 points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(1-Judith,
2-Jean-Joseph, 2-Hutch)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—I like this, even though my confidence in its veracity is
low.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—Isn’t this just called herringbone?</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Elliott—Just doesn’t sound right—the initial “v” makes it too
Romancey.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Linda—I thought it might be “Marquetry??”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Or is that inlaid
wood???</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>6) vetiver, n.—an item of laboratory glassware that measures doses of a
liquid by accumulating the liquid in a beaker that is balanced to tip when a set
level is reached, emptying<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the
contents, and then tip back to begin accumulating the next dose.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Jean-Joseph—2 points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(Honorable mention—Fran, 1-Melissa, 1-Elliott, plus an award for
creativity.)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—A mechanism similar to this is used in some rain gauges, little
buckets that fill up and then tip.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—As awesome as it would be to have one of those little birds as a
scientific device, I don’t think it would measure very
accurately.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Ha ha ha!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A Rube Goldberg
machine for the lab!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ha ha
ha!</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Elliott—there are parties where people drink like that. In fact, you
could make a tasteless novelty Clepsydra where the beaker is in the shape of an
open-mouthed lush—like those fountains where the kid is
peeing.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>7) vetiver, n.—a rope used to halter goats and sheep in south-eastern
Europe.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Judith—0 points</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—they speak a lot of languages in south-eastern
Europe….</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—I feel like such a word would sound –I don’t know, more
Slavic.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>8) vetiver, n.—a bureaucrat whose job it is to confirm that information
on a form is correct and complete.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Nicholas—1 point<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(0 plus
1 point for correct guess).</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—verifier.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Nicholas—verify?</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>9) vetiver, n.—1) an East Indian grass whose roots yield a fragrant oil
used in perfumes. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>2) its fibrous roots, also used for making screens, mats, etc.; also
called <I>cuscus</I>.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, 2<SUP>nd</SUP> Edition -- 4
points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(3 points Eric, 1 point
Nicholas)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—foreign organisms, bah.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>After voting, Yeah, it’s the smelly grass. I almost made the additional
comment along the lines of, “No points, but it’s probably the right
one.”</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Linda--I’m pretty sure there is a large Australian marsupial called a
“cuscus”, but I can’t find it in my dictionary.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—you know, I don’t know what plant cous-cous comes from.
Believable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>[Note from Linda:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>my dictionary says that couscous is a
dish made from baobab leaves, millet, and meat.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My <I>Joy of Cooking</I> from the 60’s
says it is a Near-Eastern dish made by steaming semolina, millet, kasha, or
cracked wheat over a spicy meat, veggie and chickpea stew.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Heck, I buy couscous at the health food
store<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(it says it’s tiny semolina).
For every cup of the dry pasta, you add twice the amount of water and a little
salt, bring to a boil, let sit 5 minutes, and, like rice, pour any kind of sauce
or stew over it.]</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>10) vetiver, n.—in the pre-unification Common Courts of Scotland, the
official whose duty it was to record the names of those present at each
session.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Ranjit—1 and ˝ points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(1-Nicholas, ˝ Jean-Joseph).</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>JJ—Elliott.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nicholas—Another
bureaucrat, sure.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Elliott—Nice!</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>11) vetiver, n.—1) the region of one’s body inaccessible to one’s own
view, such as the temple of crown of the head. 2) (transf.) a character trait,
esp. a flaw, which can be seen by others but not by oneself.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Elliott—3 points<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Fran-2
points, Melissa, 1 point.)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Nicholas—“You scratch my vetiver, I’ll scratch yours.”</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Fran—ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ! I love it!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I remember seeing a comedian on TV
once<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(over 20 years ago) who said,
so you know, no one in this room can see their own ears, right now? Ok, some of
you are going like this [and he moved his eyes back and forth as far to the
right as the would go, as far to the left, and back...]<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Oh, I guess you had to be there. But 2
points for taking me back.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Elliott—Some day I am going to get a ball-point pen and trace the limits
of what I can see of my own body, then get a picture taken so I can see where it
is. The tip of my nose, for instance, is outside the vetiver, but the rest of my
face is inside it.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>12) vetiver, n..—a lavish finial used in illuminated texts.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>By Linda—dummy def or spoiler --2 and ˝ points<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(1-Fran, ˝ Jean-Joseph,
1-Hutch)</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Linda--I was thinking “serif”, but “finial” came to mind—it is actually
used in architecture as a decorative tip on something.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think there is a real word to describe
a lavish end to a stroke, such as on a signature, but I can’t think of the
name.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sorry to affect the results
in any way, but I could not resist participating in the game.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Fran—One point for the simple, straightforward attempt at
plausibility.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Elliott—Ohhh, I wish I knew what a finial was.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If they can be lavish, that narrows it
down a bit, but not enough.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>IN GENERAL, I apologize for the lateness, but I’ve had lots of
babysitting and gardening duties lately, with long naps in between.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And warnings about lightning.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Linda.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Duke it out, Fran and Eric!<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>