Definitions

helot: (n) 1. One of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta, intermediate in status between the ordinary slaves and the free Spartan citizens.
2. A serf, a bondsman.

sempstress: (n) A seamstress.

rostrum: (n) 1. The platform or stand for public speakers in the Forum of ancient Rome, adorned with the beaks of ships taken from the Antiates in 338 B.C.; also, that part of the Forum in which this was situated.
2. Also applied to the orators' stand in the Athenian assembly.
3. A platform, stage, stand, etc., adapted for public speaking.
4. A pulpit.
5. The platform as an institution.
6. A platform for a policeman when superintending the traffic at a crossing.
7. In Theatre: Any platform, from a small dias for a throne to a vast battlement, placed on the stage. It is usually made with a removable top and hinged sides, to fold flat for packing. It is reached by steps or a ramp, and quitted off-stage by 'lead off' steps.
8. In Cinematography and Television: A platform used to support a camera empolyed in the filming of animated sequences and the like.
9. A beak-like projection from the prow of a warship.
10. The beak or nose of an alembic or still.
11. The nozzle of a pair of bellows.
12. A crooked scissors which the surgeons in some cases make use of for the dilatation of wounds. (obs.)
13. An instrument wherewith paper is ruled for musical compositions. (obs.)
14. In Zoology: A beak or snout; an oral apparatus of an elongated form.
15. A process or formation resembling a beak.
16. In Botany: Any rigid prolongation of remarkable length, or to any additional process at the end of any of the parts of a plant.

alembic: (n) An apparatus formerly used in distilling, consisting of a cucurbit or gourd-shaped vessel containing the substance to be distilled, surmounted by the head or cap, or alembic proper, the beak of which conveyed the vaporous products to a receiver, in which they were condensed. It is now superseded by the retort and worm still.

retort: (n) 1. A vessel generally made of glass, but occasionally of metal or earthenware, and provided with a long neck, curved downwards, in which liquids, etc., subjected to distillation are heated.
2. A vessel in which mercury is separated from amalgam or impurity by volatilisation.
3. A clay or iron receptacle, forming a cylinder or segment of one, in which coal is heated for the production of gas.
4. A furnace in which iron is heated with carbon, in order to produce steel.

beeve: (n) An ox.

improvisatrice: (n) A woman who improvises.

ignis fatuus: (n) A phosphorescent light seen hovering or flitting over marshy ground, and supposed to be due to the spontaneous combustion of an inflammable gas (phosphuretted hydrogen) derived from decaying organic matter; popularly called will-o'-the-wisp, Jack-a-lantern, etc. It seems to have been formerly a common phenomenon; but is now exceedingly rare. (I wonder why?) When approached, the ignus fatuus appeared to recede, and finally to vanish, sometimes reappearing in another direction. This led to the notion that it was the work of a mischievous sprite, intentionally leading benighted travellers astray. Hence the term is commonly used allusively or figuratively for any delusive guiding principle, hope, aim, etc.

intort: (v) To twist or curl inwards. Perhaps only in the pa. pple. intorted, twisted or curled inwards; twisted, wreathed, involved, literally and figuratively.

defluous: (adj) Flowing down; also, falling off, shedding.

refulgent: (adj) 1. Shining with, or reflecting, a brilliant light; raidiant, resplendent, gleaming.
2. As a term of compliment applied to a lady.

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Ironically, although I slept better last night than I usually do on Friday nights, I actually feel more tired today than on most Saturdays. Perhaps it was a case of getting almost, but not quite enough, sleep being worse than not getting anywhere near enough. At least I have time after work and before the SLIS party to take a nice refreshing nap.

Excellent progress with Róisín last night. I had blocked off her two favourite hiding spaces (not that she can't find more, but like I did with Robin, I'm trying to slowly force her to be comfortable out in the open) so she had taken up residence under the coffee table. The way our coffee table is set up, it has a beam running along the floor on all four sides, with an open space between the beam, the legs, and the table top. I spent some time petting her, then moved to the end of the table and sat on the floor and put my hand just inside the enclosed space under the table. She came up to the edge to be petted again, and I would oblige, and then move my hand just out from under the table. After awhile she was sticking her head as far out from under the table as she could without stepping over the beam, and then finally, she tentatively stepped out with her two front legs on the outside and her two back legs still under the table. That's as far as she would come, but it's still a vast improvement over before. It probably helped that Robin kept coming up to be petted too. They seem to like each other rather well now. He would stick his head under the table and they'd rub faces together. So cute. And she was purring the entire time. Róisín has a strange purr. Robin's is a pretty constant rumble, but hers seems to hitch like a dying car engine. I wonder if that's just the way she always purrs, or if it's because she's still tentative about this whole strange person thing. I guess I'll find out eventually.

I'm trying to read Little Women for class on Tuesday and it's not going very well. I'm just very much not in a Little Women mood. Still, must persevere. I'm supposed to have at least most of the novel read by Tuesday, and it's a pretty long novel.

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I'm about to head off to the SLIS party. Don't know how long I'll stay. Since I haven't been in any library classes this semester, I don't know if there will be anyone there besides evilyn that I know. Not going to bother with the costume thing, although I am dressing all one colour. It felt appropriate both for the season and for my mood.