coaptation n.— «Mr. Gordon calls his staging a “coaptation” of the play—a neologism suggesting a little co-opting and a little adapting. In truth, the balance is tipped in favor of co-opting, with unrewarding results...
bligey n.— «My unconscious coined a new word in my dream last night: “bligey.” It’s like the opposite of a favor. It’s something you do not out of the kindness of your own heart, but because you’re obliged to do so...
circuit bending n.— «Circuit-bending reinforces the unique characteristics of physical instrumentation, without which discourse among electronic musicians might end up becoming little more than the sharing of home-coded subroutines (or...
tip-on n.— «One firm has taken the whole back page; another is featured on the spine. A refrigerator magnet—or “tip-on,” in BellSouth parlance—is adhered to the front.» —“Attorneys favor high-visibility...
receipt n.— «If you hurt your opponent for real, he might “get a receipt,” or return the favor. “It’s like a waltz,” yells Ed, counting off a one-two-three rhythm. “Your opponent is really your partner...
rat n.— «A rat, in the parlance of Connecticut state legislators, is a bill or an amendment slipped in quietly to favor a friend or a special interest. Two Hartford City Council members recently schemed to sneak through a rat. They had...