Hallo,
I’ve been burning the proverbial candle at both ends (quite possible with rushlights apparently, hence the expression – it gave more light) in the last few days. First it was my DH’s 40th birthday, a good night and a late one, then last night I ran out of time during daylight hours to return critiques on my online fiction critiquing group, forcing me to read and comment into the wee small hours.
The result, of course, was tiredness and yawning.
Or should I say pandiculation? Pronounced pan-dick-cul-ay-shun, this term describes the yawning and stretching we do, especially upon waking. Such a long word for a simple act. And there’s another – oscitation (pronounciation audio file available there). But did you know there’s also oscitancy? Yes, it’s the state of being drowsy, inattentive, and dull. It makes me think of endless office meetings and tedious, repetitive lessons in school. Of course I was quick to remind judgemental bosses and teachers that yawning is mainly to do with balancing the pressure on the ear-drums and unrelated to tiredness or boredom. They never believed me.
Considering oscillation refers to the regular swinging of, for example, a pendulum or pocket watch, perhaps there’s a word link between sway of a watch and the oscitancy trance the hypnotist seeks to impose on their subject?
I think I’ll beware of excessive pandiculation tomorrow, and retire early this evening,
happy reading, writing, and wordfooling this week,
Grace
Wordfoolery 