Random Sequence: effulgent countenance

"Who shall paint that effulgent countenance as it bent above the brief but exquisite assurance of his happiness?"
--"Adventures of a Bachelor" in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, March 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

effulgent (adjective) = shining, radiant
countenance (noun) = face or facial expression

Maybe he was happy, or maybe he needed to wash his shiny face.

Random Sequence: encomiums of salubrity

"They heard an enthusiastic description of the beauty, salubrity, facilities for hunting, fishing, and other out-door sports of Roaring River, mingled with allusions to the refined hospitality they were to enjoy, and the high standing of their fellow beneficiaries of the present season; an account tallying so exactly in all particulars with Miss Jemima's written encomiums, that an unpleasant suspicion stole upon the minds of the auditors that he was a partner in the concern, and had had his instructions to puff it upon all convenient occasions."
--Marion Harland, "Taking Borders for Company", in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, August 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

salubrity (noun) = the state of being healthful

encomiums (noun) = expressions of high praise

All encomiums are due to those whose sobriety leads to salubrity. Try saying that at your next AA meeting?

The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.

Random Sequence: connubial

"That is true," cried Ben, rushing to the rescue just in time to save poor Simmons from an expressive connubial 'Ahem' -- "very true. I want no better proof of that than the modern game called SCANDAL. Do you play it?"
--Kormah Lynn, "A Few Friends", in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, October 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

connubial (adjective) = of or relating to marriage or a married couple's relationship

I've seen this word before, used only in the phrase "connubial bliss", but was never sure what it meant. I suppose there is also such a thing as "connubial misery" too.

Random Sequence: traducing

"We can never wholly and heartily enjoy ourselves while traducing our equals and neighbors; the operation is always attended with more or less of fear, lest the powerful friend whose regard we do not really wish to forfeit, or whose resentment we would not willingly incur, may hear of our indiscretion, and cause us to suffer for it."
--Augusta H. Worthen, "Servants", in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, March 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

traducing (verb; also traduce) = to damage someone's reputation by speaking badly or telling lies about them.

Say, "Don't traduce me!" the next time someone criticizes you. That will shut them up.

Random Sequence: indite

"There happened to be no one in the office but the [telegraph] operator, who was a stranger to her, and gathering courage from her success thus far, Maggie sat down at a table and tried to compose her thoughts sufficiently to indite a message."
--Marion Harland, "Nobody to Blame", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, April 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

indite (verb) = to write or dictate. It's pronounced exactly like "indict". I'm guessing these are related words. You do have to indite to indict.

Random Sequence: meerschaum

"He packed his cigars, meerschaum, and a travelling case of liquors; then re-seated himself, and smoked at his ease, while the weary, patient woman attended to the rest."
--Marion Harland, "Nobody to Blame", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, June 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

meerschaum = a type of tobacco pipe with a bowl made of a carved, white mineral (hydrous magnesium silicate); also called "sepiolite".

You don't see many of those these days....

The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.

Random Sequence: argent

"Mr. Gilbraith hastened to her, where she drooped under the waning light of the argent chandelier."
--Anonymous, "The Year 1859", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, October 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

argent = silver or silvery white

Every cloud has an argent lining?

The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.

Random Sequence: animadvert on this

"Once I remember animaadverting severely upon the conduct of one who had spoken meanly malicious words of June herself -- words that I felt must wound her in a vital point."
--Marion Harland, "Seven Years", in Godey's Lady Book and Magazine, December 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

animadverting (verb, also "animadvert") = to comment or remark critically, usually with intense disapproval

Hmm, to say "animadverting severely" seems pleonastic.

The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.

Random Sequence: Propitious Weasels

"At nine o'clock, therefore, on the evening of my return, I set out in search of my weasels. The weather was magnificent and the moon at the full. No night could have been more propitious, nevertheless my vigils were vain, for no sign of a weasel appeared, and after waiting till midnight I returned home."
--From "A Ghost Story", translated from the French by Mrs. Annie T. Wood, in Godey's Lady Book and Magazine, April 1864

(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

"propitious" (pro-PEH-shus) = having a good chance of success; favorable

I does seem odd to think of a nocturnal weasel sighting as propitious.

Random Sequence: Feeling 'Peevish'

"It was the evil spirit, discontent, brooding there, and flinging the shadow of its sombre wing over all that darkened the whole moral atmosphere, and transformed the sunlight into gloom. It was discontent that added line after line to the faded, fretful face of Maria Denning, and rendering her a peevish, fault-finding wife, and an unhappy mother."
--from "The Contented Mind", by Mary W. Janvrin, in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, April 1864

(I found a bound copy of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

Synonyms for "peevish" are "petulant", "irritable", "snappish", and "cross". It's not an adjective much used these days, perhaps because it sounds -- or looks -- like it has something to do with "pee". I like the acidic sound of it, though -- it sounds like what it means.

Random Sequence

"The poultry promised by Miss Jemima in her written bill of fare was very slow in coming. For three mortal weeks a crew of chattering hens, lordly roosters, and saucily piping chickens strutted and strolled unmolested in the barnyard, before the covetous eyes of the visitors, while upon the side table ox relieved sheep, and the porcine species contributed an occasional rasher or an unctuous chunk from the barrel of pickle in the cellar."
--from "The Departed Wife", in Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, October 1864

(I found a bound copy of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)

"porcine" = of a pig or pig-like
"unctuous" = affected piousness or moralistic fervor; smooth, suave, or smug to an excessive degree
"rasher" = a thin slice of bacon or ham

I'm not sure how a "chunk" (of pickled pigs' feet?) from a barrel can be unctuous. Nice word, though, and one that should be used more often -- just not about pickles or pigs' feet.