Staffage is the visual arts equivalent of minor characters in a novel. They’re animals or people in the background. Part of the scene, but not the subject.
As I can’t draw, I’m attempting to illustrate this through photos of a crow. In one he’s the central character, the subject – in the other he’s really just staffage. See what I mean?
A hobbledehoy is a clumsy or awkward youth. I was one of them a loooong time ago, though I don’t recall being referred to as such.
Is there a term for a similar adult? If so, that’ll be me now.
To misremember is to remember incorrectly or imperfectly, or to forget. I misremember if I’ve shown you these pictures before …
Go on, guess what a yegg is …
It’s a travelling burglar or safe breaker. Didn’t get it, did you?
We do a lot of travelling, but just about the only thing I take is photos. I like to think I do that with flare 😉
A flintlock is an old type of gun which requires the spark from a flint to fire. It can also mean the device used to produce that spark.
There were flintlock rifles as well as much larger guns which could fire shots weighing up to 32 lb on board HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar.
I didn’t get to keep any description of gun (nor that hat, sadly) but I do have the jacket and a piece of flint just like those which would have been used in a flintlock.
A proclivity is a tendency or an inclination. For example, I have a proclivity to eat cake and wear purple. So much so that I even did both at our wedding – which was a little over thirteen years ago! Doesn’t seem so long.
I was able to stand unaided, we were just pretending that even wearing heels I’m considerably shorter than Gary. Why we were doing that I have no idea. Perhaps we just have a proclivity to be daft?
Care to share any of your proclivities with me?
Concretize means to make something concrete rather than abstract. Concrete in this case meaning ‘existing in material form’ not a mix of sand and cement.
Actually getting on and writing your story, as opposed to just day dreaming about seeing it in a bookshop, will concretize your brilliant idea into something you can submit for publication.
Concretize may also be spelled as concretise.
(This is an old photo of the booksigning for my first ever published book. It’s now available in a newer edition.)
Selective means, using or categorised by selection, or able to select. It can also mean able to tune into a particular frequency without interruption from others.
I’ve been selective in compiling this set of photos – and if anyone says they don’t like them, I shall employ selective hearing!
A sphinx is a creature with a woman’s head and lion’s body. Sometimes it has wings too. Sphinx-like means an enigmatic or inscrutable person.
When people refer to The Sphinx, they generally mean this one at Giza.
Altruism is unselfishness, concern for other people or regard for others. An altruist is a person who behaves altruistically.
Btw, running this website isn’t simply an altruistic action on my part. You’re supposed to be suckered into buying my books!