Good morning, Friends & Refugees, Early Birds & Later Dayers, Conversants & Lurkers milling around at the Report. Hey there Phamily, Misfits & Political Homeless at Phetasy, all you Freethinkers at Outspoken, and finally the home crew of ADD Irregulars, WSN Curators, and Curmudgeons! Happy Friday to all of my digital neighbors!
 
Friday is the word of the day, and a new book came into my possession for more fun with words. There’s a Word for It by Charles Harrington Elster looks like it will be a fun book to explore. From the introduction:
 
“There’s a Word for It is an open-hearted invitation to become a moonstruck wayfarer in the multivious world of words. Imbibe its contents as an antidote to omnistrain, the stress of trying to cope with everything at once (otherwise known as everyday life).”
 
The book groups various words by topical relationship. I'm just beginning to poke around in it. Here are a few fun (and forgotten) words for the less desirable actors among us—beggars, thieves, spongers, and other scoundrels.
 
Too often the world of words is suspect: too much manipulation, distortion, and lying to put much trust in speech or the words that form it. I doubt we will ever get back to those magical days of wanting a parent or older sibling to read to us and treating words as magical, but I do enjoy trying to rediscover their playfulness. Happy Friday, my friends!
 
AutemDivers: Pickpockets who prey on churchgoers.
Cosherer: One who lodges and eats at the expense of someone else, especially a relative.
Mollbuzzer: A pickpocket or purse-snatcher who preys upon women.
Schnorrer: A professional panhandler or chiseler, especially one who is clever, pushy, and a smooth talker.