A note about The Cuddlywumps Chronicles

This blog is written and maintained by Miss Cuddlywumps, a fluffy-tailed calico cat who is both classically educated and familiar with mysteries. She receives creative input from the Real Cats and clerical assistance from She of Little Talent (old SoLT, a.k.a. Roby Sweet). Comments or complaints should be addressed to Miss C rather than to old SoLt (Ms. Sweet). Ms. Sweet accepts no responsibility for Miss C's opinions.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Words with Webster: Crepuscular, Plus Friendly Fill-Ins


We have two fun Friday features for you today. First up is Real Cat Webster, who has an enlightening word to share. After that, it’s on to Friendly Fill-Ins!

Words with WebsterWords with Webster

Hi, everybody! It’s me, Real Cat Webster. Welcome to Words with Me. Today’s word is “crepuscular.” I picked this word because we cats are crepuscular. According to my favorite dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s, it means “active in the twilight.” Cats are most active at dawn and dusk (those are the times me and Paisley get the crazies sometimes and run around a lot), so that’s why we’re crepuscular. Other crepuscular animals are rabbits, deer, possums, skunks, bobcats, fireflies, and owls.

“Crepuscular” has been used to describe the habits of animals since at least 1826, according to this quote from the Oxford English Dictionary:

Crepuscular insects. (William Kirby and William Spence, An introduction to entomology; or, Elements of the natural history of insects, IV. Xlix.525)

I know, that was a really boring quote, right? So I went back earlier, to 1668, the earliest recorded use of “crepuscular,” with the meaning “resembling twilight; dim, indistinct,” and found this quote:

And perhaps I might have lost the Crepuscular remains of my Sight. (Royal Society Philosophical Transactions 3.730.)

Well, it’s not Shakespeare, but I guess it’ll have to do.

Cat by the sea at twilight. Image via Adobe Stock.

Our word today came to English straight from the Latin crepusculum, meaning “twilight, dusk.”

Finally, here’s a fun fact Mommy remembers from her eight-grade science class: Those cool shafts of light you see sometimes when the sun shines through clouds are called "crepuscular rays."

Crepuscular rays over the Baltic Sea. Image via Adobe Stock.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Friendly Fill-insAnd now it’s time for Friendly Fill-Ins, from 15andmeowing and McGuffy’s Reader. They are a fun way to learn a little bit about the authors of the blogs you read. The first two questions, answered by old SoLT this week, are from Ellen of 15andmeowing, and the next two, answered by Real Cat Paisley, are from Annie of McGuffy’s Reader.

Old SoLT’s answers:
1. The best part of last week was I finally got over the cold I had.

2. The worst part of last week was I had a bad cold most of the week.

Real Cat Paisley’s answers:
3. Napping is a Winter project that I will be working on.

4. A holiday gift that I always buy for someone is nothing—Mommy never lets me have any money, and I can’t get her credit card out of her wallet!


9 comments:

  1. Well, Da Boyz are NOT crepuscular...they are crazy morning, noon and night! But I have to admit the twilight and dawn are favorite times for me.

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  2. Thank you, I learned a new word :) And thank you for participating in the fill-ins, great answers. I am glad you are feeling better. And Paisley, a well placed furball always makes a nice gift-homemade is so special :) Have a nice weekend. XO

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  3. Our cats fight and are most active from about 8pm to 1am. They fight almost every single night as soon as The Boy goes to bed (between 11 and 12) and while we're watching TV in the family room (8-10). I think they start playing and somekitty crosses the boundary so it turns into a fight. We agree with Paisley's winter project - we're totally on board!!!

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  4. I've never heard that word before! Mudpie is usually napping at dusk and comes alive around midnight LOL. Glad you're feeling better. For the past month every couple days I feel crappy like I'm coming down with something, then it goes away. (Paisley, you don't get an allowance?)

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  5. Crepuscular...what a wonderful word! Mommy would love to be able to fit it into her writing...purrhaps when she talks about changing the navigation colours at different times of the day...
    We are glad you are feeling better...having a cold is cruddy.
    Purrs
    Marv

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  6. Well, we're sure you'd buy lots of nice gifts if you could get that credit card, Paisley. :)

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  7. I am happy to hear you are over that cold. Do you use Zinc? Bill does. He swears it keeps colds away or shortened in time.
    Paisley, your answers are great! Hugs!

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