Verbs is the theme of this chapter's WoWs. A verb is an unusual word because it isn't a verb at all - it's a noun. As are all the different types of words nouns, i.e. an adjective, an adverb or a conjunction isn't an adjective, an adverb or a conjunction at all - they're all nouns. A noun of course is a noun - that goes without saying. But neither the word verb, noun, adverb, adjective or conjunction are, or could be, this week's Word of the Week. This week's WoW is... Ah, but first let me just make sure it is actually Wednesday. It is.
Word of the Week
Write
write v. 1 intr. mark paper or some other surface by means of a pen, pencil, etc., with symbols, letters or words. 2 tr. form or mark (such symbols etc.). 3 tr. form or mark the symbols that represent or constitute (a word or sentence, or a document etc.) with writing. 5 tr. put (data) into a computer store. 6 tr. (esp. in passive) indicate (a quality or condition) by one's or its appearance (guilt was written on his face). 7 tr. compose (a text, article, novel, etc.) for written or printed reproduction or publication; put into literary etc. form and set down in writing. 8 intr. be engaged in composing a text, article, etc. (writes for the local newspaper). 9 intr. (foll. by to) write and send a letter (to a recipient). 10 tr. US or colloq. write and send a letter to (a person) (wrote him last week). 11 tr. convey (news, information, etc.) by letter (wrote that they would arrive next Friday). 12 tr. state in written or printed form (it is written that). 13 tr. cause to be recorded. 14 tr. underwrite (an insurance policy). 15 tr. (foll. by into, or out of include or exclude (a character or episode) in a story by suitable changes of the text. 16 tr. archaic describe in writing.
Definition courtesy of the Concise Oxford Dictionary
In fact, the theme of the chapter is decidedly verbs which do not have an equivalent noun meaning in their dictionary entry. Plenty of verbs can indeed also be nouns, such as for example the word 'writhe' which comes two entries after 'write'. As a verb it means 'twist or roll oneself about in or as if in acute pain,' but it's also included as a noun, meaning 'an act of writhing.' I've never personally used the word in it's noun sense before, but you see here that verbs can easily, and very often do, have an equivalent noun. None of which will appear as WoWs this chapter. This chapter's WoWs will all be pure verbs.
