Monkey's Dad's definitions

verisimehlitude

The quality in a work of art so enslaved to the reality of its source that it elicits no response.

The sculptor had worked very hard to do this. His sculpture was exactly life-sized, colored and textured to precisely replicate the thing it was imitating, and, standing in the gallery, it looked like a living, breathing security guard. Except that it was not breathing, nor was it living, nor did anyone recognize it as a work of art. Or feel anything about it. Or pay it any mind. An example of craft for craft's sake, it had achieved a state of verisimehlitude.

by Monkey's Dad June 22, 2021

Vanishing point

In conversational perspective - the mortifying moment when, having begun to speak, you cannot remember what you wanted so desperately to convey.

He pounded the conference table for emphasis, and stopped... suddenly realizing he was lost, searching wildly but unable to come up with what, an instant ago, seemed so clear... but, uh... was now his vanishing point.

by Monkey's Dad February 27, 2020

grandstand up

To rise to your feet with a flourish, in such a way that no one can fail to notice you.

With much on his mind, and so much noise in the room, he knew it was time to grandstand up and be heard.

by Monkey's Dad March 13, 2020

error message

From the minor to the global, a warning that something is not right.

She began to interpret the pandemic as a massive error message, a sign to humanity that it had lost its way, and would now be forced to re-order and reconsider.

by Monkey's Dad April 16, 2020

Isolationship

Long- or short-distance relationship between two people kept apart due to shelter-in-place constraints.

Their hot and heavy isolationship was getting weird, the limits of cyber romance coming clear. She lived three blocks away from him, they hadn't been able to see the other for two weeks, each of them trapped in their apartments.

by Monkey's Dad April 9, 2020

toll

A cost in lives.

Damage resulting from an event or practice.

Charge for a service or permission.

The sound of a bell rung at a steady interval.

The tolls from coronavirus will be great, many and enduring, and the bells will toll for the dead.

by Monkey's Dad April 5, 2020

Apptitude

The reflexive belief that "there is an app for everything", eclipsing the experience of simply being alive in the world.

They were in the woods on a sunny spring day. He was looking at the light streaming through the branches. She, having apptitude, was staring at her phone.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I want to know where we are" she answered.

"We are here" he sighed.

by Monkey's Dad April 28, 2021