Happy Friday! Today’s word of the day is Blandishment. Originating in the 1500’s, blandishment is a noun taken from the word blandish- which means “flattering speech,” + -ment. In addition, a sense of “attraction, allurement” (often blandishments) is from 1590s.
The Oxford Dictionary defines blandishment as: (usually blandishments) A flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something:the blandishments of the travel brochure.
If I hadn’t read the actual definition, I doubt I would come up with it. The idea ofsomething blandish does not seem superfluous or flattering. But then the word flattery doesn’t exactly blow my socks off with extravagance. Bland and flat. At the very most they allude to something that is just so-so. What odd ways we use basic words to make something that is “all that and then some!”
I came up with several Haiku. Take your pick. Once I got started, I found I could go on and on. It’s not that I’m full of it…blandishments that is! Well, maybe just a little! 🙂 For your sake I stopped at 5!
I do hope you have a spectacular weekend wherever you happen to be. Until next Friday then… 🙂
Blandishment #1:
Sly politicians
employ two-faced blandishments
tickling our ears.
Blandishment #2:
His goal was to score,
lavish blandishments his ploy…
she saw right through it!
Blandishment #3:
Every man knows
to rely on blandishments
when asked, “Am I fat?”
Blandishment #4:
It is a known fact
blandishments will get one far…
as will flattery!
Blandishment #5:
Save your blandishments
your words mean nothing to me
you need to show me!
kat ~ 12 August 2016
like mercury colliding... 
August 12th, 2016 at 4:46 pm
Good word!
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August 12th, 2016 at 6:47 pm
I am always intrigued by these seldom used ancient words! 🙂
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August 12th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
I like #3, LOL! But all are great!
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August 12th, 2016 at 8:59 pm
Haha! All men have been there! 😀
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August 13th, 2016 at 9:42 am
Fantabulous, again.
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August 13th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Haha! Dorna! I haven’t seen that word in a while “fantabulous”. It make me smile! Thank you for your comment! 😊
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August 13th, 2016 at 6:05 pm
Kay MyrMan, I am not fully aware if you have been contacted about project Peace, but would you take a few minutes and possibly participate?
We have 140 contributions to date, and I am trying again to rope in
as many contributors to the Poets for Peace challenge (in place until this the end of August). The many voices in response to this have been fantastic, and I’d love you to add yours (again, if applicable) if you can. Feel free to use an existing piece of writing or a new one asking for peace and/or about the troubled times in which we live.
If you are interested, please leave your poem in the comments section of Neha’s blog and it will be added.
Thank you –
Your voice matters.
‘We are so grateful to be part of this community where poets and
creative minds from around the world stand together uniting for PEACE!
This collaboration is open till August 31st and we hope to see more of
you join in!’
– Neha
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August 13th, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Thank you Dorna for the link and invitation. I have, in fact, submitted several poems to the project and am listed in the link section of contributors (#66 😊). It is a wonderful project and I am honored to lend a voice to the hope we all have…for peace in our world. Blessing and peace to you! ❤️
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