Difference between revisions of "Pages 827-845"

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{{PbP Header}}
 
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<span class="marker">827 · More With Gately in the Hospital</span>
+
=More With Gately in the Hospital=
  
 
==Page 827==
 
==Page 827==
Line 10: Line 10:
 
a brand of spiced ham
 
a brand of spiced ham
  
'''tallly insubstantial ghostish figure'''<br />
+
'''holding his cheek and jaw when he talks like cutout photos of the late J. Benny'''<br />
'tall' used adverbially with 3 successive "L"s. cute.
+
Comedian Jack Benny (1894-1974) would often hold his chin with his hand while addressing an audience. See Benny's statue in Cucamonga where he is holding his cheek and jaw [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bennystatue.jpg].
 +
 
 +
'''tallly '''<br />
 +
'tall' used adverbially.
  
 
==Page 829==
 
==Page 829==
Line 34: Line 37:
  
 
'''strigil'''<br />
 
'''strigil'''<br />
an instrument for scraping the skin after bathing
+
(perhaps used here by DFW differently) an instrument with a curved blade used to scrape sweat and dirt from the skin in a hot-air bath or after exercise
 
+
'''extrude'''<br />
+
to thrust out
+
  
 
'''''ACCIACCATURA'''''<br />
 
'''''ACCIACCATURA'''''<br />
defined [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acciaccatura#Acciaccatura here]
+
Comes from the Italian verb acciaccare, "to crush". The acciaccatura (sometimes called ''short appoggiatura'') is perhaps best thought of as a shorter, less melodically significant, variant of the ''long appoggiatura'', where the delay of the principal note is scarcely perceptible – theoretically subtracting no time at all." ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acciaccatura#Acciaccatura Wikipedia])
  
 
'''''ALEMBIC'''''<br />
 
'''''ALEMBIC'''''<br />
Line 46: Line 46:
  
 
'''''LATRODECTUS MACTANS'''''<br />
 
'''''LATRODECTUS MACTANS'''''<br />
a black widow spider
+
"'''''Latrodectus mactans''''', the '''(southern) Black widow''', is a highly venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus. They are well known for the distinctive black and red coloring of the female of the species and for the fact that she will occasionally eat her mate after reproduction. The species is native to the United States of America and Mexico. The female black widow's venom is particularly harmful to humans (males almost never bite humans). The injection of venom from these species is a comparatively dangerous or lethal bite." ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus_mactans Wikipedia])
 +
 
 +
Latrodectus Mactans Productions was the name of one of the production companies James O. Incandenza did some of his film cartridges with (see filmography).
  
 
'''''NEUTRAL DENSITY POINT'''''<br />
 
'''''NEUTRAL DENSITY POINT'''''<br />
it's not clear what this refers to, but it's quite possible it refers to a concept in optics similar to the concept applied in a Neutral Density Filter, given ''Infinite Jest'''s optics motif - this can be read about [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter here]
+
it's not clear what this refers to, but it's quite possible it refers to a concept in optics similar to the concept applied in a Neutral Density Filter, given ''Infinite Jest'''s optics motif.<br />
 +
"In photography and optics, a neutral density filter or ND filter can be colorless (clear) or grey filter. An ideal neutral density filter reduces and/or modifies intensity of all wavelengths or colors of light equally, giving no changes in hue of color rendition.<br/>
 +
The purpose of standard photographic neutral density filters is to allow the photographer greater flexibility to change the aperture, exposure time and/or blur of subject in different situations and atmospheric conditions." ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter Wikipedia])
  
 
'''''CHIAROSCURO'''''<br />
 
'''''CHIAROSCURO'''''<br />
a term originally used in drawing and painting, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro chiaroscuro] is also used in photography and cinematography for techniques of contrasting light and dark
+
A term originally used in drawing and painting, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro chiaroscuro] is also used in photography and cinematography for techniques of contrasting light and dark
  
 
'''''PROPRIOCEPTION'''''<br />
 
'''''PROPRIOCEPTION'''''<br />
the sense of the relative position of the parts of the body
+
The sense of the relative position of the parts of the body
  
 
'''''TESTUDO'''''<br />
 
'''''TESTUDO'''''<br />
a genus of tortoises
+
Latin for "tortoise." May refer to a genus of tortoises, a type of harp, or a military formation.
 +
 
 +
'''''ANNULATE'''''<br />
 +
Having or consisting of rings or ringlike segments.
  
 
'''''BRICOLAGE'''''<br />
 
'''''BRICOLAGE'''''<br />
the creation of an artistic work from a diverse range of things that are around
+
The creation of an artistic work from a diverse range of things that are around
  
 
'''''CATALEPT'''''<br />
 
'''''CATALEPT'''''<br />
a person suffering from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalepsy catalepsy], a condition of rigidity and unresponsiveness
+
A person suffering from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalepsy catalepsy], a condition of rigidity and unresponsiveness
  
 
'''''GERRYMANDER'''''<br />
 
'''''GERRYMANDER'''''<br />
the breaking up of territory into electoral districts so that one political party has a majority in as many districts as possible
+
The breaking up of territory into electoral districts so that one political party has a majority in as many districts as possible. On the other hand, gerrymandering has a broader meaning: creation of any irregularly-shaped electoral districts for any reason, including partisan political advantage or ensuring minority representation.
 +
 
 +
'''''SCOPOPHILIA'''''<br />
 +
Translation of the Freudian notion of ''Schaulust'', "pleasure in looking," in the sense of both seeing and being seen, as well as "curiosity." Freud distinguished between two frequently encountered forms of this partial drive: one active, "voyeurism," and the other passive, "exhibitionism," neither of which he would necessarily rank among perversions.  [cf. scopophobic (p.226) & scopophiliac (p.230)]
  
 
'''''LAERTES'''''<br />
 
'''''LAERTES'''''<br />
a character from ''Hamlet'' who seeks to kill the title character
+
(1) A character from ''Hamlet'' who blames Hamlet for the deaths of his father (Polonius) and sister (Ophelia) and seeks to avenge them by killing Hamlet with a poisoned sword.
 +
(2) In Greek mythology, one of the Argonauts and the father of Odysseus.
 +
 
 +
'''''EXTRUDING'''''<br />
 +
To push or thrust out
  
 
'''''STRIGIL'''''<br />
 
'''''STRIGIL'''''<br />
defined [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strigil here]
+
"A strigil was a small, curved, metal tool used in ancient Greece and Rome to scrape dirt and sweat from the body before effective soaps became available." ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strigil Wikipedia])
  
 
'''''LORDOSIS'''''<br />
 
'''''LORDOSIS'''''<br />
a condition where a person has a forward-curving spine
+
A condition where a person has a forward-curving spine
  
 
'''''IMPOST'''''<br />
 
'''''IMPOST'''''<br />
a tax or duty that is imposed - this word was use by Tiny Ewell while he was speaking to (or rather, at) Gately on page 815
+
A tax or duty that is imposed - this word was use by Tiny Ewell while he was speaking to (or rather, at) Gately on page 815
  
 
'''''SINISTRAL'''''<br />
 
'''''SINISTRAL'''''<br />
left-handed  
+
Left-handed  
 +
 
 +
'''''MENISCUS'''''<br />
 +
A concavo-convex lens, or other crescent-shaped body.
  
 
'''''CHRONAXY'''''<br />
 
'''''CHRONAXY'''''<br />
alternate spelling of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronaxy chronaxie]
+
"In the mathematical description of the functioning of the nervous system, the chronaxie (or chronaxy) is the minimum time over which an electric current double the strength of the rheobase needs to be applied, in order to stimulate a muscle fiber or nerve cell." ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronaie Wikipedia])
  
 
'''''POOR YORICK'''''<br />
 
'''''POOR YORICK'''''<br />
  
 
The (dead) jester in Hamlet. The quote referred to is by Hamlet, holding Yorick's skull after Yorick's remains are uncovered: 'Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest'
 
The (dead) jester in Hamlet. The quote referred to is by Hamlet, holding Yorick's skull after Yorick's remains are uncovered: 'Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest'
 +
 +
Poor Yorick Entertainment is the other main production company used by the late auteur.
  
 
'''''LUCULUS'''''<br />
 
'''''LUCULUS'''''<br />
a Roman general of antiquity
+
Lucullus (two l's) was a Roman general of antiquity ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucullus Wikipedia])
  
 
'''''MONTCLAIR'''''<br />
 
'''''MONTCLAIR'''''<br />
Line 98: Line 117:
  
 
'''''DE SICA'''''<br />
 
'''''DE SICA'''''<br />
Vittorio De Sica (1902-1974) was an Italian filmmaker, probably most famous for [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040522/ The Bicycle Thief].
+
Vittorio De Sica (1902-1974) was an Italian neorealist filmmaker, probably most famous for [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040522/ The Bicycle Thief].
  
'''''CIRCUMAMBIENTFOUNDDRAMALEVIRATEMARIAGE'''''<br />
+
'''''NEO-REAL'''''<br />
Circumambient means walking around. "Found Drama" was one of James Incandenza's contributions to film artistic history. Levirate marriage is a tradition in several cultures whereby the younger brother of a deceased man marries the dead brother's widow.
+
"Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors. Italian neorealist films mostly contend with the difficult economical and moral conditions of post-World War II Italy, reflecting the changes in the Italian psyche and the conditions of everyday life: poverty and desperation." ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_neorealism Wikipedia])
 +
 
 +
'''''CRANE DOLLY'''''<br />
 +
A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_dolly camera dolly] with a crane that holds the camera.
 +
 
 +
'''''CIRCUMAMBIENTFOUNDDRAMALEVIRATEMARRIAGE'''''<br />
 +
Circumambient means walking around. "Found Drama" was one of James Incandenza's contributions to film artistic history. Levirate marriage is a tradition in several cultures whereby the younger brother of a deceased man marries the dead brother's widow. (See also ''Consummation of the Levirates'' on [[Pages_157-181#Page_171|p. 171]])
  
 
'''''HELIATED'''''<br />
 
'''''HELIATED'''''<br />
infused with helium
+
When someone inhales helium, their voice becomes high-pitched.
 +
 
 +
Regarding ghostwords, recall also pg. 303, with Poor Tony: "He was haunted by the word ''Zuckung'', a foreign and possibly Yiddish word he did not recall ever before hearing."
  
 
==Page 833==
 
==Page 833==
Line 112: Line 139:
  
 
'''epiphanyish'''<br />
 
'''epiphanyish'''<br />
An [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany epiphany] is a devine manifestation, or by extension, a sudden, deep insight.
+
An [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany epiphany] is a divine manifestation, or by extension, a sudden, deep insight.
  
 
==Page 834==
 
==Page 834==
Line 123: Line 150:
  
 
''''Oo Is 'E When 'E's at 'Ome''''<br />
 
''''Oo Is 'E When 'E's at 'Ome''''<br />
or "Who Is He When He's at Home?", which is apparently a common Irish saying
+
"Who Is He When He's at Home?" This is a common Irish expression; if person A mentions a name in conversation that person B is unfamiliar with, person B might respond, 'And who's he when he's at home?'. The dropping of an initial 'h' is characteristic of speech in the north-of-England, rather than in Ireland.<br/>
 +
In ''Ulysses'', this is asked by Molly of Leopold Bloom as he explains the word ''Metempsychosis'' (Modern Library, p. 64)
 +
 
  
 
''''Exposed Northerners''''<br />
 
''''Exposed Northerners''''<br />
Line 129: Line 158:
  
 
'''Nom'''<br />
 
'''Nom'''<br />
Gatley means "Norm," as in the ''Cheers'' character "Norm Peterson"; "Nom" is how a North Shore native such as Gately might pronounce the name.  
+
Gately means "Norm," as in the ''Cheers'' character "Norm Peterson" played by George Wendt; "Nom" is how a North Shore native such as Gately might pronounce the name.  
 +
 
 +
'''Sir Osis of Thuliver'''<br/>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrhosis Cirrhosis of the Liver]
 +
 
  
 
'''fractional'''<br />
 
'''fractional'''<br />
Line 140: Line 172:
  
 
'''''The Sorrow and the Pity'''''<br />
 
'''''The Sorrow and the Pity'''''<br />
a [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066904/ film] about the Nazi occupation of France
+
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066904/ ''The Sorrow and the Pity''] (Marcel Ophüls, 1969) is a lengthy documentary about the operations of the French Resistance and Vichy Government during the Second World War. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 1971 and plays a significant part in ''Annie Hall'' (Woody Allen, 1977).
  
 
'''Heineken Maneuver'''<br />
 
'''Heineken Maneuver'''<br />
 
Gately means "Heimlich Maneuver."
 
Gately means "Heimlich Maneuver."
  
'''Schwulst or Altman'''<br />
+
'''Schwulst'''<br />
The only Schwulst I can find is [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0778002/ Lance Schwulst], who is probably not the person referred to. Robert Bernard Altman (1925-2006) was an American filmmaker.
+
The only Schwulst I can find is [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0778002/ Lance Schwulst], who is probably not the person referred to.  
 +
 
 +
'''Altman'''<br />
 +
Robert Bernard Altman (1925-2006) was an American filmmaker noted for his use of ensemble casts, multiple plotlines and overlapping dialogue. His major films include ''Nashville'' (1975), ''The Player'' (1992) and ''Short Cuts'' (1993). The TV series ''M*A*S*H,'' frequently referenced in ''Infinite Jest'', is based on his groundbreaking 1970 film.
  
 
'''agora'''<br />
 
'''agora'''<br />
Line 155: Line 190:
 
'''''DEXTRAL'''''<br />
 
'''''DEXTRAL'''''<br />
 
right-handed
 
right-handed
 +
 +
'''Unitary'''<br />
 +
having the nature of a unit; whole
  
 
==Page 837==
 
==Page 837==
Line 164: Line 202:
  
 
'''shell-game'''<br />
 
'''shell-game'''<br />
a con game
+
a con game, similar to three-card Monte, in which the sucker attempts to predict under which of three inverted shells (or other containers) a single smaller object resides after the operator has quickly and repeatedly shuffled them
  
 
==Page 839==
 
==Page 839==
  
 
'''Mennonite'''<br />
 
'''Mennonite'''<br />
an Anabaptist denomination named for Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Frisian religious leader
+
an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptist Anabaptist] denomination named for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menno_Simons Menno Simons] (1496-1561), a Frisian religious leader
  
 
'''avers'''<br />
 
'''avers'''<br />
Line 203: Line 241:
  
 
'''''ü'''''<br />
 
'''''ü'''''<br />
a German diphthong, somewhere between /u/ and /ee/
+
German letter representing a high front rounded vowel, as in French ''tu'' "you". It is pronounced by producing the i-sound e.g. in "beet" with rounded lips (like for the u-sound in "boot").
 +
 
 +
'''''Al-Anon'''''<br />
 +
Al-Anon/Alateen, Al-Anon Family Groups - support group for families/friends of alcoholics.
  
 
[[Image:Stetson.jpg|thumb|caption|Stetson with feather|right|140px]]
 
[[Image:Stetson.jpg|thumb|caption|Stetson with feather|right|140px]]

Latest revision as of 13:06, 25 April 2020

Editors: Please keep these annotations SPOILER-FREE by not revealing information from later pages in the novel. And please pay attention to formatting and grammar. Preview your changes before saving them. Thanks!

More With Gately in the Hospital

Page 827

Page 828

Spam
a brand of spiced ham

holding his cheek and jaw when he talks like cutout photos of the late J. Benny
Comedian Jack Benny (1894-1974) would often hold his chin with his hand while addressing an audience. See Benny's statue in Cucamonga where he is holding his cheek and jaw [1].

tallly
'tall' used adverbially.

Page 829

Page 830

phantasms
apparitions or specters

Page 831

quanta
plural of quantum, an indivisible entity of energy

Heisenbergian
Werner Karl Heisenberg (1901-1976) was a German physicist and one of the fathers of quantum mechanics.

Page 832

velour
a felt that looks like velvet

strigil
(perhaps used here by DFW differently) an instrument with a curved blade used to scrape sweat and dirt from the skin in a hot-air bath or after exercise

ACCIACCATURA
Comes from the Italian verb acciaccare, "to crush". The acciaccatura (sometimes called short appoggiatura) is perhaps best thought of as a shorter, less melodically significant, variant of the long appoggiatura, where the delay of the principal note is scarcely perceptible – theoretically subtracting no time at all." (Wikipedia)

ALEMBIC
a device used for distillation made up of a tube connecting two containers

LATRODECTUS MACTANS
"Latrodectus mactans, the (southern) Black widow, is a highly venomous species of spider in the genus Latrodectus. They are well known for the distinctive black and red coloring of the female of the species and for the fact that she will occasionally eat her mate after reproduction. The species is native to the United States of America and Mexico. The female black widow's venom is particularly harmful to humans (males almost never bite humans). The injection of venom from these species is a comparatively dangerous or lethal bite." (Wikipedia)

Latrodectus Mactans Productions was the name of one of the production companies James O. Incandenza did some of his film cartridges with (see filmography).

NEUTRAL DENSITY POINT
it's not clear what this refers to, but it's quite possible it refers to a concept in optics similar to the concept applied in a Neutral Density Filter, given Infinite Jest's optics motif.
"In photography and optics, a neutral density filter or ND filter can be colorless (clear) or grey filter. An ideal neutral density filter reduces and/or modifies intensity of all wavelengths or colors of light equally, giving no changes in hue of color rendition.
The purpose of standard photographic neutral density filters is to allow the photographer greater flexibility to change the aperture, exposure time and/or blur of subject in different situations and atmospheric conditions." (Wikipedia)

CHIAROSCURO
A term originally used in drawing and painting, chiaroscuro is also used in photography and cinematography for techniques of contrasting light and dark

PROPRIOCEPTION
The sense of the relative position of the parts of the body

TESTUDO
Latin for "tortoise." May refer to a genus of tortoises, a type of harp, or a military formation.

ANNULATE
Having or consisting of rings or ringlike segments.

BRICOLAGE
The creation of an artistic work from a diverse range of things that are around

CATALEPT
A person suffering from catalepsy, a condition of rigidity and unresponsiveness

GERRYMANDER
The breaking up of territory into electoral districts so that one political party has a majority in as many districts as possible. On the other hand, gerrymandering has a broader meaning: creation of any irregularly-shaped electoral districts for any reason, including partisan political advantage or ensuring minority representation.

SCOPOPHILIA
Translation of the Freudian notion of Schaulust, "pleasure in looking," in the sense of both seeing and being seen, as well as "curiosity." Freud distinguished between two frequently encountered forms of this partial drive: one active, "voyeurism," and the other passive, "exhibitionism," neither of which he would necessarily rank among perversions. [cf. scopophobic (p.226) & scopophiliac (p.230)]

LAERTES
(1) A character from Hamlet who blames Hamlet for the deaths of his father (Polonius) and sister (Ophelia) and seeks to avenge them by killing Hamlet with a poisoned sword. (2) In Greek mythology, one of the Argonauts and the father of Odysseus.

EXTRUDING
To push or thrust out

STRIGIL
"A strigil was a small, curved, metal tool used in ancient Greece and Rome to scrape dirt and sweat from the body before effective soaps became available." (Wikipedia)

LORDOSIS
A condition where a person has a forward-curving spine

IMPOST
A tax or duty that is imposed - this word was use by Tiny Ewell while he was speaking to (or rather, at) Gately on page 815

SINISTRAL
Left-handed

MENISCUS
A concavo-convex lens, or other crescent-shaped body.

CHRONAXY
"In the mathematical description of the functioning of the nervous system, the chronaxie (or chronaxy) is the minimum time over which an electric current double the strength of the rheobase needs to be applied, in order to stimulate a muscle fiber or nerve cell." (Wikipedia)

POOR YORICK

The (dead) jester in Hamlet. The quote referred to is by Hamlet, holding Yorick's skull after Yorick's remains are uncovered: 'Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest'

Poor Yorick Entertainment is the other main production company used by the late auteur.

LUCULUS
Lucullus (two l's) was a Roman general of antiquity (Wikipedia)

MONTCLAIR
the model of car owned by James Incandenza's father, Mario

DE SICA
Vittorio De Sica (1902-1974) was an Italian neorealist filmmaker, probably most famous for The Bicycle Thief.

NEO-REAL
"Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors. Italian neorealist films mostly contend with the difficult economical and moral conditions of post-World War II Italy, reflecting the changes in the Italian psyche and the conditions of everyday life: poverty and desperation." (Wikipedia)

CRANE DOLLY
A camera dolly with a crane that holds the camera.

CIRCUMAMBIENTFOUNDDRAMALEVIRATEMARRIAGE
Circumambient means walking around. "Found Drama" was one of James Incandenza's contributions to film artistic history. Levirate marriage is a tradition in several cultures whereby the younger brother of a deceased man marries the dead brother's widow. (See also Consummation of the Levirates on p. 171)

HELIATED
When someone inhales helium, their voice becomes high-pitched.

Regarding ghostwords, recall also pg. 303, with Poor Tony: "He was haunted by the word Zuckung, a foreign and possibly Yiddish word he did not recall ever before hearing."

Page 833

shinola
a now-defunct brand of mid-20th century shoe polish, preserved in the expression, "You don't know shit from Shinola."

epiphanyish
An epiphany is a divine manifestation, or by extension, a sudden, deep insight.

Page 834

Vertical Hold
refers to a setting on a television that adjusts the picture's vertical stabilization

'Ren and Stimpy'
the main characters in a once-popular animated television series

'Oo Is 'E When 'E's at 'Ome'
"Who Is He When He's at Home?" This is a common Irish expression; if person A mentions a name in conversation that person B is unfamiliar with, person B might respond, 'And who's he when he's at home?'. The dropping of an initial 'h' is characteristic of speech in the north-of-England, rather than in Ireland.
In Ulysses, this is asked by Molly of Leopold Bloom as he explains the word Metempsychosis (Modern Library, p. 64)


'Exposed Northerners'
Wallace is punning on the name of the once-popular television show Northern Exposure.

Nom
Gately means "Norm," as in the Cheers character "Norm Peterson" played by George Wendt; "Nom" is how a North Shore native such as Gately might pronounce the name.

Sir Osis of Thuliver
Cirrhosis of the Liver


fractional
comparatively small or insignificant

Page 835

figurants
performers with no spoken lines

The Sorrow and the Pity
The Sorrow and the Pity (Marcel Ophüls, 1969) is a lengthy documentary about the operations of the French Resistance and Vichy Government during the Second World War. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 1971 and plays a significant part in Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977).

Heineken Maneuver
Gately means "Heimlich Maneuver."

Schwulst
The only Schwulst I can find is Lance Schwulst, who is probably not the person referred to.

Altman
Robert Bernard Altman (1925-2006) was an American filmmaker noted for his use of ensemble casts, multiple plotlines and overlapping dialogue. His major films include Nashville (1975), The Player (1992) and Short Cuts (1993). The TV series M*A*S*H, frequently referenced in Infinite Jest, is based on his groundbreaking 1970 film.

agora
a place of congregation, originally marketplaces in Ancient Greece

Page 836

DEXTRAL
right-handed

Unitary
having the nature of a unit; whole

Page 837

acerbic
acidic; sharp or biting

Page 838

shell-game
a con game, similar to three-card Monte, in which the sucker attempts to predict under which of three inverted shells (or other containers) a single smaller object resides after the operator has quickly and repeatedly shuffled them

Page 839

Mennonite
an Anabaptist denomination named for Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Frisian religious leader

avers
declares

vapid
lacking liveliness or spirit

Page 840

packy
short for "package store," a Massachusetts euphemism for "liquor store"

pre-metric
in the alternate timeline of Infinite Jest, it's obvious that U.S. Customary systems of measurement are finally abandoned, at some point (perhaps during Reconfiguration), for the global standard of the Metric System (ed.: optimism on Wallace's part, one might say) - the weights the M.P. used were marked with U.S. "pounds" (lbs) instead of Metric kilograms (kg).

Page 841

fencing
to sell stolen goods

beeswax
i.e., business

Page 842

lit
landed

Page 843

Page 844

ü
German letter representing a high front rounded vowel, as in French tu "you". It is pronounced by producing the i-sound e.g. in "beet" with rounded lips (like for the u-sound in "boot").

Al-Anon
Al-Anon/Alateen, Al-Anon Family Groups - support group for families/friends of alcoholics.

Stetson with feather

Stetson w/ feather
Stetson hats or Stetsons refers to the brand of hat manufactered by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri. The word 'Stetson' is sometimes used as a genericized term for a cowboy hat. Although the Stetson company makes other styles of brimmed hat, the Stetson name has become synonymous with a style it pioneered, featuring a high crown and wide brim, popularly known as a Cowboy hat. Wikipedia

penchant
a predilection

Page 845


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