Aus Italien

Definition: (verb) Kill en masse; kill on a large scale; kill many. Synonyms: kill off. Usage: Hitler wanted to exterminate the Jews, Gypsies, Communists, and homosexuals of Europe. Discuss

noun: A mushroom enthusiast.

Leo Tolstoi(1828 – 1910), Lew Nikolajewitsch Graf Tolstoi, russischer Erzähler und Romanautor

Definition: (noun) Any collection in its entirety. Synonyms: bunch, lot. Usage: The art collection was originally going to be auctioned off piece by piece, but the owner decided at the last moment to donate the whole caboodle to the local museum. Discuss

noun: The practice of biting one’s nails.

Definition: (verb) Command against. Synonyms: disallow, forbid, nix, prohibit, veto, interdict. Usage: They are proscribed by federal law from owning guns. Discuss

noun: An excessive longing for a particular food.

© Hartmut Weinhold(*1957), deutscher ehrenamtlicher Einsatzleiter bei den Grünen Damen und Herren, Sparkassenbetriebswirt und Gelegenheits-Aphoristiker

Definition: (verb) Move with or as if with a regular alternating motion. Synonyms: quiver, beat. Usage: The city pulsated with music and excitement during Carnival. Discuss

noun: Government or rule by a single political party.

© Thomas Häntsch(*1958), Fotograf

Definition: (noun) <i>Archaic</i> The act of fighting with knives. Synonyms: cut-and-thrust, knife fight. Usage: The snickersnee ended when one of the fighters lost consciousness due to blood loss. Discuss

noun: 1. The fear or dislike of laws or rules. 2. The fear of not having access to or being unable to use one’s mobile phone.

Voltaire(1694 – 1778), eigentlich François-Marie Arouet, französischer Philosoph der Aufklärung, Historiker und Geschichts-Schriftsteller

Definition: (verb) Make dull or stupid or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation. Synonyms: besot. Usage: He did not like whiskey, but he drank to stupefy himself. Discuss

Die Dummheit ist die sonderbarste aller Krankheiten. Der Kranke leidet niemals unter ihr. Aber die anderen leiden. Paul-Henri SpaakBelgischer Politiker und Staatsmann1899 – 1972

«Nel tardo pomeriggio di un giorno d'estate del 1946 arrivavo, al timone di una grossa barca a vela, nel porto di Oggebbio sul Lago Maggiore. L'inverna, il vento che nella buona stagione si alza ogni giorno dalla pianura lombarda e risale il lago per tutta la sua lunghezza, mi aveva sospinto, tra le dodici e…

Al? ibn Ab? Talib(um 600 – 661), Ab? l-Hasan ?Al? ibn Ab? T?lib, genannt Ali aus Mekka, Vetter und Schwiegersohn Mohammeds, gilt den Sunniten als vierter und letzter rechtgeleiteter Kalif (656-661), den Schiiten und Aleviten als erster Imam

adjective: 1. Relating to a homily. 2. Relating to homiletics (the art of preaching). 3. Preachy.

Definition: (adjective) Foolish; totally unsound. Synonyms: screwball, softheaded, crazy. Usage: I refuse to be drawn into another half-baked scheme doomed to failure. Discuss

© Michael Scherr(*1973), Werbetexter und Aphoristiker

Definition: (noun) An abnormal new growth of tissue in animals or plants. Synonyms: tumor. Usage: The doctor explained that a biopsy would be needed in order to determine whether the neoplasm is benign or malignant. Discuss

adjective: Ruinous.

«Quello che faccio, lo faccio per la forza della passione. Quando le cose cambiano, cambio anch'io e faccio altro.» (Nicolas Sarkozy)

Marcus Tullius Cicero(106 – 43 v. Chr.), römischer Redner und Staatsmann

adjective: Relating to appetite or desire.

Definition: (adjective) Tending or inclined to delay or waste time. Synonyms: laggard, poky. Usage: Frank, dilatory in all his proceedings, was the last of the dramatic company who left the precincts of the stage. Discuss

«Che confusione il sabato È quasi peggio di quello che dicono, con te però C'è un non so che di magico C'è un non so che, c'è un non so che bellissimo Dimmi quando arrivi così ti tengo il posto Prendo già da bere, i tuoi gusti li conosco Entra che ho lasciato il tuo…

«Quello che faccio, lo faccio per la forza della passione. Quando le cose cambiano, cambio anch'io e faccio altro.»

© Horst A. Bruder(*1949), Bankkaufmann

«Il denaro non riuscirà mai a ripagarci per ciò che noi facciamo per lui.» (Rupert Murdoch)

Definition: (adjective) Of the most contemptible kind. Synonyms: abject, low-down, scummy, miserable, low. Usage: It was a scurvy trick to play on a helpless old lady, but he was desperate for money and therefore went along with the plan to swindle her out of her life savings. Discuss

«Non conosco nessuno che abbia descritto la Parigi di quel tempo tanto bene come Puccini in Bohème.» (Claude Debussy)

«Il denaro non riuscirà mai a ripagarci per ciò che noi facciamo per lui.»

Weh dem Menschen, wenn nur ein einziges Tier im Weltgericht sitzt. Christian MorgensternDeutscher Dichter, Schriftsteller und Übersetzer1871 – 1914

© Melanie Fechner(*1985), deutsche Philosophin

«L’architettura ha un’altra motivazione che, per così dire, è sempre in agguato dietro l’angolo: l’aspirazione a creare un paradiso. E’ questo l’unico scopo delle nostre case. Se in noi non vi fosse sempre questo pensiero, tutte le nostre case diverrebbero rozze e banali e la vita… varrebbe davvero la pena d’essere vissuta?» (Alvar Aalto)

Definition: (noun) The temporal property of two things happening at the same time. Synonyms: conjunction, co-occurrence, coincidence. Usage: In order that the will of Napoleon and Alexander (on whom the event seemed to depend) should be carried out, the concurrence of innumerable circumstances was needed. Discuss

«Non credo a differenze di ceti e di livelli nella musica: il termine "musica leggera" si riferisce solo alla leggerezza di chi l'ascolta, non di chi l'ha scritta.» (Nino Rota)

Eduard von Bauernfeld(1802 – 1890), österreichischer Jurist, Dramatiker und Hausdichter des Burgtheaters

noun: One’s inner sense of right and wrong.

Definition: (verb) Kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air. Synonyms: strangle, throttle. Usage: The police are searching for a serial killer who strangulates his victims. Discuss

«Quando si vuole portare avanti un discorso soggettivo e comunicare al pubblico certe informazioni si crea sempre un ambiente sullo stile di Hitchcock, perché la suspense è proprio questo.» (Jodie Foster)

© Helmut Glaßl(*1950), Dipl.-Ing., Aphoristiker aus Erfurt

noun: 1. A grounded metal rod placed at the top of a structure to protect it from lightning. 2. A person or thing that frequently attracts criticism. 3. Someone who diverts criticism from another.

Definition: (adjective) Emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation. Synonyms: bubbly, effervescing, spumy, foamy. Usage: There is nothing better on a balmy summer evening than a frothy ice-cream soda. Discuss

Die große Frage, die ich trotz meines dreißigjährigen Studiums der weiblichen Seele nicht zu beantworten vermag, lautet: “Was will eine Frau eigentlich?” Sigmund FreudÖsterreichischer Neurologe und Begründer der Psychoanalyse1856 – 1939

© Ernst Reinhardt(*1932), Dr. phil., Schweizer Publizist und Aphoristiker

noun; 1. One of a pair of round stones used for grinding grain. 2. A heavy burden or source of distress, especially one that’s hard to get rid of.

Definition: (verb) To treat badly, cruelly, or inconsiderately. Synonyms: abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, step. Usage: Despite assurances that no one would maltreat the accused mass murderer in prison, he arrived at his hearing with two black eyes and a swollen lip. Discuss

Wo viel Licht ist, ist starker Schatten. Johann Wolfgang von GoetheDeutscher Schriftsteller1749 – 1832

© Ernst Ferstl(*1955), österreichischer Lehrer, Dichter und Aphoristiker

noun: 1. A set of steps or rungs allowing a person to go across a fence or wall while denying animals access. 2. A turnstile: a revolving gate that controls access to an area. 3. A support for overcoming an obstacle.

Definition: (noun) The manner in which a person behaves, especially in physical bearing. Synonyms: demeanor, conduct, behavior. Usage: Marilla had almost begun to despair of ever fashioning this waif of the world into her model little girl of demure manners and prim deportment. Discuss

«Anche se ci eravamo lasciati due anni prima di girare "Io e Annie", ero ancora la complice di Woody . Non so spiegare perché continuassimo a funzionare. Forse, come un vecchio divano, eravamo comodi l’uno per l’altra.» (Diane Keaton)

Eine neue Art von Denken ist notwendig, wenn die Menschheit weiterleben will. Albert EinsteinDeutscher Physiker und Nobelpreisträger1879 – 1955

© Franz Christoph Schiermeyer(*1952), deutscher Aphoristiker

Definition: (noun) The act of damaging something or someone. Synonyms: damage, harm, hurt. Usage: It is true also that I did lay my hands upon this jack-fool of a brother Ambrose, though, as you can see, I did him little scathe. Discuss

Um ernst zu sein, genügt Dummheit, während zur Heiterkeit ein großer Verstand unerläßlich ist. William ShakespeareEnglischer Dramatiker1564 – 1616

© Karl Feldkamp(*1943), Supervisor und Kommunikationstrainer sowie freier Autor, schreibt Lyrik, Kurzprosa, Essay, Hörspiele, Satire und Rezensionen

Definition: (adjective) Having an allergy or peculiar or excessive susceptibility (especially to a specific factor). Synonyms: allergic. Usage: I am hypersensitive to pollen and suffer terribly from a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes during the spring. Discuss

«Scrivo nella notte e nell'angoscia, con l'illuminazione dell'umorismo di tanto in tanto.» (Eugène Ionesco)

© Gerhard Uhlenbruck(1929 – 2023), deutscher Immunbiologe und Aphoristiker

Definition: (verb) Cause to be bitter or resentful. Synonyms: acerbate, envenom. Usage: He would not let this bad experience embitter him and resolved to maintain a positive outlook on life. Discuss

© Kurt Pfeifer(*1921), deutscher Pathologe

noun: 1. Someone or something that must not be touched or interfered with. 2. A warning against touching or meddling. 3. Any of various plants whose seed capsules burst open when touched. adjective: Relating to prohibition or fear of being touched.

Definition: (adjective) Sounding as if the nose were pinched. Synonyms: pinched, nasal. Usage: His voice has an adenoidal tone that I find quite irritating. Discuss

Therese Keiter(1859 – 1925), geb. Kellner, Pseudonym: M. Herbert, deutsche Schriftstellerin

noun: A look.

Definition: (noun) Armor carried on the arm to intercept blows. Synonyms: shield. Usage: As soon as he deflected his opponent's blow with his buckler, he went on the offensive, slashing away with his sword. Discuss

«Fu il tuo bacio, amore, a rendermi immortale.» (Margaret Fuller)

interjection: Praise the Lord. noun: An expression of joy, relief, praise, etc.

Definition: (verb) Reject as false; refuse to accept. Synonyms: discredit. Usage: He was inclined to disbelieve her story, but she had several documents to support her claims. Discuss

«Quello che conta nel matrimonio è litigare in armonia.» (Anita Ekberg)

Eines Tages wird alles gut sein, das ist unsere Hoffnung. Heute ist alles in Ordnung, das ist unsere Illusion. VoltaireFranzösischer Philosoph1694 – 1778

noun: A warning cry.

Definition: (verb) Deprive of by deceit. Synonyms: bunco, con, defraud, diddle, goldbrick, gyp, hornswoggle, mulct, nobble, rook, scam, short-change, victimize. Usage: He swindled investors out of millions of dollars. Discuss

Definition: (noun) Translation of foreign dialogue of a movie or TV program; usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. Synonyms: caption. Usage: Despite having to read the subtitles for the duration of the film, I found myself lost in the storyline and thoroughly enjoyed it. Discuss

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg(1742 – 1799), deutscher Physiker und Meister des Aphorismus

Definition: (adjective) For which money is paid. Synonyms: compensable, paying, salaried, stipendiary. Usage: I have worked as an unpaid intern for long enough and am now seeking remunerative employment. Discuss

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749 – 1832), gilt als einer der bedeutendsten Repräsentanten deutschsprachiger Dichtung

noun: One who steals jewelry, especially by substituting a fake for the real one.

Definition: (verb) Place (something) where one cannot find it again. Synonyms: misplace, lose. Usage: I seem to have mislaid my wallet; can you put this on my tab? Discuss

«Per un certo periodo della mia giovinezza ho desiderato diventare prete, ma per ragioni alquanto perverse: credevo che fosse una buona maniera per abbordare le donne.» (Sting)

noun: The essence of a person.

Definition: (verb) Apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly. Synonyms: misuse. Usage: Thus they misapply the sacred writings to defend practices yet more corrupt than those I have been speaking of. Discuss

© Jürgen Wilbert(*1945), Dr. phil., deutscher Literat und Aphoristiker. Aphorismen.de gratuliert zum heutigen 80. Geburtstag. Vielen Dank für die langjährige Zusammenarbeit!

noun: An insignificant person writing under a pseudonym.

Definition: (adjective) Having a play of lustrous rainbow colors. Synonyms: opalescent, pearlescent, nacreous. Usage: Soap bubbles are iridescent. Discuss

«Sum nasce per ricordare mio padre e si fonda sull’impegno dei volontari dell’Associazione Gianroberto Casaleggio, che non hanno nulla a che fare con la politica. Lo scopo di Sum è offrire spunti di dibattito e idee per capire il futuro. Sum è un evento apartitico e apolitico che riunisce relatori di prestigio e provenienti dai…