Meta / Phor(e) / Play
You are welcome to mix and match definitions with the parts of the name for this blogzine—hybrid blog and literary ‘zine. It’s about metaphore, it’s about play, it’s meta-
1. a prefix appearing in loan words from Greek, with the meanings “after,” “along with,” “beyond,” “among,” “behind,” and productive in English on the Greek model: metacarpus; metagenesis.
2. a prefix added to the name of a subject and designating another subject that analyzes the original one but at a more abstract, higher level: metaphilosophy; metalinguistics.
3. a prefix added to the name of something that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features: a meta-painting of an artist painting a canvas.
An agent, bearer, or producer of a specified thing. [Modern Latin -phorus, from Greek -phoros, -phoron, bearing, bearer, from pherein, to bear.]
A comparison that is made directly (for example, John Keats’s “Beauty is truth, truth beauty” from “Ode on a Grecian Urn”) or less directly (for example, Shakespeare’s “marriage of two minds”)…
(E)
Abbreviation for (among others)—
Email
Ecstasy (3,4-Methylenedioxy Methamphetamine, MDMA)
Electronic
Extra (as in extra fine)
Earth
Edge (welded joint type)
Energy
Error
Empty
Existing
Enable
Ear
Enhanced (911 service)
Element
Exposure Level
Echo
Electricity
Expectation (mathematics; probability theory)
Enlightenment
Expulsion
Eccentricity
Epinephrine (adrenaline)
Electromotive Force (voltage)
Exponentiation
Emissivity
e·mis·siv·i·ty (ē’mi-siv’i-tē),
The giving off of heat rays; a perfect “black body” has an emissivity of 1, a highly polished metallic surface may have an emissivity as low as 0.02.
Total probable error
Endangered (species classification)
noun
1 a: swordplay; b archaic: game, sport; c: the conduct, course, or action of a game; d: a particular act or maneuver in a game: as (1): the action during an attempt to advance the ball in football (2): the action in which a player is put out in baseball; e: the action in which cards are played after bidding in a card game; f: the moving of a piece in a board game (as chess); g: one’s turn in a game <it’s your play>
2 a: obsolete: sexual intercourse; b: amorous flirtation: dalliance
3 a: recreational activity; especially: the spontaneous activity of children; b: absence of serious or harmful intent: jest <said it in play>; c: the act or an instance of playing on words or speech sounds; d: gaming, gambling
4 a (1): an act, way, or manner of proceeding: maneuver <that was a play to get your fingerprints — Erle Stanley Gardner> (2): deal, venture; b (1): the state of being active, operative, or relevant <other motives surely come into play — M. R. Cohen> <several issues are at play> (2): brisk, fitful, or light movement <the gem presented a dazzling play of colors> (3): free or unimpeded motion (as of a part of a machine); also: the length or measure of such motion (4): scope or opportunity for action (5): a function of an electronic device that causes a recording to play
5: emphasis or publicity especially in the news media <wished the country received a better play in the American press — Hugh MacLennan>
6: a move or series of moves calculated to arouse friendly feelings —usually used with make <made a big play for the girl — Will Herman>
7 a: the stage representation of an action or story; b: a dramatic composition: drama in play; b: in condition or position to be legitimately played out of play; c: not in play
intransitive verb
1 a: to engage in sport or recreation: frolic; b: to have sexual relations; especially: to have promiscuous or illicit sexual relations —usually used in the phrase play around; c (1): to move aimlessly about: trifle (2): to toy or fiddle around with something <played with her food> (3): to deal or behave frivolously or mockingly: jest (4): to deal in a light, speculative, or sportive manner (5): to make use of double meaning or of the similarity of sound of two words for stylistic or humorous effect
2 a: to take advantage <playing on fears>; b (1): flutter, frisk (2): to move or operate in a lively, irregular, or intermittent manner; c: to move or function freely within prescribed limits; d: to produce a stream <hoses playing on a fire>
3 a (1): to perform music <play on a violin> (2): to sound in performance <the organ is playing> (3): to emit sounds <the radio is playing> (4): to reproduce recorded sounds <a record is playing>; b (1): to act in a dramatic production (2): show, run <what’s playing at the theater>; c: to be suitable for dramatic performance; d: to act with special consideration so as to gain favor, approval, or sympathy <might play to popular prejudices to serve his political ends — V. L. Parrington> —often used in the phrase play up to; e: to produce a specified impression in performance <a movie that plays like a sitcom>
4 a: to engage or take part in a game; b: to perform in a position in a specified manner <the outfielders were playing deep>; c: to perform an action during one’s turn in a game; d: gamble; e (1): to behave or conduct oneself in a specified way <play safe> (2): to feign a specified state or quality <play dead> (3): to take part in or assent to some activity: cooperate <play along with his scheme> (4): to act so as to prove advantageous to another —usually used in the phrase play into the hands of
5: to gain approval: go over <her idea did not play well>
transitive verb
1 a (1): to engage in or occupy oneself with <play baseball> (2): to engage in (an activity) as a game (3): to deal with, handle, or manage (4): exploit, manipulate; b: to pretend to engage in the activities of <play war> <children playing house>; c (1): to amount to by one’s efforts <played an important role in their success> (2): to perform or execute for amusement or to deceive or mock <play a trick> (3): wreak <play havoc> (4): to use or introduce as a political or rhetorical strategy <play the national security card>
2 a (1): to put on a performance of (a play) (2): to act in the character or part of (3): to act or perform in <played leading theaters>; b: to perform or act the part of <play the fool>
3 a (1): to contend against in or as if in a game (2): to use as a contestant in a game <the coach did not play him> (3): to perform the duties associated with (a certain position) <played quarterback> (4): to guard or move into position to defend against (an opponent) in a specified manner; b (1): to wager in a game: stake (2): to make wagers on <play the races> (3): to speculate on or in <play the stock market> (4): to operate on the basis of <play a hunch>; c: to put into action in a game; especially: to remove (a playing card) from one’s hand and place usually face up on a table in one’s turn either as part of a scoring combination or as one’s contribution to a trick; d: to catch or pick up (a batted ball): field <played the ball bare-handed>; e: to direct the course of (as a ball): hit <played a wedge shot to the green>; also: to cause (a ball or puck) to rebound <played the ball off the backboard>
4 a: to perform (music) on an instrument <play a waltz>; b: to perform music on <play the violin>; c: to perform music of (a certain composer); d (1): to cause (as a radio or phonograph) to emit sounds (2): to cause the recorded sound or image of (as a record or a magnetic tape) to be reproduced
5 a: wield, ply; b: to discharge, fire, or set off with continuous effect <played the hose on the burning building>; c: to cause to move or operate lightly and irregularly or intermittently; d: to keep (a hooked fish) in action
play by ear: to deal with something without previous planning or instructions
play games: to try to hide the truth from someone by deceptive means
play second fiddle: to take a subordinate position
play the field: to date or have romantic connections with more than one person
play with fire: to do something risky or dangerous
play with oneself: masturbate
Phoreplay
Foreplay (pun)
Meta/ Phor(e) /Play 