pother: Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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Word of the Day for Thursday, June 4, 2009 pother \POTH-er\, noun: 1. A commotion; a disturbance. 2. A state of nervous activity; a fuss. 3. A cloud of smoke or dust that chokes or smothers. 4. To make confused; trouble; worry. 5. To be overly concerned with trifles; fuss. A few gestures allude fleetingly to the iconic Ivanov choreographyâ€"crossed wrists, flapping arms, a warding-off poseâ€"but this ballerina is beset with dissatisfaction and discomfort, even though, when Warby's filmed face appears on the screenâ€"huge, filling itâ€"her gaze is calm and penetrating. That black-and-white image is succeeded by a pother of gulls alighting on water amid swimming ducks. -- Deborah Jowitt, Ros Warby Spreads Her Wings and Takes Off Marching, Village Voice The victor makes a big production of his triumph, flying to a high wall, flapping his wings and crowing. All this pother attracts an eagle, who grabs the braggart with his talons, and that's the end of that. -- Katherine Powers, Boston Globe Pother probably originated around 1585â€"95 meaning "disturbance, commotion," but is of unknown origin. Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for pother Yesterday's Word - Previous Words - Help
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