See Also

A Concise and Impartial Dictionary

Compiled over one winter. Alphabetical, because no other order was available.

absence n. The state of not being present.In your absence the flat grew an echo.See presence, coat.

always adv. At all times; continually. Often inaccurate.See forever, never.

arrival n. The end of an absence. Antonym: leaving, except sometimes.See door, leaving.

bus stop n. A place where strangers are made to stand near one another.One umbrella, two strangers, and a bus that did not come.See umbrella.

circular adj.See circular.

coat n. A garment. Also: what remains on a hook after its owner has gone ahead.Still there.See hook.

delete v. To remove.0:42. My thumb is over it.See keep, voice.

dictionary n. An attempt to keep words still.See keep, still.

door n. A movable barrier permitting entry or departure.It closes quietly if held. You held it.See arrival, leaving, key.

everywhere adv. In all places. What absence sometimes becomes.See absence, you.

fine adj. Satisfactory. In speech, often a lock.I’m fine.See I.

forever adv. For as long as the speaker can imagine.See always.

forget v. To lose hold of. Not the opposite of forgive, though I have tried to make it one.See forgive, memory.

forgive v. To mark a debt paid. Requires two parties, one of whom is usually elsewhere.See forget.

hold v. To keep; to wait.See let go, tenant.

home n. Where one is expected.See house.

hook n. A bent piece of metal for hanging things on. One of two.See coat.

house n. A building for a home.See home.

I pron. The one speaking. Unreliable on the subject.See fine, you.

keep v. To retain; to be unable to throw out.The blue mug is still in the cupboard.See mug, delete.

key n. A small device that turns a door into a choice.You left yours on the table.See table, door.

leaving n. An arrival viewed from the other side.See arrival, suitcase.

let go v.See hold.

memory n. An unreliable form of possession.See forget, keep.

mug n. A vessel for tea. The blue one has a chip on the side facing the drinker.See keep.

never adv. Not at any time. In a quarrel, interchangeable with always.See always, quarrel.

presence n. The state of being present. Hard to define; no one notices it until it becomes an absence.See absence.

promise n. A statement made about a person who does not yet exist.We will always be this.See always, forever.

quarrel n. A disagreement in which the stated topic is a disguise.It was about the dishes.See silence, never.

silence n. What is left of a quarrel after the words have gone.See quarrel, sorry.

sorry adj. Feeling regret. Often said to the wrong room.See forgiveness.

still adv. Even now; also, motionless. The two senses should not have been allowed to share a word.See yet.

suitcase n. A small house for leaving with.See leaving, home.

table n. A flat surface on which things are left.See key.

tenant n. One who holds a place for a time.See hold, house.

umbrella n. A device for two people, provided they agree to be closer than necessary.See bus stop, we.

us pron. Entry withdrawn pending review.See we.

voice n. The part of a person that stays in a phone.See delete.

we pron. obs. Formerly: two people, one verb.See us, I.

yet adv. Up to now. A word still waiting for something.See still.

you pron.See everywhere.

Erratum. For “impartial”, read “partial”.