Peter

The hotel, on a highway outside Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, braced itself for [boxing promoter Don King’s] arrival, as for that of a hurricane. In the lobby his minions confabulated in blobs: roly-poly men like waddling molecules, their bangles jangling, their pinky rings glinting, walkie-talkies jutting from their polyester rumps. (Peter Conrad, The Joy of Slavery, Independent on Sunday, 03/10/1996, p. 4.)

This word, when used in the above sense can also be a synonym for talk, converse, discuss or talk.

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Every time Cal [Ripken’s] hitting went south, those hard workin’ airwaves were filled with captious comment. People said Cal ought to sit down. Take a rest. Stop acting like Superman. Stop putting his own streak ahead of the team! (Richard Ben Cramer, Baseball: A Native Son’s Thoughts [Many of Them Heretical] About Baltimore [Which Isn’t What It Used To Be], Sports Illustrated, 09/11/1995, p. 56.)

This word, when used in the above sense, can also be a synonym for critical, derogatory, and disapproving.…

[Based on Dr. Pangloss, the optimistic tutor of Candide in the novel of the same name, by Voltaire]. ❚ Although overall holiday-sales forecasts range from Panglossian to Scroogesque, analysts agree that online shopping is booming. (Paul Andrews, Christmas Clicking, U.S. News & World Report, 12/15/2003.)

This word, when used in the above sense, can also be a synonym for bullish, hopeful, idealistic or upbeat.…

Remember when popular movies had women in them? In 1994’s top films, the ladies were lucky if the guys let them even drive a bus. Affirmative action is démodé these days, but Hollywood needs some spur to bring women into full partnership with the Toms [Hanks] and Arnolds [Schwarzenegger] and Simbas [the lion]. (Author not given, The Best Cinema of 1994, Time, 12/26/1994, p. 132.)

This word, when used in the above sense, can also be a synonym for unfashionable, dated or outdated.…

We chaps also know what it’s like to be grossly abdominous, and if my byline photo were full length and in profile, you’d realise that I’ve been 14 months pregnant for the past five years. (Victor Lewis-Smith, Womb for Improvement, The Evening Standard [London, England], 08/9/2001.)

This word, when used in the above sense, can also be a synonym for fat, plump or overweight.…