bravado

\bruh-VAH-doh\

noun

1 a : blustering swaggering conduct b : a pretense of bravery

2 : the quality or state of being foolhardy

Part 2 of 2 on the rant concerning Mirriam-Websters new email presentation:

I now see that the folks at M-W are trying to inspire a sort of "Jeopardy" feel to their subject lines. Today's reads: Bullies and Show-offs Have This...

What is...BRAVADO.

I get it. But the answer could also be: lack of common sense, a tendency to provoke, little tact, etc...

I see what you're trying to do, Mirriam.

* * *

When I think of the word BRAVADO, I actually recall a musical term, although I cannot seem to find an online dictionary that references this definition. I eventually end up at a website—chacha.com—a sort of question/answer arena. Someone asks:

How does the BRAVADO in someone's singing voice develop?

The answer:

Bravado is not a musical term. Bravado is merely courage, strength. This is developed, in anything, with constant practice and confidence. Cha Cha!

Now I feel a bit as though I'm losing my mind. I distinctly recall hearing the term BRAVADO used in my brief, albeit thorough, music education during the seventh - ninth grades. I think it meant something along the lines of the manipulation of a pulsing in the sound of one's instrument. I finally locate this on Yahoo! Answers:

Sublime asks: How the heck do u bravado??? I can bravado on short notes but I can't keep it going and its really annoying. help if u can.

Tuffy answers: Hi, I think you might be talking about vibrato? If I'm not deliberately manipulating my voice, I'll only go into vibrato at the end of a really long note. Its probably best to stick with what happens naturally rather than force something. Or see a qualified voice professional for more advice.

Oh.

vibrato \vi-BRAH-toh\ noun :a pulsating effect, produced in singing by the rapid reiteration of emphasis on a tone, and on bowed instruments by a rapid change of pitch corresponding to the vocal tremolo.

Well, that is settled.

* * *

I'll take...reading disorders for $400!

Lacking the ability to interpret spatial relationships or to integrate auditory and visual information

What is...dyslexia!