Word of the Day

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1

Vainglorious

[veyn-GLAWR-ee-əs]Part of speech: adjective

Origin: latin, 15th century

• Feeling excessive pride or self-importance
• Given to over-the-top demonstrations of boastful pride and vanity

Examples of Vainglorious in a sentence

• His coworkers didn’t think he deserved the promotion and were irritated by his vainglorious attitude. 
• His vainglorious assertions of success were revealed to be nothing but false claims. 

About Vainglorious

Vainglorious is the adjective form of the noun vainglory. Vainglory is an empty show of vanity or boastfulness, probably undeserved. Vainglorious is the description of someone prone to this over-the-top pride.

A vainglorious attitude means the culprit probably doesn’t deserve the praise. They’re probably so vain they won’t even realize you’ve insulted them.

The Twelve Days of UNCLE: Chapter 11

[pfrye.livejournal.com]

As Depardieu and Denise hurried out the door the two henchmen aimed thier weapons at Waverly, Regina and the two agents.  Depardieu gunned the engine of the Citroen as several shots rang out.  He smiled as he wheeled the car into the lane and headed back toward his compound.  Denise did not react to the shots, even though they meant her mother was no more.  She was her father's daughter.

Inside the house Napoleon and Illya retrieved their specials from the henchment who lay dead on the floor.  "Thanks Mark!" Napoleon called.  Up at the top of the staircase Mark rose from behind the bannister.  "Not a problem.  I'll see to Mr. Waverly and Mrs. Depardieu, you two go after him, my car is parked around the back".

"Wait!" Regina called out.  "Justin has a secret entrance in the library that leads to an underground area.  I'm not sure what is down there but whenever he meets with THRUSH officials that is where they go."

"How do you access it?"  Illya asked.

"There is a switch behind the painting of Marie Antoinette, that is all I know."

...........................

It was dark by the time Napoleon and Illya arrived back at the Depardieu compound.  As they approached the home it seemed as if all the normal security was missing.  The home was dark.  Napoleon and Illya quietly entered by a side door.  "I don't like this" Illya murmured. "It's not like Depardieu to not have any security."

"Or for him to leave, he must be in the hidden satrap."

The two agents quietly made their way to the library.  There above the fireplace was a portrait of the French queen.  The painting was tilted away from the wall, as if it had been moved.  Napoleon raised an eyebrow, "Sloppy or an invitation?"

"That would depend on if he knew we were coming."

"We'll assume he does, better safe than sorry and all that."

Reaching behind the painting Illya felt a button and pressed it.  A section of the bookcase swung out revealing a dark corridor.  Taking each side, their specials at the ready Napoleon and Illya entered the corridor and moved into the darkness.  A few yards down the corridor they came to a spiral staircase that led downwards.  The agents quietly moved down the stairs.  At the bottom the area opened into a large room.  As they entered a liight suddenly came on spotlighting a guillotine situated in the center of the room.

Denise's voice rang out,  "I knew you would come!  I've been waiting for you.  You will pay for what you did to my dearest father."

Napoleon and Illya blinded by the sudden light tried to locate the girl.  Illya called out "Denise, your father isn't the fine man you believe him to be."

"Liar!  He's a great man.  You are the criminal!  You and Napoleon will suffer as you have made my sweet father suffer."

"Where is your father, Denise?"  Illya called.

"He's collapsed.  The strain and betrayal were too much for him.  You will pay, you all will pay for your treachery.  I'm in charge now."

Napoleon and Illya crouched in the darkness, just outside of the spotlight and the ominous guillotine.  Napoleon glanced at Illya "I think your girlfriend has gone off the deep end, Tovarich."

"She's not my girlfriend, but I agree, she is acting in a rather unstable manner."

"What we need is a Christmas miracle."

"Napoleon, first poodles and now holiday miracles?  Be serious.  What we need is backup."

"Oh ye of little faith.  It's Christmas"

"Right."

The spotlight went out and the sound of a gas canister hissing filled the room.