My Word - Series 10 Omnibus

Seven surviving episodes of the tenth series of the radio comedy panel show My Word, originally broadcast on the BBC Home Service in early summer 1963. All feature Frank Muir, Denis Norden, Nancy Spain and Dilys Powell, and host Jack Longland.

Due to the unchanging cast and paucity of info on recordings, it's difficult to determine the sequence of My Word episodes even with radio listings, so some guesswork has been used in the arrangement of this omnibus.

0:00 - Series 10 Episode 5, 2nd May 1963
Definitions: Marginalia, Roburite, Erse, Paravane
Quotations: "Ye distant spires, ye antique tow'rs, that crown the wat'ry glade...", "The Ballyshannon foundered off the coast of Cariboo, and down in fathoms many went the captain and the crew...", "Alas! What boots it with uncessant care to tend the homely, slighted Shepherd's trade, and strictly meditate the thankless muse...", "Small showers last long but sudden storms are short; he tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes; with eager feeding, food doth choke the feeder..."
Origins: Put The Kibosh On, Lay By The Heels, Baedeker Raids, Cast Sheep's Eyes
Phrases: "Two blacks do not make a white...", "My bonny lies over the ocean..."

27:44 - Series 10 Episode 6, 9th May 1963
Definitions: Janeite, About-Sledge, Dan, Wertherism
Characters: Smee, Mr Goldfinger, Mr Slope, Abel Magwitch
Quotations: "The Shepherds' Swains shall dance and sing for thy delight each May morning...", "He thought he saw an Elephant that practised on a fife...", "The blessed Damozel lean'd out from the gold bar of Heaven...", "There take an inventory of all I have, to the last penny; 'tis the king's..."
Foreign Sayings: Cherchez La Femme, Sic Transit Gloria Mundi, Mens Sana In Corpore Sano, Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori
Phrases: "The die is cast...", "Keep right on to the end of the road..."

55:04 - Series 10 Episode 7, 16th May 1963
Definitions: Romaunt, Furbish, Animalcule, Tort
Descriptions: "Their hair was entwined with serpents, their hands were of brass, their bodies covered with impenetrable scales...", "A charming, handsome and unprincipled young gentleman of Seville delights in seducing all the young women he meets...", "The boy who wouldn't grow up...", "It would positively be a relief to me to dig him up and throw stones at him..."
Foreign Sayings: Quod Erat Demonstrandum; Si Jeunesse Savait, Si Vieillesse Pouvait; O Tempora, O Mores; Morituri Te Salutant
Origins: Haversack, A Decent Chap, Delirium, Checkmate
Phrases: "Sweet are the uses of adversity...", "The better part of valour is discretion..."

1:22:46 - Series 10 Episode 8, 23rd May 1963
Definitions: Desideratum, Ruth, Siffleur, Rumtum
Origins: Hooligan, Moonraker, Namby-Pamby, Knickerbockers
Authors Of: The Mill On The Floss, The Call Of The Wild, Old St Paul's, Jude The Obscure
Who, Where & What: John Gilpin's destination in Cowper's 1782 ballad; what the owl & pussycat dined on; what the carpenter doubted that caused him to weep; who was possessed of very little brain, and long words bothered him
Phrases: "Oh, what a beautiful morning...", "Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean..."

1:50:04 - Series 10 Episode 9, 30th May 1963
Definitions: Gingival, Floccinaucinihilipilification, Meed, Hymnody
Shakespeare: "Nay, but this dotage of our general's o'erflows the measure..."; "Hence! Home, you idle creatures, get you home! Is this a holiday?"; "O for a Muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention..."; "Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star Chamber matter of it..."
Quotations: "Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget what thou among the leaves hast never known...", "The time I've lost in wooing, in watching and pursuing...", "How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge!", "He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, for he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back..."
Origins: Slough Of Despond, Belfry, Barracking, Catchpole
Phrases: "Slow and steady wins the race...", "Don't put all your eggs in one basket..."

2:17:42 - Series 10 Episode 10, 6th June 1963
Definitions: Rahat Lakum, Jobation, Fleming, Hokey Pokey
Courts: Court Cupboard, Court Plaster, Court Of Piepowder, Court Of Love
Origins: Out-Herod Herod, Nobby, Italics, To Peach
Who, What & Where: The Parson At Cock Robin's Burial, Ring-A-Ring-A-Roses, Flores In Azores, A Leg As White & Hairless As An Egg
Phrases: "I will return...", "Should auld acquaintance be forgot..."

2:45:18 - Series 10 Episode 11, 13th June 1963
Definitions: Hagiolatry, Sabreur, Indigene, Gnosis
Quotations: "I wind about, and in and out, with here a blossom sailing...", "They rode her in across the rolling foam...", "It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea...", "Tis all a chequer-board of nights and days..."
Origins: For A Song, Backroom Boys, Catspaw, Baggage
Calls: Call Out, Call Bird, Call Of The House, Call Day
Phrases: "All quiet on the Western Front...", "A little more than kin and less than kind..."