Wordie [wûrd • ē]
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first listed by:
msc (224 words)
appears in these lists:
msc's Words, by msc
wtlau's Words, by wtlau
fitting words, by fbharjo
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In Stephen Jay Gould's "pluralistic evolution" schema, he used spandrel as a metaphor to indicate an exaptationary structure. A spandrel is a byproduct of an otherwise purposeful construction, which, then, in a biological rather than architectural process of natural selection is used as 'fresh meat' for further adaption. In architecture, a spandrel, being a serendipitous space, is frequently the site of decoration.
1. In architecture, the roughly triangular space between the left or right exterior curve of an arch and the rectangular framework surrounding it.
2. In philately, the decoration occupying the space at the corner of a stamp, between the border and an oval or circular central design.