Podcasting, vocation or avocation?

I am sorry for the dearth of podcasts last week. Work and life sometimes intrude on the joy of my avocation. But to make up for it I have two words today- dearth and avocation.

A dearth is a shortage or lack of something. Like a dearth of Today's Podcast last week. It is a noun and it usually spelled D-E-A-R-T-H, but some older dictionaries list D-E-R-T-H as an acceptable spelling. It comes from the old english deore meaning precious or costly. It is related to dear.

An avocation, unlike a vocation, is an extra activity, a distraction or hobby. It is a noun derived from the latin avocatio, "a calling away."

Fortunatley for all of us listeners there are many out there who hope to make podcasting their vocation. I think that will ensure there is no dearth of podcasts.