Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
substantive \SUB-stun-tiv\ (adjective)
Meaning: having substance; involving matters of major or practical importance to all concerned
Example Sentence: “There are substantive gestures available to a President that do not involve the use of force or photo ops.”
(Joe Klein, Time, December 8, 2008)
Did you know?
"Substantive" was borrowed into Middle English from the Anglo-French adjective "sustentif," meaning "having or expressing substance," and can be traced back to the Latin verb "substare," which literally means "to stand under." Figuratively, the meaning of "substare" is best understood as "to stand firm" or "to hold out." Since the 14th century, we have used "substantive" to speak of that which is of enough "substance" to stand alone, or be independent. By the 19th century the word evolved related meanings, such as "enduring" and "essential." It also shares some senses with "substantial," such as "considerable in quantity."
Saturday, May 22, 2010
May 3, 2010 - "derrick"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
derrick \DAIR-ik\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a hoisting apparatus employing a tackle rigged at the end of a beam
*2. a framework or tower over a deep drill hole (as of an oil well) for supporting boring tackle or for hoisting and lowering
Example Sentence: "But there is another type of field that is equally important to Kern County; the oil field, with its derrick rising from the
soil like a shunt to coax the earth’s fossil fuel to the surface." (Whitney Otto, How to Make an American Quilt)
Did you know?
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, London was the home of a notorious executioner named Derick. Among those he beheaded was the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux, who according to a street ballad of the time had once saved the life of the ungrateful executioner. While members of the nobility were accorded the courtesy of beheading, it was the lot of commoners to be hanged, and those sent to face the rope at the hands of the executioner Derick nicknamed the gallows at Tyburn after him. Throughout the 17th century, "derick" was used as a name for both hangman and gallows. After the days of public hangings, the word "derrick" was adopted as a name for a number of less ominous frameworks or towers.
derrick \DAIR-ik\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a hoisting apparatus employing a tackle rigged at the end of a beam
*2. a framework or tower over a deep drill hole (as of an oil well) for supporting boring tackle or for hoisting and lowering
Example Sentence: "But there is another type of field that is equally important to Kern County; the oil field, with its derrick rising from the
soil like a shunt to coax the earth’s fossil fuel to the surface." (Whitney Otto, How to Make an American Quilt)
Did you know?
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, London was the home of a notorious executioner named Derick. Among those he beheaded was the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux, who according to a street ballad of the time had once saved the life of the ungrateful executioner. While members of the nobility were accorded the courtesy of beheading, it was the lot of commoners to be hanged, and those sent to face the rope at the hands of the executioner Derick nicknamed the gallows at Tyburn after him. Throughout the 17th century, "derick" was used as a name for both hangman and gallows. After the days of public hangings, the word "derrick" was adopted as a name for a number of less ominous frameworks or towers.
May 2, 2010 - "Promethean"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
Promethean \pruh-MEE-thee-un\ (adjective)
Meaning: of, relating to, or resembling Prometheus, his experiences, or his art; especially: daringly original or creative
Example Sentence: "The Olympics showcase Promethean performances by athletes who are always pushing the limits of human ability."
Did you know?
As some versions of the story go in Greek mythology, Prometheus (one of the Titan giants) modeled humans from clay and then taught them agriculture and all the arts of civilization. He also stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. So inventive was he that anything that bears the stamp of creativity and originality can still be called "Promethean." Zeus, however, had wanted the human race to perish, so Prometheus' actions were also disobedient. Hence "Promethean" can also mean defiant of authority or limits. As punishment for his disobedience, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock where an eagle daily tore at his liver. Thus, any suffering on a grand scale can also be called Promethean — though this sense is not as common as the others.
Promethean \pruh-MEE-thee-un\ (adjective)
Meaning: of, relating to, or resembling Prometheus, his experiences, or his art; especially: daringly original or creative
Example Sentence: "The Olympics showcase Promethean performances by athletes who are always pushing the limits of human ability."
Did you know?
As some versions of the story go in Greek mythology, Prometheus (one of the Titan giants) modeled humans from clay and then taught them agriculture and all the arts of civilization. He also stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. So inventive was he that anything that bears the stamp of creativity and originality can still be called "Promethean." Zeus, however, had wanted the human race to perish, so Prometheus' actions were also disobedient. Hence "Promethean" can also mean defiant of authority or limits. As punishment for his disobedience, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock where an eagle daily tore at his liver. Thus, any suffering on a grand scale can also be called Promethean — though this sense is not as common as the others.
May 1, 2020 - "embezzle"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
embezzle \im-BEZZ-ul\ (verb)
Meaning: to appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use
Example Sentence: "The company’s senior accounts manager was able to embezzle thousands of dollars from his employer by way of a
loophole in accounting procedures."
Did you know?
English has a lot of verbs that mean to steal — some more specific than others. "Pilfer," "purloin," "rob," "swipe," "plunder," "filch," and "thieve" are some noted examples. "Embezzle" differs from these by stressing the improper appropriation of property to which a person is entrusted — often in the form of company funds. First appearing in English in the 15th century, "embezzle" derives via Middle English from the Anglo-French "embesiller," meaning "to make away," formed from the prefix "en-" and the verb "besiller," meaning "to steal or plunder." Related to "embezzle" is "bezzle," a verb used in some British English dialects to mean "to waste or plunder" or "to drink or eat to excess."
embezzle \im-BEZZ-ul\ (verb)
Meaning: to appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use
Example Sentence: "The company’s senior accounts manager was able to embezzle thousands of dollars from his employer by way of a
loophole in accounting procedures."
Did you know?
English has a lot of verbs that mean to steal — some more specific than others. "Pilfer," "purloin," "rob," "swipe," "plunder," "filch," and "thieve" are some noted examples. "Embezzle" differs from these by stressing the improper appropriation of property to which a person is entrusted — often in the form of company funds. First appearing in English in the 15th century, "embezzle" derives via Middle English from the Anglo-French "embesiller," meaning "to make away," formed from the prefix "en-" and the verb "besiller," meaning "to steal or plunder." Related to "embezzle" is "bezzle," a verb used in some British English dialects to mean "to waste or plunder" or "to drink or eat to excess."
April 30, 2010 - "gravamen"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
gravamen \gruh-VAY-mun\ (noun)
Meaning: the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint
Example Sentence: "The gravamen of Walter's letter to the editor was that the newspaper frequently reported on the school system's
failures but rarely covered its successes and improvements."
Did you know?
"Gravamen" is not a word you hear every day, but it does show up occasionally in modern-day publications. It comes from the Latin verb "gravare," meaning "to burden," and ultimately from the Latin adjective "gravis," meaning "heavy." Fittingly, "gravamen" refers to the part of a grievance or complaint that gives it weight or substance. In legal contexts, "gravamen" is used, synonymously with "gist," to refer to the grounds on which a legal action is sustainable. "Gravis" has given English several other weighty words, including "gravity," "grieve," and the adjective "grave," meaning "important" or "serious."
gravamen \gruh-VAY-mun\ (noun)
Meaning: the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint
Example Sentence: "The gravamen of Walter's letter to the editor was that the newspaper frequently reported on the school system's
failures but rarely covered its successes and improvements."
Did you know?
"Gravamen" is not a word you hear every day, but it does show up occasionally in modern-day publications. It comes from the Latin verb "gravare," meaning "to burden," and ultimately from the Latin adjective "gravis," meaning "heavy." Fittingly, "gravamen" refers to the part of a grievance or complaint that gives it weight or substance. In legal contexts, "gravamen" is used, synonymously with "gist," to refer to the grounds on which a legal action is sustainable. "Gravis" has given English several other weighty words, including "gravity," "grieve," and the adjective "grave," meaning "important" or "serious."
April 29, 2010 - "translucent"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
translucent \trans-LOO-sunt\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1. not transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through
2. free from disguise or falseness
Example Sentence: "The translucent window glass gave us enough daylight to work without allowing people standing outside to see in."
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Did you know?
Look closely and you will see the same three letters in "translucent" and "elucidate," letting the family relationship between the two words shine through. Both terms descend from the Latin word "lucēre," meaning "to shine." ("Translucent" is from "lucēre" plus "trans-," which means "through.") When you "elucidate" something, you make it clear by explaining it in a way that can be easily understood — you "shed light on" it. "Lucēre" is also the root of another bright and shining English word, "lucid," which can mean either "bright with light" or "clear and easy to understand."
translucent \trans-LOO-sunt\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1. not transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through
2. free from disguise or falseness
Example Sentence: "The translucent window glass gave us enough daylight to work without allowing people standing outside to see in."
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Did you know?
Look closely and you will see the same three letters in "translucent" and "elucidate," letting the family relationship between the two words shine through. Both terms descend from the Latin word "lucēre," meaning "to shine." ("Translucent" is from "lucēre" plus "trans-," which means "through.") When you "elucidate" something, you make it clear by explaining it in a way that can be easily understood — you "shed light on" it. "Lucēre" is also the root of another bright and shining English word, "lucid," which can mean either "bright with light" or "clear and easy to understand."
April 28, 2010 - "bully pulpit"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
bully pulpit \BULL-ee-PULL-pit\ (noun)
Meaning: a prominent public position (as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views; also: such an opportunity
Example Sentence: "Mariah has used her position on the city council as a bully pulpit to denounce the corruption in the mayor’s office."
Did you know?
"Bully pulpit" comes from the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that the White House was a bully pulpit. For Roosevelt, "bully" was an adjective meaning "excellent" or "first-rate" — not the noun "bully" ("a blustering browbeating person") that's so common today. Roosevelt understood the modern presidency's power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation's growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1970s, "bully pulpit" has been used as a term for an office — especially a political office — that provides one with the opportunity to share one's views.
bully pulpit \BULL-ee-PULL-pit\ (noun)
Meaning: a prominent public position (as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views; also: such an opportunity
Example Sentence: "Mariah has used her position on the city council as a bully pulpit to denounce the corruption in the mayor’s office."
Did you know?
"Bully pulpit" comes from the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that the White House was a bully pulpit. For Roosevelt, "bully" was an adjective meaning "excellent" or "first-rate" — not the noun "bully" ("a blustering browbeating person") that's so common today. Roosevelt understood the modern presidency's power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation's growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1970s, "bully pulpit" has been used as a term for an office — especially a political office — that provides one with the opportunity to share one's views.
April 27, 2010 - "amerce"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
amerce \uh-MERSS\ (verb)
Meaning: to punish by a fine whose amount is fixed by the court; broadly, punish
Example Sentence: "A freeman is not to be amerced for a small offence save in accordance with the manner of the offence.…" (Magna Carta,
1215)
Did you know?
If you break the law, you could find yourself "at the mercy" of the court. As you await your punishment (hoping that the judge will in fact be merciful), you may want to ponder the history of "amerce." It begins with the Old French phrase "a merci," meaning "at (one's) mercy," which in turn gave rise to the Anglo-French verb "amercier" (same meaning as "amerce"). Middle English speakers adopted the French word as "amercien," which was later modernized to "amerce." In addition to the legal use, "amerce" can also be used in a more general sense for the infliction of any sort of punishment, monetary or otherwise.
amerce \uh-MERSS\ (verb)
Meaning: to punish by a fine whose amount is fixed by the court; broadly, punish
Example Sentence: "A freeman is not to be amerced for a small offence save in accordance with the manner of the offence.…" (Magna Carta,
1215)
Did you know?
If you break the law, you could find yourself "at the mercy" of the court. As you await your punishment (hoping that the judge will in fact be merciful), you may want to ponder the history of "amerce." It begins with the Old French phrase "a merci," meaning "at (one's) mercy," which in turn gave rise to the Anglo-French verb "amercier" (same meaning as "amerce"). Middle English speakers adopted the French word as "amercien," which was later modernized to "amerce." In addition to the legal use, "amerce" can also be used in a more general sense for the infliction of any sort of punishment, monetary or otherwise.
April 26, 2010 - "lily-livered"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
lily-livered \LILL-ee-LIV-erd\ (adjective)
Meaning: lacking courage; cowardly
Example Sentence: "I regret not hurling myself into university life because I was too … lily-livered to live a little." (Laura Barton, The Guardian [London], August 16, 2001)
Did you know?
The basis of the word "lily-livered" lies in an old belief. Years ago, people thought that health and temperament were the products of a balance or imbalance of four bodily fluids, or humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. It was believed that a deficiency of yellow bile, or choler, the humor that governed anger, spirit, and courage, would leave a person’s liver colorless or white. Someone with this deficiency, and so white-livered, would be spiritless and a coward. "Lily-livered" and "white-livered" have been used synonymously since the 16th century, but 'lily-livered' is now the more common expression, probably because of its alliteration.
lily-livered \LILL-ee-LIV-erd\ (adjective)
Meaning: lacking courage; cowardly
Example Sentence: "I regret not hurling myself into university life because I was too … lily-livered to live a little." (Laura Barton, The Guardian [London], August 16, 2001)
Did you know?
The basis of the word "lily-livered" lies in an old belief. Years ago, people thought that health and temperament were the products of a balance or imbalance of four bodily fluids, or humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. It was believed that a deficiency of yellow bile, or choler, the humor that governed anger, spirit, and courage, would leave a person’s liver colorless or white. Someone with this deficiency, and so white-livered, would be spiritless and a coward. "Lily-livered" and "white-livered" have been used synonymously since the 16th century, but 'lily-livered' is now the more common expression, probably because of its alliteration.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 25, 2010 - "repartee"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
repartee \rep-er-TEE\ (noun)
Meaning: 1a. a quick and witty reply
*b. a succession or interchange of clever retorts; amusing and usually light sparring with words
2. adroitness and cleverness in reply
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The talk show host is a skillful interviewer whose deft use of repartee and quick-witted banter keeps his show moving
at a lively, almost manic, pace."
Did you know?
One person often noted for her repartee was Dorothy Parker, writer and legendary member of the Algonquin Round Table. Upon hearing that Calvin Coolidge had died, she replied, "How can they tell?" The taciturn Coolidge obviously didn’t have a reputation for being the life of the party, but he himself came out with a particularly famous repartee on one occasion. When a dinner guest approached him and told him she had bet someone she could get him to say more than two words, he replied, "You lose." "Repartee," our word for such a quick, sharp reply (and for skill with such replies) comes from the French "repartie," of the same meaning. "Repartie" comes from the French verb "repartir," meaning "to retort."
repartee \rep-er-TEE\ (noun)
Meaning: 1a. a quick and witty reply
*b. a succession or interchange of clever retorts; amusing and usually light sparring with words
2. adroitness and cleverness in reply
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The talk show host is a skillful interviewer whose deft use of repartee and quick-witted banter keeps his show moving
at a lively, almost manic, pace."
Did you know?
One person often noted for her repartee was Dorothy Parker, writer and legendary member of the Algonquin Round Table. Upon hearing that Calvin Coolidge had died, she replied, "How can they tell?" The taciturn Coolidge obviously didn’t have a reputation for being the life of the party, but he himself came out with a particularly famous repartee on one occasion. When a dinner guest approached him and told him she had bet someone she could get him to say more than two words, he replied, "You lose." "Repartee," our word for such a quick, sharp reply (and for skill with such replies) comes from the French "repartie," of the same meaning. "Repartie" comes from the French verb "repartir," meaning "to retort."
Saturday, April 24, 2010
April 24, 2010 - "hale"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
hale \HAIL\ (adjective)
Meaning: free from defect, disease, or infirmity; sound; also, retaining exceptional health and vigor
Example Sentence: "He was a rich and powerful noble, then in his sixty-second year, but hale and sturdy, a great horseman and hunter and
a pious man." (Edith Wharton, "Kerfol")
Did you know?
When you need a word to describe someone or something in good health, you might pick "hale" or a synonym such as "healthy," "sound," or "robust." Of those terms, "healthy" is the most general, implying full strength and vigor or simply freedom from signs of disease. "Sound" generally emphasizes the complete absence of defects of mind or body. "Robust" implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly and usually suggests muscular strength as well as the ability to work or play long and hard. "Hale" applies especially to robustness in later life. The phrase "hale and hearty" is often used to describe an older person who retains the physical qualities of youth
hale \HAIL\ (adjective)
Meaning: free from defect, disease, or infirmity; sound; also, retaining exceptional health and vigor
Example Sentence: "He was a rich and powerful noble, then in his sixty-second year, but hale and sturdy, a great horseman and hunter and
a pious man." (Edith Wharton, "Kerfol")
Did you know?
When you need a word to describe someone or something in good health, you might pick "hale" or a synonym such as "healthy," "sound," or "robust." Of those terms, "healthy" is the most general, implying full strength and vigor or simply freedom from signs of disease. "Sound" generally emphasizes the complete absence of defects of mind or body. "Robust" implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly and usually suggests muscular strength as well as the ability to work or play long and hard. "Hale" applies especially to robustness in later life. The phrase "hale and hearty" is often used to describe an older person who retains the physical qualities of youth
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 23, 2010 - "hawthorn"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
hawthorn \HAW-thorn\ (noun)
Meaning: any of a genus (Crataegus) of spring-flowering spiny shrubs or small trees of the rose family with glossy and often lobed leaves,
white or pink fragrant flowers, and small red fruits
Example Sentence: "Susan said that for her, one of the signs that spring had truly arrived was the flowering of the hawthorn."
Did you know?
A hawthorn is a thorny shrub or tree which can be planted into a hedge, and this fact provides a hint about the origins of the plant's name. The word "hawthorn" traces back to the Old English word "hagathorn," a combination of "haga" ("hedge") and "thorn" (same meaning as the modern "thorn" or "thornbush"). "Haga" was also used in Old English for the hawthorn itself, but by the 12th century the "thorn" had been added to its name.
hawthorn \HAW-thorn\ (noun)
Meaning: any of a genus (Crataegus) of spring-flowering spiny shrubs or small trees of the rose family with glossy and often lobed leaves,
white or pink fragrant flowers, and small red fruits
Example Sentence: "Susan said that for her, one of the signs that spring had truly arrived was the flowering of the hawthorn."
Did you know?
A hawthorn is a thorny shrub or tree which can be planted into a hedge, and this fact provides a hint about the origins of the plant's name. The word "hawthorn" traces back to the Old English word "hagathorn," a combination of "haga" ("hedge") and "thorn" (same meaning as the modern "thorn" or "thornbush"). "Haga" was also used in Old English for the hawthorn itself, but by the 12th century the "thorn" had been added to its name.
April 22, 2010 - "alacrity"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
alacrity \uh-LAK-ruh-tee\ (noun)
Meaning: promptness in response; cheerful readiness
Example Sentence: "The good-humoured little attorney tapped at Mr. Pickwick's door, which was opened with great alacrity by Sam
Weller." (Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers)
Did you know?
"I have not that alacrity of spirit / Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have," says Shakespeare’s King Richard III in the play that bears his name. When Shakespeare penned those words some 400 years ago, "alacrity" was less than a hundred years old. Our English word derives from the Latin word "alacer," which means "lively." It denotes physical quickness coupled with eagerness or enthusiasm. Are there any other words in English from Latin "alacer"? Yes — "allegro," which is used as a direction in music with the meaning "at a brisk lively tempo.” It came to us via Italian (where it can mean "merry") and is assumed to be ultimately from "alacer."
alacrity \uh-LAK-ruh-tee\ (noun)
Meaning: promptness in response; cheerful readiness
Example Sentence: "The good-humoured little attorney tapped at Mr. Pickwick's door, which was opened with great alacrity by Sam
Weller." (Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers)
Did you know?
"I have not that alacrity of spirit / Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have," says Shakespeare’s King Richard III in the play that bears his name. When Shakespeare penned those words some 400 years ago, "alacrity" was less than a hundred years old. Our English word derives from the Latin word "alacer," which means "lively." It denotes physical quickness coupled with eagerness or enthusiasm. Are there any other words in English from Latin "alacer"? Yes — "allegro," which is used as a direction in music with the meaning "at a brisk lively tempo.” It came to us via Italian (where it can mean "merry") and is assumed to be ultimately from "alacer."
April 21, 2010 - "collogue"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
collogue \kuh-LOHG\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. dialect; intrigue, conspire
*2. to talk privately : confer
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "If there was noise, as there often was even at dawn — a huddle of men colloguing, a woman deliriously chanting the
Mysteries — his arrival would cause much of it to die." (Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea)
Did you know?
"Collogue" has been with us since the 17th century, but beyond that little is known about its origin. In Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary, he defined "collogue" as "to wheedle, to flatter; to please with kind words." The "intrigue or conspire" meaning of "collogue" was also common in Johnson's day, but Johnson missed it; his oversight suggests that sense of the word was probably part of a dialect unfamiliar to him. The earliest known use of the "confer" sense of the word is found in an 1811 letter by Sir Walter Scott: "We shall meet and collogue upon it."
collogue \kuh-LOHG\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. dialect; intrigue, conspire
*2. to talk privately : confer
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "If there was noise, as there often was even at dawn — a huddle of men colloguing, a woman deliriously chanting the
Mysteries — his arrival would cause much of it to die." (Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea)
Did you know?
"Collogue" has been with us since the 17th century, but beyond that little is known about its origin. In Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary, he defined "collogue" as "to wheedle, to flatter; to please with kind words." The "intrigue or conspire" meaning of "collogue" was also common in Johnson's day, but Johnson missed it; his oversight suggests that sense of the word was probably part of a dialect unfamiliar to him. The earliest known use of the "confer" sense of the word is found in an 1811 letter by Sir Walter Scott: "We shall meet and collogue upon it."
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 20, 2010 - "tousle"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
tousle \TOW-zul\ (verb)
Meaning: dishevel, rumple
Example Sentence: "Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to master the cool, disheveled look."
Did you know?
"Tousle" is a word that has been through what linguists call a "functional shift." That's a fancy way of saying it was originally one part of speech, then gradually came to have an additional function. "Tousle" started out as a verb back in the 15th century. By the late 19th century, "tousle" was also being used as a noun meaning "a tangled mass (as of hair)." Etymologists connect the word to an Old High German word meaning "to pull to pieces."
tousle \TOW-zul\ (verb)
Meaning: dishevel, rumple
Example Sentence: "Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to master the cool, disheveled look."
Did you know?
"Tousle" is a word that has been through what linguists call a "functional shift." That's a fancy way of saying it was originally one part of speech, then gradually came to have an additional function. "Tousle" started out as a verb back in the 15th century. By the late 19th century, "tousle" was also being used as a noun meaning "a tangled mass (as of hair)." Etymologists connect the word to an Old High German word meaning "to pull to pieces."
Monday, April 19, 2010
April 19, 2010 - "frog-march"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
frog-march \FROG-march\ (verb)
Meaning: to seize from behind roughly and forcefully propel forward
Example Sentence: "When the patron became loud and belligerent, a hulking bouncer swiftly pinned him in a half nelson and frog-marched
him out the door."
Did you know?
There are a couple variations of the "frog's march" used to carry off an unruly person. The first involves carrying the person face downward by the arms and legs; when this is done by four people each holding a limb, the person's body resembles a stretched out frog. In another version the person is carried off by his collar and the seat of his pants, again giving the image of a frog but this time with limbs uselessly flailing about. These ways of moving a person gave us the verb "frog-march" in the late 19th century. The verb was also extended to cover more general, less frog-like, methods of removal, such as forcing the intractable individual forward with arms held in back or at the sides.
frog-march \FROG-march\ (verb)
Meaning: to seize from behind roughly and forcefully propel forward
Example Sentence: "When the patron became loud and belligerent, a hulking bouncer swiftly pinned him in a half nelson and frog-marched
him out the door."
Did you know?
There are a couple variations of the "frog's march" used to carry off an unruly person. The first involves carrying the person face downward by the arms and legs; when this is done by four people each holding a limb, the person's body resembles a stretched out frog. In another version the person is carried off by his collar and the seat of his pants, again giving the image of a frog but this time with limbs uselessly flailing about. These ways of moving a person gave us the verb "frog-march" in the late 19th century. The verb was also extended to cover more general, less frog-like, methods of removal, such as forcing the intractable individual forward with arms held in back or at the sides.
April 18, 2010 - "cordial"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
cordial \KOR-jul\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. tending to revive, cheer, or invigorate
2. a. sincerely or deeply felt
*b. warmly and genially affable
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Whenever I went out, I heard on all sides cordial salutations, and was welcomed with friendly smiles." (Charlotte
Brontë, Jane Eyre)
Did you know?
"Cordial" shares the Latin root "cor" with "concord" (meaning "harmony") and "discord" (meaning "conflict"). "Cor" means "heart," and each of these "cor" descendants has something to do with the heart, at least figuratively. "Concord," which comes from "con-" (meaning "together" or "with") plus "cor," suggests that one heart is with another. "Discord" combines the prefix "dis-" (meaning "apart") with "cor," and it implies that hearts are apart. When "cordial" was first used in the 14th century, it literally meant "of or relating to the heart," but this sense has not been in use since the 17th century. Today anything that is "cordial," be it a welcome, a hello, or an agreement, comes from the heart in a figurative sense.
cordial \KOR-jul\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. tending to revive, cheer, or invigorate
2. a. sincerely or deeply felt
*b. warmly and genially affable
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Whenever I went out, I heard on all sides cordial salutations, and was welcomed with friendly smiles." (Charlotte
Brontë, Jane Eyre)
Did you know?
"Cordial" shares the Latin root "cor" with "concord" (meaning "harmony") and "discord" (meaning "conflict"). "Cor" means "heart," and each of these "cor" descendants has something to do with the heart, at least figuratively. "Concord," which comes from "con-" (meaning "together" or "with") plus "cor," suggests that one heart is with another. "Discord" combines the prefix "dis-" (meaning "apart") with "cor," and it implies that hearts are apart. When "cordial" was first used in the 14th century, it literally meant "of or relating to the heart," but this sense has not been in use since the 17th century. Today anything that is "cordial," be it a welcome, a hello, or an agreement, comes from the heart in a figurative sense.
April 17, 2010 - "vulnerble"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
vulnerable \VUL-nuh-ruh-bul\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
*2. open to attack or damage; assailable
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "James made sure to install the latest antivirus software on his computer so it would not be vulnerable to cyber
attacks."
Did you know?
"Vulnerable" is ultimately derived from the Latin noun "vulnus" ("wound"). "Vulnus" led to the Latin verb "vulnerare," meaning "to wound," and then to the Late Latin adjective "vulnerabilis," which became "vulnerable" in English in the early 1600s. "Vulnerable" originally meant "capable of being physically wounded" or "having the power to wound" (the latter is now obsolete), but since the late 1600s, it has also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against non-physical attacks. In other words, someone (or something) can be vulnerable to criticism or failure as well as to literal wounding. When it is used figuratively, "vulnerable" is often followed by the preposition "to."
vulnerable \VUL-nuh-ruh-bul\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
*2. open to attack or damage; assailable
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "James made sure to install the latest antivirus software on his computer so it would not be vulnerable to cyber
attacks."
Did you know?
"Vulnerable" is ultimately derived from the Latin noun "vulnus" ("wound"). "Vulnus" led to the Latin verb "vulnerare," meaning "to wound," and then to the Late Latin adjective "vulnerabilis," which became "vulnerable" in English in the early 1600s. "Vulnerable" originally meant "capable of being physically wounded" or "having the power to wound" (the latter is now obsolete), but since the late 1600s, it has also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against non-physical attacks. In other words, someone (or something) can be vulnerable to criticism or failure as well as to literal wounding. When it is used figuratively, "vulnerable" is often followed by the preposition "to."
April 16, 2010 - "scour"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
scour \SKOW-er\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. to move about quickly especially in search
*2. to go through or range over in or as if in a search
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Then came the excitement of trying to locate the fallen quail, and now the dog became a major partner, for he scoured
the terrain this way and that.…" (James Michener, Texas, 1985)
Did you know?
There are two verbs "scour" in English. One means to clean something by rubbing it hard with a rough object; that sense, from the 14th century, probably derives via Middle Dutch and Old French from a Late Latin verb meaning "to clean off." Today’s "scour," however, dates from the 13th century and is believed to derive via Middle English from Old Norse "skūr," meaning "shower" (it also shares a distant relationship with our word "shower"). Many disparate things can be scoured. For example, one can scour an area (as in "scoured the woods in search of the lost dog") or publications (as in "scouring magazine and newspaper articles").
scour \SKOW-er\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. to move about quickly especially in search
*2. to go through or range over in or as if in a search
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Then came the excitement of trying to locate the fallen quail, and now the dog became a major partner, for he scoured
the terrain this way and that.…" (James Michener, Texas, 1985)
Did you know?
There are two verbs "scour" in English. One means to clean something by rubbing it hard with a rough object; that sense, from the 14th century, probably derives via Middle Dutch and Old French from a Late Latin verb meaning "to clean off." Today’s "scour," however, dates from the 13th century and is believed to derive via Middle English from Old Norse "skūr," meaning "shower" (it also shares a distant relationship with our word "shower"). Many disparate things can be scoured. For example, one can scour an area (as in "scoured the woods in search of the lost dog") or publications (as in "scouring magazine and newspaper articles").
April 15, 2010 - "cap-a-pie"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
cap-a-pie \kap-uh-PEE\ (adverb)
Meaning: from head to foot
Example Sentence: "Katie’s maid of honor, dressed cap-a-pie in purple satin, hurried up the walkway toward the church."
Did you know?
Think of a medieval knight riding off to battle completely encased (from head to foot, as it were) in armor. Knights thus outfitted were said to be "armed cap-a-pie." The term "cap-a-pie," which has been used in English since at least the 16th century, descends from the Middle French phrase "de cap a pe," meaning "from head to foot." Nowadays, it is generally extended to more figurative armor, as in "armed cap-a-pie against criticism." "Cap-a-pie" has also been credited with parenting another English phrase. Some people think the expression "apple-pie order," meaning "perfect order," may have originated as a corruption of "cap-a-pie order." The evidence for that theory is far from orderly, however, and it must be regarded as speculative.
cap-a-pie \kap-uh-PEE\ (adverb)
Meaning: from head to foot
Example Sentence: "Katie’s maid of honor, dressed cap-a-pie in purple satin, hurried up the walkway toward the church."
Did you know?
Think of a medieval knight riding off to battle completely encased (from head to foot, as it were) in armor. Knights thus outfitted were said to be "armed cap-a-pie." The term "cap-a-pie," which has been used in English since at least the 16th century, descends from the Middle French phrase "de cap a pe," meaning "from head to foot." Nowadays, it is generally extended to more figurative armor, as in "armed cap-a-pie against criticism." "Cap-a-pie" has also been credited with parenting another English phrase. Some people think the expression "apple-pie order," meaning "perfect order," may have originated as a corruption of "cap-a-pie order." The evidence for that theory is far from orderly, however, and it must be regarded as speculative.
April 14, 2010 - "omnium-gatherum"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
omnium-gatherum \ahm-nee-um-GA-thuh-rum\ (noun)
Meaning: a miscellaneous collection (as of things or persons)
Example Sentence: "The book, a collection of short stories, is an omnium-gatherum of works by various writers."
Did you know?
English abounds in Latin phrases. They roll off the learned tongue like peas off a fork. "Tabula rasa"; "ab ovo"; "a posteriori"; "deus ex machina"; "ex cathedra"; "mea culpa"; "terra firma"; "vox populi"; "ad hominem"; "sub rosa." "Omnium-gatherum" belongs on that list too, right? Not exactly. "Omnium-gatherum" sounds like Latin, and indeed “omnium” (the genitive plural of Latin "omnis," meaning "all") is the real thing. But "gatherum" is simply English "gather" with "-um" tacked on to give it a classical ring. We're not suggesting, however, that the phrase is anything less than literate. After all, the first person known to have used it was John Croke, a lawyer educated at Eton and Cambridge in the 16th century.
omnium-gatherum \ahm-nee-um-GA-thuh-rum\ (noun)
Meaning: a miscellaneous collection (as of things or persons)
Example Sentence: "The book, a collection of short stories, is an omnium-gatherum of works by various writers."
Did you know?
English abounds in Latin phrases. They roll off the learned tongue like peas off a fork. "Tabula rasa"; "ab ovo"; "a posteriori"; "deus ex machina"; "ex cathedra"; "mea culpa"; "terra firma"; "vox populi"; "ad hominem"; "sub rosa." "Omnium-gatherum" belongs on that list too, right? Not exactly. "Omnium-gatherum" sounds like Latin, and indeed “omnium” (the genitive plural of Latin "omnis," meaning "all") is the real thing. But "gatherum" is simply English "gather" with "-um" tacked on to give it a classical ring. We're not suggesting, however, that the phrase is anything less than literate. After all, the first person known to have used it was John Croke, a lawyer educated at Eton and Cambridge in the 16th century.
April 13, 2010 - "paean"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
paean \PEE-un\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
*2. a work that praises or honors its subject; encomium, tribute
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "I'm supposed to write a paean to Spring for my creative writing course, but all this rain just makes me depressed and
uninspired," sighed Jessica.
Did you know?
According to the poet Homer, the Greek god Apollo sometimes took the guise of Paean, physician to the gods. The earliest musical paeans were hymns of thanksgiving and praise that were dedicated to Apollo. They were sung at events ranging from boisterous festivals to public funerals, and were the traditional marching songs of armies heading into battle. Over time, the word became generalized, and it is now used for any kind of tribute.
paean \PEE-un\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
*2. a work that praises or honors its subject; encomium, tribute
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "I'm supposed to write a paean to Spring for my creative writing course, but all this rain just makes me depressed and
uninspired," sighed Jessica.
Did you know?
According to the poet Homer, the Greek god Apollo sometimes took the guise of Paean, physician to the gods. The earliest musical paeans were hymns of thanksgiving and praise that were dedicated to Apollo. They were sung at events ranging from boisterous festivals to public funerals, and were the traditional marching songs of armies heading into battle. Over time, the word became generalized, and it is now used for any kind of tribute.
April 12, 2010 - "frowsy"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
frowsy \FROW-zee\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. musty, stale
*2. having a slovenly or uncared-for appearance
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Just a little effort and elbow grease applied to a frowsy courtyard, patio or side yard will reap rewards year
round." (Elizabeth Bettendorf, St. Petersburg Times [Florida], April 6, 2007)
Did you know?
The exact origins of this approximately 330-year-old word may be lost in some frowsy, old book somewhere, but some etymologists have speculated that "frowsy" (also spelled "frowzy") shares a common ancestor with the younger, chiefly British word "frowsty," a synonym of "frowsy" in both its senses. That ancestor could be the Old French word "frouste," meaning "ruinous" or "decayed," or the now mostly obsolete English word "frough" or "frow," meaning "brittle" or "fragile." The English dramatist Thomas Otway is the first person (as far as we know) to have used "frowsy" in print. In his comedy "The Souldier's Fortune," published in 1681, the character Beau refers to another character as "a frouzy Fellmonger."
frowsy \FROW-zee\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. musty, stale
*2. having a slovenly or uncared-for appearance
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Just a little effort and elbow grease applied to a frowsy courtyard, patio or side yard will reap rewards year
round." (Elizabeth Bettendorf, St. Petersburg Times [Florida], April 6, 2007)
Did you know?
The exact origins of this approximately 330-year-old word may be lost in some frowsy, old book somewhere, but some etymologists have speculated that "frowsy" (also spelled "frowzy") shares a common ancestor with the younger, chiefly British word "frowsty," a synonym of "frowsy" in both its senses. That ancestor could be the Old French word "frouste," meaning "ruinous" or "decayed," or the now mostly obsolete English word "frough" or "frow," meaning "brittle" or "fragile." The English dramatist Thomas Otway is the first person (as far as we know) to have used "frowsy" in print. In his comedy "The Souldier's Fortune," published in 1681, the character Beau refers to another character as "a frouzy Fellmonger."
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April 11, 2010 - "tatterdemalion"
Merriam-Webster Word of the Day
tatterdemalion \tatt-er-dih-MAIL-yun\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. ragged or disreputable in appearance
*2. being in a decayed state or condition; dilapidated
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "What he wants to do is to get the tatterdemalion main building into shape so that it can be used as a retreat for priests
and laymen, perhaps with profitable results." (Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post, August 15, 2007)
Did you know?
The exact origin of "tatterdemalion" is uncertain, but it’s probably connected to either the noun "tatter" ("a torn scrap or shred") or the adjective "tattered" ("ragged" or "wearing ragged clothes"). We do know that "tatterdemalion" has been used in print since the 1600s. In its first documented use in 1608, it was used as a noun (as it still can be) to refer to a person in ragged clothing -- the type of person we might also call a ragamuffin. ("Ragamuffin," incidentally, predates "tatterdemalion" in this sense. Like "tatterdemalion," it may have been formed by combining a known word, "rag," with a fanciful ending.) Within half a dozen years of the first appearance of "tatterdemalion," it came to be used as an adjective to describe anything or anyone ragged or disreputable.
tatterdemalion \tatt-er-dih-MAIL-yun\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. ragged or disreputable in appearance
*2. being in a decayed state or condition; dilapidated
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "What he wants to do is to get the tatterdemalion main building into shape so that it can be used as a retreat for priests
and laymen, perhaps with profitable results." (Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post, August 15, 2007)
Did you know?
The exact origin of "tatterdemalion" is uncertain, but it’s probably connected to either the noun "tatter" ("a torn scrap or shred") or the adjective "tattered" ("ragged" or "wearing ragged clothes"). We do know that "tatterdemalion" has been used in print since the 1600s. In its first documented use in 1608, it was used as a noun (as it still can be) to refer to a person in ragged clothing -- the type of person we might also call a ragamuffin. ("Ragamuffin," incidentally, predates "tatterdemalion" in this sense. Like "tatterdemalion," it may have been formed by combining a known word, "rag," with a fanciful ending.) Within half a dozen years of the first appearance of "tatterdemalion," it came to be used as an adjective to describe anything or anyone ragged or disreputable.
April 10, 2010 - "inkling"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
inkling \INK-ling\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a slight indication or suggestion; hint, clue
*2. a slight knowledge or vague notion
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "She gained some inkling of the character of Hanson's life when, half asleep, she looked out into the dining-room at six
o'clock and saw him silently finishing his breakfast." (Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie)
Did you know?
Originating in English in the early 16th century, "inkling" derives from Middle English "yngkiling," meaning "whisper or mention," and perhaps further from the verb "inclen," meaning "to hint at." It also shares a distant relationship with the Old English noun "inca," meaning "suspicion." An early sense of the word meant "a faint perceptible sound or undertone" or "rumor," but now people usually use the word to refer to a tiny bit of knowledge or information that a person receives about something. One related word you might not have heard of is the verb "inkle," a back-formation of "inkling" that occurs in some British English dialects and means "to have an idea or notion of."
inkling \INK-ling\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a slight indication or suggestion; hint, clue
*2. a slight knowledge or vague notion
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "She gained some inkling of the character of Hanson's life when, half asleep, she looked out into the dining-room at six
o'clock and saw him silently finishing his breakfast." (Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie)
Did you know?
Originating in English in the early 16th century, "inkling" derives from Middle English "yngkiling," meaning "whisper or mention," and perhaps further from the verb "inclen," meaning "to hint at." It also shares a distant relationship with the Old English noun "inca," meaning "suspicion." An early sense of the word meant "a faint perceptible sound or undertone" or "rumor," but now people usually use the word to refer to a tiny bit of knowledge or information that a person receives about something. One related word you might not have heard of is the verb "inkle," a back-formation of "inkling" that occurs in some British English dialects and means "to have an idea or notion of."
April 9, 2010 - "waif"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
waif \WAYF\ (noun)
Meaning: 1 a. a piece of property found (as washed up by the sea) but unclaimed
b. plural: stolen goods thrown away by a thief in flight
2 a. something found without an owner and especially by chance
*b. a stray person or animal; especially, a homeless child
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The book is about a charming 10-year-old waif who embarks on a series of adventures with a scruffy canine sidekick."
Did you know?
Today's "waif" came from Anglo-French "waif," meaning "stray" or "unclaimed," and, further back, probably from a Scandinavian ancestor. It entered English in the 14th century and was followed approximately a century later by another "waif," this one meaning "a pennant or flag used to signal or to show wind direction," which English speakers derived independently, possibly from the same Scandinavian word. In its earliest uses, today's word referred to a piece of unclaimed property. It eventually developed other extended meanings before acquiring the "stray person or animal" sense. The skinny appearance typical of waifs resulted in the word being applied to people with skinny body types, beginning in the 1980s, though this sense hasn't yet found a home on the pages of our dictionaries.
waif \WAYF\ (noun)
Meaning: 1 a. a piece of property found (as washed up by the sea) but unclaimed
b. plural: stolen goods thrown away by a thief in flight
2 a. something found without an owner and especially by chance
*b. a stray person or animal; especially, a homeless child
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The book is about a charming 10-year-old waif who embarks on a series of adventures with a scruffy canine sidekick."
Did you know?
Today's "waif" came from Anglo-French "waif," meaning "stray" or "unclaimed," and, further back, probably from a Scandinavian ancestor. It entered English in the 14th century and was followed approximately a century later by another "waif," this one meaning "a pennant or flag used to signal or to show wind direction," which English speakers derived independently, possibly from the same Scandinavian word. In its earliest uses, today's word referred to a piece of unclaimed property. It eventually developed other extended meanings before acquiring the "stray person or animal" sense. The skinny appearance typical of waifs resulted in the word being applied to people with skinny body types, beginning in the 1980s, though this sense hasn't yet found a home on the pages of our dictionaries.
April 8, 2010 - "bravado"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
bravado \bruh-VAH-doh\ (noun)
Meaning: 1 a. blustering swaggering conduct
b. a pretense of bravery
*2. the quality or state of being foolhardy
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The kayakers attempted the rapids out of sheer bravado, and capsized as a result; fortunately, they escaped with only
some mild bruises and scrapes."
Did you know?
"Bravado" ultimately traces to the Old Italian adjective "bravo," meaning "courageous" or "wild." Nowadays, the wildness once associated with "bravado" has been tamed to an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. Celebrities, political or corporate giants, and the schoolyard bully may all show "bravado" (though they often turn out to be not so tough after all). "Bravado" is also used for show-offish, daring acts that seem reckless and inconsistent with good sense, but might, nonetheless, be applauded with shouts of "Bravo!" when successful. The spectacular feats of stuntmen come to mind, for example.
bravado \bruh-VAH-doh\ (noun)
Meaning: 1 a. blustering swaggering conduct
b. a pretense of bravery
*2. the quality or state of being foolhardy
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The kayakers attempted the rapids out of sheer bravado, and capsized as a result; fortunately, they escaped with only
some mild bruises and scrapes."
Did you know?
"Bravado" ultimately traces to the Old Italian adjective "bravo," meaning "courageous" or "wild." Nowadays, the wildness once associated with "bravado" has been tamed to an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. Celebrities, political or corporate giants, and the schoolyard bully may all show "bravado" (though they often turn out to be not so tough after all). "Bravado" is also used for show-offish, daring acts that seem reckless and inconsistent with good sense, but might, nonetheless, be applauded with shouts of "Bravo!" when successful. The spectacular feats of stuntmen come to mind, for example.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
April 7, 2010 - "eloquent"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
eloquent \EL-uh-kwunt\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1. marked by forceful and fluent expression
2. vividly or movingly expressive or revealing
(* Indicates the sense illustrated inthe example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Because Max is such an eloquent speaker, he was asked to give the toast at his grandfather's 75th birthday party."
Did you know?
Since "eloquent" can have to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb "loqui," which means "to speak." "Loqui" is the parent of many "talkative" offspring in English. "Loquacious," which means "given to fluent or excessive talk," also arose from "loqui." Another "loqui" relative is "circumlocution," a word that means someone is talking around a subject to avoid making a direct statement ("circum-" means "around"). And a "ventriloquist" is someone who makes his or her voice sound like it’s coming from another source.
eloquent \EL-uh-kwunt\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1. marked by forceful and fluent expression
2. vividly or movingly expressive or revealing
(* Indicates the sense illustrated inthe example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Because Max is such an eloquent speaker, he was asked to give the toast at his grandfather's 75th birthday party."
Did you know?
Since "eloquent" can have to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb "loqui," which means "to speak." "Loqui" is the parent of many "talkative" offspring in English. "Loquacious," which means "given to fluent or excessive talk," also arose from "loqui." Another "loqui" relative is "circumlocution," a word that means someone is talking around a subject to avoid making a direct statement ("circum-" means "around"). And a "ventriloquist" is someone who makes his or her voice sound like it’s coming from another source.
April 6, 2010 - "tantalize"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
tantalize \TAN-tuh-lyze\ (verb)
Meaning: to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach
Example Sentence: "The older brother mercilessly tantalized the younger one, repeatedly holding out the ball to him only to snatch it back
at the last second."
Did you know?
Pity poor King Tantalus of Phrygia. The mythic monarch offended the ancient Greek gods. As punishment, he was plunged up to his chin in water in Hades, where he had to stand beneath overhanging boughs of a tree heavily laden with ripe, juicy fruit. But though he was always hungry and thirsty, Tantalus could neither drink the water nor eat the fruit. Anytime he reached for them, they would retreat from him. Our word "tantalize" is taken from the name of the eternally tormented king.
tantalize \TAN-tuh-lyze\ (verb)
Meaning: to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach
Example Sentence: "The older brother mercilessly tantalized the younger one, repeatedly holding out the ball to him only to snatch it back
at the last second."
Did you know?
Pity poor King Tantalus of Phrygia. The mythic monarch offended the ancient Greek gods. As punishment, he was plunged up to his chin in water in Hades, where he had to stand beneath overhanging boughs of a tree heavily laden with ripe, juicy fruit. But though he was always hungry and thirsty, Tantalus could neither drink the water nor eat the fruit. Anytime he reached for them, they would retreat from him. Our word "tantalize" is taken from the name of the eternally tormented king.
Monday, April 5, 2010
April 5, 2010 - "sward"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
sward \SWORD\ (noun)
Meaning: *1. a portion of ground covered with grass
2. the grassy surface of land
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Students in flip-flops slap lazily across the green swards of campuses as bell music peals from the campaniles." (Sally
Jenkins, The Washington Post, August 31, 2005)
Did you know?
"Sward," which sprouted up in the English language more than 500 years ago, is currently used more frequently as a surname than as a noun having to do with lawns and the like. Still, you'll find the occasional reference to a "green sward" or "grassy sward" in newspapers. And the term pops up in a number of old novels, such as in this quote from Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles: "The sun was so near the ground, and the sward so flat, that the shadows of Clare and Tess would stretch a quarter of a mile ahead of them...." "Sward" at one time referred to skin or rind, and especially to the rind of pork or bacon, although this meaning is now archaic. The word comes from the Old English "sweard" or "swearth," meaning "skin" or "rind."
sward \SWORD\ (noun)
Meaning: *1. a portion of ground covered with grass
2. the grassy surface of land
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Students in flip-flops slap lazily across the green swards of campuses as bell music peals from the campaniles." (Sally
Jenkins, The Washington Post, August 31, 2005)
Did you know?
"Sward," which sprouted up in the English language more than 500 years ago, is currently used more frequently as a surname than as a noun having to do with lawns and the like. Still, you'll find the occasional reference to a "green sward" or "grassy sward" in newspapers. And the term pops up in a number of old novels, such as in this quote from Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles: "The sun was so near the ground, and the sward so flat, that the shadows of Clare and Tess would stretch a quarter of a mile ahead of them...." "Sward" at one time referred to skin or rind, and especially to the rind of pork or bacon, although this meaning is now archaic. The word comes from the Old English "sweard" or "swearth," meaning "skin" or "rind."
April 4, 2010 - "irrupt"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
irrupt \ih-RUPT\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. to rush in forcibly or violently
2. of a natural population; to undergo a sudden upsurge in numbers especially when natural ecological balances and checks are
disturbed
*3. to become active or violent especially suddenly; erupt
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The stadium irrupted in applause for the local high school choir's outstanding rendition of the national anthem."
Did you know?
"Irrupt'' and "erupt” have existed as discrete words since the 1800s. Both are descendants of the Latin verb "rumpere," which means "to break," but "irrupt" has affixed to it the prefix "ir-" (in the sense "into") while "erupt" begins with the prefix "e-" (meaning "out"). So "to irrupt" was originally to rush in, and "to erupt" was to burst out. But it's sometimes hard to distinguish the precise direction of a violent rush, and "irrupt" came to be used as a synonym of "erupt" in the senses "to become active or violent especially suddenly" and "to break forth," as in our example sentence.
irrupt \ih-RUPT\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. to rush in forcibly or violently
2. of a natural population; to undergo a sudden upsurge in numbers especially when natural ecological balances and checks are
disturbed
*3. to become active or violent especially suddenly; erupt
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The stadium irrupted in applause for the local high school choir's outstanding rendition of the national anthem."
Did you know?
"Irrupt'' and "erupt” have existed as discrete words since the 1800s. Both are descendants of the Latin verb "rumpere," which means "to break," but "irrupt" has affixed to it the prefix "ir-" (in the sense "into") while "erupt" begins with the prefix "e-" (meaning "out"). So "to irrupt" was originally to rush in, and "to erupt" was to burst out. But it's sometimes hard to distinguish the precise direction of a violent rush, and "irrupt" came to be used as a synonym of "erupt" in the senses "to become active or violent especially suddenly" and "to break forth," as in our example sentence.
April 3, 2010 - "dossier"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
dossier \DOSS-yay\ (noun)
Meaning: a file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject
Example Sentence: "The suspect's dossier listed two arrests for grand theft auto and several more for breaking and entering."
Did you know?
Gather together various documents relating to the affairs of a certain individual, sort them into separate folders, label the spine of each folder, and arrange the folders in a box. "Dossier," the French word for such a compendium of spine-labeled folders, was picked up by English speakers in the late 19th century. It comes from "dos," the French word for "back," which is in turn derived from "dorsum," Latin for "back." Our word "dorsal" ("situated on the back"), as in the dorsal fin of a whale, comes from the same Latin source.
dossier \DOSS-yay\ (noun)
Meaning: a file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject
Example Sentence: "The suspect's dossier listed two arrests for grand theft auto and several more for breaking and entering."
Did you know?
Gather together various documents relating to the affairs of a certain individual, sort them into separate folders, label the spine of each folder, and arrange the folders in a box. "Dossier," the French word for such a compendium of spine-labeled folders, was picked up by English speakers in the late 19th century. It comes from "dos," the French word for "back," which is in turn derived from "dorsum," Latin for "back." Our word "dorsal" ("situated on the back"), as in the dorsal fin of a whale, comes from the same Latin source.
Friday, April 2, 2010
April 2, 2010 - "ruthless"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
ruthless \ROOTH-lus\ (adjective)
Meaning: having no pity; merciless, cruel
Example Sentence: "Even the most sociable and gentle of house cats remain, at heart, ruthless predators."
Did you know?
"Ruthless" can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun "ruth," which is now considerably less common than "ruthless," means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of "ruthless" is "ruthful," meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." "Ruthful" can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." "Ruth" can be traced back to the Middle English noun "ruthe," itself from "ruen," meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow."
ruthless \ROOTH-lus\ (adjective)
Meaning: having no pity; merciless, cruel
Example Sentence: "Even the most sociable and gentle of house cats remain, at heart, ruthless predators."
Did you know?
"Ruthless" can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun "ruth," which is now considerably less common than "ruthless," means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of "ruthless" is "ruthful," meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." "Ruthful" can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." "Ruth" can be traced back to the Middle English noun "ruthe," itself from "ruen," meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow."
Thursday, April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010 - "puerile"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
puerile \PYUR-ul\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. juvenile
*2. childish, silly
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Though Laura enjoys a good practical joke, she finds some of the gags pulled by her co-workers on April Fool’s Day to
be merely puerile."
Did you know?
"Puerile" may call to mind qualities of youth and immaturity, but the term itself is no spring chicken. On the contrary, it's been around for more than three centuries, and its predecessors in French and Latin, the adjectives "puéril" and "puerilis," respectively, are far older. Those two terms have the same basic meaning as the English word "puerile," and they both trace to the Latin noun "puer," meaning "boy" or "child." Nowadays, "puerile" can describe the acts or utterances of an actual child, but it more often refers (usually with marked disapproval) to occurrences of childishness where adult maturity would be expected or preferred.
puerile \PYUR-ul\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. juvenile
*2. childish, silly
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Though Laura enjoys a good practical joke, she finds some of the gags pulled by her co-workers on April Fool’s Day to
be merely puerile."
Did you know?
"Puerile" may call to mind qualities of youth and immaturity, but the term itself is no spring chicken. On the contrary, it's been around for more than three centuries, and its predecessors in French and Latin, the adjectives "puéril" and "puerilis," respectively, are far older. Those two terms have the same basic meaning as the English word "puerile," and they both trace to the Latin noun "puer," meaning "boy" or "child." Nowadays, "puerile" can describe the acts or utterances of an actual child, but it more often refers (usually with marked disapproval) to occurrences of childishness where adult maturity would be expected or preferred.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
March 31, 2010 - "reprobate"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
reprobate \REP-ruh-bayt\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a person foreordained to damnation
*2. a depraved person; scoundrel
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "He was just an old reprobate who lived poor and died broke...." (Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago)
Did you know?
These days, calling someone a "reprobate" is hardly a condemnation to hellfire and brimstone, but the original reprobates of the 16th century were hardened sinners who had fallen from God's grace. By the 19th century, "reprobate" had acquired the milder, but still utterly condemnatory, sense of "a depraved person." Gradually, though, the criticism implied by "reprobate" became touched with tolerance and even a bit of humor. It is now most likely to be used as it was in this August 1995 New Yorker magazine article about the death of musician Jerry Garcia: "It was suddenly obvious that Garcia had become, against all odds, an American icon: by Thursday morning, the avuncular old reprobate had smuggled his way onto the front pages of newspapers around the world."
reprobate \REP-ruh-bayt\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a person foreordained to damnation
*2. a depraved person; scoundrel
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "He was just an old reprobate who lived poor and died broke...." (Richard Peck, A Long Way from Chicago)
Did you know?
These days, calling someone a "reprobate" is hardly a condemnation to hellfire and brimstone, but the original reprobates of the 16th century were hardened sinners who had fallen from God's grace. By the 19th century, "reprobate" had acquired the milder, but still utterly condemnatory, sense of "a depraved person." Gradually, though, the criticism implied by "reprobate" became touched with tolerance and even a bit of humor. It is now most likely to be used as it was in this August 1995 New Yorker magazine article about the death of musician Jerry Garcia: "It was suddenly obvious that Garcia had become, against all odds, an American icon: by Thursday morning, the avuncular old reprobate had smuggled his way onto the front pages of newspapers around the world."
March 30, 2010 - "chevron"
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
chevron \SHEV-run\ (noun)
Meaning: a figure, pattern, or object having the shape of a V or an inverted V,
as: a: a heraldic charge consisting of two diagonal stripes meeting at an angle usually with the point up
*b: a sleeve badge that indicates the wearer's rank and service (as in the armed forces)
(* Indicated the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "A young cavalry soldier in a red uniform, with the three chevrons of a sergeant upon his sleeve, strode up the aisle,
with an embarrassment which was only the more marked by the intense vigour of his step.…" (Thomas Hardy, Far
from the Madding Crowd)
Did you know?
First appearing in English in the 14th century, "chevron" derives via Middle English and Anglo-French from the Vulgar Latin word "caprio," meaning "rafter" (probably due to its resemblance to two adjoining roof beams). It is also related to the Latin noun "caper," meaning "goat," again likely based on the resemblance of a V-shape to a goat’s horns. "Caper" is also an ancestor of "Capricorn," the tenth sign of the zodiac, represented by a goat. The resemblance of "chevron" to "chèvre," the French word for "goat" and our word for a kind of cheese that comes from goat’s milk, is no coincidence, as that word derives from "caper" as well.
chevron \SHEV-run\ (noun)
Meaning: a figure, pattern, or object having the shape of a V or an inverted V,
as: a: a heraldic charge consisting of two diagonal stripes meeting at an angle usually with the point up
*b: a sleeve badge that indicates the wearer's rank and service (as in the armed forces)
(* Indicated the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "A young cavalry soldier in a red uniform, with the three chevrons of a sergeant upon his sleeve, strode up the aisle,
with an embarrassment which was only the more marked by the intense vigour of his step.…" (Thomas Hardy, Far
from the Madding Crowd)
Did you know?
First appearing in English in the 14th century, "chevron" derives via Middle English and Anglo-French from the Vulgar Latin word "caprio," meaning "rafter" (probably due to its resemblance to two adjoining roof beams). It is also related to the Latin noun "caper," meaning "goat," again likely based on the resemblance of a V-shape to a goat’s horns. "Caper" is also an ancestor of "Capricorn," the tenth sign of the zodiac, represented by a goat. The resemblance of "chevron" to "chèvre," the French word for "goat" and our word for a kind of cheese that comes from goat’s milk, is no coincidence, as that word derives from "caper" as well.
Monday, March 29, 2010
March 29, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
uxorial \uk-SOR-ee-ul\ (adjective)
Meaning: of, relating to, or characteristic of a wife
Example Sentence: “He watered the plants, cleared aspen leaves and debris from the rock garden, and cut the lawn … without any uxorial
prompting.” (Rois M. Beal, The Washington Post, July 19, 2007)
Did you know?
With help from "-ial," "-ious," and "-icide," the Latin word "uxor," meaning "wife," has given us the English words "uxorial," "uxorious" (meaning "excessively fond of or submissive to a wife"), and "uxoricide" ("murder of a wife by her husband" or "a wife murderer"). Do we have equivalent "husband" words? Well, sort of. "Maritus" means "husband" in Latin, so "marital" can mean "of or relating to a husband and his role in marriage" (although "maritus" also means "married," and the "of or relating to marriage or the married state" sense of "marital" is far more common). And while "mariticide" is "spouse killing," it can also be specifically "husband-killing."
uxorial \uk-SOR-ee-ul\ (adjective)
Meaning: of, relating to, or characteristic of a wife
Example Sentence: “He watered the plants, cleared aspen leaves and debris from the rock garden, and cut the lawn … without any uxorial
prompting.” (Rois M. Beal, The Washington Post, July 19, 2007)
Did you know?
With help from "-ial," "-ious," and "-icide," the Latin word "uxor," meaning "wife," has given us the English words "uxorial," "uxorious" (meaning "excessively fond of or submissive to a wife"), and "uxoricide" ("murder of a wife by her husband" or "a wife murderer"). Do we have equivalent "husband" words? Well, sort of. "Maritus" means "husband" in Latin, so "marital" can mean "of or relating to a husband and his role in marriage" (although "maritus" also means "married," and the "of or relating to marriage or the married state" sense of "marital" is far more common). And while "mariticide" is "spouse killing," it can also be specifically "husband-killing."
March 28, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
pullulate \PUL-yuh-layt\ (verb)
Meaning: 1a. germinate, sprout
b. to breed or produce freely
*2 : swarm, teem
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The coastal resort town is quiet now, but with summer approaching it will soon be pullulating with tourists."
Did you know?
To remember the history of "pullulate," think chickens. This may sound like odd advice, but it makes sense if you know that "pullulate" traces ultimately to the Latin noun "pullus," which means not only "sprout," but also "young of an animal" and, specifically, "chick." "Pullus" is also an ancestor of "pullet" ("young hen"), "poult" (meaning "young fowl" and especially "young turkey"), and even "poultry" ("domesticated fowl"). At first "pullulate" referred to sprouting, budding, and breeding around the farm; only later did it gain its "swarm" sense.
pullulate \PUL-yuh-layt\ (verb)
Meaning: 1a. germinate, sprout
b. to breed or produce freely
*2 : swarm, teem
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The coastal resort town is quiet now, but with summer approaching it will soon be pullulating with tourists."
Did you know?
To remember the history of "pullulate," think chickens. This may sound like odd advice, but it makes sense if you know that "pullulate" traces ultimately to the Latin noun "pullus," which means not only "sprout," but also "young of an animal" and, specifically, "chick." "Pullus" is also an ancestor of "pullet" ("young hen"), "poult" (meaning "young fowl" and especially "young turkey"), and even "poultry" ("domesticated fowl"). At first "pullulate" referred to sprouting, budding, and breeding around the farm; only later did it gain its "swarm" sense.
March 27, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
esemplastic \es-em-PLAS-tik\ (adjective)
Meaning: shaping or having the power to shape disparate things into a unified whole
Example Sentence: "The prison walls of self had closed entirely round him; he was walled completely by the esemplastic power of his
imagination — he had learned by now to project mechanically, before the world, an acceptable counterfeit of
himself…." (Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel)
Did you know?
"Unusual and new-coined words are, doubtless, an evil; but vagueness, confusion, and imperfect conveyance of our thoughts, are a far greater," wrote English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in Biographia Literaria, 1817. True to form, in that same work, he assembled "esemplastic" by melding the Greek phrase "es hen," meaning "into one," with "plastic" to fulfill his need for a word that accurately described the imagination's ability to shape disparate experiences into a unified whole (e.g., the poet's imaginative ability to communicate a variety of images, sensations, emotions, and experiences in the unifying framework of a poem). The verb "intensify" was another word that Coleridge was compelled to mint while writing Biographia. Coinages found in his other writings include "clerisy" and "psychosomatic," among others.
esemplastic \es-em-PLAS-tik\ (adjective)
Meaning: shaping or having the power to shape disparate things into a unified whole
Example Sentence: "The prison walls of self had closed entirely round him; he was walled completely by the esemplastic power of his
imagination — he had learned by now to project mechanically, before the world, an acceptable counterfeit of
himself…." (Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel)
Did you know?
"Unusual and new-coined words are, doubtless, an evil; but vagueness, confusion, and imperfect conveyance of our thoughts, are a far greater," wrote English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in Biographia Literaria, 1817. True to form, in that same work, he assembled "esemplastic" by melding the Greek phrase "es hen," meaning "into one," with "plastic" to fulfill his need for a word that accurately described the imagination's ability to shape disparate experiences into a unified whole (e.g., the poet's imaginative ability to communicate a variety of images, sensations, emotions, and experiences in the unifying framework of a poem). The verb "intensify" was another word that Coleridge was compelled to mint while writing Biographia. Coinages found in his other writings include "clerisy" and "psychosomatic," among others.
Friday, March 26, 2010
March 26, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
shibboleth \SHIB-uh-luth\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. catchword, slogan
*2. a widely held belief or truism
3. a custom or usage regarded as distinctive of a particular group
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: “Taxpayers beware: Don't buy into the shibboleth that more money automatically translates into better
schools.” (Press Journal [Vero Beach, FL], July 27, 2003)
Did you know?
The Bible's Book of Judges (12:4-6) tells the story of the Ephraimites, who, after they were routed by the Gileadite army, tried to retreat by sneaking across a ford of the Jordan River that was held by their enemy. The Gileadites, wary of the ploy, asked every soldier who tried to cross if he was an Ephraimite. When the soldier said "no," he was asked to say "shibboleth" (which means "stream" in Hebrew). Gileadites pronounced the word "shibboleth," but Ephramites said "sibboleth." Anyone who left out the initial "sh" was killed on the spot. When English speakers first borrowed "shibboleth," they used it to mean "test phrase," but it has acquired additional meanings since that time.
shibboleth \SHIB-uh-luth\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. catchword, slogan
*2. a widely held belief or truism
3. a custom or usage regarded as distinctive of a particular group
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: “Taxpayers beware: Don't buy into the shibboleth that more money automatically translates into better
schools.” (Press Journal [Vero Beach, FL], July 27, 2003)
Did you know?
The Bible's Book of Judges (12:4-6) tells the story of the Ephraimites, who, after they were routed by the Gileadite army, tried to retreat by sneaking across a ford of the Jordan River that was held by their enemy. The Gileadites, wary of the ploy, asked every soldier who tried to cross if he was an Ephraimite. When the soldier said "no," he was asked to say "shibboleth" (which means "stream" in Hebrew). Gileadites pronounced the word "shibboleth," but Ephramites said "sibboleth." Anyone who left out the initial "sh" was killed on the spot. When English speakers first borrowed "shibboleth," they used it to mean "test phrase," but it has acquired additional meanings since that time.
March 25, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
nefarious \nih-FAIR-ee-us\ (adjective)
Meaning: flagrantly wicked or impious; evil
Example Sentence: "We now learn that the two sides may have been working together in nefarious ways in some kind of conspiracy that
transcends national boundaries and allegiances." (Paul A. Cantor, Gilligan Unbound)
Did you know?
"Vicious" and "villainous" are two wicked synonyms of "nefarious," and, like "nefarious," both mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct." But these synonyms are not used in exactly the same way in all situations. "Vicious" may imply moral depravity or it may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. "Villainous" applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic, while "nefarious" (which derives from the Latin noun "nefas," meaning "crime") suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct. "Nefarious" first appeared in English in the early 17th century, whereas "vicious" and "villainous" preceded "nefarious" by about two hundred years.
nefarious \nih-FAIR-ee-us\ (adjective)
Meaning: flagrantly wicked or impious; evil
Example Sentence: "We now learn that the two sides may have been working together in nefarious ways in some kind of conspiracy that
transcends national boundaries and allegiances." (Paul A. Cantor, Gilligan Unbound)
Did you know?
"Vicious" and "villainous" are two wicked synonyms of "nefarious," and, like "nefarious," both mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct." But these synonyms are not used in exactly the same way in all situations. "Vicious" may imply moral depravity or it may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. "Villainous" applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic, while "nefarious" (which derives from the Latin noun "nefas," meaning "crime") suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct. "Nefarious" first appeared in English in the early 17th century, whereas "vicious" and "villainous" preceded "nefarious" by about two hundred years.
March 24, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
hummock \HUM-uk\ (noun)
Meaning: *1. a rounded knoll or hillock
2. a ridge of ice
3. a fertile area in the southern United States and especially Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is
characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Cattle and sparse vegetation dot a rolling landscape of hummocks and shallow valleys."
Did you know?
"Hummock" first appeared in English in the mid-1500s as an alteration of "hammock," another word which can be used for a small hill. This "hammock" is not related to the "hammock" we use to refer to a swinging bed made of netting or canvas. That "hammock" comes from the Spanish "hamaca," and ultimately from Taino, a language spoken by the original inhabitants of the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. The origins of the other "hammock" and the related "hummock" are still obscure, though they are related to Middle Low German "hummel"("small height") and "hump"("bump"). English also borrowed "hump," another word which can refer to a small hill or hummock.
hummock \HUM-uk\ (noun)
Meaning: *1. a rounded knoll or hillock
2. a ridge of ice
3. a fertile area in the southern United States and especially Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is
characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Cattle and sparse vegetation dot a rolling landscape of hummocks and shallow valleys."
Did you know?
"Hummock" first appeared in English in the mid-1500s as an alteration of "hammock," another word which can be used for a small hill. This "hammock" is not related to the "hammock" we use to refer to a swinging bed made of netting or canvas. That "hammock" comes from the Spanish "hamaca," and ultimately from Taino, a language spoken by the original inhabitants of the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas. The origins of the other "hammock" and the related "hummock" are still obscure, though they are related to Middle Low German "hummel"("small height") and "hump"("bump"). English also borrowed "hump," another word which can refer to a small hill or hummock.
March 23, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
copacetic \koh-puh-SET-ik\ (adjective)
Meaning: very satisfactory
Example Sentence: "Although Julie and Emma were barely on speaking terms last week, they now say that they have patched things up
and everything is copacetic."
Did you know?
Theories about the origin of "copacetic" abound. The tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson believed he had coined the word as a boy in Richmond, Virginia. When patrons of his shoeshine stand would ask, "How’s everything this morning?" he would reply, "Oh jes’ copacetic, boss; jes’ copacetic." But the word was current in Southern Black English perhaps as early as 1880, so it seems unlikely that Robinson (born in 1878) could have invented the term. Another explanation is that the word is from the Hebrew phrase "kol be sedher," meaning "everything is in order." Possibly it was coined by Harlem blacks working in Jewish businesses. The word’s popularity among Southern blacks, however, points to its originating in one of the Southern cities in which Jewish communities thrived, such as Atlanta.
copacetic \koh-puh-SET-ik\ (adjective)
Meaning: very satisfactory
Example Sentence: "Although Julie and Emma were barely on speaking terms last week, they now say that they have patched things up
and everything is copacetic."
Did you know?
Theories about the origin of "copacetic" abound. The tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson believed he had coined the word as a boy in Richmond, Virginia. When patrons of his shoeshine stand would ask, "How’s everything this morning?" he would reply, "Oh jes’ copacetic, boss; jes’ copacetic." But the word was current in Southern Black English perhaps as early as 1880, so it seems unlikely that Robinson (born in 1878) could have invented the term. Another explanation is that the word is from the Hebrew phrase "kol be sedher," meaning "everything is in order." Possibly it was coined by Harlem blacks working in Jewish businesses. The word’s popularity among Southern blacks, however, points to its originating in one of the Southern cities in which Jewish communities thrived, such as Atlanta.
Monday, March 22, 2010
March 22, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
forte \FORT\ (noun)
Meaning: something in which one excels; one's strong point
Example Sentence: "The pitcher's forte is definitely his 100-mph fastball, although his curveball is also strong."
Did you know?
"Forte" derives from the sport of fencing -- when English speakers borrowed the word from French in the mid-17th century, it referred to the strongest part of a sword blade, between the middle and the hilt. It is therefore unsurprising that "forte" eventually developed an extended metaphorical sense for a person's strong point. (Incidentally, "forte" has its counterpoint in the word "foible," meaning both the weakest part of a sword blade and a person's weak point.) There is some controversy over how to correctly pronounce "forte"; common choices in American English are "FOR-tay" and "for-TAY," but many usage commentators recommend rhyming it with "fort." None of these is technically true to the French, in which "forte" would sound more like "for." You can take your choice, knowing that someone somewhere will dislike whichever variant you choose. All, however, are standard.
forte \FORT\ (noun)
Meaning: something in which one excels; one's strong point
Example Sentence: "The pitcher's forte is definitely his 100-mph fastball, although his curveball is also strong."
Did you know?
"Forte" derives from the sport of fencing -- when English speakers borrowed the word from French in the mid-17th century, it referred to the strongest part of a sword blade, between the middle and the hilt. It is therefore unsurprising that "forte" eventually developed an extended metaphorical sense for a person's strong point. (Incidentally, "forte" has its counterpoint in the word "foible," meaning both the weakest part of a sword blade and a person's weak point.) There is some controversy over how to correctly pronounce "forte"; common choices in American English are "FOR-tay" and "for-TAY," but many usage commentators recommend rhyming it with "fort." None of these is technically true to the French, in which "forte" would sound more like "for." You can take your choice, knowing that someone somewhere will dislike whichever variant you choose. All, however, are standard.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
March 21, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
obfuscate \AHB-fuh-skayt\ (verb)
Meaning: 1a. darken
*b. to make obscure
2. confuse
3. to be evasive, unclear, or confusing
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "After the debate, each of the gubernatorial candidates complained to the press that his opponent had intentionally
obfuscated many responses to the questions."
Did you know?
The last syllable of "obfuscate" may sound like the "skate" in "ice skate," but the two aren't spelled the same way. How can you keep the correct spelling for "obfuscate" clear in your mind? The knowledge that the word traces to the Latin "fuscus," meaning "dark brown," may be of some help. The fact that "obfuscate" looks and sounds a little like "obscure" (although the two are etymologically distinct) might help too; both "obfuscate" and "obscure" can refer to concealing something or making it more difficult to see or understand. Or maybe alliterative devices are more your cup of tea. If that's the case, you can remember the "c" by recalling that "obfuscate" means to confuse, cloud over, or cover up.
obfuscate \AHB-fuh-skayt\ (verb)
Meaning: 1a. darken
*b. to make obscure
2. confuse
3. to be evasive, unclear, or confusing
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "After the debate, each of the gubernatorial candidates complained to the press that his opponent had intentionally
obfuscated many responses to the questions."
Did you know?
The last syllable of "obfuscate" may sound like the "skate" in "ice skate," but the two aren't spelled the same way. How can you keep the correct spelling for "obfuscate" clear in your mind? The knowledge that the word traces to the Latin "fuscus," meaning "dark brown," may be of some help. The fact that "obfuscate" looks and sounds a little like "obscure" (although the two are etymologically distinct) might help too; both "obfuscate" and "obscure" can refer to concealing something or making it more difficult to see or understand. Or maybe alliterative devices are more your cup of tea. If that's the case, you can remember the "c" by recalling that "obfuscate" means to confuse, cloud over, or cover up.
March 20, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
verdure \VER-jer\ (noun)
Meaning: *1. the greenness of growing vegetation; also, such vegetation itself
2. a condition of health and vigor
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "A city of tropical verdure, [Managua is] also one of constant reinvention, an essential quality given the wounds that
nature has inflicted." (Regis St. Louis, The Miami Herald, October 19, 2008)
Did you know?
On this, the Northern Hemisphere's vernal equinox, those of us who've suffered through a long, cold winter welcome the coming verdure. English speakers have had the use of the word "verdure" since the 14th century, when it made its way into Middle English from Anglo-French. Like the more common "verdant," the word traces back to Latin "virēre," meaning "to be green." Since the early 16th century, "verdure" has also been used to refer to a kind of tapestry with a design based on plant forms. The "verdure" that English speakers sometimes encounter on menus is Italian; in that language "verdure" refers to green vegetables or to vegetables in general.
verdure \VER-jer\ (noun)
Meaning: *1. the greenness of growing vegetation; also, such vegetation itself
2. a condition of health and vigor
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "A city of tropical verdure, [Managua is] also one of constant reinvention, an essential quality given the wounds that
nature has inflicted." (Regis St. Louis, The Miami Herald, October 19, 2008)
Did you know?
On this, the Northern Hemisphere's vernal equinox, those of us who've suffered through a long, cold winter welcome the coming verdure. English speakers have had the use of the word "verdure" since the 14th century, when it made its way into Middle English from Anglo-French. Like the more common "verdant," the word traces back to Latin "virēre," meaning "to be green." Since the early 16th century, "verdure" has also been used to refer to a kind of tapestry with a design based on plant forms. The "verdure" that English speakers sometimes encounter on menus is Italian; in that language "verdure" refers to green vegetables or to vegetables in general.
Friday, March 19, 2010
March 19, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
magniloquent \mag-NIL-uh-kwunt\ (adjective)
Meaning: speaking in or characterized by a high-flown often bombastic style or manner
Example Sentence: "The actor delivered a magniloquent monologue, peppered with metaphors and obscure words."
Did you know?
"Magnus" means "great" in Latin; "loqui" is a Latin verb meaning "to speak." Combine the two and you get "magniloquus," the Latin predecessor of "magniloquent." English speakers started using "magniloquent" in the 1600s — even though we’d had its synonym "grandiloquent" since the 1500s. ("Grandiloquent" comes from Latin "grandiloquus," which combines "loqui" and "grandis," another word for "great" in Latin.) Today, these synonyms continue to exist side by side and to be used interchangeably, though "grandiloquent" is the more common of the two.
magniloquent \mag-NIL-uh-kwunt\ (adjective)
Meaning: speaking in or characterized by a high-flown often bombastic style or manner
Example Sentence: "The actor delivered a magniloquent monologue, peppered with metaphors and obscure words."
Did you know?
"Magnus" means "great" in Latin; "loqui" is a Latin verb meaning "to speak." Combine the two and you get "magniloquus," the Latin predecessor of "magniloquent." English speakers started using "magniloquent" in the 1600s — even though we’d had its synonym "grandiloquent" since the 1500s. ("Grandiloquent" comes from Latin "grandiloquus," which combines "loqui" and "grandis," another word for "great" in Latin.) Today, these synonyms continue to exist side by side and to be used interchangeably, though "grandiloquent" is the more common of the two.
March 18, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
wanderlust \WAHN-der-lust\ (noun)
Meaning: strong longing for or impulse towards wandering
Example Sentence: "After years of traveling, Philip accepted a job in Minnesota and announced his intention to settle down, but once the
first cold snap hit, it didn’t take long for wanderlust to set in again."
Did you know?
"For my part," writes Robert Louis Stevenson in Travels with a Donkey, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." Sounds like a case of wanderlust if we ever heard one. Those with "wanderlust" don't necessarily need to go anywhere in particular; they just don't care to stay in one spot. The etymology of "wanderlust" is a very simple one that you can probably figure out yourself. "Wanderlust" is lust (or "desire") for wandering. The word comes from German, in which "wandern" means "to wander," and "Lust" means "desire."
wanderlust \WAHN-der-lust\ (noun)
Meaning: strong longing for or impulse towards wandering
Example Sentence: "After years of traveling, Philip accepted a job in Minnesota and announced his intention to settle down, but once the
first cold snap hit, it didn’t take long for wanderlust to set in again."
Did you know?
"For my part," writes Robert Louis Stevenson in Travels with a Donkey, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." Sounds like a case of wanderlust if we ever heard one. Those with "wanderlust" don't necessarily need to go anywhere in particular; they just don't care to stay in one spot. The etymology of "wanderlust" is a very simple one that you can probably figure out yourself. "Wanderlust" is lust (or "desire") for wandering. The word comes from German, in which "wandern" means "to wander," and "Lust" means "desire."
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March 17, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
glower \GLOW-er (the OW is as in 'cow')\ (verb)
Meaning: to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger
Example Sentence: "I could sense Katherine glowering at me after I took her usual parking spot."
Did you know?
Do words of uncertain origin make you scowl? If so, "glower" may put a frown on your face, because only part of its history can be validated. The well-established part of its story leads us to Scotland, where "glower" (or "glowren," to use the older Scottish form of the word) has been used since the late Middle Ages. Originally, the word meant simply "to look intently" or "to stare in amazement," but by the late 1700s, glowering stares were being associated with anger instead of astonishment. Beyond that, however, the history of the word is murky. The most we can say is that "glower" is a distant relative of Middle Low German "glūren," which means "to be overcast," and of Middle Dutch "gloeren," meaning "to leer."
glower \GLOW-er (the OW is as in 'cow')\ (verb)
Meaning: to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger
Example Sentence: "I could sense Katherine glowering at me after I took her usual parking spot."
Did you know?
Do words of uncertain origin make you scowl? If so, "glower" may put a frown on your face, because only part of its history can be validated. The well-established part of its story leads us to Scotland, where "glower" (or "glowren," to use the older Scottish form of the word) has been used since the late Middle Ages. Originally, the word meant simply "to look intently" or "to stare in amazement," but by the late 1700s, glowering stares were being associated with anger instead of astonishment. Beyond that, however, the history of the word is murky. The most we can say is that "glower" is a distant relative of Middle Low German "glūren," which means "to be overcast," and of Middle Dutch "gloeren," meaning "to leer."
March 16, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
archetype \AHR-kih-type\ (noun)
Meaning: the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies; prototype; also, a perfect example
Example Sentence: "A redeveloped Tonsley Park will be an archetype of the new economy … an economy that is knowledge-based,
environmentally sustainable and responsive to climate change." (Brian Cunningham, The [Australia] Advertiser,
February 9, 2010)
Did you know?
"Archetype" derives via Latin from the Greek adjective "archetypos" ("archetypal"), formed from the verb "archein" ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun "typos" ("type"). ("Archein" also gave us the prefix "arch-," meaning "principal" or "extreme" and used to form such words as "archenemy," "archduke," and "archconservative.") "Archetype" has specific uses in the fields of philosophy and psychology. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, for example, believed that all things have ideal forms (aka archetypes) of which real things are merely shadows or copies. And in the psychology of C. G. Jung, "archetype" refers to an inherited idea or mode of thought that is present in the unconscious of the individual. In everyday prose, however, "archetype" is most commonly used to mean "a perfect example of something."
archetype \AHR-kih-type\ (noun)
Meaning: the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies; prototype; also, a perfect example
Example Sentence: "A redeveloped Tonsley Park will be an archetype of the new economy … an economy that is knowledge-based,
environmentally sustainable and responsive to climate change." (Brian Cunningham, The [Australia] Advertiser,
February 9, 2010)
Did you know?
"Archetype" derives via Latin from the Greek adjective "archetypos" ("archetypal"), formed from the verb "archein" ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun "typos" ("type"). ("Archein" also gave us the prefix "arch-," meaning "principal" or "extreme" and used to form such words as "archenemy," "archduke," and "archconservative.") "Archetype" has specific uses in the fields of philosophy and psychology. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, for example, believed that all things have ideal forms (aka archetypes) of which real things are merely shadows or copies. And in the psychology of C. G. Jung, "archetype" refers to an inherited idea or mode of thought that is present in the unconscious of the individual. In everyday prose, however, "archetype" is most commonly used to mean "a perfect example of something."
Monday, March 15, 2010
March 15, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
haywire \HAY-wyre\ (adverb or adjective)
Meaning: *1. being out of order or having gone wrong
2. emotionally or mentally upset or out of control; crazy
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence)
Example Sentence: "The company's e-mailing system went haywire and sent out multiple copies of the advertisement to its subscribers."
Did you know?
The wire used in baling hay — haywire — is often used in makeshift repairs. This hurried and temporary use of haywire gave rise to the adjective "haywire." When the adjective was first used in the early 20th century, it was primarily found in the phrase "haywire outfit," which originally denoted a poorly equipped group of loggers and then anything that was flimsy or patched together. This led to a "hastily patched-up" sense, which, in turn, gave us the more commonly used meaning, "being out of order or having gone wrong." The "crazy" sense of "haywire" may have been suggested by the difficulty of handling the springy wire, its tendency to get tangled around legs, or the disorderly appearance of the temporary repair jobs for which it was used.
haywire \HAY-wyre\ (adverb or adjective)
Meaning: *1. being out of order or having gone wrong
2. emotionally or mentally upset or out of control; crazy
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence)
Example Sentence: "The company's e-mailing system went haywire and sent out multiple copies of the advertisement to its subscribers."
Did you know?
The wire used in baling hay — haywire — is often used in makeshift repairs. This hurried and temporary use of haywire gave rise to the adjective "haywire." When the adjective was first used in the early 20th century, it was primarily found in the phrase "haywire outfit," which originally denoted a poorly equipped group of loggers and then anything that was flimsy or patched together. This led to a "hastily patched-up" sense, which, in turn, gave us the more commonly used meaning, "being out of order or having gone wrong." The "crazy" sense of "haywire" may have been suggested by the difficulty of handling the springy wire, its tendency to get tangled around legs, or the disorderly appearance of the temporary repair jobs for which it was used.
March 14, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
postulate \PAHSS-chuh-layt\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. demand, claim
2 a. to assume or claim as true, existent, or necessary
*b. to assume as an established truth (as in logic or mathematics)
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "If we postulate that the doors were all securely guarded," said the detective, "then the perpetrator must have been
somebody who was already in the building."
Did you know?
In 1703, the dedication of the City and County Purchaser and Builders Dictionary included the following words: "These your extraordinary Favours … seem to Postulate from me … a Publick Recognition." That's also how the verb "postulate" was used when English speakers first began using it back in the late 1500s, as a synonym of "require" or "demand." (The word's Latin grandparent, "postulare," has the same meaning.) "Postulate" was also used as a noun in the late 1500s, with the meaning "demand" or "stipulation." That sense is now considered archaic, but we still use the noun "postulate." Today, it usually means "a hypothesis advanced as an essential presupposition, condition, or premise of a train of reasoning."
postulate \PAHSS-chuh-layt\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. demand, claim
2 a. to assume or claim as true, existent, or necessary
*b. to assume as an established truth (as in logic or mathematics)
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "If we postulate that the doors were all securely guarded," said the detective, "then the perpetrator must have been
somebody who was already in the building."
Did you know?
In 1703, the dedication of the City and County Purchaser and Builders Dictionary included the following words: "These your extraordinary Favours … seem to Postulate from me … a Publick Recognition." That's also how the verb "postulate" was used when English speakers first began using it back in the late 1500s, as a synonym of "require" or "demand." (The word's Latin grandparent, "postulare," has the same meaning.) "Postulate" was also used as a noun in the late 1500s, with the meaning "demand" or "stipulation." That sense is now considered archaic, but we still use the noun "postulate." Today, it usually means "a hypothesis advanced as an essential presupposition, condition, or premise of a train of reasoning."
Sunday, March 14, 2010
March 13, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
acronym \AK-ruh-nim\ (noun)
Meaning: a word formed from the beginning letter or letters of each or most of the parts of a compound term; also an abbreviation formed
from initial letters
Example Sentence: "The new committee spent a fair amount of time choosing a name that would lend itself to an appealing acronym."
Did you know?
"Acronym" was created by combining "acr-" ("beginning") with "-onym," ("name" or "word"). You may recognize "-onym" in other familiar English words such as "pseudonym" and "synonym." English speakers borrowed "-onym" directly from the Greek (it derives from "onyma," the Greek word for "name"). "Acr-" is also from Greek, but it made a side trip through Middle French on its way to English. When "acronym" first entered English, some usage commentators decreed that it should refer to combinations of initial letters that were pronounced as if they were whole words (such as "radar" or "scuba"), differentiated from an "initialism," which is spoken by pronouncing the component letters (as "FBI" and "CEO"). These days, however, that distinction is largely lost, and "acronym" is a common label for both types of abbreviation.
acronym \AK-ruh-nim\ (noun)
Meaning: a word formed from the beginning letter or letters of each or most of the parts of a compound term; also an abbreviation formed
from initial letters
Example Sentence: "The new committee spent a fair amount of time choosing a name that would lend itself to an appealing acronym."
Did you know?
"Acronym" was created by combining "acr-" ("beginning") with "-onym," ("name" or "word"). You may recognize "-onym" in other familiar English words such as "pseudonym" and "synonym." English speakers borrowed "-onym" directly from the Greek (it derives from "onyma," the Greek word for "name"). "Acr-" is also from Greek, but it made a side trip through Middle French on its way to English. When "acronym" first entered English, some usage commentators decreed that it should refer to combinations of initial letters that were pronounced as if they were whole words (such as "radar" or "scuba"), differentiated from an "initialism," which is spoken by pronouncing the component letters (as "FBI" and "CEO"). These days, however, that distinction is largely lost, and "acronym" is a common label for both types of abbreviation.
Friday, March 12, 2010
March 12, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
sub rosa \sub-ROH-zuh\ (adverb)
Meaning: in confidence; secretly
Example Sentence: "The private investigator met sub rosa with his client to show her photos of her husband rendezvousing at various local
establishments with another woman."
Did you know?
"Sub rosa" literally means "under the rose" in New Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has often been associated with secrecy. In ancient mythology, Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to keep him from telling about the indiscretions of Venus. Ceilings of dining rooms have been decorated with carvings of roses, reportedly to remind guests that what was said at the table should be kept confidential. Roses have also been placed over confessionals as a symbol of the confidentiality of confession. "Sub rosa" entered the English language in the 17th century, and even before then, people were using the English version, "under the rose." Earlier still, "unter derRose" was apparently used in Germany, where the phrase is thought to have originated.
sub rosa \sub-ROH-zuh\ (adverb)
Meaning: in confidence; secretly
Example Sentence: "The private investigator met sub rosa with his client to show her photos of her husband rendezvousing at various local
establishments with another woman."
Did you know?
"Sub rosa" literally means "under the rose" in New Latin. Since ancient times, the rose has often been associated with secrecy. In ancient mythology, Cupid gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to keep him from telling about the indiscretions of Venus. Ceilings of dining rooms have been decorated with carvings of roses, reportedly to remind guests that what was said at the table should be kept confidential. Roses have also been placed over confessionals as a symbol of the confidentiality of confession. "Sub rosa" entered the English language in the 17th century, and even before then, people were using the English version, "under the rose." Earlier still, "unter derRose" was apparently used in Germany, where the phrase is thought to have originated.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
March 11, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
will-o'-the-wisp \will-uh-thuh-WISP\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a light that appears at night over marshy ground
*2. a misleading or elusive goal or hope
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence)
Example Sentence: "Though her friends think she's chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, Alexis is determined to quit her job and follow her dream of
becoming a pop music star."
Did you know?
The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as "Will with the wisp," a sprite who carried a fleeting "wisp" of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh. (An 18th-century fairy tale described Will as one "who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.") The light was first known, and still also is, as "Ignis Fatuus," which in Latin means "foolish fire." Eventually, the name "will-o'-the-wisp" was extended to any impractical or unattainable goal.
will-o'-the-wisp \will-uh-thuh-WISP\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a light that appears at night over marshy ground
*2. a misleading or elusive goal or hope
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence)
Example Sentence: "Though her friends think she's chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, Alexis is determined to quit her job and follow her dream of
becoming a pop music star."
Did you know?
The will-o'-the-wisp is a flame-like phosphorescence caused by gases from decaying plants in marshy areas. In olden days, it was personified as "Will with the wisp," a sprite who carried a fleeting "wisp" of light. Foolish travelers were said to try to follow the light and were then led astray into the marsh. (An 18th-century fairy tale described Will as one "who bears the wispy fire to trail the swains among the mire.") The light was first known, and still also is, as "Ignis Fatuus," which in Latin means "foolish fire." Eventually, the name "will-o'-the-wisp" was extended to any impractical or unattainable goal.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
March 10, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
petard \puh-TAHRD\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
*2. a firework that explodes with a loud report
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored
materials for making petards and firecrackers." (RIA Novosti, January 11, 2010)
Did you know?
Aside from historical references to siege warfare, and occasional contemporary references to fireworks, "petard" is almost always encountered in variations of the phrase "hoist with one's own petard," meaning "victimized or hurt by one's own scheme." The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "For 'tis the sport to have the enginer / Hoist with his own petar." "Hoist" in this case is the past participle of the verb "hoise," meaning "to lift or raise," and "petar(d)" refers to an explosive device used in siege warfare. Hamlet uses the example of the engineer (the person who sets the explosive device) being blown into the air by his own device as a metaphor for those who schemed against Hamlet being undone by their own schemes. The phrase has endured, even if its literal meaning has largely been forgotten.
petard \puh-TAHRD\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
*2. a firework that explodes with a loud report
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored
materials for making petards and firecrackers." (RIA Novosti, January 11, 2010)
Did you know?
Aside from historical references to siege warfare, and occasional contemporary references to fireworks, "petard" is almost always encountered in variations of the phrase "hoist with one's own petard," meaning "victimized or hurt by one's own scheme." The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "For 'tis the sport to have the enginer / Hoist with his own petar." "Hoist" in this case is the past participle of the verb "hoise," meaning "to lift or raise," and "petar(d)" refers to an explosive device used in siege warfare. Hamlet uses the example of the engineer (the person who sets the explosive device) being blown into the air by his own device as a metaphor for those who schemed against Hamlet being undone by their own schemes. The phrase has endured, even if its literal meaning has largely been forgotten.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March 9, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
eclectic \ih-KLEK-tik\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
*2. composed of elements drawn from various sources; also, heterogeneous
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The new downtown restaurant offers an eclectic mix of appetizers and entrees at reasonable prices."
Did you know?
"Eclectic" comes from a Greek verb meaning "to select" and was originally applied to ancient philosophers who were not committed to any single system of philosophy; instead, these philosophers selected whichever doctrines pleased them from every school of thought. Later, the word's use broadened to cover other selective natures. "Hard by, the central slab is thick with books / Diverse, but which the true eclectic mind / Knows how to group, and gather out of each / Their frequent wisdoms...." In this 19th century example from a poem by Arthur Joseph Munby, for example, the word is applied to literature lovers who cull selective works from libraries.
eclectic \ih-KLEK-tik\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
*2. composed of elements drawn from various sources; also, heterogeneous
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The new downtown restaurant offers an eclectic mix of appetizers and entrees at reasonable prices."
Did you know?
"Eclectic" comes from a Greek verb meaning "to select" and was originally applied to ancient philosophers who were not committed to any single system of philosophy; instead, these philosophers selected whichever doctrines pleased them from every school of thought. Later, the word's use broadened to cover other selective natures. "Hard by, the central slab is thick with books / Diverse, but which the true eclectic mind / Knows how to group, and gather out of each / Their frequent wisdoms...." In this 19th century example from a poem by Arthur Joseph Munby, for example, the word is applied to literature lovers who cull selective works from libraries.
Monday, March 8, 2010
March 8, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
lave \LAYV\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. a. wash, bathe
*b : to flow along or against
2. pour
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "There are few traces of man's hand to be seen. The water laves the shore as it did a thousand years ago."
(Henry David Thoreau, Walden)
Did you know?
"Lave" is a simple, monosyllabic word that magically makes the mundane act of washing poetic. Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew, when Gremio assured the father of his beloved Bianca that she would have "basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands." And in Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop, Nell "laved her hands and face, and cooled her feet before setting forth to walk again." The poetry of "lave" is also heard when describing water washing against the shore, as in our example sentence, or even the pouring of water: "He … laved a few cool drops upon his brow" (John Lockhart, Reginald Dalton). Before washing our hands of "lave," we'll tell you its etymology: it, as well as "lavatory," comes from Latin "lavare," meaning "to wash."
lave \LAYV\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. a. wash, bathe
*b : to flow along or against
2. pour
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "There are few traces of man's hand to be seen. The water laves the shore as it did a thousand years ago."
(Henry David Thoreau, Walden)
Did you know?
"Lave" is a simple, monosyllabic word that magically makes the mundane act of washing poetic. Shakespeare used it in The Taming of the Shrew, when Gremio assured the father of his beloved Bianca that she would have "basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands." And in Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop, Nell "laved her hands and face, and cooled her feet before setting forth to walk again." The poetry of "lave" is also heard when describing water washing against the shore, as in our example sentence, or even the pouring of water: "He … laved a few cool drops upon his brow" (John Lockhart, Reginald Dalton). Before washing our hands of "lave," we'll tell you its etymology: it, as well as "lavatory," comes from Latin "lavare," meaning "to wash."
Sunday, March 7, 2010
March 7, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
zaftig \ZAHF-tig\ (adjective)
Meaning: having a full rounded figure; pleasingly plump
Example Sentence: "The Flemish painters were masters of the oil medium, rendering zaftig beauties, robust burghers, hunting scenes, and
allegorical subjects with subtle interplays of light and color."
Did you know?
"Real women have curves," as a 2002 movie title proclaimed. "They are pleasingly plump, full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, statuesque. They are, in a word, zaftig." "Zaftig" has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived "futz," "hoo-ha," "nosh," and "schmaltz," not to mention "lox"). It comes from the Yiddish "zaftik," which means "juicy" or "succulent" and which in turn derives from "zaft," meaning "juice" or "sap."
zaftig \ZAHF-tig\ (adjective)
Meaning: having a full rounded figure; pleasingly plump
Example Sentence: "The Flemish painters were masters of the oil medium, rendering zaftig beauties, robust burghers, hunting scenes, and
allegorical subjects with subtle interplays of light and color."
Did you know?
"Real women have curves," as a 2002 movie title proclaimed. "They are pleasingly plump, full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, statuesque. They are, in a word, zaftig." "Zaftig" has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived "futz," "hoo-ha," "nosh," and "schmaltz," not to mention "lox"). It comes from the Yiddish "zaftik," which means "juicy" or "succulent" and which in turn derives from "zaft," meaning "juice" or "sap."
March 6, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
exponent \ik-SPOH-nunt\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power
2. a: one that expounds or interprets
*b: one that champions, practices, or exemplifies
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Pianist [Chick] Corea has played plenty of straight-ahead jazz, but is probably best known as an exponent of '70s jazz-
rock fusion." (Curtis Ross, The Tampa Tribune, February 19, 1999)
Did you know?
You probably won't be surprised to learn that "exponent" shares an ancestor with "proponent" — and indeed, the Latin "ponere" ("to put") is at the root of both terms. "Exponent" descends from "exponere" ("to explain" or "to set forth"), which joins "ponere" with "ex-" ("out"). "Proponent" traces to "proponere" ("to display" or "to declare"), from "ponere" and "pro-" ("before"). "Proponent" can describe someone who offers a proposal (it's related to "propose," which also ultimately comes from "proponere"), but today it usually means "one who argues in favor of something." "Exponent" can also refer to someone who is an advocate, but it tends to refer especially to someone who stands out as a shining representative of something, and in addition it has retained its earlier meaning of "one who expounds."
exponent \ik-SPOH-nunt\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a symbol written above and to the right of a mathematical expression to indicate the operation of raising to a power
2. a: one that expounds or interprets
*b: one that champions, practices, or exemplifies
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Pianist [Chick] Corea has played plenty of straight-ahead jazz, but is probably best known as an exponent of '70s jazz-
rock fusion." (Curtis Ross, The Tampa Tribune, February 19, 1999)
Did you know?
You probably won't be surprised to learn that "exponent" shares an ancestor with "proponent" — and indeed, the Latin "ponere" ("to put") is at the root of both terms. "Exponent" descends from "exponere" ("to explain" or "to set forth"), which joins "ponere" with "ex-" ("out"). "Proponent" traces to "proponere" ("to display" or "to declare"), from "ponere" and "pro-" ("before"). "Proponent" can describe someone who offers a proposal (it's related to "propose," which also ultimately comes from "proponere"), but today it usually means "one who argues in favor of something." "Exponent" can also refer to someone who is an advocate, but it tends to refer especially to someone who stands out as a shining representative of something, and in addition it has retained its earlier meaning of "one who expounds."
March 5, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
journeyman \JER-nee-mun\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person
*2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The team is ready to trade three of its rookie hopefuls for the journeyman pitcher."
Did you know?
The "journey" in "journeyman" refers to a sense of this familiar word not often used anymore: "a day's labor." This sense of "journey" was first used in the 14th century. When "journeyman" appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, "journeyman" picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, "one who drudges for another." These days, however, "journeyman" has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
journeyman \JER-nee-mun\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a worker who has learned a trade and works for another person
*2 : an experienced reliable worker, athlete, or performer
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The team is ready to trade three of its rookie hopefuls for the journeyman pitcher."
Did you know?
The "journey" in "journeyman" refers to a sense of this familiar word not often used anymore: "a day's labor." This sense of "journey" was first used in the 14th century. When "journeyman" appeared the following century, it originally referred to a person who, having learned a handicraft or trade through an apprenticeship, worked for daily wages. In the 16th century, "journeyman" picked up a figurative (and mainly deprecatory) sense; namely, "one who drudges for another." These days, however, "journeyman" has little to do with drudgery, and lots to do with knowing a trade inside out.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
March 4, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
licit \LISS-it\ (adjective)
Meaning: conforming to the requirements of the law; not forbidden by law; permissible
Example Sentence: "We are focusing on making government institutions more accountable and effective, promoting the rule of law, [and]
stimulating licit economic activity, especially in agriculture." (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, April 23, 2009)
Did you know?
"Licit" is far less common than its antonym "illicit," but you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the former is the older of the two. Not by much, though: the first known use of "licit" in print is from 1483, whereas "illicit" shows up in print for the first time in 1506. For some reason "illicit" took off while "licit" just plodded along. When "licit" appears these days it often modifies "drugs" or "crops." Meanwhile, "illicit" shows up before words like "thrill" and "passion" (as well as "gambling," "relationship," "activities," and, of course, "drugs" and "crops.") The Latin word "licitus," meaning "lawful," is the root of the pair; "licitus" itself is from "licēre," meaning "to be permitted."
licit \LISS-it\ (adjective)
Meaning: conforming to the requirements of the law; not forbidden by law; permissible
Example Sentence: "We are focusing on making government institutions more accountable and effective, promoting the rule of law, [and]
stimulating licit economic activity, especially in agriculture." (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, April 23, 2009)
Did you know?
"Licit" is far less common than its antonym "illicit," but you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the former is the older of the two. Not by much, though: the first known use of "licit" in print is from 1483, whereas "illicit" shows up in print for the first time in 1506. For some reason "illicit" took off while "licit" just plodded along. When "licit" appears these days it often modifies "drugs" or "crops." Meanwhile, "illicit" shows up before words like "thrill" and "passion" (as well as "gambling," "relationship," "activities," and, of course, "drugs" and "crops.") The Latin word "licitus," meaning "lawful," is the root of the pair; "licitus" itself is from "licēre," meaning "to be permitted."
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March 3, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
transmogrify \transs-MAH-gruh-fye\ (verb)
Meaning: to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect
Example Sentence: "With the help of an interior decorator, Max transmogrified his drab, cluttered apartment into a stylish yet functional
bachelor pad."
Did you know?
We know that the prefix "trans-" means "across" or "beyond" and appears in many words that evoke change, such as "transform" and "transpire," but we don't know the exact origins of "transmogrify." The 17th-century dramatist, novelist, and poet Aphra Behn, who is regarded as England's first female professional writer, was among the first English authors to use the word. In her 1671 comic play The Amorous Prince, Behn wrote, "I wou'd Love would transmogriphy me to a maid now." A century later, Scottish poet Robert Burns plied the word again in verse, aptly capturing the grotesque and sometimes humorous effect of transmogrification: "Social life and Glee sit down, . . . Till, quite transmugrify'd, they're grown Debauchery and Drinking."
transmogrify \transs-MAH-gruh-fye\ (verb)
Meaning: to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect
Example Sentence: "With the help of an interior decorator, Max transmogrified his drab, cluttered apartment into a stylish yet functional
bachelor pad."
Did you know?
We know that the prefix "trans-" means "across" or "beyond" and appears in many words that evoke change, such as "transform" and "transpire," but we don't know the exact origins of "transmogrify." The 17th-century dramatist, novelist, and poet Aphra Behn, who is regarded as England's first female professional writer, was among the first English authors to use the word. In her 1671 comic play The Amorous Prince, Behn wrote, "I wou'd Love would transmogriphy me to a maid now." A century later, Scottish poet Robert Burns plied the word again in verse, aptly capturing the grotesque and sometimes humorous effect of transmogrification: "Social life and Glee sit down, . . . Till, quite transmugrify'd, they're grown Debauchery and Drinking."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
March 2, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
didactic \dye-DAK-tik\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1-a: designed or intended to teach
*b: intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment
2: making moral observations
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Many of the shows on the channel are didactic, teaching children about such things as the importance of recycling,
exercise, and honesty through the actions of animated characters."
Did you know?
"Didaktikos" is a Greek word that means "apt at teaching." It comes from "didaskein," meaning "to teach." Something "didactic" does just that: teaches or instructs. "Didactic" conveyed that neutral meaning when it was first borrowed in the 17th century, and still does; a didactic piece of writing is one that is meant to be instructive as well as artistic. Parables are generally didactic because they aim to teach a moral lesson. "Didactic" now sometimes has negative connotations, too, however. Something "didactic" is often overburdened with instruction to the point of being dull. Or it might be pompously instructive or moralistic.
didactic \dye-DAK-tik\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1-a: designed or intended to teach
*b: intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment
2: making moral observations
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Many of the shows on the channel are didactic, teaching children about such things as the importance of recycling,
exercise, and honesty through the actions of animated characters."
Did you know?
"Didaktikos" is a Greek word that means "apt at teaching." It comes from "didaskein," meaning "to teach." Something "didactic" does just that: teaches or instructs. "Didactic" conveyed that neutral meaning when it was first borrowed in the 17th century, and still does; a didactic piece of writing is one that is meant to be instructive as well as artistic. Parables are generally didactic because they aim to teach a moral lesson. "Didactic" now sometimes has negative connotations, too, however. Something "didactic" is often overburdened with instruction to the point of being dull. Or it might be pompously instructive or moralistic.
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
asterisk \ASS-tuh-risk\ (noun)
Meaning: * the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a
hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Words in the text that are defined in the glossary are marked with an asterisk for quick reference."
Did you know?
If someone asked you to associate the word "asterisk" with a heavenly body, you would probably have no problem relating it to a star — even if you didn't know that the word "asterisk" derives from "asteriskos," a Greek word meaning "little star." "Asterisk" has been a part of the constellation of English since at least the late 1300s, but it is far from the only shining star in our language. The Greek forms "astēr," "astro," and "astrum" (all of which mean "star") still cast their light in English by way of such words as "asteroid," "astral," and "disaster" (which originally meant "an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star"). Even "star" itself is a distant relative of "asterisk."
asterisk \ASS-tuh-risk\ (noun)
Meaning: * the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a
hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Words in the text that are defined in the glossary are marked with an asterisk for quick reference."
Did you know?
If someone asked you to associate the word "asterisk" with a heavenly body, you would probably have no problem relating it to a star — even if you didn't know that the word "asterisk" derives from "asteriskos," a Greek word meaning "little star." "Asterisk" has been a part of the constellation of English since at least the late 1300s, but it is far from the only shining star in our language. The Greek forms "astēr," "astro," and "astrum" (all of which mean "star") still cast their light in English by way of such words as "asteroid," "astral," and "disaster" (which originally meant "an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star"). Even "star" itself is a distant relative of "asterisk."
Sunday, February 28, 2010
February 28, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
waggish \WAG-ish\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1. resembling or characteristic of a wag; displaying good-humored mischief
2. done or made for sport; humorous
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Lisa listens to the same waggish DJ every morning, never tiring of his prank phone calls and irreverent impressions of
local politicians."
Did you know?
One who is waggish acts like a wag. What, then, is a wag? Etymologists think "wag" probably came from "waghalter," a word that was once used for a "gallows bird" (that is, a person who was going to be, or deserved to be, hanged). "Waghalter" was apparently shortened to "wag" and used jokingly or affectionately for mischievous pranksters or youths. Hence a wag is a joker, and waggery is merriment or practical joking. "Waggish" can describe the prank itself as well as the prankster type; the class clown might be said to have a "waggish disposition" or might be said to be prone to "waggish antics."
waggish \WAG-ish\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1. resembling or characteristic of a wag; displaying good-humored mischief
2. done or made for sport; humorous
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Lisa listens to the same waggish DJ every morning, never tiring of his prank phone calls and irreverent impressions of
local politicians."
Did you know?
One who is waggish acts like a wag. What, then, is a wag? Etymologists think "wag" probably came from "waghalter," a word that was once used for a "gallows bird" (that is, a person who was going to be, or deserved to be, hanged). "Waghalter" was apparently shortened to "wag" and used jokingly or affectionately for mischievous pranksters or youths. Hence a wag is a joker, and waggery is merriment or practical joking. "Waggish" can describe the prank itself as well as the prankster type; the class clown might be said to have a "waggish disposition" or might be said to be prone to "waggish antics."
Saturday, February 27, 2010
February 27, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
apex \AY-peks\ (noun)
Meaning: the highest point; peak
Example Sentence: "Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first people to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest, reached the apex of
the great mountain at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953."
Did you know?
"Apex" entered English from Latin, where it originally meant "a small rod at the top of a flamen's cap." What's a flamen's cap? Flamens were priests who devoted themselves to serving just one of the many ancient Roman gods (for instance, just Jupiter or Mars). Those priests wore distinctive conical caps that English speakers dubbed "flamen's caps." Fifteenth- and sixteenth-century dramatist Ben Jonson was one of the few English writers known to have used "apex" in its flamen's-cap sense: "Upon his head a hat of delicate wool, whose top ended in a cone, and was thence called apex."
apex \AY-peks\ (noun)
Meaning: the highest point; peak
Example Sentence: "Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first people to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest, reached the apex of
the great mountain at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953."
Did you know?
"Apex" entered English from Latin, where it originally meant "a small rod at the top of a flamen's cap." What's a flamen's cap? Flamens were priests who devoted themselves to serving just one of the many ancient Roman gods (for instance, just Jupiter or Mars). Those priests wore distinctive conical caps that English speakers dubbed "flamen's caps." Fifteenth- and sixteenth-century dramatist Ben Jonson was one of the few English writers known to have used "apex" in its flamen's-cap sense: "Upon his head a hat of delicate wool, whose top ended in a cone, and was thence called apex."
Friday, February 26, 2010
February 26, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
thew \THOO\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a: muscular power or development
b: strength, vitality
*2. muscle, sinew — usually used in plural
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Care I for the limb, the thews, the stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man! Give me the spirit," retorts Falstaff to
Justice Shallow in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 2.
Did you know?
"Thew" has had a long, difficult past during which it discovered its strengths and weaknesses. In Middle English it carried a number of meanings, referring to a custom, habit, personal quality, or virtue. The word began to tire in the 16th century but was soon revitalized with a new meaning: it began to be used specifically for the quality of physical strength and later for the muscles demonstrating that quality. In time, the word buddied up with "sinew" in both literal and figurative turns of phrase, as in "the thews and sinews of my body ached" and "their love affair was the thew and sinew of the story."
thew \THOO\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a: muscular power or development
b: strength, vitality
*2. muscle, sinew — usually used in plural
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Care I for the limb, the thews, the stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man! Give me the spirit," retorts Falstaff to
Justice Shallow in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 2.
Did you know?
"Thew" has had a long, difficult past during which it discovered its strengths and weaknesses. In Middle English it carried a number of meanings, referring to a custom, habit, personal quality, or virtue. The word began to tire in the 16th century but was soon revitalized with a new meaning: it began to be used specifically for the quality of physical strength and later for the muscles demonstrating that quality. In time, the word buddied up with "sinew" in both literal and figurative turns of phrase, as in "the thews and sinews of my body ached" and "their love affair was the thew and sinew of the story."
Thursday, February 25, 2010
February 25, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
proscribe \proh-SCRYBE\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. outlaw
*2. to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful
(* Indicates sense illustrated in example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "When grammarians began to proscribe ending a sentence with a preposition in the 1700s, one astute personage noted
that it is 'an idiom which our language is strongly inclined to.'"
Did you know?
"Proscribe" and "prescribe" each have a Latin-derived prefix that means "before" attached to the verb "scribe" (from "scribere," meaning "to write"). Yet the two words have very distinct, often nearly opposite meanings. Why? In a way, you could say it's the law. In the 15th and 16th centuries both words had legal implications. To "proscribe" was to publish the name of a person who had been condemned, outlawed, or banished. To "prescribe" meant "to lay down a rule," including legal rules or orders.
proscribe \proh-SCRYBE\ (verb)
Meaning: 1. outlaw
*2. to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful
(* Indicates sense illustrated in example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "When grammarians began to proscribe ending a sentence with a preposition in the 1700s, one astute personage noted
that it is 'an idiom which our language is strongly inclined to.'"
Did you know?
"Proscribe" and "prescribe" each have a Latin-derived prefix that means "before" attached to the verb "scribe" (from "scribere," meaning "to write"). Yet the two words have very distinct, often nearly opposite meanings. Why? In a way, you could say it's the law. In the 15th and 16th centuries both words had legal implications. To "proscribe" was to publish the name of a person who had been condemned, outlawed, or banished. To "prescribe" meant "to lay down a rule," including legal rules or orders.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
February 24, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
abrupt \uh-BRUPT\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. a: characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning; unexpected
*b: unceremoniously curt
c: lacking smoothness or continuity
2: giving the impression of being cut or broken off; especially, involving a sudden steep rise or drop
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Although Kevin liked working at the auto dealership, his abrupt manner of speaking made him a poor match for a job in
customer service."
Did you know?
We’ll break it to you gently: "abrupt" derives from "abruptus," the past participle of the Latin verb "abrumpere," meaning "to break off." "Abrumpere" combines the prefix "ab-" with "rumpere," which means "break" and which forms the basis for several other words in English that suggest a kind of breaking, such as "interrupt," "rupture," and "bankrupt." Whether being used to describe a style of speaking that seems rudely short (as in "gave an abrupt answer"), something with a severe rise or drop ("abrupt climate change"), or something that seems rash and unprecipitated ("made the abrupt decision to quit college"), "abrupt," which first appeared in English in the 16th century, implies a kind of jarring unexpectedness that catches people off guard.
abrupt \uh-BRUPT\ (adjective)
Meaning: 1. a: characterized by or involving action or change without preparation or warning; unexpected
*b: unceremoniously curt
c: lacking smoothness or continuity
2: giving the impression of being cut or broken off; especially, involving a sudden steep rise or drop
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Although Kevin liked working at the auto dealership, his abrupt manner of speaking made him a poor match for a job in
customer service."
Did you know?
We’ll break it to you gently: "abrupt" derives from "abruptus," the past participle of the Latin verb "abrumpere," meaning "to break off." "Abrumpere" combines the prefix "ab-" with "rumpere," which means "break" and which forms the basis for several other words in English that suggest a kind of breaking, such as "interrupt," "rupture," and "bankrupt." Whether being used to describe a style of speaking that seems rudely short (as in "gave an abrupt answer"), something with a severe rise or drop ("abrupt climate change"), or something that seems rash and unprecipitated ("made the abrupt decision to quit college"), "abrupt," which first appeared in English in the 16th century, implies a kind of jarring unexpectedness that catches people off guard.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
February 23, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
logomachy \loh-GAH-muh-kee\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a dispute over or about words
*2. a controversy marked by verbiage
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The surprising election results have opened the floodgates of logomachy in the political media outlets."
Did you know?
It doesn't take much to start people arguing about words, but there's no quarrel about the origin of "logomachy." It comes from the Greek roots "logos," meaning "word" or "speech," and "machesthai," meaning "to fight," and it entered English in the mid-1500s. If you're a word enthusiast, you probably know that "logos" is the root of many English words ("monologue," "neologism," "logic," and most words ending in "-logy," for example), but what about other derivatives of "machesthai"? Actually, this is a tough one even for word whizzes. Only a few very rare English words come from "machesthai." Here are two of them: "heresimach" ("an active opponent of heresy and heretics") and "naumachia" (an ancient Roman spectacle representing a naval battle").
logomachy \loh-GAH-muh-kee\ (noun)
Meaning: 1. a dispute over or about words
*2. a controversy marked by verbiage
(* Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The surprising election results have opened the floodgates of logomachy in the political media outlets."
Did you know?
It doesn't take much to start people arguing about words, but there's no quarrel about the origin of "logomachy." It comes from the Greek roots "logos," meaning "word" or "speech," and "machesthai," meaning "to fight," and it entered English in the mid-1500s. If you're a word enthusiast, you probably know that "logos" is the root of many English words ("monologue," "neologism," "logic," and most words ending in "-logy," for example), but what about other derivatives of "machesthai"? Actually, this is a tough one even for word whizzes. Only a few very rare English words come from "machesthai." Here are two of them: "heresimach" ("an active opponent of heresy and heretics") and "naumachia" (an ancient Roman spectacle representing a naval battle").
Monday, February 22, 2010
February 22, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
thaumaturgy \THAW-muh-ter-jee\ (noun)
Meaning: the performance of miracles; specifically : magic
Example Sentence: "After reading all seven Harry Potter novels in a span of two weeks, Audrey was hungry for more thrilling tales of
mysticism and thaumaturgy."
Did you know?
The magic of "thaumaturgy" is miraculous. The word, from a Greek word meaning "miracle working," is applicable to any performance of miracles, especially by incantation. It can also be used of things that merely seem miraculous and unexplainable, like the thaumaturgy of a motion picture's illusions (aka "movie magic"), or the thaumaturgy at work in an athletic team's "miracle" comeback. In addition to "thaumaturgy," we also have "thaumaturge" and "thaumaturgist," both of which mean "a performer of miracles" or "a magician," and the adjective "thaumaturgic," meaning "performing miracles" or "of, relating to, or dependent on thaumaturgy."
thaumaturgy \THAW-muh-ter-jee\ (noun)
Meaning: the performance of miracles; specifically : magic
Example Sentence: "After reading all seven Harry Potter novels in a span of two weeks, Audrey was hungry for more thrilling tales of
mysticism and thaumaturgy."
Did you know?
The magic of "thaumaturgy" is miraculous. The word, from a Greek word meaning "miracle working," is applicable to any performance of miracles, especially by incantation. It can also be used of things that merely seem miraculous and unexplainable, like the thaumaturgy of a motion picture's illusions (aka "movie magic"), or the thaumaturgy at work in an athletic team's "miracle" comeback. In addition to "thaumaturgy," we also have "thaumaturge" and "thaumaturgist," both of which mean "a performer of miracles" or "a magician," and the adjective "thaumaturgic," meaning "performing miracles" or "of, relating to, or dependent on thaumaturgy."
Sunday, February 21, 2010
February 21, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
chastise \chass-TYZE\ (verb)
Meaning: 1: to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)
*2: to censure severely; castigate
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The boss eventually had to chastise certain employees for being consistently late."
Did you know?
"Chastise," "castigate," "chasten," "correct," "discipline," and "punish" all imply the infliction of a penalty in return for wrongdoing. "Chastise" often applies to verbal censure or denunciation ("he chastised his son for neglecting his studies"). "Castigate" usually implies a severe, typically public censure ("an editorial castigating the entire city council"), while "chasten" suggests any affliction or trial that leaves someone humbled or subdued ("chastened by a landslide election defeat"). "Correct" implies punishment aimed at reforming an offender ("the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer"), and "discipline," a punishment or chastisement intended to bring a wrongdoer under control ("parents disciplining their children"). Finally, "punish" implies the imposition of a penalty for a misdeed ("punished for stealing").
chastise \chass-TYZE\ (verb)
Meaning: 1: to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)
*2: to censure severely; castigate
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The boss eventually had to chastise certain employees for being consistently late."
Did you know?
"Chastise," "castigate," "chasten," "correct," "discipline," and "punish" all imply the infliction of a penalty in return for wrongdoing. "Chastise" often applies to verbal censure or denunciation ("he chastised his son for neglecting his studies"). "Castigate" usually implies a severe, typically public censure ("an editorial castigating the entire city council"), while "chasten" suggests any affliction or trial that leaves someone humbled or subdued ("chastened by a landslide election defeat"). "Correct" implies punishment aimed at reforming an offender ("the function of prison is to correct the wrongdoer"), and "discipline," a punishment or chastisement intended to bring a wrongdoer under control ("parents disciplining their children"). Finally, "punish" implies the imposition of a penalty for a misdeed ("punished for stealing").
February 20, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
saxicolous \sak-SIK-uh-lus\ (adjective)
Meaning: inhabiting or growing among rocks
Example Sentence: "As a graduate student, Pam studied saxicolous lichens above the treeline in three different parts of the Canadian
Rockies."
Did you know?
"Saxicolous." It's not a word that exactly rolls off the tongue, but it's a useful designation for botanists. The word is from Latin, naturally. "Saxum" is Latin for "rock," and "colous" (meaning "living or growing in or on") traces back to Latin "-cola" meaning "inhabitant." Other "colous" offspring include "arenicolous" ("living, burrowing, or growing in sand"), "cavernicolous" ("inhabiting caves"), and "nidicolous" ("living in a nest" or "sharing the nest of another kind of animal"). All of these words were coined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe the flora and fauna of our world.
saxicolous \sak-SIK-uh-lus\ (adjective)
Meaning: inhabiting or growing among rocks
Example Sentence: "As a graduate student, Pam studied saxicolous lichens above the treeline in three different parts of the Canadian
Rockies."
Did you know?
"Saxicolous." It's not a word that exactly rolls off the tongue, but it's a useful designation for botanists. The word is from Latin, naturally. "Saxum" is Latin for "rock," and "colous" (meaning "living or growing in or on") traces back to Latin "-cola" meaning "inhabitant." Other "colous" offspring include "arenicolous" ("living, burrowing, or growing in sand"), "cavernicolous" ("inhabiting caves"), and "nidicolous" ("living in a nest" or "sharing the nest of another kind of animal"). All of these words were coined in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe the flora and fauna of our world.
Friday, February 19, 2010
February 19, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
flexuous \FLEK-shuh-wus\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1: having curves, turns, or windings
2 : lithe or fluid in action or movement
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The last leg of the trail is a flexuous path leading up the mountain to a spectacular panoramic view of the valley."
Did you know?
English author Thomas Hardy was fond of the word "flexuous" and described his dark-haired Tess as "the most flexuous and finely-drawn figure." "Flexuous" may be a synonym of "curvy," but it's not the word most likely to be chosen these days to describe a shapely woman. The botanists' use of "flexuous" to describe plant stems that aren't rigid is a more typical use today. But don't let that tendency deflect you from occasionally employing this ultimately quite flexible word. Stemming straight from Latin "flectere," meaning "to bend," it can also mean "undulating" or "fluid." It might, for example, be used of writing or music, or of something or someone that moves with a fluid sort of grace.
flexuous \FLEK-shuh-wus\ (adjective)
Meaning: *1: having curves, turns, or windings
2 : lithe or fluid in action or movement
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "The last leg of the trail is a flexuous path leading up the mountain to a spectacular panoramic view of the valley."
Did you know?
English author Thomas Hardy was fond of the word "flexuous" and described his dark-haired Tess as "the most flexuous and finely-drawn figure." "Flexuous" may be a synonym of "curvy," but it's not the word most likely to be chosen these days to describe a shapely woman. The botanists' use of "flexuous" to describe plant stems that aren't rigid is a more typical use today. But don't let that tendency deflect you from occasionally employing this ultimately quite flexible word. Stemming straight from Latin "flectere," meaning "to bend," it can also mean "undulating" or "fluid." It might, for example, be used of writing or music, or of something or someone that moves with a fluid sort of grace.
February 18, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
inane \ih-NAYN\ (noun)
Meaning: void or empty space
Example Sentence: "And thus likewise we sometimes speak of place, distance, or bulk in the great inane beyond the confines of the
world…" (John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding)
Did you know?
The adjective "inane" is now most commonly encountered as a synonym of "shallow" or "silly." But when this word first entered the English language in the early 17th century, it was used to mean "empty" or "insubstantial." It was this older sense that gave rise, in the latter half of the 17th century, to the noun "inane," which often serves as a poetic reference to the void of space ("the illimitable inane," "the limitless inane," "the incomprehensible inane"). This noun usage has not always been viewed in a favorable light. Samuel Johnson, in his Dictionary of the English Language (1755), says of "inane" that "it is used licentiously for a substantive," which in current English means that it is used as a noun without regard to the rules.
inane \ih-NAYN\ (noun)
Meaning: void or empty space
Example Sentence: "And thus likewise we sometimes speak of place, distance, or bulk in the great inane beyond the confines of the
world…" (John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding)
Did you know?
The adjective "inane" is now most commonly encountered as a synonym of "shallow" or "silly." But when this word first entered the English language in the early 17th century, it was used to mean "empty" or "insubstantial." It was this older sense that gave rise, in the latter half of the 17th century, to the noun "inane," which often serves as a poetic reference to the void of space ("the illimitable inane," "the limitless inane," "the incomprehensible inane"). This noun usage has not always been viewed in a favorable light. Samuel Johnson, in his Dictionary of the English Language (1755), says of "inane" that "it is used licentiously for a substantive," which in current English means that it is used as a noun without regard to the rules.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February 17, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
tare \TAIR\ (noun)
Meaning: *1: a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container; also the
weight of the container
2: counterweight
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Before charging us for the blueberries we'd picked, the attendant at Annie's Fields deducted the tare from the weight
of the filled buckets."
Did you know?
"Tare" came to English by way of Middle French from the Old Italian term "tara," which is itself from the Arabic word "tarha," meaning "that which is removed." The first known written record of the word "tare" in English is found in the 1489 naval inventories of Britain's King Henry VII. The records show two barrels of gunpowder weighing, "besides the tare," 500 pounds. When used of vehicles, "tare weight" refers to a vehicle's weight exclusive of any load. The term "tare" is closely tied to "net weight," which is defined as "weight excluding all tare."
tare \TAIR\ (noun)
Meaning: *1: a deduction from the gross weight of a substance and its container made in allowance for the weight of the container; also the
weight of the container
2: counterweight
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Before charging us for the blueberries we'd picked, the attendant at Annie's Fields deducted the tare from the weight
of the filled buckets."
Did you know?
"Tare" came to English by way of Middle French from the Old Italian term "tara," which is itself from the Arabic word "tarha," meaning "that which is removed." The first known written record of the word "tare" in English is found in the 1489 naval inventories of Britain's King Henry VII. The records show two barrels of gunpowder weighing, "besides the tare," 500 pounds. When used of vehicles, "tare weight" refers to a vehicle's weight exclusive of any load. The term "tare" is closely tied to "net weight," which is defined as "weight excluding all tare."
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
February 16, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
parlous \PAR-lus\ (adjective)
Meaning: full of danger or risk; hazardous
Example Sentence: “Given the fragile state of the economy, this is a parlous time to be making uncertain investments,” said the financial
advisor.
Did you know?
"Parlous" is both a synonym and a derivative of "perilous"; it came to be as an alteration of "perilous" in Middle English. ("Perilous" is derived from the Anglo-French "perilleus," which ultimately comes from the Latin word for "danger": "periculum.") Both words are documented in use from at least the 14th century, but by the 17th century "parlous" had slipped from common use and was considered more or less archaic. It experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 20th century (although some critics still regarded it as an archaic affectation), and today it appears in fairly common use, often modifying "state" or "times."
parlous \PAR-lus\ (adjective)
Meaning: full of danger or risk; hazardous
Example Sentence: “Given the fragile state of the economy, this is a parlous time to be making uncertain investments,” said the financial
advisor.
Did you know?
"Parlous" is both a synonym and a derivative of "perilous"; it came to be as an alteration of "perilous" in Middle English. ("Perilous" is derived from the Anglo-French "perilleus," which ultimately comes from the Latin word for "danger": "periculum.") Both words are documented in use from at least the 14th century, but by the 17th century "parlous" had slipped from common use and was considered more or less archaic. It experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 20th century (although some critics still regarded it as an archaic affectation), and today it appears in fairly common use, often modifying "state" or "times."
Monday, February 15, 2010
February 15, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
astrolabe \A-struh-layb\ (noun)
Meaning: a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant
Example Sentence: "With a rotating plate and pointers that marked the positions of stars, the astrolabe could reproduce the daily motions
of the stars on the celestial sphere."
Did you know?
"Thyn Astrolabie hath a ring to putten on the thombe of thi right hond in taking the height of thinges." Thus begins a description of the astrolabe in A Treatise on the Astrolabe, a medieval user's guide penned by the unlikeliest of aspiring astronomers, Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer is best known for his Middle English poetic masterpiece The Canterbury Tales, but when his nose wasn't buried in his writing, Chaucer was stargazing, and some of his passion for the heavens rubbed off on his son Lewis, who, according to his father, had displayed a special "abilite to lerne sciences touching nombres and proporciouns." Chaucer dedicated his treatise to the 10-year-old boy, setting his instructions not in the usual Latin, but in "naked wordes in Englissh" so that little Lewis could understand. When he got older, Lewis may have learned that the word "astrolabe" traces to the Greek name for the instrument.
astrolabe \A-struh-layb\ (noun)
Meaning: a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant
Example Sentence: "With a rotating plate and pointers that marked the positions of stars, the astrolabe could reproduce the daily motions
of the stars on the celestial sphere."
Did you know?
"Thyn Astrolabie hath a ring to putten on the thombe of thi right hond in taking the height of thinges." Thus begins a description of the astrolabe in A Treatise on the Astrolabe, a medieval user's guide penned by the unlikeliest of aspiring astronomers, Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer is best known for his Middle English poetic masterpiece The Canterbury Tales, but when his nose wasn't buried in his writing, Chaucer was stargazing, and some of his passion for the heavens rubbed off on his son Lewis, who, according to his father, had displayed a special "abilite to lerne sciences touching nombres and proporciouns." Chaucer dedicated his treatise to the 10-year-old boy, setting his instructions not in the usual Latin, but in "naked wordes in Englissh" so that little Lewis could understand. When he got older, Lewis may have learned that the word "astrolabe" traces to the Greek name for the instrument.
February 14, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
dally \DAL-ee\ (verb)
Meaning: 1: *(a) to act playfully; especially to play amorously
(b) to deal lightly; toy
2: (a) to waste time
(b) linger, dawdle
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "There's nothing like dallying with your sweetie at an exquisite restaurant on Valentine's Day." (Suzanne Podhaizer,
Seven Days [Burlington, Vermont], February 13-20, 2008)
Did you know?
English speakers have been playing with different uses of "dally" since the 14th century. They first started using the word with the meaning "to chat," which was also the meaning of the Anglo-French word from which it was derived, but that meaning fell into disuse by the end of the 15th century. Next, dalliers were amusing themselves by acting playfully with each other especially in amorous and flirtatious ways. Apparently, some dalliers were also a bit derisive, leading "dally" to mean "to deal with lightly or in a way that is not serious." It didn't take long for the fuddy-duddies to criticize all this play as a waste of time. By the mid-16th century, "dally" was weighted down with its "to waste time" and "dawdle" meanings, which, in time, gave way to the word "dillydally," a humorous reduplication of "dally."
dally \DAL-ee\ (verb)
Meaning: 1: *(a) to act playfully; especially to play amorously
(b) to deal lightly; toy
2: (a) to waste time
(b) linger, dawdle
(* Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "There's nothing like dallying with your sweetie at an exquisite restaurant on Valentine's Day." (Suzanne Podhaizer,
Seven Days [Burlington, Vermont], February 13-20, 2008)
Did you know?
English speakers have been playing with different uses of "dally" since the 14th century. They first started using the word with the meaning "to chat," which was also the meaning of the Anglo-French word from which it was derived, but that meaning fell into disuse by the end of the 15th century. Next, dalliers were amusing themselves by acting playfully with each other especially in amorous and flirtatious ways. Apparently, some dalliers were also a bit derisive, leading "dally" to mean "to deal with lightly or in a way that is not serious." It didn't take long for the fuddy-duddies to criticize all this play as a waste of time. By the mid-16th century, "dally" was weighted down with its "to waste time" and "dawdle" meanings, which, in time, gave way to the word "dillydally," a humorous reduplication of "dally."
February 13, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
prescience \PRESH-ee-unss\ (noun)
Meaning: foreknowledge of events: (a) divine omniscience
(*b) human anticipation of the course of events; foresight
(*Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Stacy had the prescience to know that the stock’s value wasn’t going to remain high forever, so she sold it before it
decreased."
Did you know?
If you know the origin of "science," you already know half the story of "prescience." "Science" comes from the Latin verb "scire," which means "to know" and which is the source of many English words ("conscience," "conscious," and "omniscience," just to name a few). "Prescience" comes from the Latin verb "praescire," which means "to know beforehand." "Praescire" joins the verb "scire" with the prefix "prae-," a predecessor of "pre-." A lesser-known "scire"-derived word is "nescience." "Nescience" means "ignorance" and comes from "scire" plus "ne-," which means "not" in Latin.
prescience \PRESH-ee-unss\ (noun)
Meaning: foreknowledge of events: (a) divine omniscience
(*b) human anticipation of the course of events; foresight
(*Indicates sense illustrated in the example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Stacy had the prescience to know that the stock’s value wasn’t going to remain high forever, so she sold it before it
decreased."
Did you know?
If you know the origin of "science," you already know half the story of "prescience." "Science" comes from the Latin verb "scire," which means "to know" and which is the source of many English words ("conscience," "conscious," and "omniscience," just to name a few). "Prescience" comes from the Latin verb "praescire," which means "to know beforehand." "Praescire" joins the verb "scire" with the prefix "prae-," a predecessor of "pre-." A lesser-known "scire"-derived word is "nescience." "Nescience" means "ignorance" and comes from "scire" plus "ne-," which means "not" in Latin.
February 12, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
phony \FOH-nee\ (adjective)
Meaning: not genuine or real as (a) *intended to deceive or mislead; intended to defraud; counterfeit
(b) arousing suspicion; probably dishonest
(c) having no basis in fact; fictitious
(d) false, sham
(e) making a false show; hypocritical; specious
(* Indicates sense illustrated in example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Digital tricksters increasingly place phony footage, facts and press releases on Web sites and video-sharing sites to see
how quickly the falsehoods will spread through traditional and new media alike." (Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press
State and Local Wire, January 1, 2010)
Did you know?
It's the backstory of "phony" that deserves our attention. "Phony" (which dates from the early 1900s) is believed to be an alteration of the British "fawney," the word for a gilded brass ring used in a confidence game called the "fawney rig." In this game, the trickster drops a ring (or a purse with some valuables in it) and runs to pick the item up at the same time as the poor sap who notices it on the ground. The trickster asserts that the found treasure should be split between them. The one who's "found" the item, convinced now of its value, chooses instead to give the con artist some money in order to keep the item, which is, of course, phony.
phony \FOH-nee\ (adjective)
Meaning: not genuine or real as (a) *intended to deceive or mislead; intended to defraud; counterfeit
(b) arousing suspicion; probably dishonest
(c) having no basis in fact; fictitious
(d) false, sham
(e) making a false show; hypocritical; specious
(* Indicates sense illustrated in example sentence.)
Example Sentence: "Digital tricksters increasingly place phony footage, facts and press releases on Web sites and video-sharing sites to see
how quickly the falsehoods will spread through traditional and new media alike." (Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press
State and Local Wire, January 1, 2010)
Did you know?
It's the backstory of "phony" that deserves our attention. "Phony" (which dates from the early 1900s) is believed to be an alteration of the British "fawney," the word for a gilded brass ring used in a confidence game called the "fawney rig." In this game, the trickster drops a ring (or a purse with some valuables in it) and runs to pick the item up at the same time as the poor sap who notices it on the ground. The trickster asserts that the found treasure should be split between them. The one who's "found" the item, convinced now of its value, chooses instead to give the con artist some money in order to keep the item, which is, of course, phony.
February 11, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
Panglossian \pan-GLAH-see-un\ (adjective)
Meaning: marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds; excessively optimistic
Example Sentence: "Even the most Panglossian temperament would have had trouble finding the good in this situation."
Did you know?
Dr. Pangloss was the pedantic old tutor in Voltaire's satirical novel Candide. Pangloss was an incurable, albeit misguided, optimist who claimed that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." So persistent was he in his optimism that he kept it even after witnessing and experiencing great cruelty and suffering. The name "Pangloss" comes from Greek "pan," meaning "all," and "glossa," meaning "tongue," suggesting glibness and talkativeness.
Panglossian \pan-GLAH-see-un\ (adjective)
Meaning: marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds; excessively optimistic
Example Sentence: "Even the most Panglossian temperament would have had trouble finding the good in this situation."
Did you know?
Dr. Pangloss was the pedantic old tutor in Voltaire's satirical novel Candide. Pangloss was an incurable, albeit misguided, optimist who claimed that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds." So persistent was he in his optimism that he kept it even after witnessing and experiencing great cruelty and suffering. The name "Pangloss" comes from Greek "pan," meaning "all," and "glossa," meaning "tongue," suggesting glibness and talkativeness.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
February 10, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
effulgence \ih-FULL-junss\ (noun)
Meaning: radiant splendor; brilliance
Example Sentence: "The effulgence of the moon in the clear midnight sky provided enough light to help us safely make our way home."
Did you know?
Apparently, English speakers first took a shine to "effulgence" in the middle of the 17th century; that's when the word was first used in print in our language. "Effulgence" derives from the Latin verb "fulgēre," which means "to shine." "Fulgere" is also the root of "fulgent," a synonym of "radiant" that English speakers have used since the 15th century. Another related word, "refulgence," is about 30 years older than "effulgence." "Refulgence" carries a meaning similar to "effulgence" but sometimes goes further by implying reflectivity, as in "the refulgence of the knight’s gleaming armor."
effulgence \ih-FULL-junss\ (noun)
Meaning: radiant splendor; brilliance
Example Sentence: "The effulgence of the moon in the clear midnight sky provided enough light to help us safely make our way home."
Did you know?
Apparently, English speakers first took a shine to "effulgence" in the middle of the 17th century; that's when the word was first used in print in our language. "Effulgence" derives from the Latin verb "fulgēre," which means "to shine." "Fulgere" is also the root of "fulgent," a synonym of "radiant" that English speakers have used since the 15th century. Another related word, "refulgence," is about 30 years older than "effulgence." "Refulgence" carries a meaning similar to "effulgence" but sometimes goes further by implying reflectivity, as in "the refulgence of the knight’s gleaming armor."
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
February 9, 2010 - Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
kapellmeister \kuh-PELL-mye-ster\ (noun)
Meaning: the director of a choir or orchestra
Example Sentence: "From 1717 to 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach served as the Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen of the Holy
Roman Empire."
Did you know?
As you may have guessed, "Kapellmeister" originated as a German word — and in fact, even in English it is often (though not always) used for the director of a German choir. "Kapelle" once meant "choir" in German, and "Meister" is the German word for "master." The Latin "magister" is an ancestor of both "Meister" and "master," as well as of our "maestro," meaning "an eminent composer or conductor." "Kapelle" comes from "cappella," the Medieval Latin word for "chapel." As it happens, we also borrowed "Kapelle" into English, first to refer to the choir or orchestra of a royal or papal chapel, and later to describe any orchestra. "Kapellmeister" is used somewhat more frequently than "Kapelle" in current English, though neither word is especially common.
kapellmeister \kuh-PELL-mye-ster\ (noun)
Meaning: the director of a choir or orchestra
Example Sentence: "From 1717 to 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach served as the Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen of the Holy
Roman Empire."
Did you know?
As you may have guessed, "Kapellmeister" originated as a German word — and in fact, even in English it is often (though not always) used for the director of a German choir. "Kapelle" once meant "choir" in German, and "Meister" is the German word for "master." The Latin "magister" is an ancestor of both "Meister" and "master," as well as of our "maestro," meaning "an eminent composer or conductor." "Kapelle" comes from "cappella," the Medieval Latin word for "chapel." As it happens, we also borrowed "Kapelle" into English, first to refer to the choir or orchestra of a royal or papal chapel, and later to describe any orchestra. "Kapellmeister" is used somewhat more frequently than "Kapelle" in current English, though neither word is especially common.
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