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."
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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."
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