DarkRavie Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 What's the Word: LARGESSE pronunciation: [lahr-JESS] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old French, 13th century Meaning: 1. Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others. Examples: "I traveled to Europe when I was a student thanks to my uncle’s largesse." "The town completely renovated its community center and arena through the largesse of an anonymous donor." About Largesse “Largesse” is based on an Old French word, which was based on the Latin “largus,” meaning “abundant.” Did you Know? Some celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, are so committed to giving to others and building philanthropic causes that they’re almost better known for their largesse than for their work as entertainers. Singer Rihanna is emblematic of this kind of generosity: She has given millions to fund climate-change research as well as to education and health care for people living in poverty. However, other celebrities are known for a more personal kind of largesse, stories of which spread as internet legends. For example, Keanu Reeves has made a name for himself as a nice guy who’s friendly to those who encounter him in person and quick to help out struggling individuals. (He also donated roughly 70% of his pay from “The Matrix” to cancer research.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 31 Author Report Share Posted January 31 What's the Word: SYLLABUB pronunciation: [SIL-ə-bəb] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, 16th century Meaning: 1. A whipped cream dessert, typically flavored with white wine or sherry. Examples: "We sampled syllabub for the first time while on vacation in Greece." "My aunt makes a delicious syllabub out of whipping cream, white wine, lemon juice, nutmeg, and sugar." About Syllabub It is not clear what root “syllabub” has in English, but variations of the word have appeared since the 16th century. Did you Know? Between the 16th and 17th centuries, there were roughly a dozen spellings of “syllabub” (including “solybubbe,” “sillabubbe,” “sallibube,” and “sullibub”). Many believe “syllabub” emerged as the standard spelling thanks to the similarity to the existing word “syllable.” Completely unrelated to that word, “syllabub” refers to a variety of drinks made by curdling milk with alcohol or acid, as well as to various desserts made out of this beverage. People have been eating and drinking something like solybubbe or sallibube for hundreds of years without knowing where its name came from, and we still don’t know, but today we spell it “syllabub.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 1 Author Report Share Posted February 1 What's the Word: VENTURESOME pronunciation: [VEN-cher-səm] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 17th century Meaning: 1. Willing to take risks or embark on difficult or unusual courses of action. Examples: "Our venturesome hiking guide insisted on taking us over the steep hills, rather than around them." "Gregory was the kind of venturesome eater who visited new restaurants and asked them to prepare their most surprising dishes." About Venturesome “Venturesome” is an adjective formed within English out of the existing noun and verb “venture,” meaning “a risky journey or undertaking.” Did you Know? The modern practice of bungee jumping appeared for the first time on April Fools’ Day, 1979, in Bristol, U.K. On that day, two venturesome members of Oxford University’s Dangerous Sports Club — clad in tuxedos and top hats — jumped off of the Clifton Suspension Bridge secured to elastic cables. They were inspired by the tradition of land diving from the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, in which venturesome young men prove their bravery by jumping from tall towers with tree vines tied to their ankles. After the Oxfordian jumpers were arrested and released, the Dangerous Sports Club made a second bungee jump off of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, this time including the first female bungee jumper. After they made the third bungee jump on television, the phenomenon of venturesome people jumping from great heights attached to elastics took on its own traditions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 2 Author Report Share Posted February 2 What's the Word: AVOUCH pronunciation: [ə-VOWCH] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 14th century Meaning: 1. Affirm or assert. Examples: "The witness avouched that she saw a man in a blue sweatshirt enter the house after dark." "It’s wise to avouch one’s dietary needs to the waiter when ordering your meal." About Avouch “Avouch” is based on the old French “avouchier,” which was itself based on the Latin “advocāre,” meaning “to summon.” Did you Know? Anyone who makes a speech or publishes a declaration is engaged in avouching, meaning President Abraham Lincoln avouched both the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. avouched the “I Have a Dream” speech (and many others). Speechmaking is often associated with building nations and cultures, and certainly these speeches have been foundational to the character of the United States. “Avouch” is based on the Latin root “advocāre,” meaning “to call” or “to summon.” It is also the root of the word “avocat,” “avvocato,” and “abogado,” meaning “lawyer” in French, Italian, and Spanish, respectively. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 3 Author Report Share Posted February 3 What's the Word: HARLEQUIN pronunciation: [HAHR-lə-kwin] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Italian, 16th century Meaning: 1. In varied colors; variegated. Examples: "The leaves on the plant were a harlequin patchwork of dark greens and pale yellows." "Rainbow grasshoppers are distinguishable by their bright harlequin patterns." About Harlequin “Harlequin” is based on the Old French name “Herlequin” or “Hellquin,” the mythical leader of a group of demon horsemen. Did you Know? Harlequin is a trickster-jester character in Italian “commedia dell’arte,” a style of theater featuring masked characters playing specific stock roles. Harlequin was the best known of a number of comic, servant characters called “Zanni.” Notably, Harlequin is easily recognized in his checkered outfit, which gives rise to the adjective “harlequin.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 4 Author Report Share Posted February 4 What's the Word: SUBSUME pronunciation: [səb-SOOM] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. Include or absorb (something) in something else. Examples: "YouTube started out as an independent company before it was subsumed by Google." "I was worried my promotion announcement would be subsumed by my brother’s news that he was getting married, so I waited for another day to tell my family." About Subsume “Subsume” is based on the medieval Latin “subsumere,” combining the prefix “sub-” (meaning “from below”) and “sumere” (meaning “take”). Did you Know? Years ago, Pepsi-Cola made its namesake popular soft drink and nothing else, while the Tip Corporation produced Mountain Dew. When Pepsi bought the Tip Corporation and the rights to make Mountain Dew in 1964, the brand became subsumed under the Pepsi corporation, which continues to produce the drink. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 5 Author Report Share Posted February 5 What's the Word: SKOOKUM pronunciation: [SKOO-kəm] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Chinook Jargon, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. (Of a person or animal) Strong, brave, or impressive. Examples: "Growing up, I had a skookum cat who feared none of the neighborhood dogs." "The documentary explained how the skookum grizzly bears would grab salmon out of the water to hunt." About Skookum “Skookum” is taken directly from Chinook Jargon, where it means “large,” “monstrous,” or “strong.” Did you Know? “Skookum” is taken from Chinook Jargon, a pidgin language combining the words from various languages of Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest with loanwords from French and English. It’s unclear whether Chinook Jargon predated the arrival of European settlers — because it contains words from other Indigenous languages, it may have been a trading language that various tribes and nations used to communicate with one another. Regardless, since the contact between Europeans and Indigenous peoples, Chinook Jargon has absorbed aspects of English and French and its words have entered English. Across the Pacific Northwest, it’s common to use “skookum” to describe big things, strong things, and brave things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 6 Author Report Share Posted February 6 What's the Word: EFFULGENCE pronunciation: [ih-FUHL-jəns] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 17th century Meaning: 1. A state of being bright and radiant; splendor, brilliance. Examples: "Camille was stunned silent by the effulgence of the sun rising across the Grand Canyon." "After walking an hour in the rainy dark, the effulgence of my living room’s bright lights and roaring fire was a welcome sight." About Effulgence The noun “effulgence” is based on the English adjective “effulgent,” meaning “shining brilliantly.” It was created by combining the Latin prefix “ex-” (meaning “out of”) and the Latin verb “fulgere” (meaning “to shine”). Did you Know? Whether by finding hope in the effulgence of the breaking dawn, or by warming ourselves beneath the effulgence of the midday sun, people have always celebrated the warmth and light we receive from the sky. However, human-made effulgence — in the form of lighting schemes, light shows, and even works of art — is designed to reflect and showcase the movement of light. People seem attracted to effulgence, whether it’s a radiant dawn or a brightly lit exhibition of reflective glass. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 7 Author Report Share Posted February 7 What's the Word: SWIZZLE pronunciation: [SWIZ-əl] Part of speech: verb Origin: Unknown, 19th century Meaning: 1. Stir (a drink) with a swizzle stick. Examples: "The bartender didn’t mix the drinks, but left patrons to swizzle their beverages themselves." "Ernestine has a habit of swizzling her drink while she talks." About Swizzle The exact source of “swizzle” is unknown, though it may be a variation on the U.S. English word “switchel,” describing a sweetened beverage. Did you Know? The verb “swizzle” began its life in the early 19th century as a noun describing cocktails (and sometimes as a general term for alcoholic beverages as a class, similar to “booze”). In particular, “swizzle” was a popular term for a frothy mixed drink that required stirring, from which the verb “to swizzle” was coined in the late 19th century. Until the mid-19th century, “to swizzle” also meant “to drink excessively.” Though the root of “swizzle” is unknown, many believe it is related to the American word “switchel,” describing a vinegar-water beverage sweetened with molasses or honey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 8 Author Report Share Posted February 8 What's the Word: EMOLUMENT pronunciation: [ih-MOL-yə-mənt] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. A salary, fee, or profit from employment or office. Examples: "A lease on a luxury car is among the college dean’s emoluments." "When the hiring team explained the emolument I would receive, I agreed it was perfectly fair for the position." About Emolument “Emolument” is based on the Latin “ēmolumentum,” meaning “payment to a miller for grinding corn.” Did you Know? “Emolument” is a formal term for “payment” with a very specific root: In Latin, it referred to the amount one paid a miller to grind one’s corn. In modern terms, every paying job can be described as having an emolument, but originally the term came from either the Latin word “ēmōlior,” meaning “to remove with effort,” or “ēmŏlĕre,” meaning “to grind out.” Both words stress the labor of the activity for which the worker receives their emolument. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 9 Author Report Share Posted February 9 What's the Word: ULTRONEOUS pronunciation: [əl-TROH-nee-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Spontaneous; voluntary. Examples: "Our host made an ultroneous offer at the end of the afternoon to make us all supper." "If I win the lottery, I will take ultroneous vacations whenever the mood strikes me." About Ultroneous Taken directly from Latin, based on the Latin “ultrō,” meaning “on one’s part.” Did you Know? Ultroneous combustion of certain materials is not only possible, but also quite dangerous. In order for a material to catch fire of its own accord, first it must have a low ignition point (straw and hay fit the bill). Second, there must be a heat source — which can occur, for example, if sugar in the material begins to ferment. If that heat can’t escape, eventually the material can reach its ignition point and combust ultroneously (spontaneously). This is a concern for compost piles, where ultroneous combustion happens due to fermentation, but also with certain kinds of oil seeds, which can dramatically heat up in the presence of moisture. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 What's the Word: CIRCUMSTELLAR pronunciation: [sir-kəm-STELL-ər] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 20th century Meaning: 1. That surrounds, or revolves around a star. Examples: "In astronomy, the area around a star that can support liquid — and therefore life — is called the circumstellar habitable zone." "The sun is a yellow dwarf star, and the Earth is in circumstellar orbit around it." About Circumstellar “Circumstellar” was formed in English in the 20th century by combining the prefix “circum-,” meaning “around,” and “stellar,” meaning “related to stars.” Did you Know? Circumstellar disks are pancake-shaped rings of dust, gas, asteroids, and other matter that rotate around stars. These disks are created as stars are formed, and after a star appears, the circumstellar disk around it contains dust and gas the star can absorb and build upon as it grows. Though circumstellar disks surround stars, the materials they contain are distinctive. The matter floating in circumstellar disks around younger stars offers building blocks for future potential planets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 11 Author Report Share Posted February 11 What's the Word: IMPLACABLE pronunciation: [im-PLAK-ə-bəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, 16th century Meaning: 1. Unable to be placated. 2. Relentless; unstoppable. Examples: "Charlie tried appealing to the principal to cancel his suspension for pranks and mischief, but she was implacable." "When it comes to enforcing our teenage son’s nightly curfew, my husband and I are implacable." About Implacable “Implacable” entered English from the same word in Old French, where it meant “harsh” and “unrelenting.” The Old French “implacable” was based on the Latin “implācābilis” (“unappeasable” or “irreconcilable”). Did you Know? The hardest thing for many new parents is getting their babies to sleep through the night. This challenge is known as “sleep training,” in which parents try to find the right set of circumstances to relax their baby enough that they will fall asleep on their own. Many experts say that by the time a baby is 4 months old, they can begin learning the self-soothing techniques necessary to fall asleep on their own and remain asleep through the night. However, sleep training is a challenge. Some babies take to it quickly, while others are implacable, rejecting every attempt parents can think of to soothe them. Implacable babies eventually learn to sleep by themselves, but require far more parental effort, ingenuity, and patience to get to that state. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 12 Author Report Share Posted February 12 What's the Word: FUNMBULISM pronunciation: [fyoo-NAM-byə-lizm] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 19th century Meaning: 1. The art of walking on a tightrope or a slack-rope. Examples: "While at school in Paris, my nephew got involved in funambulism and joined a circus." "Slack lines have proved funambulism is a fun and engaging physical exercise." About Funambulism “Funambulism” is based on the English word “funambule,” a synonym for “tightrope walker.” This is based on the Latin word “fūnambulus,” meaning the same thing. Did you Know? The contemporary master of funambulism is Nik Wallenda. As a seventh-generation member of the family of high-wire performers known as the Flying Wallendas, Nik Wallenda first walked a tightrope when he was 13 years old in 1992. Since that time, he has amassed 11 Guinness World Records, most notably for being the first person to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls, live on television in 2012. Wallenda has stretched the limits of funambulism by performing increasingly elaborate stunts on tightropes, such as creating the first-ever eight-person pyramid on a high wire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 13 Author Report Share Posted February 13 What's the Word: DRUTHERS pronunciation: [DRUH-therz] Part of speech: noun Origin: U.S. English, 19th century Meaning: 1. (Usually “one's druthers”) A person's preference in a matter. Examples: "I wish my neighbors would express their druthers to city council about the speed of traffic on our street." "Raphael would have been an architect if he’d had his druthers, but he ended up a baker." About Druthers “Druthers” is formed in English out of the expression “I’d rather.” Did you Know? One of the earliest instances of the word “druther” is in Mark Twain’s 1876 novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” in which a character says, “I druther,” in place of “I’d rather.” The word made other appearances in the early 19th century, suggesting it was already widely used by that time. The term is strongly associated with the South, where the expression “drather” was also common in the 19th century. Over time, “druthers” became a noun on its own. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 14 Author Report Share Posted February 14 What's the Word: OPULENCE pronunciation: [AHP-yəl-ens] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle French, 16th century Meaning: 1. Great wealth or luxuriousness. Examples: "The opulence of Marcia’s home was most apparent in the kitchen, with its marble countertops, wood floors and cabinetry, and an eight-burner Italian gas range." "As we walked the gardens of the castle, we found the opulence of the interior extended to the lush landscaping." About Opulence Opulence came into English from an identical word in Middle French, meaning “great wealth.” The French word “opulence” was based on the Latin “opulentia,” meaning “riches” or “splendor.” Did you Know? The richest person in history was believed to be Mansa Musa (1280-1337 CE), king of Timbuktu in what is now Mali. Since Musa oversaw the world’s largest resources of gold, he enjoyed such extravagant opulence that he once threw the currency of neighboring Egypt into crisis through his own personal spending. Musa’s personal wealth and levels of opulence are impossible to measure by today’s standards. Julius Caesar, another historical figure of great wealth, is estimated to have had a fortune equivalent to about $4 trillion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 15 Author Report Share Posted February 15 What's the Word: TESSELLATE pronunciation: [TESS-ə-leyt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Decorate or cover (a surface) with a pattern of repeated shapes, especially polygons, that fit together closely without gaps or overlapping. Examples: "The kitchen floor was tessellated with hexagonal linoleum tiles." "The artist is known for tessellating mosaics with clay geometric shapes." About Tessellate “Tessellate” comes from the Latin “tessella,” meaning “small paving stone.” Did you Know? Tessellation (the noun form of the verb “tessellate”) is best known as a pattern made out of repeating geometric shapes — especially triangles, squares, and hexagons, but also combinations of different shapes. Tessellated geometric mosaics are a common design motif dating back to ancient Rome; however, some of the best-known tessellated works of art are more modern. Dutch artist M.C. Escher is known for his complex and impossible tessellated images, such as his drawings of infinite stairways. But Escher also used the pattern to impressive effect by tessellating images of birds, fish, reptiles, and insects that fit seamlessly together into mesmerizing mosaics. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 16 Author Report Share Posted February 16 What's the Word: CORVINE pronunciation: [KOR-vahyn] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Of or like a raven or crow, especially in color. Examples: "The bird was definitely a pigeon, but it was so dark it looked corvine." "My nana’s parrot was brightly colored, but it had a distinctly corvine cleverness." About Corvine “Corvine” is based on the Latin “corvinus,” meaning “related to crows and ravens” (from “Corvus,” meaning “crow”). Did you Know? While “corvine” is sometimes used to describe a dark color like that of crows and ravens, it can also be used to describe a bird of remarkable intelligence, as crows are believed to be some of the most clever creatures in the animal kingdom. Crows and their relatives — which include ravens, jays, and magpies — not only use tools, but also work in partnership with one another to achieve goals. They have the ability to remember human faces for long periods of time and communicate using a language of hundreds of distinct “words.” Researchers in 2020 revealed that crows are not just clever, but also self-aware, capable of understanding the limits of their intelligence, and of reflecting on what they know — a level of corvine consciousness scientists used to believe was unique to humans. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 17 Author Report Share Posted February 17 What's the Word: HELIOTROPIC pronunciation: [hee-lee-ə-TRAHP-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 19th century Meaning: 1. Exhibiting the property of some plants of turning under the influence of light. Examples: "When recorded in slow motion, many plants can be seen making a heliotropic turn every morning when the sun comes up." "The sunbathers continually readjusted themselves in a heliotropic route around the pool." About Heliotropic “Heliotropic” was formed by combining the ancient Greek “ἥλιος” (“hḗlios,” meaning “sun”) and “τρόπος” (“trópos,” meaning “a turn”). Did you Know? A heliotropic plant follows the sun throughout the course of its daily cycle. The sunflower is the best-known heliotropic plant, as it follows the sun from east to west over the course of the day, before turning to the east again overnight to prepare for the next day’s dawn. Many other plants and flowers engage in similar heliotropic movements. By the late 19th century, researchers discovered that these plants responded to light in any form, not just solar light. As a result, “heliotropic” is often replaced with the term “phototropic.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 What's the Word: ATTENUATE pronunciation: [ə-TEN-yoo-eyt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. Reduce the force, effect, or value of. 2. Reduce in thickness; make thin. Examples: "Taking small trips outside in a frigid climate can help attenuate your experience of the extreme cold." "Wallpaper and thick rugs can help attenuate the echo in a room." About Attenuate “Attenuate” is based on the Latin “attenuāre,” meaning “to make thin.” Did you Know? In electronics, to attenuate something is to take a strong signal and make it weaker. In the world of music and audio, it's sometimes necessary to attenuate the electronic signals of certain devices without altering their overall sound. For example, because amplifiers sound different at various levels of volume, a guitar player may discover that the exact tone she wants to get from her guitar only occurs with her amp cranked to ear-splitting volume. To fix this problem, the guitarist might invest in an attenuator, allowing her to dial up her amp to the warm, crackling, high-volume tone she wants, before also turning down the volume on that tone to a level that her fans can enjoy without covering their ears. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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