DarkRavie Posted August 17 Author Report Share Posted August 17 What's the Word: FATUOUS pronunciation: [FA-tchoo-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Silly and pointless. Examples: "He thought the decorative pillows were fatuous, but they made his mom happy." "The teacher was frustrated by the fatuous questions that showed the students hadn't been paying attention." About Fatuous The "fat" in this adjective is misleading — "fatuous" has nothing to do with weight. Instead, the origin can be traced to the Latin word "fatuus," meaning "foolish." You might recognize this root in the word "infatuation," which refers to a silly, foolish crush. Did you Know? The word "fatuous" is an adjective used to describe someone lacking in intelligence, or something that is pointless. But before you call someone else "fatuous," make sure you're not being inane, puerile, infantile, vacuous, asinine, witless, harebrained, preposterous, or risible yourself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 18 Author Report Share Posted August 18 What's the Word: EUPHONY pronunciation: [YOO-fə-nee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, 17th century Meaning: 1. The quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words. 2. The tendency to make phonetic change for ease of pronunciation. Examples: "She wanted to pick out the perfect name for her baby — something unique and with euphony." "Some abbreviations are created purely for ease of speech and a sense of euphony." About Euphony English adopted the noun "euphony" from the French word "euphonie," but it really goes back to the Greek word "euphōnia," derived from the adjective "euphōnos," meaning "well sounding." Any word containing "phon" can be traced to the Greek "phōnē," which means "sound." Did you Know? Euphony can describe any pleasing sound, but it is most commonly applied to words. There is, however, a specific linguistic phenomenon called "euphony." Some speakers are drawn to easier-to-pronounce words, even going so far as to alter the pronunciation of words to make them simpler and faster to say. The development of contractions is an example of euphony. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 19 Author Report Share Posted August 19 What's the Word: INTERSTICE pronunciation: [in-TUR-stəs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. An intervening space, especially a very small one. Examples: "I see the neighbor's dog's eye peeking through the interstice of the fence." "His birthday falls during the interstice between Christmas and New Year's." About Interstice You might recognize "inter" as "between." "Interstice" comes from the Latin word "intersistere," which means "standing between." It's an impressive word for a tiny gap. Did you Know? Read between the lines — an interstice is the space between. The word can apply to a physical gap between objects, or it can be used in a more figurative sense, such as between time periods or even emotional space. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 20 Author Report Share Posted August 20 What's the Word: LETHOLOGICA pronunciation: [lee-thə-LAH-jih-kə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, early 20th century Meaning: 1. The inability to remember a particular word or name. Examples: "Her lethologica increased when she was meeting multiple people at a time." "Use mnemonic devices to avoid lethologica when you're studying for a big test." About Lethologica With the Greek word "lethe" for "forgetfulness" and the Greek word "logos" for "word," you can understand "lethologica" as the feeling of being unable to remember a word or a name. It can be a symptom of a medical condition, or it can be a case of forgetfulness. Did you Know? The root "lethe" comes from Greek mythology — it's the river in Hades that makes the souls of the dead forget their previous life. "Lethologica" is a somewhat obscure term for being unable to remember a certain word. A related medical condition is called "aphasia," the loss of ability to understand or express speech. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 21 Author Report Share Posted August 21 What's the Word: STENTORIAN pronunciation: [sten-TOHR-ee-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, early 17th century Meaning: 1. (Of a person's voice) Loud and powerful. Examples: "A successful candidate requires a stentorian voice that carries above the cheering crowds." "It was a surprise to hear a stentorian voice coming from such a small body." About Stentorian Stentorian is an adjective to describe a loud, booming voice. "Stentor" is the proper noun from Homer's "Iliad," but "stentor" is a common noun for anyone with a powerful voice. Did you Know? Thank Homer for this one. In the classic epic poem the "Iliad," Stentor is the name of the herald who delivered proclamations to the Greek army during the Trojan War. It was said that his voice was as loud as 50 men together, but you don't have to be quite that loud to be called "stentorian." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 22 Author Report Share Posted August 22 What's the Word: DEMUR pronunciation: [də-mər] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 12th century Meaning: 1. Raise doubts or objections or show reluctance. 2. (Law) Put forward a demurrer. Examples: "This is an open forum — please demur if you don't agree." "If you don't agree with the charge, your lawyer can demur." About Demur Like many words that are rooted in Latin, "demur" took a progression through other languages to get to English. In Latin, "de-" means "away or completely," and "morari" means "delay." It moved into Old French as "demourer" (verb) and "demeure" (noun), and as it moved from French into Middle English, "demur" meant "to delay." However, it's also an objection — maybe even an objection at a delay. Did you Know? To demur means to object, doubt, or show your reluctance. The verb is also used in a legal sense to file a demurrer, or objection. But if you don't have any qualms, you might use "demur" as a noun. "Demur" is almost always used in the negative as a noun: "I agreed to his compromise without demur." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 23 Author Report Share Posted August 23 What's the Word: REDOLENT pronunciation: [RED-ihl-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something). 2. Strongly smelling of. Examples: "The small homes are redolent of the original ones in the city." "The aromas of spring are redolent with flowers and freshly cut grass." About Redolent You can use "redolent" to describe anything that reminds you of something else, but the original usage was related to smell. In Latin, "red" means "back, or again," and "olere" means "to smell." That gives us "redolent" in Latin, meaning "giving out a strong smell." The spelling and meaning passed through to Old French and into Middle English in the 15th century. Did you Know? Scent is one of the most powerful triggers for memory. Incoming smells pass through the olfactory bulb in your nose, directly to the hippocampus and amygdala. These areas in your brain are responsible for emotion and memory. This pathway explains why a kitchen redolent of baking cookies might remind you of your grandma. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 24 Author Report Share Posted August 24 What's the Word: SWAIN pronunciation: [sweyn] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old Norse, 14th century Meaning: 1. A young lover or suitor. 2. A country youth. Examples: "The eager swain showed up at her door with a bouquet of flowers to ask her to prom." "The swain didn't often leave the farm, but he went into town for supplies once a month." About Swain In Old Norse, "sveinn" meant "boy" or "servant." Old English adopted "swain" to describe a young man attending a knight. It picked up a few more definitions over the years, with "swain" meaning "a country youth" and then "a gentleman suitor." The courting version stuck around thanks to romantic literature. Did you Know? Swain is an old-fashioned term for a beau, boyfriend, or suitor. While the term isn't used much these days, you might try introducing a new love as your swain — the charming moniker could win over your friends and family. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 25 Author Report Share Posted August 25 What's the Word: VALEDICTION pronunciation: [val-ih-DIK-shən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. The action of saying farewell. 2. A statement or address made at or as a farewell. Examples: "Make sure to give your mother a valediction before you leave for the weekend." "I always struggle with choosing an appropriate valediction for emails to my boss." About Valediction Valedict- serves as the root for several related words. There's "valediction" ("the act of saying farewell"), "valedictorian" ("the student chosen to deliver a farewell address at a commencement ceremony"), and "valedictory," which is both the noun for a farewell speech and an adjective describing something of a farewell nature. Did you Know? If you're a regular at Christian church services, you likely recognize "benediction" as the blessing given at the end of the service. "Valediction" has a similar Latin etymology. "Bene" in Latin is "to wish well or bless." "Vale" is "goodbye," and "dicere" is "to say" in Latin. A benediction and a valediction — depending on the context — are both appropriate ways to say goodbye. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 26 Author Report Share Posted August 26 What's the Word: DALLY pronunciation: [DAL-ee] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, 15th century Meaning: 1. Act or move slowly. 2. Have a casual romantic liaison with. Examples: "I was enjoying the spring weather so much that I dallied on my way back to the office." "He's not looking for a serious relationship, but he has been known to dally with a new romance." About Dally Here's a handy little verb with two different definitions. You probably won't dally if you're going to dally with someone. If you're dallying (having a casual romantic relationship), there's not a long courtship, so you won't dally (delay) going on a few dates. Did you Know? In Old French, "dailer" meant "to chat." As the word progressed into English, it adopted the definitions of "to move slowly" and "to have a romantic entanglement." Then it acquired another usage of a casual, noncommittal interest in anything. You might while away some time by having a leisurely chat that could lead to romance or perhaps a new acquaintanceship — these are all forms of dallying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Wednesday at 02:02 PM Author Report Share Posted Wednesday at 02:02 PM What's the Word: POTATION pronunciation: [po-TEY-shən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. A drink. 2. The action of drinking alcohol. Examples: "Sit down and join me for a potation." "A majority of the plans for the bachelor party concerned copious amounts of potation." About Potation Po-TEY-tion, po-TAH-tion. Actually, potation has nothing to do with potatoes. The Latin verb "potare" means "to drink," and that turned into "potation" in Old French and then Middle English. The noun form means "a drink" or "the action of drinking." Did you Know? Head to your favorite watering hole and order a potation. It’s not a fancy cocktail made by a mixologist; it’s just a drink. "Potation" is a bit of an old-fashioned term for a beverage, usually an alcoholic one. Bartender’s choice when you ask for a potation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Thursday at 02:27 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:27 PM What's the Word: APPETENCY pronunciation: [APP-ə-dən-see] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. A longing or desire. 2. A natural tendency or affinity. Examples: "Ice cream topped with pickles was the strangest appetency that she had during her pregnancy." "My grandfather passed along his appetency for woodworking and carving." About Appetency The Latin verb "appetere," meaning "to seek after," is the root of both "appetency" and "appetite." In addition to the definition of "hunger," "appetency" also means "a natural inclination for something." If you have an appetency for cooking, you might want to consider culinary school. Did you Know? One usage of "appetency" ("a longing or desire") is as a synonym for "appetite," but it has a stronger implication of craving attached to it. If you use "appetency" instead of "appetite," there might be an emotional hunger associated with your desire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Friday at 02:59 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 02:59 PM (edited) What's the Word: AGGLOMERATE pronunciation: [ə-GLAHM-ər-ate] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, late 17th century Meaning: 1. Collect or form into a mass or group. Examples: "The students agglomerated at the football field for the rally." "If you can agglomerate the laundry into one pile, it will be easier to manage." About Agglomerate In Latin, "glomus" is a ball. From that we get the verb "agglomerare," which roughly means "gathered into a ball." In English, "agglomerate" is primarily used in a more technical sense for gathering something into a group. Did you Know? Agglomerate is one of those special words that can be used as a verb, a noun, and an adjective. You can agglomerate (verb) a mound of spilled cereal; an agglomerate (noun) of cereal can be in a bowl; and an agglomerate (adjective) pile of cereal on the floor just looks messy. Edited Saturday at 01:50 PM by DarkRavie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Saturday at 01:52 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 01:52 PM What's the Word: FANDANGLE pronunciation: [fan-DAYN-ɡəl] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. A useless or purely ornamental thing. Examples: "I couldn't resist buying the seashell fandangle at the beachside souvenir store." "Her wedding dress was covered in bows and lace and fandangles." About Fandangle There's not much use for this type of object, but it sure is pretty. Maybe you have a cabinet full of knickknacks, or your bed is covered with ornamental pillows. Anything with purely decorative potential but no real use — that's a "fandangle." Did you Know? Fandangle can't be definitively traced back to a specific root language, but some lexicographers assume it's related to "fandango." This is the name for a lively Spanish dance accompanied by a tambourine, or the name for an elaborate process or activity. "Fandangle," or "an ornamental object," came about in the mid-19th century, likely related to the second definition of "fandango." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted yesterday at 02:14 PM Author Report Share Posted yesterday at 02:14 PM What's the Word: DISPORT pronunciation: [də-SPORT] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, 14th century Meaning: 1. Enjoy oneself unrestrainedly. 2. Frolic. Examples: "Let go of your inhibitions and find a way to disport yourself every day." "Put a smile on your face by watching a video of puppies playing and disporting." About Disport The Middle English term "disport" comes from the Old French word "desporter," with the literal translation of "carry away." If you get too excited and get carried away with yourself, that’s the perfect depiction of the verb "disport." Did you Know? Not all words from Middle English are recognizable today, but "disport" still holds the same playful meaning as it did when Chaucer used it. Can you translate this line from "The Merchant's Tale"? “Dooth hym disport — he is a gentil man." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted 3 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 3 hours ago What's the Word: TIFFIN pronunciation: [TIH-fihn] Part of speech: noun Origin: Indian, early 19th century Meaning: 1. A light meal, especially lunch. Examples: "Would you like to join us for a tiffin before you leave?" "My husband always packs up a tiffin for me to take to work when I have a long shift." About Tiffin As a noun, "tiffin" refers to a light lunch, or possibly the box used to carry your snacks. The roots are in British English, but Anglo-Indian speakers adopted the term and it's primarily used in India today. Did you Know? While many words were brought into English from other languages through colonization, "tiffin" is an example in reverse. "Tiff" was an old-fashioned English term for a little bite of something, and when Great Britain colonized India, the word "tiffin," meaning "a light lunch," was adopted into Anglo-Indian slang by the mid-19th century. The usage has now expanded slightly and also serves as the name of a stackable type of lunchbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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