New Game: What's the Word?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: RURITANIAN

pronunciation: [rə-rə-TAY-nyən]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, late 1890s

 

Meaning:

1. Relating to or characteristic of the imaginary kingdom of Ruritania from the novels of Anthony Hope, especially with reference to romantic adventure and intrigue.

 

Examples:

"David planned a Ruritanian trip to several exotic locales."

"My daydreams can become quite Ruritanian."

About Ruritanian

“Ruritanian” hails from the Latin “rus,” meaning "rural," and the Latinate ending “-itania.” British author Anthony Hope helped create the term in one of his novels.

 

Did you Know?

British author Anthony Hope published his mythical novel, “The Prisoner of Zenda,” in 1894. It quickly grew in popularity, capturing readers’ imaginations with its sense of adventure, courtly romances, heroes, and sword fights. Shortly after the book’s release, George Bernard Shaw used the story’s fictional locale, Ruritania, as an adjective: “Our common sense … must immediately put a summary stop to the somewhat silly Ruritanian gambols of our imagination.” It's an obscure term for fanciful places and attitudes, but perhaps it deserves to be brought back?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: TONIC

pronunciation: [TAH-nik]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, mid-17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Something with an invigorating effect.

2. The first note in a scale which, in conventional harmony, provides the keynote of a piece of music.

 

Examples:

"Layla knew she needed to drink the tonic even though it tasted bitter."

"The tonic in his original composition was a very high note."

About Tonic

This word comes from the French “tonique” by way of the Greek “tonikos,” meaning “of or for stretching.”

 

Did you Know?

“Tonic” is commonly used as a noun but can also be used as an adjective in several different ways. In phonetics, a tonic is “denoting or relating to the syllable within a tone group that has greatest prominence, because it carries the main change of pitch.” And in physiology, it means “relating to, denoting, or producing continuous muscular contraction.”

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: RIMOSE

pronunciation: [RY-mohs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, late 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. (Mycology) Now especially of a fungus or lichen: cracked, fissured.

 

Examples:

"The lichens have a rimose surface."

"The driveway was rimose after the earthquake."

About Rimose

This word hails from the classical Latin “rīmōsus,” meaning “full of cracks, fissured.” It’s originally from “rīma,” meaning “cleft, crack, fissure.”

 

Did you Know?

“Rimose” is a word often used to describe crustose lichens, a fungal material that forms a bumpy crust that often ends up being a bright color. Many species use lichens for food, shelter, and nesting material.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: BETIDE

pronunciation: [bə-TAHYD]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin: Middle English, mid-1100s

 

Meaning:

1. (Literary) Happen.

2. (With object) Happen to (someone).

 

Examples:

"The couple promised to remain loyal to each other, whatever events may betide them."

"Woe betide any student who forgot their homework on the final day of class."

About Betide

This word originated from the now-obsolete Middle English word “tide” (“befall”), which in turn came from the Old English word “tīdan” (“happen”).

 

Did you Know?

The phrase “woe betide you” comes from the common use of this medieval word. The word “tide” originated from the obsolete Old English word “tīdan,” used to mean “befall,” while “woe” means “distress.” When combined together, these words are meant to warn someone of the possible consequences of their bad behavior.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SOLATIUM

pronunciation: [sə-LAY-shee-əm]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, early 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. (Formal) A thing given to someone as a compensation or consolation.

 

Examples:

"Management gave the customers who had been overcharged a free item as a solatium."

"Even though his dog came home on her own, Jacob still offered a solatium to everyone who had helped him search."

About Solatium

This word originated from Latin, and it literally translates to "solace." The meaning of "solace" is "comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness."

 

Did you Know?

The word "solatium" was first used to describe compensation for emotional (rather than physical) injury in the 1800s. The types of "solatia" (the plural) offered might depend on the relationship between the two parties. While friends may exchange a hug or a card to make up after a fight, a business will likely offer monetary or physical compensation in exchange for any mishaps — such as serving the wrong dish to a customer at a restaurant. The solatium could be a discount on a bill or an extra dessert, for example.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: REDOUBTABLE

pronunciation: [re-DOW-də-bl]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Late Middle English, mid-1300s

 

Meaning:

1. (Of a person) Formidable, especially as an opponent.

 

Examples:

"He was a redoubtable chess player, but he still had to fight nerves before every match."

"John earned his redoubtable reputation after leading his team to several victories."

About Redoubtable

This word came from the Old French word "redoutable," which developed from the combination of the words "redouter" ("to fear") and "douter" ("to doubt").

 

Did you Know?

Video game developers specialize in creating formidable opponents. The goal is for a game to start at a moderate level of difficulty, which increases as the player progresses and becomes more familiar with the material. The main villain, often referred to as the "final boss," is the most redoubtable character and the hardest to overcome.