DarkRavie Posted March 5 Author Report Share Posted March 5 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 6 Author Report Share Posted March 6 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.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 7 Author Report Share Posted March 7 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 8 Author Report Share Posted March 8 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 9 Author Report Share Posted March 9 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 10 Author Report Share Posted March 10 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 11 Author Report Share Posted March 11 What's the Word: BASAL pronunciation: [BAY-zəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Old French and Middle English, late 14th century Meaning: 1. Forming or belonging to a bottom layer or base. Examples: "The bush's basal leaves were large and lush." "The pre-K school offered students some basal education." About Basal This word comes from Old French, but it stems originally from either the Latin "basis," meaning "foundation," or the Greek "basis," meaning "a stepping, a step, that on which one steps or stands, pedestal." The "-al" suffix means "of, like, related to, pertaining to." Did you Know? A person's basal metabolism is the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to maintain vital functions. Research has shown low-calorie diets tend to suppress basal metabolism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 12 Author Report Share Posted March 12 What's the Word: PIEDMONT pronunciation: [PEED-mahnt] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. A gentle slope leading from the base of mountains to a region of flat land. Examples: "The area's piedmont had surprisingly fertile land." "The piedmont rarely experienced severe flooding." About Piedmont This word comes from the Italian "piemonte," meaning "mountain foot." Did you Know? There are two areas that have been traditionally known as "the piedmont": either northwestern Italy at the foot of the Alps, or the hilly highlands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 13 Author Report Share Posted March 13 What's the Word: BENISON pronunciation: [BEN-ə-sən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old French, 14th century Meaning: 1. A blessing. Examples: "The priest ended every service with a benison." "Sharon came to see missing her train as a benison in disguise." About Benison This word hails from the Old French “beneiçun,” originally from the Latin “benedictio.” Did you Know? “Benison” and its synonym “benediction” come from the same Latin root, “benedicere.” But “benison” has a longer history in the English language; “benediction” didn’t show up in print until roughly a century later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 14 Author Report Share Posted March 14 What's the Word: SELVAGE pronunciation: [SEL-vij] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, 15th century Meaning: 1. An edge produced on woven fabric during manufacture that prevents it from unraveling. 2. (Geology) A zone of altered rock, especially volcanic glass, at the edge of a rock mass. Examples: "The curtain’s selvage was a different color, which created a noticeable border." "Tom wanted to study how the selvage of obsidian formed." About Selvage This word hails from Late Middle English. It is an alteration of “self” and “edge,” patterned off of the early modern Dutch “selfegghe.” While "selvage" has been in use since the 15th century, the geological usage dates only to the 1930s. Did you Know? While the earliest usage of “selvage” was related to textiles, the term has been borrowed for other fields. In printing, it refers to the excess area of a printed or perforated sheet, such as the white border area of a sheet of stamps or the wide margins of an engraving. It can also refer to the claylike material found along a geological fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 15 Author Report Share Posted March 15 What's the Word: IDES pronunciation: [iydz] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Old English Meaning: 1. (In the ancient Roman calendar) A day falling roughly in the middle of each month (the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th of other months) from which other dates were calculated. Examples: "Don knew he couldn’t take on any more work until at least the ides." "I arrived in Costa Rica in the ides of September, the middle of the rainy season." About Ides “Ides” draws upon the Latin “Īdūs” and the old French “Ides,” but the word is also related to the Etruscan “iduāre,” meaning “to divide.” Did you Know? In ancient Roman times, “ides” referred to a month’s first new moon, which placed the ides between the 13th and 15th day of the month. The term has always been closely associated with “the ides of March,” mentioned in Shakespeare’s history play “Julius Caesar,” but there are ides in every month. Formally, the ides are the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th of the other months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 16 Author Report Share Posted March 16 What's the Word: SCUMBLE pronunciation: [SKUM-bəl] Part of speech: verb Origin: Unknown location, late 17th century Meaning: 1. Modify (a painting or color) by applying a very thin coat of opaque paint to give a softer or duller effect. 2. Modify (a drawing) with light shading in pencil or charcoal to give a softer effect. Examples: "Today’s online art lesson will teach students how to scumble their paintings from last week." "Pablo scumbled the sharp lines in his drawing for a gentler effect." About Scumble Even though the word’s specific roots are unknown, “scumble” is possibly related to the verb “scum,” an antiquated version of “skim.” Did you Know? Scumbling became a popular artistic technique during the 15th century. Some art historians believe Renaissance-era painter Titian invented the technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 17 Author Report Share Posted March 17 What's the Word: CHARTREUSE pronunciation: [shar-TROOS] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A pale green or yellow liqueur made from brandy and aromatic herbs. 2. A pale yellow or green color resembling the liqueur chartreuse. Examples: "To celebrate the project’s success, the team leader brought in some chartreuse to share." "I forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day until I noticed folks wearing every shade of green from chartreuse to kelly." About Chartreuse Chartreuse originated in French, specifically from La Grande Chartreuse, a monastery that produced the liquor of the same name. Did you Know? The specific shade of green now recognized as chartreuse comes from an alcoholic beverage of the same name. Chartreuse — a pale yellow-green liquor made from brandy and a blend of aromatic herbs — is named for La Grande Chartreuse, the French monastery where it was first made. This beverage can be imbibed on its own, but is best appreciated as an addition to a cocktail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 18 Author Report Share Posted March 18 What's the Word: PRESCIENT pronunciation: [PRESH-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place. Examples: "The psychic gave a prescient warning of things to come." "No one understood how prescient the press statement was until a few days later." About Prescient This word comes from the Latin “praescient-,” meaning “knowing beforehand.” This stems from the verb “praescire” — “prae” meaning “before,” and “scire” meaning “know.” Did you Know? Jeane Dixon, a self-proclaimed psychic, was admired by many for her supposed prescience. She reportedly predicted John F. Kennedy’s assassination, as well as that one pope would be harmed and another would be assassinated during the 20th century. Richard Nixon followed her prognostications via his secretary, and Dixon was one of several astrologers Nancy Reagan consulted. However, Temple University mathematician John Allen Paulos coined the phrase “the Jeane Dixon effect,” which outlines a penchant for highlighting a few correct predictions while ignoring a larger amount of incorrect ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 19 Author Report Share Posted March 19 What's the Word: FULCRUM pronunciation: [FUHL-krəm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, late 17th century Meaning: 1. A thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation. 2. The point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots. Examples: "He pointed to his relationship with his wife as the true fulcrum of his success." "Levers are a simple way to demonstrate how fulcrums work." About Fulcrum This word comes from the Latin “fulcrum,” meaning “bedpost, foot of a couch.” It stems from “fulcire,” meaning “to prop up, support.” Did you Know? Zoologists sometimes use the word “fulcrum” to describe an animal’s joint that serves as a support or hinge, such as the one in a bird’s wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 20 Author Report Share Posted March 20 What's the Word: PARAGON pronunciation: [PAR-ə-gahn] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. A perfect diamond of 100 carats or more. 2. A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality. Examples: "I’ve never seen a paragon on display in a museum or a jewelry exhibit." "The family held up the matriarch as a paragon of cherished virtues." About Paragon This word stems from French by way of the Italian “paragone,” meaning “touchstone to try good (gold) from bad.” It is originally from the medieval Greek “parakonē,” meaning “whetstone.” Did you Know? The largest flawless diamond in the world is the Paragon, a gem that weighs over 130 carats. The diamond’s current owner, London jeweler Graff Diamonds, cut it and set it into a necklace with other colored diamonds. It attracted a lot of attention in 1999 when it was linked to end-of-millennium celebrations — supermodel Naomi Campbell wore it at a diamond gala jointly sponsored by De Beers and Versace at London’s Syon House. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 21 Author Report Share Posted March 21 What's the Word: SACHET pronunciation: [sa-SHAY] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. A small perfumed bag used to scent clothes. Examples: "Sadie bought French lavender sachets to put in her dresser drawers." "The women would meet monthly and bring different dried herbs to make sweet-smelling sachets." About Sachet This word comes directly from French, meaning “little bag.” It is a diminutive of the Latin “saccus,” meaning “sack, bag.” Did you Know? Sachets have had varied cultural uses in history. For instance, in ancient China, a sachet was worn on the body, intended to absorb sweat and repel insects and evil spirits. During the Qing dynasty, a scented sachet was considered a token of love. In medieval Europe, sachets called “plague-bags” were worn around the neck to provide protection against what we now know were parasites and germs. In modern times of better hygiene, sweet-smelling sachets are still used in linen closets and clothing drawers for freshness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 22 Author Report Share Posted March 22 What's the Word: PREPOSSESSING pronunciation: [pree-pə-ZES-ing] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Attractive or appealing in appearance. Examples: "The neighborhood has become more prepossessing with the recent renovations." "Miriam had a prepossessing aura that always attracted people to her." About Prepossessing In the 1610s, this word was related to “getting possession of land beforehand.” The meaning morphed about 20 years later into “possessing a person beforehand with a feeling or notion.” And in the 1640s, the meaning broadened into causing someone to “have a favorable opinion of something; to preoccupy the mind or heart of.” It's been simplified over the years as an adjective to mean “attractive.” Did you Know? “Prepossessing” has some archaic definitions that mean “creating prejudice” and “possessing something prior to a specific time.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 23 Author Report Share Posted March 23 What's the Word: BURNISH pronunciation: [BER-nish] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, early 14th century Meaning: 1. Enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or a skill). 2. Polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing. Examples: "Ricardo knew he would have to burnish his research skills to shine in his job hunt." "Betty liked to burnish her collection of silver every month." About Burnish This word comes from Middle English by way of the Old French “burniss-,” a lengthened stem of “burnir” that means “to make brown.” Did you Know? “Burnish” can also be a noun that means “the shine on a highly polished surface.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 24 Author Report Share Posted March 24 What's the Word: PAROXYSM pronunciation: [PAR-ək-siz-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, early 15th century Meaning: 1. A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity. 2. (Medicine) A sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms. Examples: "The opera singer broke into a paroxysm of song." "After the first paroxysms of grief passed, he was able to focus on important tasks." About Paroxysm This word comes from the Old French “paroxysme” via medieval Latin and the Greek “paroxusmos,” meaning “irritation or exasperation.” This comes from “paroxunein,” which means “exasperate.” Did you Know? In the earliest uses of “paroxysm” in English, it was often linked to medical conditions and denoted agitated, worsening symptoms of an illness. The term fell out of use in medical discussions as it took on its modern, broader definition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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