DarkRavie Posted January 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 What's the Word? - ÉLAN pronunciation: [ey-LAN] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, min-19th century meaning: 1. Enthusiastic spirit or vigor 2. Sophisticated style and flair Example: "She was a star employee, showing enthusiasm for her work with great élan." "She showed élan with her coordinated accessories and sophisticated fashion." About Élan "Élan" is a noun that means vigorous enthusiasm, but you might be forgiven for mistaking it for an adjective, because things are usually described as “with élan.” You do something with élan, but something is not AN élan. Did you Know? The accent on the “E” might be a giveaway, but this word for enthusiasm and spirit comes from French. Before English speakers started using "élan" for themselves, there was the word “elance,” meaning to hurl. That word fell out of style, but "élan" came about, still holding onto the energy of elance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 What's the Word? - ABLUTION pronunciation: [ə-BLU-shən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 16th century meaning: 1. Bathing, especially as part of a routine or ritual 2. The act of washing something Example: "She prepared the altar with the necessary pitcher of water and perfumes for the ablution." "Every morning she read the paper over a cup of tea, then completed the ablution of the dirty dishes and then herself." About Ablution "Ablution" comes from the Latin verb “abluere,” meaning to wash away. The religious ritual context was added in 1533 in a writing by Thomas More. Since then, ablution is used to describe any sort of washing in a formal sense, but particularly as a religious or ritual act. Did you Know? "Ablution" is a fancy word for washing, but it has a few particular meanings. It can be used to describe the ritual hand-washing that occurs as part of a Communion ceremony. In Eastern Orthodoxy, ablution is the consumption of the leftover Communion wine. Then the British military decided to use the word in plural (ablutions) to describe a shower building. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2020 What's the Word? - MACGUFFIN pronunciation: [mə-GUFF-in] Part of speech: noun Origin: British English, 1930s meaning: 1. An object or event that serves as a plot device in fiction, but is ultimately irrelevant 2. A storytelling technique that serves to further the plot Example: "In 'Titanic,' the Heart of the Ocean necklace was nothing more than a MacGuffin — propelling the story, but not actually important." "The critics said his story relied too heavily upon a MacGuffin and never resolved the mystery." About MacGuffin The ultimate MacGuffin might be the Holy Grail. In many books and movies, heroes embark upon epic adventures in search of it, but it’s never found. Ultimately, the story is really about the voyage and the characters, not the Grail. Did you Know? Legendary British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock is credited with coining this word (sometimes spelled "McGuffin"), but the origin really lies with his screenwriter, Angus MacPhail. The duo used this Scottish surname to describe objects or events that drive the suspense of a story. Famous MacGuffins in cinema include the rug in “The Big Lebowski,” the ring from “Lord of the Rings,” and the briefcase in “Pulp Fiction.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2020 What's the Word? - PARASYNONYM pronunciation: [pair-ə-SIN-oh-nim] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 1960s meaning: 1. A linguistic term to describe words with close similarities, but not exactly matching definitions Example: "When learning a foreign language it can be easy to get confused by a parasynonym." "For his thesis he wrote a paper describing the linguistic function of the parasynonym." About Parasynonym Parasynonym is a useful word to describe almost synonyms — words that are very similar but might have different connotations. A motorcycle is a parasynonym for a car. They’re both modes of personal transportation, but they’re very different vehicles. Did you Know? This neologism (newly created word) isn’t found in every dictionary, but it’s been used in linguistic discussions and textbooks going back to the 1960s. Neologisms are usually created out of necessity when there are no existing words that fit the description. A neologism could become a parasynonym — the new and old words could be similar, but not exact matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2020 What's the Word? - VELOCIOUS pronunciation: [və-LOH-shəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 18th century meaning: 1. Fast, quick 2. Nonstop, express Example: "The velocious cyclists blew past the spectators in a blur." "Your commute will be faster if you take the velocious train straight to work." About Velocious If you haven’t heard this word before, you might be more familiar with "velocity," a noun given to the speed of motion. "Velocious" is an adjective describing that speed, but it always means fast. Did you Know? "Velocious" comes from the Latin root “vēlōx,” meaning speed. "Velocity" shares this same root, but "velodrome," an indoor arena for bicycle racing, comes from the French word for bicycle, “vélo.” You could certainly watch a velocious vélo race at the velodrome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 26, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2020 What's the Word? - CULPABLE pronunciation: [KULL-pə-bəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 14th century meaning: 1. Deserving of blame 2. Responsible for a crime Example: "The little boy’s mother knew he was culpable for eating the last cookie because of the crumbs on his mouth." "All the evidence proved she was culpable for the accident." About Culpable Culpable can be used in situations of blame and guilt, but it has a specific connotation. You could be found culpable for a crime, even if you didn’t directly commit it, because you could have contributed to the crime. When you are deserving of blame, or somehow responsible for negative actions, you are culpable. Did you Know? The word culpable has been through a few iterations to get to its modern spelling. In Middle English it was “coupable.” In French it was “cupable,” and then we go back to the Latin root, “culpabilis.” In Latin, “culpare” is the verb to blame, and “culpa” is the noun for guilt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2020 What's the Word? - NIRVANA pronunciation: [nir-VAH-nə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Sanskrit, 1830s meaning: 1. Colloquially, a state of perfect bliss and peace 2. In Buddhism, the end of the cycle of reincarnation, attained by reaching a state of complete enlightenment Example: "After a stressful year at work, the week at the spa was nirvana for her. " "When he started studying Buddhism, he was fascinated by the idea of achieving Nirvana." About Nirvana Nirvana is a Sanskrit word that means the act of extinguishing. It is the ultimate goal of the Buddhist path — release from samsara, or the cycle of rebirth and reincarnation. One can achieve Nirvana by extinguishing the three personal fires: passion, aversion, and ignorance. Now the term nirvana can be applied to any state of extreme bliss, but it’s helpful to understand the Buddhist roots. Did you Know? Kurt Cobain, the singer and guitarist of the rock band Nirvana, said, “I wanted a name that was kind of beautiful or nice and pretty instead of a mean, raunchy punk name." Nirvana certainly conjures up images quite different than, say, Black Sabbath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2020 What's the Word? - EFFIGY pronunciation: [EF-ih-jee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century meaning: 1. A dummy of a disliked person or object 2. A likeness of a person’s appearance on a monument, usually in sculpture form Example: "The rival high schools had a tradition of burning each other’s mascots in effigy before the game." "They erected an effigy of the first governor outside of the state house." About Effigy You’re likely most familiar with the term “in effigy” to describe the ceremony of destroying a representation of a hated figure. But effigy can also be used as a term for any sort of monument that is a likeness of someone. The negative connotation has taken over, so be prepared for strange looks if you want to show off the effigy of your great-grandfather. Did you Know? Effigy can be traced back to the Latin verb “fingere,” which means to shape something. An effigy is a dummy or a sculpture, but there are other words that come from “fingere.” Fiction, figments, and figures all share the same shapely root. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 What's the Word? - JUGGERNAUT pronunciation: [JUG-ər-not] Part of speech: noun Origin: Hindi, early 17th century meaning: 1. An overwhelming force that destroys anything in its path 2. An institution that inspires blind devotion and sacrifice Example: "The youngest candidate is a juggernaut, impressing voters and blowing away competitors in every debate. " "Harry Potter has turned into a global juggernaut, with the books having inspired movies, plays, theme parks, and any kind of merchandise you can think of." About Juggernaut The word juggernaut was adopted into English after a 14th-century monk came back from India with stories of how people worshipped the Hindu god Jagannath. In religious processions an enormous statue of Jagannath was carried through the streets on a carriage, and fanatical worshippers would throw themselves under the wheels as a sacrifice. Juggernaut came to be used in Europe to describe any massive vehicle or unstoppable force. Did you Know? Juggernaut is an X-Men villain from Marvel Comics who earned his powerful name because of his mutant abilities. He’s unstoppable once in motion; he doesn’t tire from physical activity; he heals quickly, and he can survive without food, water, and oxygen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 What's the Word? - ADJUDICATE pronunciation: [ə-joo-dih-kayt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, late 17th century meaning: 1. To make an official decision or judgment 2. To act as a judge Example: "The student council was required to adjudicate any accusations of cheating." "After years as a public defender he was ready for his promotion to adjudicate on the state supreme court." About Adjudicate Adjudicate can act as both a transitive and an intransitive verb. As a transitive verb (the first definition), there is an object that is receiving the judgment. Adjudicate as an intransitive verb (second definition) is slightly easier to recognize because it will be followed by a preposition. You may adjudicate upon a certain issue, or adjudicate on a court. Did you Know? Adjudicate can be traced directly to the Latin verb “judicare,” meaning to judge. But go back just a little bit further to “jus,” the Latin word for law, and you’ll recognize the root of many of our legal terms. Take a closer look at judge, judicial, judgment, prejudice, jury, injury, justice, and perjury. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 What's the Word? - TALISMAN pronunciation - [TAL-is-mən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Arabic, early 17th century meaning: 1. An object, usually a charm or piece of jewelry, thought to provide magical protection 2. An object that produces magical or remarkable effects Example: "In the fairy tale, the young girl was never supposed to take off her talisman, or the witch would find her." "My grandmother claimed her old locket was a talisman, but I never saw her perform any magic." About Talisman The Arabic word “tilsam” serves as inspiration for magical objects across multiple languages. In French and English it’s “talisman.” It earns an accent in Spanish — “talismán” — and in Italian it’s “talismano.” It just goes to show that superstitions and beliefs in magical powers can stretch across languages. Did you Know? The talisman appears in many different types of magical lore, but the basics are the same. If you have your hands on a talisman, it’s likely a ring or amulet carved with figures or characters. It is supposed to protect you against all manner of negative effects, from evil to illness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 What's the Word? - DESICCATION pronunciation: [DES-ih-kay-shun] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century meaning: 1. Dryness through removal or loss of moisture 2. The process of preserving food through dehydration Example: "The archaeologists were surprised by the level of desiccation that had occurred thanks to the dryness in the caves." "His process of desiccation takes a few days, but it makes the perfect dried fruit for homemade granola." About Desiccation Desiccation is the noun form of the verb desiccate, meaning to dry up. Desiccation is the process of the drying action. You can desiccate meat in order to achieve desiccation of the food. Then don’t forget the adjective, desiccated, to describe that jerky. Did you Know? Desiccation isn’t just drying off with a towel after your shower. It’s the process of extreme drying, such as when plants are exposed to drought. There are also manmade forms of desiccation, used in a laboratory, or commonly in the oil and gas industry. Then you’ll find desiccation necessary in the kitchen when you want to use dried coconut or cranberries in your baking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2020 What's the Word? - BUCOLIC pronunciation: [byü-ˈkä-lik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin meaning: 1. Idyllic; pastoral 2. Relating to the rural life of a shepherd Example: "Her bucolic life on the farm was a far cry from the fast-paced, big-city lifestyle she used to live." "I escape to the countryside to enjoy the peaceful, bucolic setting." About Bucolic Bucolic once applied exclusively to farming and shepherd-related lifestyles, though it has since evolved to describe anything rural or rustic. Did you Know? In its older and less frequently used noun form, a bucolic is a poem about pastoral topics, such as farm life and the beauty of the countryside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2020 What's the Word? - ASYNCHRONOUS pronunciation: [ey-SING-krə-nəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 18th century meaning: 1. Not occurring simultaneously 2. (In digital communication) Having many operations that are not coordinated by a centralized clock or timing system Example: "Our asynchronous class schedule means that I’ll never get to have lunch with my boyfriend this semester." "He discovered the problem with the computer program was in the setup of the asynchronous system." About Asynchronous The next time you notice that the street lights are out of sync, you'll have a new adjective to use. Call anything that is not lined up, or not occurring at exactly the same time, asynchronous. Did you Know? Synchronous is probably a familiar word, so don’t let the “A” prefix confuse you. When “A” is added before a consonant, it can mean not or without. So asynchronous is quite simply, not synchronous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2020 What's the Word? - EDIFICATION pronunciation: [ed-ə-fih-KAY-shun] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 14th century meaning: 1. An act of edifying, or the state of being improved 2. Guidance, especially spiritual or moral Example: "To improve your test scores, you need to meet with a French tutor once a week for your edification." "When I’m going through a tough time, I always turn to thoughts of my grandmother’s advice for edification." About Edification Edification started out with a strictly religious intention, meaning the building up of the soul. You can still apply it to religious improvement, but edification also refers to any sort of advancement in education or moral guidance. When in doubt, turn to a trusted advisor for some edification. Did you Know? If you want to be true to the Latin roots of this word, you could spell it “aedification.” This noun comes from the Latin word “aedificationem,” meaning building or construction. When you’re doing something for your own edification, you’re building a better you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2020 What's the Word? - MILIEU pronunciation: [meel-YOO] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 18th century meaning: 1. A surrounding culture and environment 2. The atmosphere or ambiance Example: "The mark of a good sci-fi novel is an elaborate milieu for the characters to inhabit." "The milieu of the neighborhood changed after the mega grocery store opened up." About Milieu With its French inspiration, milieu appears to be quite a sophisticated word. Its original usage was to describe one’s place in society — were you a member of the upper-crust milieu or were you working class? The definition has expanded to describe the general neighborhood and environmental surroundings, not just social standing. Did you Know? Milieu is a loan word, or a word taken from another language with no modification. In French, milieu means middle, or, just like in English, the setting or environment. There’s also a French phrase, “au milieu de,” which means “in the middle of.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2020 What's the Word - HERMITAGE pronunciation: [HER-mih-tij] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, 14th century meaning: 1. A secluded residence 2. The home of a hermit Example: "We bought our lake home with five acres of land because we needed a hermitage to escape to." "While walking through the woods, the kids discovered a hermitage that seemed abandoned." About Hermitage Hermit, one who lives in seclusion, plus the suffix “-age,” meaning place of living or business, gives you hermitage. While you can use it quite literally to describe the home of a hermit, it is also used to describe a retreat or hideaway. You can also apply it to describe a religious dwelling, such as a monastery. Did you Know? Yes, hermitage means an isolated or secluded residence, but it’s such a great sounding word that it’s been adopted as the name of many towns and villages. You can visit Hermitage in England (in Dorset and Berkshire!), Scotland, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and even the U.S. Virgin Islands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 What's the Word? - pronunciation: [kə-BAL] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, late 16th century meaning: 1. A secret political clique or faction. 2. A secret intrigue. Example: "My favorite movie is about a powerful cabal during the French Revolution." "Political coups around the world have been the result of a well-planned cabal." About Cabal As a noun, cabal is usually used to describe a secret political group. It may be a powerful group in the government, or an outside faction. Either way, they're not going to be taking out political ads on TV. The noun can also be used to describe a plot from that group. Further, cabal can be converted to a verb to describe taking these secret actions. Did you Know? The word cabal can be traced back to cabbala, which is the Latin word for a form of Jewish mysticism. But it took on a more political meaning over the years, and Charles Dickens came up with an alternative origin. He claimed cabal was an acronym for the names of political figures under King Charles II — Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. A clever story, but ultimately false. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2020 What's the Word? - AMALGAM pronunciation: [ə-MAL-ɡəm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, late 15th century meaning: 1. A mixture or blend. 2. An alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings. Example: "The menu at her party was an amalgam of snack foods and fancy baked goods." "The mark of old-fashioned dental fillings is the silver fillings amalgam, which might need to be replaced." About Amalgam The origin of amalgam goes back to the Greek word “malagma,” which means an emollient. An emollient today is a skin softener, so the definitions have changed over the years. Your emollient may likely be an amalgam (mixture) of ingredients, but every amalgam is not an emollient. Did you Know? Amalgam can be used to describe a mixture or blend of any materials, but the technical medical and dental definition strictly concerns mercury, blended with another metal. Mercury is an element that can be dangerous to humans, but it’s found to be safe when used as part of the dental amalgam. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2020 What's the Word? - FATUOUS pronunciation: [FA-tchoo-əs/] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century meaning: 1. Silly and pointless. 2. Lacking intelligence. Example: "He thought the decorative pillows were fatuous, but they made his mom happy." "The teacher got frustrated by the fatuous questions that showed the students hadn't been paying attention." About Fatuous The word fatuous is a clever adjective used to describe someone lacking in intelligence, or something that is just plain pointless. You might use fatuous with a tone of condescension or irritation. Be careful — just because you know the meaning of fatuous doesn't mean it's always a nice word to use. Did you Know? The "fat" in this adjective is misleading — fatuous has nothing to do with your weight. Instead the origin can be traced back to the Latin word "fatuus," meaning foolish. You might recognize this root in the word infatuation — a silly, foolish crush. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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