DarkRavie Posted January 10 Author Report Share Posted January 10 What's the Word: UNTENABLE pronunciation: [ən-TEN-əb-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, 17th century Meaning: 1. (Especially of a position or view) Not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection. Examples: "Julian made a passionate but untenable argument that the world was flat." "The army realized its position in the valley was untenable and retreated up the hill." About Untenable “Untenable” is based on the French word “tenable,” meaning “capable of being held.” “Tenable” entered English in the early 17th century, and by the end of that century, “untenable” had been created in English to describe that which was incapable of being held. Did you Know? In military usage, “untenable” describes a position that troops cannot hold and must abandon. When “untenable” describes a position in an argument, it refers to a position that can’t be defended in good faith and must be abandoned. Yet it’s hard for anyone to give up an untenable position until they’re sure they have no means of defending it. It’s often only once a person sees that they can’t continue to argue an untenable point that they’ll acknowledge their position has been defeated by logic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 11 Author Report Share Posted January 11 (edited) What's the Word: TOPSTITCH pronunciation: [TAHP-stiCH] Part of speech: verb Origin: English, 19th century Meaning: 1. Make a row of continuous stitches on the top or right side of a garment or other article as a decorative feature. Examples: "Arlene topstitched her pillow too tightly, causing the trim to look pinched." "Topstitching often applies the last stitch to a garment in order to keep everything else in place." About Topstitch “Topstitch” was formed by combining the adjective “top” and the noun “stitch.” “Stitch” is based on the Old English “stiċe,” meaning “a puncture,” “a thrust with a pointed implement,” or “a pricking sensation.” Did you Know? In sewing, topstitching can both serve decorative purposes and provide a reinforcing stitch. It's common to topstitch the outer sides of clothing, such as around back pockets, where the process adds flair and design. A decorative topstitch is often done in a thread of contrasting color from the material being sewn. But topstitching can also provide a supportive element and be used to hold pleats in place in order to maintain the basic design of a garment and help it hold up to washing and wear. Edited January 12 by DarkRavie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 12 Author Report Share Posted January 12 What's the Word: FLAPPABLE pronunciation: [FLAP-ə-bəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 20th century Meaning: 1. Excitable and quick to lose one's composure. Examples: "Despite the blue skies, the radio forecasted rain, so my flappable boss ordered us to close the restaurant patio immediately." "My aunt Anna is usually a pretty levelheaded person, but she is surprisingly flappable while watching playoff basketball." About Flappable “Flappable” was formed in reverse from the existing word “unflappable,” itself formed in English in the 20th century based on the word “flap,” meaning “to agitate” or “to upset.” Did you Know? Both “flappable” and its predecessor “unflappable” are based on a particular definition of the word “flap,” which as a noun can mean “a commotion,” and as a verb can mean “to upset” or “to cause to be flustered.” The adjective “unflappable” emerged in English after World War II with the meaning “unflinching,” “difficult to upset,” or “relaxed in times of stress.” “Flappable” was soon coined as the opposite of this new term, meaning “easy to upset” or “agitated during times of stress.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 13 Author Report Share Posted January 13 (edited) What's the Word: BIOSPHERE pronunciation: [BI-ə-sfeer] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, 19th century Meaning: 1. The regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the Earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms. Examples: "Humanity in the 21st century is far more aware of its effects on the biosphere than at any previous point in history." "Nathan’s concern for the future of the biosphere led him to study environmental sciences." About Biosphere “Biosphere” was coined in German by Austrian geologist Eduard Suess, from the Greek “bios,” meaning “life,” and “sphaira,” meaning “sphere.” Did you Know? The invention of the “biosphere” — both the concept and the word to describe it — is actually one of Eduard Suess’ lesser achievements. The Austrian geologist, who lived from 1831 to 1914, was instrumental in developing the modern concept of plate tectonics — the movement of the plates that make up the shell of the Earth. Suess was possibly the first geologist to argue that horizontal plate movements, rather than upward motions from below, created new geological structures. He broke with the wisdom of the time, which held that volcanoes created mountains. Suess instead argued that horizontal shifts in geological plates created both mountains and volcanoes. These arguments created the foundation of many modern understandings of plate tectonics. Edited January 14 by DarkRavie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 14 Author Report Share Posted January 14 What's the Word: HARDPAN pronunciation: [HARD-pan] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, 19th century Meaning: 1. A hardened impervious layer, typically of clay, occurring in or below the soil and impairing drainage and plant growth. Examples: "We hoped to put in a garden behind our house, but the ground was mostly hardpan and inhospitable to gardening." "The first residents in the area opted not to build basements due to the difficulty of digging through hardpan." About Hardpan “Hardpan” was formed in English by adding “hard” as a prefix to the geological term “pan,” which describes land located in a depression, often where there has been (or still is) a body of water. Did you Know? Hardpan isn’t always the top layer of soil, but it often lurks immediately below. Because it has been compacted through weight — often the product of land that water used to sit upon — hardpan is dense and sometimes similar to clay. This means hardpan can be an unpleasant surprise for home gardeners, especially those looking to dig deeply enough to plant new trees. Hardpan soil can also make it hard for tree roots to grow, stifling above-ground growth. For gardeners who persevere in digging through dense hardpan and plant new seeds, hardpan remains tough to irrigate, as it tends to repel water. Because of this, hardpan tends to encourage the erosion of the soil level above it while lowering water conservation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 15 Author Report Share Posted January 15 What's the Word: RENASCENT pronunciation: [rih-NEY-sənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Becoming active or popular again. Examples: "I thought disco was dead, but Cindy’s well-attended disco party proved it was renascent." "Former San Diego Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso has enjoyed renascent celebrity as an MLB on-air analyst." About Rebascent “Renascent” joins the prefix “re-” (suggesting “again”) to “nascent,” which is based on the Latin “nascēntis” (meaning “I am born”). Did you Know? John Travolta achieved a truly renascent turnaround in his career. Travolta’s early fame in the 1970s came with some of that era’s most recognizable roles: Vinnie Barbarino on TV’s “Welcome Back Kotter,” Danny Zuko in “Grease,” and Tony Manero in “Saturday Night Fever.” Even as these roles made Travolta a superstar, they also made him a symbol of the trends of that decade. By the late 1980s, Travolta was often a punchline for jokes about a time far out of fashion. However, after Quentin Tarantino cast him as eccentric hitman Vincent Vega in the 1995 smash film “Pulp Fiction,” Travolta enjoyed a renascent superstardom. In the five years following “Pulp Fiction,” Travolta starred in as many movies as he had in the preceding two decades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 16 Author Report Share Posted January 16 What's the Word: PALINODE pronunciation: [PAL-ə-nohd] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. A poem in which the poet retracts a view or sentiment expressed in a former poem. Examples: "After tasting my wife’s pecan pie, my uncle gave a surprising palinode in which he took back his aversion to nuts in pies and cakes." "The courtroom was staggered when the prosecution’s star witness gave a palinode to retract his accusation." About Palinode “Palinode” is from the Middle French “palinod,” taken from the Latin “palinōdia,” meaning “recantation.” Did you Know? In modern usage, “palinode” can be both a noun (describing a retraction or reversal) and a verb (meaning “to recant”). Yet both ideas are based on an idea that calls back to the poetry of the 17th century. During that period, poems held the popular imagination in the way that popular music does today, and poets often used their poems to advance political points, criticize society, and even dunk on their enemies. Sometimes 17th-century poets got carried away with their grudges and needed to take back some of their nastier lines. To do so, a poet would write a palinode — a poem in which they retracted the prior insult. Today, you don’t need to write a poem to make a palinode: All it takes is a retraction of a previously held position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 17 Author Report Share Posted January 17 What's the Word: PERPEND pronunciation: [pər-PEND] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. (Archaic) To ponder, consider. Examples: "My favorite time to perpend life’s mysteries is on long forest walks." "Leonard’s favorite part of college was having time to perpend subjects he might otherwise have ignored." About Perpend “Perpend” was borrowed from the Latin “perpendere.” That word was formed by combining the prefix “per-,” suggesting “thoroughly,” and the root “pendere,” meaning “to weigh.” Did you Know? One modern trend encouraging people to perpend the details of their own existence is the move toward mindfulness. Though mindfulness was originally a spiritual practice associated with Buddhist meditation, years of clinical testing by researchers and meditators alike have proved mindfulness is a helpful process for all people. The key to mindfulness is perpending what is happening in the present, rather than wondering about the future or stewing over the past. The goal is to perpend only what is happening at this particular moment. Practicing mindfulness exercises through meditation often leads to a feeling of peace and relief from perpending stressful subjects. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 18 Author Report Share Posted January 18 What's the Word: PERICOPE pronunciation: [pə-RIK-ə-pee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Ancient Greek, 17th century Meaning: 1. An extract from a text, especially a passage from the Bible. Examples: "The bride and groom chose to exchange their own vows, based on pericopes from “Alice in Wonderland” and “Pride and Prejudice.”" "For a pericope from the New Testament, the pastor chose a section of the Sermon on the Mount." About Pericope “Pericope” is from the ancient Greek “περικοπή” (“perikopḗ”), meaning “section.” That word was formed by combining “περι-” (“peri-”), meaning “across,” and “κοπή” (“kopḗ”), meaning “cutting.” Did you Know? A “pericope” isn’t just a passage drawn from a larger text, but rather a section that constitutes a complete thought. As a result, pericopes have often been used as parts of speeches. When the word emerged in the 17th century, “pericope” referred to a section of a religious text (usually Christian) suitable for reading aloud as part of public worship and religious instruction. In subsequent years, “pericope” began to mean any section of text suitable for inclusion in a speech, which helped define the word as a piece of text that presents a whole thought suitable for an orator to draw a lesson from. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 19 Author Report Share Posted January 19 What's the Word: REPARTEE pronunciation: [rep-ər-TEE] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 17th century Meaning: 1. Conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies. Examples: "The mixture of guests from different social circles always ensures entertaining repartee at Alex’s cocktail parties." "Kevin would rather see a movie where the action is in the repartee rather than on-screen fighting." About Repartee “Repartee” is based on the French “repartie,” meaning “retort.” Did you Know? “Repartee” is one of the French words borrowed in the 17th century to describe fashionable things in English. In a time before radio, television, internet, or even stand-up comedians, witty repartee — or clever and funny conversation — was one of the great pleasures in life. However, the English words for what was known commonly as “good talk” — such as “banter” or “wordplay” — didn’t sound as hip to 17th-century ears as the continental “repartee.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 20 Author Report Share Posted January 20 What's the Word: PREFATORY pronunciation: [PREHF-ə-tohr-ee] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Serving as an introduction; introductory. Examples: "Before screening ‘Citizen Kane,’ the cinema club president made a few prefatory remarks about the film’s place in history." "The new edition of Emily Dickinson’s poems comes with nearly 100 pages of prefatory essays on the poet's life and her influence on the history of literature." About Prefatory “Prefatory” is based on the classical Latin “praefatio,” meaning “a saying beforehand.” Did you Know? The adjective “prefatory” is not based on the noun “preface.” However, the two are based on the same Latin root “praefatio,” meaning “a saying beforehand.” In both cases, the words are closely associated with literature. Over the years, prefaces to major works — such as Dr. Samuel Johnson’s preface to his “Dictionary of the English Language,” and Walt Whitman’s preface to “Leaves of Grass” — have sometimes earned their own place in literary history. As editor Charles William Eliot pointed out in a prefatory note to his book “Famous Prefaces,” the only time an author speaks directly to the reader is often in prefatory remarks, which means they offer a unique window into the author’s true personality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 21 Author Report Share Posted January 21 What's the Word: LIBRATE pronunciation: [LAHY-brayt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Oscillate or seem to oscillate. Examples: "The wind was so strong that tall buildings were seen to librate against the sky." "Traditional metronomes librate to keep a beat." About Librate “Librate” comes from the Latin “lībrāta,” meaning “balance.” That term comes from the root “lībra,” meaning “a balance.” Did you Know? “Librate” means “to oscillate,” but the word also has a secondary definition of “to be poised; to balance oneself,” related to the Latin root meaning “balance.” Before electronic scales, weight was measured using balance scales, a device that consists of two pans attached to an oscillating bar that moves up and down until both pans are equal in weight and come into balance. The oscillating movement of this traditional balance — or “lībra,” as it was known in ancient Rome — is what the oscillating verb “librate” describes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 22 Author Report Share Posted January 22 What's the Word: SCALENE pronunciation: [skey-LEEN] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 18th century Meaning: 1. (Of a triangle) Having sides unequal in length. Examples: "A particularly heavy snowstorm squashed the kids’ square tree fort into a scalene triangle shape." "By holding one large stick and a short stubby glove, hockey goaltenders naturally adopt a scalene shape." About Scalene “Scalene” is based on the Greek “skalēnos,” meaning “uneven.” Did you Know? A scalene triangle has three different sides at three different angles, but a lesser-known use for the term “scalene” describes three pairs of deeply seated muscles on each side of the neck. The scalene muscles help bend the neck and lift the first and second ribs. Because they lift upper ribs and create space in the chest, scalene muscles are considered connected to the muscles of respiration, as accessories to the diaphragm and the muscles inside the torso. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 What's the Word: UNHORSE pronunciation: [uhn-HORS] Part of speech: verb Origin: Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. Cause to fall from a horse. 2. To disrupt or unseat; to remove from a position. Examples: "For years, the tech industry has wondered what new product will unhorse the smartphone." "In 2022, Aaron Judge unhorsed Roger Maris to take the AL record for the most home runs in a season of Major League Baseball." About Unhorse “Unhorse” comes from the Middle English “unhorsen,” combining “un-“ with “horse.” Did you Know? In the days of knights fighting wars on horseback, it was a bad thing to be knocked off one’s horse. Regardless of whether he was wearing a suit of armor, a knight was far safer on horseback, where he was able to move — and escape — quickly. Unhorsing a knight took away much of his power as a soldier, in the same way that in the modern sense of the word, unhorsing a person, product, or idea takes away most of its popularity. For example, in recent years, cellular telephones unhorsed landlines as the most popular form of home phones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 24 Author Report Share Posted January 24 What's the Word: MELOMANIAC pronunciation: [MEL-ə-mey-nee-ak] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 19th century Meaning: 1. A person who loves music. Examples: "My melomaniac sister listens to music from the time she wakes up, all through the workday and evening, until she goes to bed at night." "I could tell Lali was a melomaniac the moment I saw her wall of records, CDs, and cassettes." About Melomaniac “Melomaniac” was formed within English. It combines the prefix “melo-,” from the ancient Greek “μέλος” (“mélos”), meaning “song,” with the suffix “maniac,” from the ancient Greek “μανιακός” (“maniakós”), meaning “given to compulsion or mad desire.” Did you Know? According to a June 2019 survey, 51% of Americans report listening to music every day. Broken down by age, however, it’s clear that people at different life stages enjoy music differently. The only group in which fewer than half of respondents (34%) reported listening to music daily was people over the age of 55, compared with 56% of those between 35 and 54. In younger listeners, music was even more popular, with 68% reporting daily listening. Perhaps adoption of technology is why there are so many youthful melomaniacs — it’s easier to make a soundtrack to your life with the right streaming apps and headphones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 25 Author Report Share Posted January 25 What's the Word: TURBID pronunciation: [TUR-bəd] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. (Of a liquid) Cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter. 2. Confused or obscure in meaning or effect. Examples: "Max had great difficulty assembling his new wardrobe due to the brief and turbid instructions that left him with too many questions." "Government conservation workers kept track of what kinds of fish and amphibians lived in the turbid water of the swamp." About Turbid “Turbid” is based on the Latin “turbidus,” itself based on “turba,” meaning “a crowd” or “a disturbance.” Did you Know? “Turbid” can describe something either literally or figuratively cloudy and obscure. Water that is turbid — such as river water during a season of thaw — is full of swirling silt and other particulates that make it cloudy and hard to see through. In the same way, a turbid announcement from a public official could be hard to make sense of. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 26 Author Report Share Posted January 26 What's the Word: PAVLOVIAN pronunciation: [pav-LOH-vee-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: From proper name, 20th century Meaning: 1. Relating to classical conditioning as described by I. P. Pavlov. Examples: "My cat’s Pavlovian response to the sound of me making coffee is to sit at my feet and wait to be fed." "Whether I’m hungry or not, I have a Pavlovian response to commercials during the ball game, in which I get myself a snack from the kitchen." About Pavlovian “Pavlovian” was named for Russian physiologist and psychologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov. Did you Know? Ivan Petrovich Pavlov is known for discovering what’s called “classical conditioning” in psychology. Pavlovian conditioning combines a desirable stimulus with an otherwise meaningless stimulus, such as the sound of a bell. Pavlov discovered that when he paired food for dogs with a simple tone, dogs would associate that sound with food and would salivate as though they were being fed, even when there was no food in front of them. This revolutionary discovery is now so widely known that we use the term “Pavlovian” to describe any kind of automatic or unconscious response to stimuli. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 27 Author Report Share Posted January 27 What's the Word: VELLEITY pronunciation: [və-LEE-ə-dee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. A wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action. Examples: "Although I saw the uncut grass, I recognized my velleity to cut the lawn and retreated to the porch to read." "We were famished but felt a velleity to cook and instead opted to order in." About Velleity “Velleity” comes from the Latin “velleitās,” which is based on the Latin “velle” (meaning “wish,” or “will”). Did you Know? “Velleity” describes the paradoxical state of wanting to do something but having so little motivation as to not be bothered with it. It’s not the same thing as indifference or opposition: Someone experiencing velleity does want something to occur, but they don’t feel the volition or desire to make that happen themselves. People feel velleity on a regular basis related to chores around the home. Nearly everyone would like their house to be a little tidier, or would like to make improvements to make life easier or more enjoyable. But these chores are balanced against the energy and desire to do the work they require, and this is where velleity asserts itself. Each time a person surveys the dishes and decides they’ll have to wait until tomorrow, they are experiencing velleity. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 28 Author Report Share Posted January 28 What's the Word: OBTUND pronunciation: [ob-TUHND] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Dull the sensitivity of; blunt; deaden. Examples: "Katherine bought a new shovel each winter and used it on the ice until she had obtunded it." "I was pleased to discover children’s aspirin obtunds the pain from canker sores." About Obtund “Obtund” is based on the Latin “obtundere,” which means “to dull.” It is based on the roots “ob-” (meaning “against”) and “tundere” (meaning “to beat”). Did you Know? “Obtund” means “to blunt” or “to render dull.” This meaning is built right into its Latin roots “ob-” and “tundere,” meaning “to beat against.” To obtund, originally, meant to blunt a physical object by repetitious force, the same way a shovel becomes dull the more often the digger collides with buried rocks. Today, “obtund” is often used in medical contexts, in which it describes not dulling tools but dulling sensitivity. For example, a topical anesthetic is used to obtund areas of skin or tissue that might otherwise be more sensitive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 29 Author Report Share Posted January 29 What's the Word: PRINK pronunciation: [prink] Part of speech: verb Origin: Middle Low German, 16th century Meaning: 1. Spend time making minor adjustments to one's appearance; primp. Examples: "My brother claims I always prink for an hour before I can go out in public." "Before the wedding, Jina stood in front of the bathroom mirror, prinking nervously." About Prink “Prink” is a combination of two words: the Middle English “prank” (meaning “to deck” or “to adorn”) and “primp” (meaning “to spend time on one’s appearance”). Did you Know? “Prink” is an uncommon word that is the product of several more common ones: It is closely related to “primp,” but it is also closely related to “prank” (in its original sense) and “prim.” Though today, “prank” is understood to refer to a trick or practical joke, it originally meant “to decorate or adorn.” “Primp” has always meant “to dress carefully and pay attention to one’s appearance,” though it is a variation on the adjective “prim,” meaning “formal” or “neat.” From the mingling of all these roots, “prink” emerged, meaning “to spend time on the minor details of one’s appearance.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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