DarkRavie Posted February 19 Author Report Share Posted February 19 What's the Word: RATAPLAN pronunciation: [RAD-ə-plan] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 19th century Meaning: 1. A drumming or beating sound. Examples: "At halftime, we could hear the rataplan of the marching band before they entered the field." "The thunderstorm unleashed a rataplan of heavy rain that lasted hours." About Rataplan “Rataplan” is taken from the French “ran tan plan,” an onomatopoeic representation of the sound of drumming. Did you Know? As a noun, “rataplan” is a convincing evocation of the sound of a drum —particularly a military drum. It's a French word adopted into English, but there is another word that dates back even earlier: “tattoo.” Since the 17th century, English speakers have used the word “tattoo” to describe military signals by drum, as well as other drum sounds. Like “rataplan,” the word “tattoo” even sounds like a drumbeat. Unlike “rataplan,” however, “tattoo” isn’t onomatopoeic: It’s actually taken from the Dutch “taptoe,” describing the shutting of the tap on a cask. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 20 Author Report Share Posted February 20 What's the Word: CATHEXIS pronunciation: [kə-THEK-səs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Ancient Greek, 20th century Meaning: 1. The concentration of mental energy on one particular person, idea, or object (especially to an unhealthy degree). Examples: "During his week visiting us in Florida, our young grandson developed a cathexis with a gecko who lived on our porch." "My husband has a cathexis on clean dishes and makes routine sweeps around the house to find dirty plates and glasses to bring to the dishwasher." About Cathexis “Cathexis” is based on the ancient Greek “κάθεξις” (“káthexis”), meaning “retention” or “holding.” Did you Know? In the early 20th century, the field of psychoanalysis was primarily being developed by Germans including Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler. They frequently used the common German word “Besetzung,” which, literally translated, means “an occupation.” But translators into English were having a difficult time getting the meaning quite right for English texts. Aiming to sound formal, translators reached for the ancient Greek word for “holding” or “retention,” “κάθεξις” (“káthexis”). “Cathexis” became a new English word meaning “a concentration of mental energy directed at one thing such as a person, object, or idea” — in short, the retention of focus in a single direction. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 21 Author Report Share Posted February 21 What's the Word: ADIAPHOROUS pronunciation: [ad-ee-AF-er-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Ancient Greek, 17th century Meaning: 1. Neither harmful nor beneficial. Examples: "Many home remedies are adiaphorous potions, but they might offer a placebo effect." "Kendall sees social media as adiaphorous, so he doesn’t worry about his kids being on their phones, but he would rather they spent that time reading." About Adiaphorous “Adiaphorous” is based on the ancient Greek “ἀδιάφορος” (“adiáphoros”), meaning “indifferent.” Did you Know? The idea of adiaphorous concepts is associated with the ancient Greek Stoic philosophers, who split human life into categories of good, bad, and indifferent. The term for “indifferent” was “adiaphora,” and they used it to describe activities that were neither essentially good nor essentially bad. An early example of something adiaphorous is the pursuit of fame, which is neither bad in nature, nor necessarily a good thing. Stoics believed adiaphorous actions were decided as good or bad by the way one carried them out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 22 Author Report Share Posted February 22 What's the Word: MICAWBERISH pronunciation: [mə-KAW-bə-rish] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Proper name, 19th century Meaning: 1. Resembling the character Wilkins Micawber in Charles Dickens' novel “David Copperfield,” especially in being irresponsibly optimistic. Examples: "Our Micawberish guide assured us the rain would pass in a minute, but an hour later we were soaked through." "When it came to paying his rent, Walter had a Micawberish habit that his landlord found very frustrating." About Micawberish “Micawberish” is a reference to the character Wilkins Micawber in Charles Dickens’ novel “David Copperfield.” Did you Know? In Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel “David Copperfield,” Wilkins Micawber is a financially scattered character who maintains an unflappable optimism that something positive will soon happen, even as he faces mounting challenges and tragedies. The phrase closely associated with Wilkins Micawber is “Something will turn up,” making Micawber symbolic of excessive optimism coupled with disorganization and recklessness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 23 Author Report Share Posted February 23 What's the Word: CONNATE pronunciation: [KON-eyt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. (Especially of ideas or principles) Existing in a person or thing from birth; innate. 2. (Of parts, in biology) United so as to form a single part. Examples: "My cat has a connate sense for when the weather is about to change, and will hide in the basement before a storm appears." "Stevie Wonder was so talented from an early age that many believed his musical skill was connate." About Connate “Connate” is based on the Latin terms “connatus” and “cognatus,” meaning “born related by blood.” Did you Know? “Connate” means something similar to “innate” or “inborn,” but in plant biology, it has a separate definition. In plants and flowers, parts of the same type (such as petals) that fuse together to form a new part of the plant are described as “connate.” Their opposite, new plant organs created by fusing different parts of the plant, are described as “adnate.” An example of a connate structure in flowers is a cup or tube created by flower petals joining together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 24 Author Report Share Posted February 24 What's the Word: ANTINOMY pronunciation: [an-TIN-ə-mee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox. Examples: "Susan is aware that being a superstitious atheist is an antinomy, but she still knocks on wood." "It may seem like an antinomy that in order to succeed, one must fail often, but it’s a matter of gaining experience and learning how to avoid failure in the future." About Antinomy “Antinomy” is based on the Latin “antinomia,” meaning “contradiction.” Did you Know? “Antinomy” is a word for logical paradox or inconsistency closely associated with 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. In his book “Critique of Pure Reason,” Kant introduced a number of logical paradoxes now known as “Kant’s antinomies” to show how two equally reasonable ideas could ultimately contradict one another. For example, Kant made a carefully reasoned argument that the universe and time had a beginning and strict borders, and then made an equally logical argument concluding the universe and time were both without beginning or end. The goal of Kant’s antinomies was to show how reason alone was not enough to resolve metaphysical problems, because even the best-reasoned arguments could ultimately arrive at opposite conclusions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 25 Author Report Share Posted February 25 What's the Word: EFFLUX pronunciation: [EF-fləks] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. The flowing out of a particular substance or particle. Examples: "The efflux of the runoff from the melting snow left the grass soft and muddy." "The lake is fed by the efflux of underwater springs." About Efflux “Efflux” is based on the medieval Latin “effluxus,” meaning “flow out.” Did you Know? While atmospheric carbon is most closely associated with human-made causes, there is also an efflux of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from natural sources. Volcanoes and wildfires contribute enormously to the natural efflux of carbon dioxide. Perhaps more surprisingly, so do large bodies of water: Lakes release CO2, but freshwater rivers and streams release roughly five times as much CO2 as freshwater lakes. This efflux is partly caused by a process called “ecosystem respiration,” in which organisms and plants consume oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 26 Author Report Share Posted February 26 What's the Word: INVOLUTE pronunciation: [IN-və-loot] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Involved or intricate. 2. Curled spirally. Examples: "The professor offered an involute explanation of the roots of World War I that many students struggled to follow." "One of the great hurdles of learning coding is grasping the involute new vocabularies of programming languages." About Involute “Involute” is based on the Latin “involutus,” meaning “enveloped.” Did you Know? The common use for “involute” describes things that are involved, intricate, and complex. But “involute” is also a vocabulary word in botany, where it describes the state of leaves that curl up and inward onto themselves — such as when leaves roll into spirals. In other areas of biology, “involute” describes the complex whorl patterns visible in marine shells, such as the mollusks nautilus and spirula, and the shells of some snails that live on land. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 27 Author Report Share Posted February 27 What's the Word: ANSCHAUUNG pronunciation: [AHN-shou-əng] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, 19th century Meaning: 1. (Philosophy, Kantianism) Sense-perception. Examples: "Being raised off-grid without electricity or running water gave Jodi an excellent Anschauung, or intuition related her senses." "While kindergarten lessons seem simple, they’re often designed to help children develop their Anschauung, or skills related to the five senses." About Anschauung “Anschauung” is taken directly from German. Did you Know? In German, “Anschauung” is associated with a person’s perspective, point of view, or opinion in general. However, in the field of philosophy, where it has been used and defined by a variety of major thinkers such as Hegel, Kant, and Schopenhauer, “Anschauung” (still capitalized as a German noun) refers to something closer to a blend of sensory observation and intuition, meaning the way the mind can recognize an object before it has any opportunity to interpret or assign it meaning. The idea of sense perception has extended to mean any sort of knowledge gained from the use of the five senses: sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted February 28 Author Report Share Posted February 28 What's the Word: AERIE pronunciation: [AIR-ee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. A large nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff. Examples: "As we rounded the corner of the mountain trail, we spotted an eagle’s aerie and carefully avoided it." "We didn’t have predatory birds in this area for decades until an aerie of hawks appeared in the trees at the edge of the park." About Aerie “Aerie” is taken from Latin, where it means “of the air.” Did you Know? Aeries are nests for birds of prey, and because predatory birds are generally larger in size, their nests are often noticeably larger than the nests of common birds. The bald eagle in particular is known for the size of its aeries. At up to 6 feet in diameter, bald eagle nests are the largest birds’ nests in North America — not surprising, given the fact that bald eagle wingspans can reach greater than 6 feet. The longer bald eagles remain in each particular aerie, the larger the nests themselves can become, as they add new material to the structure with each passing season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 1 Author Report Share Posted March 1 What's the Word: IMMISCIBLE pronunciation: [ih-MIS-ə-bəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. (Of liquids) Not forming a homogeneous mixture when added together. Examples: "Patrick’s favorite cocktails involve liquors just immiscible enough that they can be layered one on top of the next without mixing together." "Oil and vinegar are immiscible, which is a bit of a paradox, considering how naturally the flavors pair." About Immiscible “Immiscible” is rooted in the Late Latin “miscibilis,” meaning “something that may be mixed,” with the negating prefix “im-.” Did you Know? A mixture of immiscible liquids is known as an emulsion, and emulsions are part of many common food preparations. The most common of these is the mixture of immiscible oil and vinegar for salad dressings, but many other emulsions play an important role in the kitchen, too. Milk and ice cream variously combine oil and water, or oil and air. Mayonnaise combines three immiscible liquids: vegetable oil, an acid, and eggs. Hollandaise sauce is an emulsion of a similar mix, but it substitutes butter for oil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 2 Author Report Share Posted March 2 What's the Word: DELIMIT pronunciation: [dih-LIM-it] Part of speech: verb Origin: French, 19th century Meaning: 1. Determine the limits or boundaries of. Examples: "The neighbors gathered each spring to mend the wall delimiting each person’s property from the other’s." "The geography of Long Island is delimited by water on three sides." About Delimit “Delimit” entered English from the French word “delimiter,” meaning the same thing. The French word was based on the Latin “dēlīmitō,” meaning “to mark boundaries.” Did you Know? While cities and towns around the world have often been located close to water and other natural resources, these factors also delimit the growth of such settlements. This is especially extreme in the case of San Francisco, which is not an island but is delimited by water on three sides, giving it a limited maximum of available land. However, there is more land in San Francisco today than there was 200 years ago. In the 1800s and 1900s, swamps and marshy areas around the city were drained and filled in with sand and other materials in order to expand the limits of the city. But even with those expanded areas, San Francisco remains strictly delimited by the bordering bodies of water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 3 Author Report Share Posted March 3 What's the Word: SOLON pronunciation: [SO-lən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Proper name, 17th century Meaning: 1. A wise legislator or lawgiver. 2. Any legislator. Examples: "Our city benefited from electing as mayor a solon with a passion for local governance." "The Babylonian King Hammurabi earned the reputation of a solon by creating the foundation of modern laws with the Code of Hammurabi." About Solon “Solon” is based on the ancient Greek name “Σόλων” (“Sólōn”). Did you Know? In sixth-century Athens, a man named Sólōn was one of the Seven Sages, ancient Greeks remembered for their wisdom. Sólōn himself was a lawmaker and poet whose ideas contributed to the development of democracy in the city-state of Athens. He helped develop and modernize Athenian law and is remembered for his sensible and intelligent manner of governance. Because of him, the noun “solon” describes an especially wise lawmaker. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 4 Author Report Share Posted March 4 What's the Word: SEQUELA pronunciation: [si-KWEL-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 18th century Meaning: 1. A condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury. Examples: "In middle age, Ilana suffered lingering tinnitus as a sequela to the live music shows she attended without earplugs in her younger days." "Eric’s problems with his Achilles tendon were sequelae that began with a bad ankle sprain." About Sequela “Sequela” is taken directly from a Latin term meaning “that which follows.” Did you Know? Closely associated with the English word “sequel,” “sequela” (the plural of which is “sequelae”) describes a medical condition that is a follow-up to some other medical circumstance. Generally speaking, sequelae are long-term conditions that arise out of a particular injury or disease. For example, a concussion is a temporary injury, but it often creates a lasting sequela known as “postconcussion syndrome” that includes headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and confusion. In many cases, sequelae are so persistent that they present significant secondary problems unrelated to their original cause. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 5 Author Report Share Posted March 5 What's the Word: VESPERTINE pronunciation: [VES-pər-tahyn] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. Relating to, occurring, or active in the evening. Examples: "The pub is lovely in the daytime, but it comes alive when the vespertine crowd arrives after supper." "There are a few different vespertine animals, including owls, living in our acre of forest." About Vespertine “Vespertine” is based on the Latin “vespertīnus,” meaning “evening.” Did you Know? While there are many crepuscular animals — those active at dawn and dusk — the animals active only in evening are described as “vespertine.” (Those active in the predawn hours, meanwhile, are known as “matutinal.”) The best-known vespertine animals are bats and owls, but many insects also appear during the vespertine hours, and there are even vespertine flowers, which bloom in the evening. However, "vespertine" does not describe the whole night: The creatures and plants that continue their activity all night are nocturnal, not vespertine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 6 Author Report Share Posted March 6 What's the Word: RUTHFUL pronunciation: [ROOTH-fəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 13th century Meaning: 1. Full of sorrow; sorrowful; woeful; rueful. 2. Full of ruth or pity; merciful; compassionate. Examples: "Even though our Great Dane is a pampered creature, my husband always gets ruthful when the dog whines at not being allowed to sleep in our bed." "My grandfather was a ruthful man who took great pride in helping neighbors in their times of need." About Ruthful “Ruthful” was formed within English, based on the word “ruth,” an early term for compassion or sadness at the suffering of others. Did you Know? Most people are more familiar with the opposite of “ruthful” — “ruthless” — but both are based on the early Middle English word “ruth,” describing sadness for the suffering of others, or compassion. (In Middle English, “ruth” had dozens of spellings, from “rauþe” to “ræuðe” to “reuþthe” to the more recognizable “ruith” and “reweth.”) To be ruthful, therefore, is to have so much compassion — “ruth” — that one is filled with sorrow at the sufferings of others. By contrast, to be ruthless is to act without any sorrow for others’ pain and suffering. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 7 Author Report Share Posted March 7 What's the Word: HILLOCK pronunciation: [HIL-ək] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. A small hill or mound. Examples: "As we drew closer to it, what first appeared to be a minor hillock revealed itself to be a far more significant peak." "Our farmland includes a hillock that’s always popular with our goats, who like to find the highest point to view their surroundings." About Hillock “Hillock” was formed in Middle English from the existing word “hill” and the Middle-English diminutive suffix “-ock,” suggesting a smaller hill. Did you Know? A hillock — also known as a “knoll” — is a small hill that stands on its own, disconnected from other hills or mountains. Hillocks appear worldwide, but the specific geographies of the U.K. and China mean hillocks are common in both countries. Though they can be described as minor versions of mesas and buttes, both of which are common in the United States, hillocks tend to be less rocky or craggy than mesas and buttes, and instead are often covered in grass, trees, and other greenery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 8 Author Report Share Posted March 8 What's the Word: APOLLONIAN pronunciation: [ap-ə-LOH-nee-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 17th century Meaning: 1. (Greek mythology) Relating to the god Apollo. 2. Relating to the rational, ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature. Examples: "Our roommate Brad had Apollonian tendencies toward keeping our house well ordered and harmonious." "Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau was known for his Apollonian slogan, “Reason over passion.”" About Apollonian “Apollonian” refers to the ancient Greek god Apollo, the god of the sun who was associated with reason and logic. Did you Know? “Apollonian” is often paired with its opposite, “Dionysian,” to describe a binary between rational, well-ordered impulses and more chaotic, emotional impulses. While “Apollonian” is named for Apollo, the ancient Greek solar god known for reason and logic, “Dionysian” refers to the ancient Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and celebration, who is associated with instinctual passions and heightened emotions. In his book “The Birth of Tragedy,” philosopher Friedrich Nietzche argued that drama — especially in its classic form of Greek tragedy — is created out of a merger between the two opposite instincts, pairing reason with irrationality, order with chaos, and logic with passion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 9 Author Report Share Posted March 9 (edited) What's the Word: CIRCADIAN pronunciation: [sur-KEY-dee-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 20th century Meaning: 1. (Of biological processes) Recurring naturally on a 24-hour cycle, even in the absence of light fluctuations. Examples: "After getting up at 6 a.m. to go to work for 20 years, my circadian rhythm is set, and I still wake up early on weekends and holidays." "Janice craves sweets on a circadian rhythm, and she always treats herself to chocolate in the early afternoon, whether she’s eaten a big lunch or a small one." About Circadian “Circadian” was coined in the 1950s by combining the Latin “circa” (“about”) with “dies” (“a day”). Did you Know? A person’s circadian rhythm is their internal clock, and it resets roughly every 24 hours. It isn’t just about sleep: Circadian rhythms help determine body temperature, hunger, and hormonal changes. However, the main purpose is to regulate sleep patterns. Since humans have evolved to mostly sleep when it’s dark and wake when it’s light, circadian rhythms can be shifted or disrupted by changes in light. Edited March 9 by DarkRavie 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: FACTITIOUS pronunciation: [fak-TIH-shəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Artificially created or developed. Examples: "Outside the fun house, a factitious talking horse gave instructions to those about to enter." "The restaurant’s dim lighting is factitious and helped by enormous shades that block out the sun." About Factitious “Factitious” is based on the Latin “facticius,” meaning “made by art.” Did you Know? The Latin root of “factitious” means “made by art” (or “artificial”). In this way, it differs from the near-homonym “fictitious,” which is based on the Latin verb “fingō,” meaning “to deceive.” In the early days of modern chemistry, between the 17th and 19th centuries, the term “factitious air” was used to describe gases generated by human intervention. For example, the bubbles in fermenting beer occur as a result of mixing water, barley, and yeast. Even though such gas is naturally occurring, an early scientist might have believed each carbon-dioxide bubble contained factitious air created by human endeavor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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