DarkRavie Posted March 31 Author Report Share Posted March 31 What's the Word: LAISSEZ-PASSER pronunciation: [LES-ey-pass-EY] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 20th century Meaning: 1. A document allowing the holder to pass; a permit. Examples: "Some countries allow travel across borders using a laissez-passer instead of an official passport." "The consulate helped Victoria secure a laissez-passer to help her get home after her passport was stolen." About Laissez-passer “Laissez-passer” is a loanword from French, where it means “a pass,” or literally, “allow to pass.” Did you Know? “Laissez-passer” is a French word referring to a pass, but more than that, it translates literally to “allow to pass.” This is useful for understanding that a laissez-passer is a document separate from a passport, but that allows the bearer to travel as if it were an official passport. The term came into English use following World War I, during which passes were necessary for travel even inside some countries. The modern application of “laissez-passer” is usually diplomatic and refers to a document used to cross an international border. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 1 Author Report Share Posted April 1 What's the Word: UMBRIFEROUS pronunciation: [um-BRIF-ər-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Casting or making a shade. Examples: "The umbriferous willow tree provided the perfect spot for our picnic." "We built a screened-in porch not only to provide shelter from rain and bugs, but also to be umbriferous on sunny days." About Umbriferous “Umbriferous” is based on the Latin “umbrifer,” formed by combining “umbra” (meaning “shade”) and “ferre” (meaning “to bear”). Did you Know? After long months of winter, and what seems like more hours spent in the dark than in the light, people are drawn to spend time in the sun. But even the most dedicated sun worshippers need to find a spot with an umbriferous (shade-casting) structure at times. From the Latin, “umbra” means “shade,” which should be recognizable in an umbriferous noun: “umbrella.” Anything that provides shade or shelter from the sun can be described with the adjective “umbriferous.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 2 Author Report Share Posted April 2 What's the Word: CANTILLATE pronunciation: [KAN-til-eyt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. Chant or intone. Examples: "Micah practiced for months to learn how to cantillate in Hebrew during his bar mitzvah." "While my father cooked supper, he amused us by cantillating a narration of every step of the recipe." About Cantillate “Cantillate” is based on the Latin “cantillō,” meaning “to hum” or “to chirp.” Did you Know? “Cantillate” describes a hybrid musical recitation or chanting, specifically the kind heard in Jewish synagogues. During synagogue services, readings are not simply read aloud — they are cantillated. The text includes specific marks to instruct those cantillating how and when to sing words and syllables as musical notes. The purpose of cantillation is to ritualize religious readings, rather than to bring the assembled worshippers together in song, as with Christian hymn singing. Different Jewish traditions cantillate in different styles and rely on different melodies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 3 Author Report Share Posted April 3 What's the Word: BIOTA pronunciation: [bi-OH-tə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 20th century Meaning: 1. The animal and plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. Examples: "The biota of the desert tends to be hardy and rugged." "Suzanne was fascinated by the biota in the rainforest, which was different from what she saw at home in Michigan." About Biota “Biota” is a loanword from Latin, based on the ancient Greek “βιοτή” (“biotḗ”), meaning “life.” Did you Know? “Biota” refers to all plants and animals living in a particular environment. The interactions between the different parts of a biota create ecosystems. But on a more close-up level, “biota” can simply refer to all living things sharing a single habitat. For example, things that live in the soil are known as soil biota. Soil is full of plants, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, and soil animals ranging in size from worms, spiders, and insects all the way down to protozoa. Simply by existing in concert with one another in the same habitat, the various members of soil biota help generate new earth, disperse nutrients, neutralize pollutants, and improve soil structure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 4 Author Report Share Posted April 4 What's the Word: SABULOUS pronunciation: [SAB-yə-ləs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Sand or gritty. Examples: "Guava has a sweet and fragrant taste combined with a sabulous texture." "A sabulous substance such as crushed gravel is useful for traction on snowy roads." About Sabulous “Sabulous” is based on the Latin adjective “sabulosus,” itself based on “sabulum,” meaning “sand.” Did you Know? As its name implies, sandpaper has a sabulous (sandy and gritty) texture. However, sandpaper itself isn’t usually made of sand: The highest-quality sandpaper of the 19th century was glass paper, made with actual crushed glass. Today, a number of substances give sandpaper varying degrees of sabulousness, including crushed metals, precious stones, and even diamonds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 5 Author Report Share Posted April 5 What's the Word: RUBESCENT pronunciation: [roo-BES-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 18th century Meaning: 1. Reddening; blushing. Examples: "My fair skin means I turn rubescent at the slightest hint of embarrassment." "Sugar maple leaves turn rubescent in the fall." About Rubescent “Rubescent” is based on the Latin “rubescens,” meaning “I am reddening.” Did you Know? Blushing, the experience of rubescent skin, is something many people experience with embarrassment, although there are many emotions that can cause flushed cheeks. There is no concrete explanation of the relationship between embarrassment and rubescent skin, but scientists believe blushing may be an involuntary demonstration to others during awkward moments — making it a sort of physiological apology. Others believe embarrassment triggers the fight-flight-freeze response, meaning a person who freezes still gets the adrenaline and raised heart rate they would have needed for fight or flight, and this is visible on their rubescent face. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 6 Author Report Share Posted April 6 What's the Word: LAPIDARY pronunciation: [LAP-ih-der-ee] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. Relating to stone and gems and the work involved in engraving, cutting, or polishing. 2. (Of language) Engraved on or suitable for engraving on stone and therefore elegant and concise. Examples: "The jewelry box contained a small but impressive display of Suzanne’s lapidary obsession." "The jeweler learned the lapidary arts from his father and grandfather before him." About Lapidary “Lapidary” is based on the Middle English “lapidarie,” meaning “stone.” This is based on the Latin “lapidārius,” meaning “of stones.” Did you Know? “Lapidary” is based on the Latin “lapidārius,” meaning “of stones,” but it is also related to the Latin “lapis,” meaning “stone.” This term is still associated with the semiprecious stone lapis lazuli, which is a vivid and striking blue color. During the Middle Ages, lapis lazuli was ground into ultramarine, an expensive deep-blue pigment that was used throughout the Renaissance in oil paintings and frescoes, notably on Johannes Vermeer’s painting “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 7 Author Report Share Posted April 7 What's the Word: COMPEER pronunciation: [kəm-PEER] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 15th century Meaning: 1. A person of equal rank, status, or ability. 2. A companion or associate. Examples: "The company founder met her lawyer in New York, along with his compeer from a firm in Los Angeles, to discuss moving the head office to the West Coast." "Richard was a compeer of my mother’s from her office, but I had no idea he’d once been famous as a folk singer." About Compeer “Compeer” is based on the Middle English “comper,” from the Latin “compater,” meaning “first cousin” or “good friend.” Did you Know? “Compeer” is a term with many equivalents, most notably the Spanish “compadre,” meaning “friend or companion”; the Sicilian “cumpari,” meaning “buddy”; and the modern American term “goombah.” This last term, meaning “pal” or “associate,” is the product of English speakers mishearing the Southern Italian pronunciation of “cumpari,” which does not emphasize the final syllable. “Goombah” has a close relative in Peru, Chile, and Argentina, where “cumpa” means “buddy.” The English “compeer” builds on the Middle English “comper” by adding the term “peer,” so that the term denotes a close companion of equal standing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 8 Author Report Share Posted April 8 What's the Word: GLEBE pronunciation: [gleeb] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 14th century Meaning: 1. Land; fields. 2. A piece of land serving as part of a clergyman's benefice and providing income. Examples: "The community maintains the glebe behind the old church in the same state it has always been in." "This neighborhood is called “Glebe,” but it’s been over a century since the town was built on the original glebe." About Glebe “Glebe” is a loanword from Old French, where it was based on the Latin “glaeba,” meaning “lump of earth.” Did you Know? In its earliest forms, “glebe” simply described soil or cultivated farmland; however, it was also used in the 14th century as a term for church lands, or land set aside for the clergyman overseeing the church. As a result, “Glebe” is a commonly occurring place name. Across Ireland, there are more than 100 towns named “Glebe,” and similarly named towns, villages, suburbs, and neighborhoods are found across Canada, Barbados, and Australia. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 9 Author Report Share Posted April 9 What's the Word: SISYPHEAN pronunciation: [sis-ə-FEE-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 17th century Meaning: 1. Denoting or relating to a task that can never be completed. Examples: "Trying to keep my cats from getting into the bag of treats feels like a Sisyphean challenge." "Beach cleanup days can feel Sisyphean, but preserving the ecosystem is a worthwhile project." About Sisyphean “Sisyphean” is adapted from the name “Sisyphus,” based on the ancient Greek “Σίσυφος” (“Sísuphos”). Did you Know? According to ancient Greek myth, Sisyphus was said to have cheated death twice, which angered Hades, the god of the dead. To punish Sisyphus, Hades sentenced him to spend eternity rolling an enormous stone to the top of a hill, only to have it roll down to the bottom again. For hundreds of years, the adjective “Sisyphean” has described tasks and labors that feel futile, endless, incessant, and frustrating — even those on a much smaller scale than those of the Greek gods. Keeping one's sock drawer organized may be a Sisyphean endeavor, for example. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 10 Author Report Share Posted April 10 (edited) What's the Word: OPPIDAN pronunciation: [OP-ih-dən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. A resident of a town. Examples: "Our car broke down on the outskirts of town, but an oppidan saw our lights and came to help us." "The lake is largely unknown, except by a few oppidans of the nearby town who hike the surrounding trails." About Oppidan “Oppidan” is based on the Latin “oppidānus” (meaning “townspeople”), from the term “oppidum” (meaning “town”). Did you Know? The word “oppidan” can be used as a noun or an adjective to refer to a resident of a town, but historically it had a very specific usage in English boarding schools. Dating back to the 16th century at Eton College, an oppidan was a student who boarded in town rather than at the school itself. At Westminster School, an oppidan lived with his family in Westminster rather than at the school. The common theme here is that the oppidan lived in town. Edited April 10 by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 11 Author Report Share Posted April 11 What's the Word: PALUDAL pronunciation: [pə-LOOD-l] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. (Of a plant, animal, or soil) Living or occurring in a marshy habitat. Examples: "Ducks generally prefer to nest in paludal areas." "At the base of the hill was a spot full of paludal bulrushes." About Paludal “Paludal” is based on the Latin “palus,” meaning “marsh.” Did you Know? When “paludal” was coined in the early 19th century, it didn’t describe marshes or swamps or the creatures that live in them. Rather, it was used as a medical adjective to describe malaria, which was often contracted in swamps. However, because the term was based on a Latin root referring directly to marshes, “paludal” eventually came to describe anything to do with marshes and marshy habitats, and is no longer a medical term at all. In modern use, “paludal” describes plants and animals native to marshy habitats. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 12 Author Report Share Posted April 12 What's the Word: EMMETROPIA pronunciation: [em-ih-TROH-pee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. The normal condition of the eye. Examples: "The ophthalmologist told Lesley she had emmetropia and wouldn’t need glasses." "Emmetropia is a prerequisite for a number of jobs, including firefighter and air traffic controller." About Emmetropia “Emmetropia” was coined by joining the ancient Greek “ἔμμετρος” (“émmetros,” meaning “in measure”) with the suffix “-opia” (meaning “vision”). Did you Know? Pioneering Dutch ophthalmologist Franciscus Donders coined the term “emmetropia” in the mid-19th century to describe a state of perfect vision in the eye. Today, perfectly clear vision is a condition for a variety of jobs, most notably in aviation. While standards vary from country to country, and between commercial and military pilots, a general rule of thumb is that pilots must have 20/20 vision (meaning they can see clearly and accurately from a distance of 20 feet). Pilots need not have emmetropia naturally, however — in the U.S. and many other countries, pilots can wear corrective eyewear to achieve 20/20 vision. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 13 Author Report Share Posted April 13 What's the Word: LUFF pronunciation: luhf Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, 13th century Meaning: 1. Steer a yacht nearer the wind. 2. Obstruct (an opponent in yacht racing) by sailing closer to the wind. Examples: "The ship luffed up as it turned out to sea." "Unfortunately, the most direct route home required us to luff up." About Luff “Luff” is based on the Old French “lof,” likely based on the Middle Dutch “loef,” meaning “the windward side of a sail.” Did you Know? Over its long history in English, “luff” has had many definitions, including a noun that referred to the edge of a sail closest to the wind. This is connected to “luff” as a verb, which usually appears as a phrasal verb with “up” (“to luff up”), describing the action of turning a sailing ship into the wind. Luffing up is a difficult sailing technique that risks sapping the ship of its power, but it's sometimes necessary to make a direct trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 14 Author Report Share Posted April 14 What's the Word: CONCINNITY pronunciation: [kən-SIN-ih-tee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. The skillful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something. 2. Studied elegance of literary or artistic style. Examples: "The combined effect of the performances, stage sets, and dazzling lighting made the Broadway show a model of concinnity." "Masha seeks out art that displays a complex concinnity of African influences." About Concinnity “Concinnity” is based on the Latin “concinnitās” (meaning “skillfully put together”). Did you Know? Year after year, critics rate the 1972 film “The Godfather” as one of the finest movies ever made. Perhaps its concinnity elevates Francis Ford Coppola’s classic film above all other gangster movies. The film's masterful script contains memorable and easily quotable lines, and it’s also legendarily well acted by Marlon Brando, as the titular Godfather, and Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and James Caan, among others. The film is carefully shot to exude a unique aesthetic that creates a world of its own — and the soundtrack is likewise notably memorable. The concinnity of these forces is at the root of the success of “The Godfather.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 15 Author Report Share Posted April 15 What's the Word: OYEZ pronunciation: [OH-yay] Part of speech: noun Origin: Anglo-Norman, 15th century Meaning: 1. A call given by a court officer, or formerly by public criers, typically repeated two or three times to command silence and attention, as before court is in session. Examples: "After the court officer made her oyez, the crowd fell silent." "The continuing tradition of the oyez is one of the rituals built into some judicial systems." About Oyez “Oyez” is based on the Anglo-Norman “oyez,” a commandment “to hear.” This was based on the Latin “audīre,” also meaning “to hear.” Did you Know? In many federal and state courts across the United States, as well as the Supreme Court, sessions still begin with an oyez, in which an officer of the court calls the public to attention with a cry of “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!” This tradition dates back to the 17th century (the word itself is older), when English law courts allowed arguments in both English and Law French, an Anglo-Norman language popular with medieval aristocrats. “Oyez” was Law French’s equivalent for “hear ye,” and even as Law French has long become a relic of history, many U.S. courts still carry on the oyez tradition. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 16 Author Report Share Posted April 16 What's the Word: ARGLE-BARGLE pronunciation: [ahr-gəl-BAHR-gəl] Part of speech: noun Origin: Scots, 19th century Meaning: 1. Copious but meaningless talk or writing; nonsense. Examples: "The instructions for setting up my home-theater system are 48 pages of argle-bargle." "When I’m nervous, I talk constantly, but it’s all argle-bargle." About Argle-Bargle “Argle-bargle” is based on the Scots word “argle,” possibly a mispronunciation of “argue” and meaning the same. The Scots expression “argy-bargy” is a variation. Did you Know? Like “whoopsy-daisy” or “hurly-burly,” “argle-bargle” is an example of rhyming reduplication — when a new word is created by repeating a word or adding a second similar-sounding word. “Argle-bargle” was based on the Scots word “argle,” meaning “argue,” but it took on the meaning of a verbal argument. Over time, “argle-bargle” went from describing a multiparty argument to an expression of disdain for a copious volume of words that don’t say much of anything at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 17 Author Report Share Posted April 17 What's the Word: REDE pronunciation: [reed] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old English, 13th century Meaning: 1. Advise (someone). 2. Interpret (a riddle or dream). Examples: "The commencement speaker closed his speech with this final piece of advice: ‘I rede you to use your knowledge to always inspire others.’" "I try to write down my dreams as soon as I wake up so that I can rede them later." About Rede “Rede” is based on the Old English “rǣdan” (meaning “to advise”). Did you Know? With the meaning of “to advise (someone),” the verb “rede” is fairly archaic. Its usage is almost exclusively with the infinitive: “I rede you to read the directions.” There’s a secondary verb definition meaning “to interpret a dream,” but that has almost disappeared from usage. The noun form of “rede” is perhaps more recognizable, but people may not realize they’re using it. When someone asks, “What’s your read/rede on the situation?” they may be intending to use “read,” asking for your take, but they could also be using “rede” and want your counsel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 18 Author Report Share Posted April 18 What's the Word: NUGACITY pronunciation: [noo-GAS-ih-tee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. Triviality or frivolity. 2. A trivial or frivolous thing or idea. Examples: "It may be a nugacity, but I enjoy buying flowers for myself every week." "If you’re struggling with your budget, review your expenses to find any nugacities you can cut." About Nugacity “Nugacity” is based on the Latin “nugacitas,” meaning “trifling.” Did you Know? As a word, “nugacity” is easy to define as “frivolity,” but nugacities themselves are often in the eye of the beholder. For decades, video games were viewed as nugacities with no deeper value beyond the entertainment they offered. However, research has shown that video games can help teach players hand-eye coordination, problem solving, and pattern recognition. Many such hobbies that seem like nugacities on the surface end up having longer-term benefits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 What's the Word: GUERDON pronunciation: [GUR-dn] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old French, 15th century Meaning: 1. A reward or recompense. Examples: "As a guerdon for his excellent grades, my brother got to go to Six Flags." "Doris Lessing received the 2007 Nobel Prize in literature as a guerdon for her body of novels exploring the human experience." About Guerdon “Guerdon” is a loanword from Old French, where it meant “recompense.” Did you Know? “Guerdon” comes directly from the French, but the French word “guerdon” bears close resemblance to “widarlōn” in Old High German and “wiþerlēan” in Old English — both meaning “reward.” Because the word “reward” also existed, “guerdon” became more frequently used in English as a literary or poetic synonym, including in the works of Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Tennyson, among others. As a result, “guerdon” is used almost exclusively as a poetic term that emphasizes the importance of the reward. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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