DarkRavie Posted July 8 Author Report Share Posted July 8 What's the Word: FAUBOURG pronunciation: [FOH-boorg] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 15th century Meaning: 1. (Usually in place names) A suburb, especially one in Paris. Examples: "The faubourgs of Paris were absorbed into the metropolis after the city walls expanded outward." "Much like Paris, Montreal contains many faubourgs that used to be considered distant suburbs, until the city grew to encompass them." About Faubourg “Faubourg” is a loanword from French. It was formed in Old French by combining “fors,” meaning “outside,” with “bourg,” meaning “town.” Did you Know? “Faubourg” is much older than the English word “suburb,” but the ideas are similar. With the Latin roots “forīs,” meaning “out of,” and “burgum,” meaning “town” or “fortress,” “faubourg” traditionally referred to a community or neighborhood located outside the gate or walls of a fortified city. The rise of the term “faubourg” occurred in Paris during the 16th century, at a time when that city was fortified by a wall. The original Parisian faubourgs were architecturally distinct urban areas that bore little resemblance to modern European and North American suburbs. After the demolition of the Parisian city wall in 1701, and the expansion of city borders in 1860, most Parisian faubourgs became a part of the city proper, and today, “faubourg” is a term to describe a longtime residential neighborhood. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 9 Author Report Share Posted July 9 What's the Word: ORNITHOPTER pronunciation: [awr-nə-THOP-tər] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, 20th century Meaning: 1. A machine designed to achieve flight by means of flapping wings. Examples: "The historian assured me that several models of ornithopters were flown short distances in the 19th century." "The flight museum had a display of pre-Wright brothers flying machines, including an actual French ornithopter." About Ornithopter “Ornithopter” is based on the French “ornithoptère.” That word was coined by joining the ancient Greek “ὄρνιθ-“ (“órnith-,” meaning “bird”) and “πτερόν” (“pterón,” meaning “wing”). Did you Know? Today, flight powered by the gliding wings of airplanes or the propellers of helicopters is a reality, but in years past, many people believed the best way to take to the sky would be to mimic a bird. Formed out of the Greek words for “bird” and “wing,” “ornithopter” referred to a type of flying machine that takes flight by flapping wings. The first workable ornithopters were developed in 19th-century France, with a gunpowder-powered model successfully flying 80 meters. Though long eclipsed by airplanes, ornithopters continue to draw fans, many of whom fly radio-controlled ornithopters. These hobby ornithopters strike a markedly antique profile in the sky in contrast to modern drones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 10 Author Report Share Posted July 10 What's the Word: LABELLUM pronunciation: [lə-BEL-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 19th century Meaning: 1. (Botany) A central petal at the base of an orchid flower, typically larger than the other petals and of a different shape. 2. (Entomology) Each of a pair of lobes at the tip of the proboscis in some insects. Examples: "Houseflies have a fused proboscis with a _______ at the end." "The labellum on certain species of orchids mimic female wasps, encouraging male wasps to visit." About Labellum Labellum originated in 19th century Latin, and is thought to be a diminutive of the word “labrum” (lip). Did you Know? Butterflies, mosquitoes, and houseflies — what do all these insects have in common? Their mouths, for one thing. Many insects with a proboscis (a long syringe-like tube extended to feed from a source) have a specialized labellum, or pair of lobes, at the base, which they use to drink with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 11 Author Report Share Posted July 11 What's the Word: ARRAS pronunciation: [AR-əs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, unknown Meaning: 1. A rich tapestry, typically hung on the walls of a room or used to conceal an alcove. 2. A town in northeastern France; population 43,663 (2006). In medieval times it was a center for the manufacture of tapestries. Examples: "The castle is rumored to conceal secret passageways behind colorful arras." "While no longer known for tapestries, Arras is still a lovely town to visit in France." About Arras This term came from the French town Arras, which was known for specializing in creating tapestries. Over time, the word came to refer to the tapestries themselves. Did you Know? In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character Polonius conceals himself behind a tapestry, specifically an arras, to listen in on Hamlet and the Queen’s conversation. In more modern times, the cartoon cast of “Scooby Doo” often conceals themselves behind an arras — usually with humorous results, like leaving legs and feet visible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 12 Author Report Share Posted July 12 What's the Word: PEAT pronunciation: [peet] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. A brown deposit resembling soil, formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter in the wet acidic conditions of bogs and fens, and often cut out and dried for use as fuel and in gardening. Examples: "Marie wanted to learn how to harvest peat for research purposes." "Jonas added a couple of pieces of peat to the campfire to keep it going." About Peat This word stems from the Middle English “pete” by way of medieval Latin “peta.” Possibly of Celtic origin. Did you Know? According to Merriam-Webster, “peat” can also be a bold, lively woman. However, that form of usage is rarely seen, and its origins are unknown. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 13 Author Report Share Posted July 13 (edited) What's the Word: TORTUOUS pronunciation: [TOR-choo-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, late 14th century Meaning: 1. Full of twists and turns. 2. Excessively lengthy and complex. Examples: "Their will-they or-won’t-they dynamic made for a tortuous romance." "Maddie found taking the SAT to be a tortuous experience." About Tortuous This word comes from Middle English via Old French. Originally comes from the Latin “tortuosus,” from “tortus,” meaning “twisting, a twist,” from the Latin stem “torquere.” Did you Know? At first glance, you might think there’s little difference between “tortuous” and “torturous,” but their core meanings are not the same. While “tortuous” means “full of twists and turns,” “torturous” means “involving torture or excruciating pain.” That extra “R” denotes intense suffering versus being a flowery word for something mildly painful or even excitingly puzzling. Edited July 14 by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 14 Author Report Share Posted July 14 (edited) What's the Word: DELINEATE pronunciation: [də-LIN-ee-ayt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, mid 16th-century Meaning: 1. Describe or portray (something) precisely. Examples: "As a new teacher, Marnie felt it was important to delineate acceptable classroom behavior." "The treaty helped the neighboring countries delineate what the new border would be." About Delineate This word comes from the Latin “delineat-,” meaning “outlined,” from the verb “delineare.” Originally comes from “de-” meaning “out, completely” and “lineare,” from “linea,” meaning “line.” Did you Know? “Delineate” can also mean to sketch something or trace the outline of it. An architect might delineate their ideas before drawing detailed blueprints. Edited July 15 by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 15 Author Report Share Posted July 15 What's the Word: SINOLOGY pronunciation: [sy-NAL-ə-jee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown place of origin, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. The study of Chinese language, history, customs, and politics. Examples: "After her trip to Beijing, Svetlana cultivated a fascination with sinology." "Jeremy did some research on sinology to better understand his girlfriend’s Chinese heritage." About Sinoligy “Sin-” is a word-forming element meaning “Chinese” from the late Latin “Sinæ” (plural) “the Chinese,” from Ptolemaic Greek “Sinai,” from Arabic “Sin,” meaning “China.” “-Logy” is a word-forming element meaning “a speaking, discourse, treatise, doctrine, theory, science” from the Greek “-logia.” Did you Know? Even though sinology refers to the study of China, it is often linked to scholarship that comes from the West. Surprisingly, the French were some of the first to set up sinological academic disciplines within its prestigious academic institutions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 16 Author Report Share Posted July 16 What's the Word: GUFFAW pronunciation: [ɡə-FAW] Part of speech: noun Origin: Scottish, early 18th century Meaning: 1. A loud and boisterous laugh. Examples: "Kevin let out a loud, spontaneous guffaw." "The comedian let out a guffaw at his own joke." About Guffaw This word originated in Scotland and was likely imitative of the sound of coarse laughter. Did you Know? “Guffaw” can also be used as an intransitive verb. For instance, “The group guffawed loudly.” Or “When she guffaws, it always makes him smile.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 17 Author Report Share Posted July 17 What's the Word: APORIA pronunciation: [ə-POR-ee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. An irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory. 2. (Rhetoric) The expression of doubt. Examples: "Today’s English class will focus on rhetorical devices such as aporia." "Mark Antony gives a speech dripping with aporia in the third act of ‘Julius Caesar.’" About Aporia This word stems from late Latin via the Greek “aporos,” meaning “impassable.” “A-” means “without,” and “poros” means “passage.” Did you Know? Aporia is most commonly used as a rhetorical device, for an expression of doubt. Aporia pops up often in speeches, political rhetoric, and literature, including Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnet 43,” which starts, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Browning’s claim that she might not remember all “the ways” is exactly what gives her an opportunity to enumerate them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 18 Author Report Share Posted July 18 What's the Word: MANCHET pronunciation: [MAN-chət] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, 16th century Meaning: 1. (Historical) A loaf of the finest kind of wheaten bread. Examples: "Marianne used a recipe from an old English cookbook to make the manchet loaf." "This bakery is the only one in town that specializes in manchet." About Manchet This word stems from Middle English, possibly from the obsolete “maine,” meaning “flour of the finest quality,” plus the obsolete “cheat,” a kind of wheaten bread. Did you Know? In the third season of “The Great British Bake Off,” Sussex native Cathryn Dresser made Lady Arundel’s manchets and served them with an inner layer of jam and cream. While the basic manchet recipe calls for flour, salt, yeast, and hot water, the Lady Arundel version specifically calls for wheat grown and ground in Sussex, England. It is considered a higher-quality take on the recipe because it includes eggs, milk, and butter, giving the bread a richer flavor and texture. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 19 Author Report Share Posted July 19 What's the Word: LIMPET pronunciation: [LIM-pət] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, pre-12th century Meaning: 1. A marine mollusk that has a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot, found clinging tightly to rocks. 2. Used in comparisons to refer to people and things that cling tightly. Examples: "The limpet’s shell looked like an umbrella from the top view." "Aaron’s friends called his new puppy a limpet." About Limpet This word stems from the Middle English “lempet,” an alteration of the Old English “lempedu,” meaning “lamprey,” an ancient lineage of jawless fish. It originates from the Medieval Latin “lampreda.” Did you Know? In 2015, engineers in the United Kingdom found that limpets’ teeth are made of the toughest biological material ever tested — a mineral-protein amalgamation used to scrape food off rocks, often leading to the ingestion of rock particles in the process. The team of engineers found the limpet teeth were stronger than all of the strongest human-made materials. This discovery could help improve human-made composites used to build cars, boats, aircraft, and human dental fillings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 20 Author Report Share Posted July 20 What's the Word: CANALIZE pronunciation: [CAN-əl-iyz] Part of speech: verb Origin: French, 19th century Meaning: 1. Convert (a river) into a navigable canal. 2. Convey (something) through a duct or channel. Examples: "The leader of the nonprofit sought to canalize donations where they were most necessary." "The civil engineers agreed to canalize the river in a new direction." About Canalize This word comes from the French “canal,” or “chanel,” meaning “water channel, tube, pipe or gutter.” It originates from the Latin “canalis,” meaning “water pipe, groove, channel.” It is combined with “-ize,” a word-forming element used to make verbs. Did you Know? The process of canalizing can occur in a few ways in the human body, and repetition is key. In neuroscience, it is when the hypothetical process of a neural pathway’s repeated use leads to greater ease of transmission of impulses — essentially what happens in the brain when people form habits. Over time, this process becomes permanent. In psychology, canalization is when a person channels their needs into fixed patterns of gratification, such as food or recreational preferences. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 21 Author Report Share Posted July 21 What's the Word: BRACKISH pronunciation: [BRAK-ish] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Dutch, 16th century Meaning: 1. (Of water) Slightly salty, as is the mixture of river water and seawater in estuaries. 2. Unpleasant or distasteful. Examples: "The fish we caught tasted as brackish as the water we’d pulled them out of." "The water in the bay was so brackish that we could smell the salt more than a block away." About Brackish The root for “brackish” is the Dutch “brac,” meaning “salty.” Between the 16th and 17th centuries, “brackish” existed in English alongside “brack,” a term meaning “salt” or “salt water.” “Brack” fell out of use by the 19th century, but “brackish” is still in common use. Did you Know? Though “brackish” is still intermittently used to describe salt water, the term has always had a secondary meaning suggesting something that has been ruined or spoiled — such as fresh water that has been rendered undrinkable by the addition of salt water. This meaning extends back to the word’s etymological ancestor: In Dutch, as in English, “brak” means both “salty water” and also “bad.” In fact, one modern meaning of “brak” in Dutch is “hungover,” though that definition has not yet made it to English. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 22 Author Report Share Posted July 22 What's the Word: MACROSCOPIC pronunciation: [mak-rə-SKA-pik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, 19th century Meaning: 1. Visible to the naked eye; not microscopic. 2. Relating to large-scale or general analysis. Examples: "A macroscopic view of U.S. food trends considers the practices of all restaurants, caterers, and food-producers." "The mold growth was microscopic at first, but after several days it became macroscopic and clearly visible." About Macroscopic The word “macroscopique” appeared in French in 1865. English speakers may well have brought it into the language as an obvious opposite to “microscopic,” which had been in use since the 17th century. In both French and English, “macroscopic” combines the prefix “macro-,” meaning “large” or “long,” with the suffix “-scopic,” which refers to the act of watching. Did you Know? In its initial form, “macroscopic” referred specifically to the opposite of “microscopic,” things so small they could not be viewed with the naked eye. “Macroscopic” things were simply those that could be seen. Over time, however, the term has taken on a metaphoric implication, invoking “a long view” or “the big picture” — both of which are variations on the word’s two roots of “macro” and “scopic,” which together refer to the act of watching in a broad manner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 23 Author Report Share Posted July 23 What's the Word: MOXIE pronunciation: [MAHK-see] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, 19th century Meaning: 1. Force of character, determination, or nerve. Examples: "Arlene had no experience but lots of moxie, and her attitude got her hired." "Mark held onto his youthful moxie even though he was decades past his teen years." About Moxie “Moxie” as an adjective is taken directly from the name of the New England soft drink Moxie, which was marketed as strengthening drinkers’ nerves. Did you Know? The first appearance of the word “moxie” was as the name of the soft drink Moxie, patented by Augustin Thompson in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1885. Its flavor was a combination of root beer with a bitter aftertaste of gentian root, which is traditionally used in herbal medicine. Moxie was originally sold as “Moxie Nerve Food,” and, in its early marketing, it was said to cure “paralysis, softening of the brain, nervousness, and insomnia,” which strengthened its association with strong nerves and forceful character. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Thursday at 04:14 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 04:14 PM (edited) What's the Word: ERRANT pronunciation: [EHR-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, 15th century Meaning: 1. Erring or straying from the proper course or standards. 2. Traveling in search of adventure. Examples: "An errant seagull ended up in my bathroom when I left the window open." "My brother believes any errant french fries that fall off my plate are free for him to eat." About Errant “Errant” came into English through the French “errant,” based originally on the Latin “errāre,” meaning “to stray.” Did you Know? In its earliest meaning, “errant” (as in “a knight errant”) referred to a state of being an itinerant traveler, often in search of adventure. In modern use, the term refers to a stray state, in which a thing or person moves or behaves unpredictably and not according to an accepted course. Edited Friday at 05:48 PM by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Thursday at 05:23 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 05:23 PM (edited) What's the Word: REALIA pronunciation: [ree-AL-ee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. Objects and material from everyday life, especially when used as teaching aids. 2. Real things or actual facts, especially as distinct from theories about or reactions to them. Examples: "The visiting firefighter dazzled the schoolkids with his realia, which included his helmet, ax, and oxygen tank." "In science class, Daria learned best from lessons involving realia, such as demonstrations of dramatic chemical reactions." About Realia “Realia” is directly from the Latin “reālia,” meaning “real things.” Did you Know? The first realia many babies encounter is a simple set of wooden blocks, which were developed as teaching tools in 18th-century England and popularized by German educational philosopher Friedrich Fröbel (best known for inventing and naming “kindergarten”). “Fröbel gifts,” a set of mostly wooden blocks he developed, became massively popular educational toys for babies, offering them real-world experiences with basic shapes, gravity, and building or stacking. These toys provide pieces of the real world small enough for babies to handle and safely experiment with. Used as realia, building blocks have been the foundation of early learning for hundreds of millions of people. Edited Friday at 05:48 PM by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Saturday at 09:05 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 09:05 PM What's the Word: SONORUS pronunciation: [SON-er-uhs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. (Of a person's voice or other sound) Imposingly deep and full. 2. Capable of producing a deep or ringing sound. Examples: "The highlight of the hike was the sonorous cave, which produced a ringing echo from the hiker’s shouts." "I chose the narrator for the audiobook of my first novel based on his rich, sonorous voice." About Sonorus Sonorous is an adjective that applies to sound, usually of a full and imposing nature. It comes from the Latin word for sound, "sonor." Pull out this regal adjective when the tones need appropriate weight for the description. (We’re talking ringing gongs, not bird chirps.) Did you Know? Sonorous can be used to describe the quality of a sound — think ringing clock bells or a booming, deep voice. The noun form of this adjective is "sonority." That word has a specific usage in phonetics as well. Sonority occurs when there is no stressed syllable, but there is still a distinction between vowels and consonants. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Sunday at 03:17 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 03:17 PM What's the Word: OSSIFIED pronunciation: [OS-ih-fied] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, early 18th century Meaning: 1. Having turned into bone or bony tissue. 2. Having become rigid or fixed in attitude or position. Examples: "Bone is formed from cartilage that has ossified." "Over time she became ossified and rejected any attempts to change her habits." About Ossified Ossified came into English in the late 17th century from the French "ossifier," from the Latin prefix "oss-" and word "os," which mean "bone." Did you Know? The prefix "oss-" is Latin for "bone," and it makes up the root of many bony terms. "Ossify" is a verb meaning "turn into bone or bony tissue," but it also has a figurative usage meaning "become rigid or fixed in attitude or position; cease developing." "Ossified" can be a conjugation of the verb, but it can also be an adjective, describing things that have either turned into bone or become fixed and rigid. "Ossification" is a noun describing the process of converting into bone, and "osseous" is an adjective for anything made of or resembling bone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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