New Game: What's the Word?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - CAPRICIOUS

pronunciation: [kə-PREE-shəs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: French, early 17th century

 

meaning:

1. Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

 

Example:

"During the summer months the weather can be quite capricious." 
"I had to stay on my toes when working with the capricious chef."

 

About Capricious

Capricious is the adjective form of the noun caprice, which means, “a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.” A capricious person might be described as flighty, changeable, or just plain indecisive. But you could also embrace your capriciousness by being willing to learn and change your mind.

 

Did you know?

Capricious and the astrological sign Capricorn have little in common. The easily changeable adjective comes from the French word capricieux, but Capricorn comes from the Latin words for goat horn. This astrological sign has a reputation of seriousness and responsibility — characteristics at odds with capriciousness.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BENTO

pronunciation: [BEN-toh]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Japanese, late 19th century

 

meaning:

1. A lacquered or decorated wooden Japanese lunchbox

2. A Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments).

 

Example:

"Her bento collection was quite valuable, so she didn't use them for food." 
"I usually order the bento lunch special on Mondays."

 

About Bento

If you’re a fan of Japanese food or culture, you’re likely familiar with bento, or a bento box. This is a Japanese word for either the lunchbox itself, or the specific arrangement of rice, vegetables, and sashimi that goes into a bento box. The meal was traditionally packed at home and carried to work or school, but you can now find grab-and-go versions available for purchase.

 

Did you know?

Besides the type of food, bento is unique for its tidy arrangement, with food taking up every inch of available space. Modern versions of the bento also feature decorative and adorable elements. Imagine sushi that looks like a cat, and vegetables that look like a garden. The best bentos are attractive, convenient, and delicious.

[DarkRavie]

 

What's the Word? - ABRACADABRA

pronunciation: [a-brə-kə-DAB-rə]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, late 17th century

 

meaning:

1. (exclamation) A word said by magicians when performing a magic trick.

2. The implausibly easy achievement of difficult feats.

 

Example:

"The 'abracadabra!' was accompanied by a quick puff of smoke from the wand." 
"It seems like a lot of work, but with a little abracadabra we'll get this garage cleaned out in an afternoon."

 

About Abracadabra

When a child learns their first magic trick, they’re taught to shout “abracadabra!” at the big reveal. But this word isn’t only used as a magical exclamation. It’s also a handy little term to describe difficult feats that appear easy. “Oh, it’s just a bit of abracadabra!”

 

Did you know?

If you have a fever, why not try abracadabra? Second-century Roman author Quintus Serenus Sammonicus gave instructions for an amulet used to ward off fever. He prescribed to write the word abracadabra repeatedly on a piece of papyrus, dropping off the last letter each time. When abracadabra disappeared, so would the fever. Or maybe just try aspirin.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BECHAMEL

pronunciation: [bey-shə-MEL]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, late 17th century

 

meaning:

1. A rich white sauce made with milk infused with herbs and other flavorings.

 

Example:

"The secret to homemade mac and cheese is a good bechamel." 
"To pass the French sauces class, each student had to make a perfect bechamel."

 

About Bechamel

Bechamel is your standard white sauce, made with butter, flour, and milk. As basic as the ingredients are, it can add a lot of depth to your cooking. You might spot it with an accent mark over the first “E,” thanks to its French roots. The inventor of the sauce was the Marquis Louis de Béchamel, the steward to King Louis XIV of France.

 

Did you know?

You might be able to whip up a mean pancake breakfast, sear a perfect steak, or have a secret recipe for your chocolate chip cookies, but what about sauces? Professional chefs swear by the five French “mother sauces” — Béchamel, Velouté, Espagnole, Hollandaise, and Tomato. Master these, and you’ll have the basic building blocks for all other sauces.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - EMERITUS

pronunciation: [ə-MER-ə-dəs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, mid-18th century

 

meaning:

1. (of the former holder of an office, especially a college professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor.

 

Example:

"The banquet was held every year to honor the emeritus professors." 
"As an emeritus member, she was welcome to sit in on lectures."

 

About Emeritus

Academia is a career path unlike any other. Most people earn their degree and move on, but some folks remain on campus their entire lives. From undergraduate to graduate school, then there are positions in teaching and research. Tenure will provide you with job security, but when you’re ready for retirement, you can maintain your privileges with an emeritus role.

 

Did you know?

In Latin, the verb “emereri” means “to earn one’s discharge by service.” Emeritus comes from that, meaning you earned your retirement, so you’re still entitled to the honor and title. The female form is “emerita,” but you’re unlikely to see that out-of-date usage anymore.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - ARCHETYPE

pronunciation: [ARK-ə-taip]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, mid-16th century

 

meaning:

1. A very typical example of a certain person or thing.

2. (in Jungian psychology) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.

 

Example:

"Her prized tulips appeared to be the perfect archetype of the species." 
"He was studying how children's drawings could represent certain archetypes."

 

About Archetype

In Greek, “arkhetupon” means “something moulded first as a model.” This definition transfers to the English word, archetype, as a standard example, or an imitation of the original. In literature, art, and mythology, an archetype is a recurrent symbol. If it’s immediately recognizable, it just might be an archetype.

 

Did you know?

Swiss psychologist Carl Jung believed that humans share a collective unconscious, represented by archetypes, or primitive mental images. Jungian archetypes include the wise old man, the child, the mother and the maiden.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BENEFIC

pronunciation: [bə-NEH-fik]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, early 17th century

 

meaning:

1. Beneficent or kindly.

2. (Astrology) Relating to or denoting the planets Jupiter and Venus, traditionally considered to have a favorable influence.

 

Example:

"Our benefic neighbor is always kind when the children lose their balls in his yard." 
"I don't usually believe in astrology, but my sister says my horoscope is benefic, and I should expect good things."

 

About Benefic

In Latin, the verb phrase "bene facere" means "to do good to." This adjective is taken from Latin to mean a kind and good person. We should all try to be a little more benefic to each other!

 

Did you know?

Before science was the law of the land, great power was attributed to the stars and planets. When Jupiter or Venus are aligned in your astrological charts, there will be a benefic, or positive influence. Other planets can have the opposite effect — Mars and Saturn are considered to be malefic planets.

[DarkRavie]

 

What's the Word? - RUMBUSTIOUS

pronunciation: [rəm-bəs-chəs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: British English, late 18th century

 

meaning:

1. Boisterous or unruly.

 

Example:

"The kids were being too rumbustious, so I shooed them outside to play." 
"Expect the litter of puppies to be rumbustious when they hit 6 weeks."

 

About Rumbustious

A picture might be worth a thousand words, but in the case of "rumbustious," the word produces a vivid mental image. Think of a pile of squirming kittens, or recess on the playground. That carefree playfulness is downright rumbustious.

 

Did you know?

In the course of printing newspapers and books, spelling mistakes have occurred, and sometimes even new words have been created. Rumbustious is one such word. At some point in the late 18th century, someone was trying to use the archaic word "robustious," meaning boisterous and robust, and they actually used "rumbustious." The error stuck, and now the unruly word is in the dictionary.

 

Edited June 16, 2020 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - CADRE

pronunciation: [KAH-dray]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, mid-19th century

 

meaning:

1. A small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession.

2. A group of activists.

 

Example:

"The cadre of heart specialists were on call for the transplant procedure." 
"The cadre gathered in front of the statehouse to listen to speakers."

 

About Cadre

This word, which has come to mean a group of specially trained people, or a group of activists, goes back to the Latin word "quadrus," meaning square. The Latin word was pulled into Italian (quadro) and then to French, before cadre was added to English vocabulary in the 19th century. But you're certainly allowed to have more than four people in your cadre today.

 

Did you know?

If you're a member of a cadre, you have a special purpose. This word is used to describe a small group of people who have been trained in a particular profession or skill. Cadre also has a history of being used to describe a group of activists, which makes sense as it's a special skill to have.

 

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - INCIPIENT

pronunciation: [in-SIP-ee-ənt]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, late 16th century

 

meaning:

1. In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.

2. (of a person) developing into a specified type or role. 

 

Example:

"He could feel incipient excitement building up before his birthday."
"We started out as colleagues, but we're incipient friends."

 

About Incipient

The meaning of incipient changes slightly, depending on if it's being used to describe a thing or a person. As a person: incipient means you have the potential to develop into the role. For a thing: it's in the early stages.

 

Did you know?

This adjective got its start as a noun in the 16th century. Incipient meant a beginner. Today you could use novice, amateur, apprentice, initiate, or recruit as a noun for someone just starting out.

 

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - TOOTHSOME

pronunciation: [TOOTH-səm]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: English, mid-16th century

 

meaning:

1. (of food) temptingly tasty.

2. (of a person) good-looking; attractive.

 

Example:

"The dessert case was bursting with toothsome pastries and pies." 
"Look beyond his toothsome exterior and get to know his personality a bit."

 

About Toothsome

When talking about food, toothsome is usually paired with a diminutive noun: morsel, tidbit, nibble. These delicate bites just seem more toothsome than a big hunk of cheese or an oversized value meal.

 

Did you know?

You look good enough to eat! The original usage of toothsome meant a general sense of attractiveness, going all the way back to Chaucer's time. But if we're talking about teeth, eating comes into play, and it just makes sense that the definition evolved into tasty.

 

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BEANERY

pronunciation: [BE-nə-ree]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: American English, late 19th century

 

meaning:

1. A cheap restaurant.

 

Example:

"Our road trip itinerary lists every beanery from here to the beach." 
"It's just a beanery, but I love to have brunch there on the weekend."

 

About Beanery

This casual term has a pretty simple definition: it's a cheap restaurant. It could be a coffee shop, a diner, a drive-thru, or a food truck. All that matters is that you can get your food on a budget.

 

Did you know?

In the late 19th century, fast food wasn't even a concept. But you could find restaurants, and some of them were cheap. You were likely to find beans and other easy-to-prepare staples on the menu. Thusly, beanery became a slang term for a cheap restaurant.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - ETHNOGRAPHY

pronunciation: [eth-NAH-ɡrə-fee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, early 19th century

 

meaning:

1. The scientific description of the customs of individual peoples and cultures.

 

Example:

"The required reading touched on the ethnography of the country, not just the history." 
"You can be a tourist, but you can also immerse yourself into a culture’s ethnography."

 

About Ethnography

The things you eat, the holidays you observe, the style in which you dress, the habits you perform — all parts of ethnography. Ethnography is some sort of scientific or written documentation of a way of life, either of an individual or a culture. A hundred years from now, the discovery of your Netflix queue might be a piece of your ethnography.

 

Did you know?

You might be more familiar with ethnography’s close cousin, anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humans as a whole, but specific societies might be examined individually. Ethnography is concerned with how humans live and experience life, usually one culture at a time.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - SNUGGERY

pronunciation: [snə-ɡə-ree]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: British English, early 19th century

 

meaning:

1. A cozy or comfortable place, especially someone's private room or den.

2. Another term for snug, a small, comfortable public room in a pub or inn.

 

Example:

"The hidden snuggery behind the kitchen is my favorite room in the house." 
"The extra room was supposed to be an office, but it turned into a reading snuggery."

 

About Snuggery

A snuggery is probably exactly what you are envisioning in your head: A cozy little nook filled with comfortable chairs, pillows, blankets, and books. Or whatever your personal dream den would be filled with.

 

Did you know?

Do you know the word hygge (pronounced HOO-gah)? It’s a Danish word meaning cozy, but it’s also a modern obsession with all things comforting and content. Having a snuggery is a key element of reaching the perfect state of hygge.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - HYDROMANCY

pronunciation: [HI-drə-man-see]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 14th century

 

meaning:

1. Divination by means of signs derived from the appearance of water and its movements.

 

Example:

"She was known for her ability to predict a baby's birth date with hydromancy." 
"The deep crystal bowl was reserved for the practice of hydromancy."

 

About Hydromancy

“Hydro” comes from the Greek for water, and “mancy” means divination, or supernatural means of seeing the future. Hydromancy uses water to practice this art, but there are other forms of “mancy.” Pyromancy uses fire, rhabdomancy uses a wand, and oneiromancy concerns your dreams.

 

Did you know?

Spells and sorcery might not be your thing, but you’ve likely seen an example of hydromancy in a movie. A wizard or magician will cast a spell over a bubbling cauldron, or look into a bowl of water to tell the future. Using water as a form of divination is called hydromancy.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - GASTRONOME

pronunciation: [GAS-trə-nohm]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, early 19th century

 

meaning:

1. A gourmet.

 

Example:

"Julia Child was a gastronome before she learned to cook a single dish." 
"You can be a gastronome and still appreciate simple foods."

 

About Gastronome

Quite simply, a gastronome is a gourmet. It comes from the French word "gastronomie," which is "the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food." If you appreciate good food, you can call yourself a gastronome.

 

Did you know?

In "Deipnosophistai," a 2nd century B.C. book about food, two gastronomes go back and forth about their love of food. They discuss recipes for stuffed grape leaves and cheesecake for days. How long could you talk about your favorite foods?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - DRAMATURGY

pronunciation: [DRAH-mə-tər-gee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, early 19th century

 

meaning:

1. The theory and practice of dramatic composition.

 

Example:

"The style of 20th-century dramaturgy is very different from classical theater."" 
"I prefer the nuance of dramaturgy found on stage over anything you might see on television."

 

About Dramaturgy

Dramaturgy is the practice of taking a story and bringing it to life with dramatic elements. It could be a play, a musical, even a modern film or streaming TV show. If actors are telling the story, then you're watching dramaturgy.

 

Did you know?

Sometimes a book is turned into a play or movie through dramaturgy, but it can be the other way around. "Peter Pan" was first a play, then J.M. Barrie capitalized on the success of the 1904 play with a novel in 1911, "Peter and Wendy."

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - TOTEM

pronunciation: [TOH-dəm]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Ojibwa, late 18th century

 

meaning:

1. A natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem.

2. A person or thing regarded as being symbolic or representative of a particular quality or concept.

 

Example:

"Wolves, eagles, and bears are often used as totems because of their fierce reputations." 
"Harriet Tubman was a powerful totem for the Underground Railroad."

 

About Totem

A totem is usually a natural object or animal that has great spiritual significance. A totem might serve as an emblem for a whole society, or an individual person might adopt a totem. Totemism is a practice born in the North American indigenous populations.

 

Did you know?

The Ojibwa, also known as Chippewa, are one of the largest populations of indigenous North American people. In the Ojibwa language, "nindoodem" means "my totem." It was used to refer to a bond with a particular animal or natural object, but the term has been adopted to refer to any kind of personal symbolism.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - IDEOGRAPHIC

pronunciation: [i-dee-ə-GRAF-ik]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Greek, mid-19th century

 

meaning:

1. Relating to a written character symbolizing the idea of a thing without indicating the sounds used to say it, e.g., numerals and Chinese characters.

 

Example:

"She painted a personalized ideographic nameplate for her son's bedroom door." 
"The hardest part of learning Chinese for me is remembering the ideographic symbols."

 

About Ideographic

In Greek, "idea" means form and "graph" means writing. Therefore an ideograph means a written symbol. The adjective ideographic means anything that is related to that symbol. Your emoji texts are a perfect example of ideographic communication.

 

Did you know?

Also known as an ideogram, an ideograph is a symbol that represents an idea or concept. One of the most universal ideographic symbols is the peace symbol. The circle with the forked lines was designed as the British nuclear disarmament symbol, but has been adopted as a worldwide symbol for peace.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - COUNTERCULTURE

pronunciation: [KOWN-tər-kəl-chər]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  American English, mid-20th century

 

meaning:

1. A way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm.

 

Example:

"Flower crowns and bell-bottom jeans were the uniform of the hippie counterculture of the 1960s." 
"Artists, writers, and musicians are often symbols of the counterculture."

 

About Counterculture

Counter, "denoting movement or effect in the opposite direction," pairs with culture to describe attitudes, beliefs, or a way of life that runs contradictory to the norm. The term counterculture can likely be applied to every youthful generation as they attempt to establish their own identity apart from their parents and grandparents. But the word is specifically shorthand for the hippie generation of the 1960s and '70s.

 

Did you know?

The counterculture had been brewing for quite a while when American academic Theodore Roszak published "The Making of a Counter Culture" in 1969. He gave name to the generation of Vietnam War protestors and student dropouts who all seemed to be rejecting established society. The counterculture of hippies hit its peak in the 1969 "Summer of Love" in San Francisco.