New Game: What's the Word?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - NIBLING

pronunciation: [NIB-ling]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  English, mid-20th century

 

meaning:

1. A gender-neutral term for a niece or nephew.

 

Example:

"I'm so excited for my new nibling to be born!" 
"All of the niblings get their own table at family dinners."

 

About Nibling

The origins of this word are unclear, but it seems to have popped up around the mid-1900s. It wasn't adopted into popular use for another few decades, but it's gaining steam as language is evolving to reflect more diverse identities. You can find "nibling" in the Collins Dictionary and as a word to watch by Merriam-Webster.

 

Did you know?

It's not a new species of beetle, your nibling is your niece ... or nephew. It's a neat gender-neutral term to refer to your niece or nephew, or a whole group of them.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - EVENTIDE

pronunciation: [EE-vən-tahyd]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Old English, pre-12th century

 

meaning: 

1. The end of the day.

2. Evening.

 

Example:

"I try to have a relaxing eventide with no screens after 8 p.m." 
"The garden is filled with flowers that only open at eventide."

 

About Eventide

In Old English, "ǣfentīd" was used for the end of the day, while "ǣfnung" was specifically the time of dusk falling. In modern English, "evening" sums up both of those words to refer to the time from about 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Next time you say goodbye to someone after dinner, try "Have a good eventide!"

 

Did you know?

Turn to Old English to spice up your time descriptions. Eventide is the evening, a moment is precisely 90 seconds, and a mileway is about 20 minutes, or how long it takes to walk a mile.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - VERSO

pronunciation: [vər-soh]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Latin, mid-19th century

 

meaning: 

1. A left-hand page of an open book, or the back of a loose document.

2. The reverse of something such as a coin or painting.

 

Example:

"Every new chapter begins on the verso." 
"This coin is particularly valuable because of the misprint on the verso."

 

About Verso

Verso is a traditional printing term for the left-hand side of an open book, but it can also be the back side of a single piece of paper. It's a handy term that has been adopted by the arts and collectibles community to refer to the back or reverse side of a painting or coin.

 

Did you know?

Open up a book and take a look at the pages in front of you. The right-hand side is called "recto," from the Latin for "on the right leaf." Conversely, "verso" means "on the left leaf." It's a fancy way to let someone know that you know your books.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - IMMUTABLE

pronunciation: [im-MYOO-də-bəl]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin:  Middle English, 15th century

 

meaning: 

1. Unchanging over time.

2. Unable to be changed.

 

Example:

"The mission of the nonprofit has remained immutable since its founding."
"You can try to change his mind, but I think he's immutable."

 

About Immutable

In Latin, "mutare" means to change. You'll recognize that from your favorite mutant superheroes, the X-Men. Add on the Latin prefix "im" for not, and you get the unchanging immutable. If you're immutable, there's no chance of shapeshifting or any other superpowers.

 

Did you know?

There are a batch of words that can be traced back to the Latin root of "mutare." Immutable is unchanging, but mutate means to undergo significant changes, permute is to change the order, and transmute is to change in nature or appearance. Change is good!

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - SURURRUS

pronunciation: [soo-SUR-əs]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Latin, mid-19th century

 

meaning: 

1. Whispering, murmuring.

2. Rustling.

 

Example:

"The quiet susurrus is a soothing backdrop for reading." 
"You could hear the susurrus of the audience before the curtain went up."

 

About Susurrus

It's not technically an onomatopoeia (a word that resembles a sound, such as plop or meow), but it's pretty close. Susurrus means a soft whisper or murmuring sound. It's what you hear when the wind blows through fall leaves or waves are crashing on the shore.

 

Did you know?

In Latin, "susurrus" is the noun for a whisper, and "susurrare" is the verb for to murmur or hum. In English we've maintained susurrus as a whispering noise, but you might also see it as "susurration." We prefer to stick to the more poetic and original Latin spelling.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - PEONY

pronunciation: [PEE-ə-nee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Greek, 14th century

 

meaning: 

1. A type of firework, characterized by a sphere of colored stars that burn without a tail effect.

2. A herbaceous or shrubby plant of north temperate regions, which has long been cultivated for its showy flowers.

 

Example:

"The grand finale of the fireworks display had dozens of my favorite sparkler, the peony."
"Her wedding bouquet featured three colors of peonies."

 

About Peony

Do you know the Genus Paeonia, family Paeoniaceae? You're probably familiar with the fluffy, full blooms of peony in wedding and springtime bouquets, but you can also call the shrub they grow on a peony. The shape of the round flowers is so distinctive that large spherical blasts of fireworks have become known as peonies.

 

Did you know?

There's no better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a spectacular fireworks display. While they all deserve your "oohs" and "aahs," we have our favorites. The peony is the large round burst, resembling the flower of the same name. The chrysanthemum is similar, but with long tails. The horsetail bursts shoot up, then fall down like a tail, and the ring shells might even display smileys and other shapes.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - RUMBA

pronunciation: [rəm-bə]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Latin American Spanish, 1920s

 

meaning: 

1. A rhythmic dance with Spanish and African elements, originating in Cuba.

2. A ballroom dance imitative of the rumba.

 

Example:

"The final match-up in the dance competition came down to the rumba." 
"We took a rumba class on our vacation to Cuba."

 

About Rumba

The traditional rumba dance combines Spanish and African elements, but the creation is uniquely Cuban. The term rumba can be used to describe the music that accompanies the dance, also with percussive African influences. Whether it's the dance or the song, the rumba will get your feet and body moving.

 

Did you know?

The ballroom dance style is often spelled "rhumba" to distinguish it from the traditional Cuban dance. In ballroom dance competitions there are five Latin dances: samba, jive, cha-cha-cha, pasodoble, and the slowest, rhumba. Outside of the competition circuit, Latin dances are sometimes lumped together under the term "salsa."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BASILISK

pronunciation: [BA-sə-lisk]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Greek, 13th century

 

meaning: 

1. A mythical reptile with a lethal gaze or breath, hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg.

2. A long, slender, and mainly bright green lizard found in Central America, the male of which has a crest running from the head to the tail. It can swim well, and is able to run on its hind legs across the surface of water.

 

Example:

"As the local folklore told, the cave of treasures was protected by a 10-foot basilisk. " 
"I thought it was a gecko, but the guide informed me that it was a basilisk."

 

About Basilisk

Found in many accounts of European folklore, the basilisk is a mythological creature, the king of snakes. The origins and methods of defeating this fearsome reptile vary by storyteller, but they all describe a lethal gaze. The name was borrowed for a real-life lizard with a crest running from head to tail, just like the legend.

 

Did you know?

In the Harry Potter series, the basilisk is an enormous snake controlled by He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Similar to the Muggle folklore, the basilisk has a lethal gaze. This basilisk killed Moaning Myrtle, and petrified more through an indirect gaze. Unless you're a Parselmouth (speak snake), avoid the basilisk at all costs.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BOCCE

pronunciation: [BAH-chee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Italian, early 19th century

 

meaning: 

1. An Italian game similar to lawn bowling but played on a shorter, narrower green.

 

Example:

"Our favorite family activity is playing bocce during the summer." 
"The bar is small inside, but there is plenty of space to play bocce outside."

 

About Bocce

It's an easy game to pick up, but it requires great skill to master it. But there's no need to be intimidated if you're asked to join a game of bocce. Play starts with a pallino (small ball) being thrown onto the court. Then teams alternate throwing a bocce ball as close to the pallino as possible. The official rules get quite a bit more complicated, but it's a friendly game, so just follow your teammate's lead until you get the hang of it.

 

Did you know?

Even if you're not the most athletic person, you can find fun with games in the "boules" family. The various forms of lawn bowling have their own specific rules and customs, but they're all inspired by ancient Roman games. In France it's "pétanque," in the Anglo world it's bowls, and in Italy they have "bocce." Bocce, particularly, has gained popularity around the world.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - PHILOMATH

pronunciation: [FI-lə-math]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Ancient Greek, early 17th century

 

meaning: 

1. A lover of learning; a student or scholar, especially of mathematics, natural philosophy, etc

2. (obsolete) An astrologer or prognosticator.

 

Example:

"If I've earned a reputation for anything, I hope it's for being a philomath." 
"Go back in the family tree, and you'll find quite a few wise women and even a philomath."

 

About Philomath

If you've ever described yourself as an audiophile (a lover of high-quality music and audio equipment) or a bibliophile (a lover of books), you already understand half of this word. A philomath is a lover of learning — particularly mathematics, philosophy, and other humanities.

 

Did you know?

The close cousin of a philomath is a polymath. The philomath truly loves learning in specific categories, but the polymath has a broad swath of knowledge. They might not know everything about one subject, as a philomath might, but they are knowledgeable in many (poly) areas.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - TWITTERPATED

pronunciation: [TWIH-dər-pay-dəd]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin:  American English, 1940s

 

meaning: 

1. Infatuated or obsessed.

2. In a state of nervous excitement.

 

Example:

"Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime.' — Bambi (1942)" 
"The family is all twitterpated as they pace around the waiting room for the announcement of the new baby."

 

About Twitterpated

This has nothing to do with hashtags or the latest viral tweet. Twitterpated is a relatively modern term for being nervously excited or even overwhelmed by a crush. "Twitter" is a 17th-century word for excitement and pate means head. In 1940s slang, being twitterpated means you're so excited you lose your head.

 

Did you know?

Thank Walt Disney for this word. In the 1942 animated classic "Bambi," the wise owl explains to Thumper and Bambi the cause of all the excitement around them. Quite simply, when animals (and people) fall in love, they get all twitterpated.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - PASTICHE

pronunciation: [pah-STEESH]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  French, late 19th century

 

meaning: 

1. An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.

2. An artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources.

 

Example:

"I practiced writing in every possible way that I could. I wrote a pastiche of other people.' — Katherine Ann Porter" 
"It was clearly a pastiche, but I still admired the painting."

 

About Pastiche

You can't order it at a restaurant, but "pastiche" has etymological ties to your favorite bowl of carbs. The Latin word "pasta" means paste, which turned into "pasticcio" in Italian, and "pastiche" in French. You can turn a floury paste into pasta, or you can paste together artistic styles into your own work.

 

Did you know?

Have you ever heard someone say there are no new ideas? That might be a bit extreme, but the word "pastiche" describes artistic work that imitates another. It could be a pastiche of an artist's style, such as Frida Kahlo, or a tribute to an entire period, such as Cubism.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - AEGIS

pronunciation: [EE-jis]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Greek, early 17th century

 

meaning: 

1. The protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization.

2. (in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athena (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.

 

Example:

"The humanitarian efforts were done under the aegis of the United Nations." 
"Athena carried her aegis for protection."

 

About Aegis

You're likely to hear "aegis" used on the news today to talk about an organization or a country giving its support and protection. But the history of the word is as of a literal shield. In Greek, "aigis" means "shield of Zeus," and in classical art and mythology the word "aegis" was always related to the shields of Zeus and Athena.

 

Did you know?

In Greek mythology and art the aegis is represented in many forms, but in Homer's "Iliad," it's attributed to Athena. "And among them went bright-eyed Athene, holding the precious aegis which is ageless and immortal: a hundred tassels of pure gold hang fluttering from it, tight-woven each of them, and each the worth of a hundred oxen."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - NOCTAMBULATE

pronunciation: [nok-TAM-byoo-late]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin:  Latin, 1950s

 

meaning: 

1. To walk about at night.

2. To sleepwalk.

 

Example:

"After dinner he loved to noctambulate and watch the stars come out." 
"The best part of living in the city is that you'll never noctambulate alone."

 

About Noctambulate

There's not a specific word for "walk on the beach," but you can put in your dating profile that you like to noctambulate, that is walk at night. Safety first, but there's something magical about strolling along at dusk and watching night fall.

 

Did you know?

Sure you can walk, but why walk when you can run? Or maybe you prefer a stroll? You could peregrinate (wander from place to place), and you could also amble, ramble, saunter, meander, jaunt, tour, march, traipse, tramp, shuffle, trudge, hike, locomote, or hoof it. If you specifically want to walk at night, well, that's noctambulate.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - BREVILOQUENT

pronunciation: [brə-VIL-ə-kwent]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin:  Latin, mid-19th century

 

meaning: 

1. (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words; concise.

 

Example:

"Usually he was breviloquent, but he went into great detail when describing his favorite book."
"If you find it hard to be breviloquent, ask someone to edit your paper before submitting it for a grade."

 

About Breviloquent

There's eloquent, and then there's breviloquent. If someone describes you as the former, they're admiring your ability to be fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing. If you're the latter, you may still be eloquent, but you're concise about it.

 

Did you know?

Brevity is the soul of wit. Thanks again, Shakespeare. These words that appear in "Hamlet" sum up the opinion that less is more, at least when it comes to your word choices.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - FACTOTUM

pronunciation: [fak-TOH-dəm]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Latin, mid-16th century

 

meaning: 

1. An employee who does all kinds of work.

 

Example:

"I made the ink; I was warehouseman, and every thing, and, in short, quite a factotum.' — Benjamin Franklin" 
"You'd better give him a raise; he's a real factotum."

 

About Factotum

Benjamin Franklin is known as a writer, philosopher, scientist, inventor, statesman, and more. In his autobiography he calls himself a factotum, and gives the definition in a footnote: "one who makes himself generally useful; a 'do-all.'"

 

Did you know?

Slang nicknames aren't just a modern invention. In the 16th century a "Johannes Factotum" was what we would now call a "Jack-of-all-trades." In medieval Latin "fac" meant to do and "totum" meant the whole thing.

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - MAVEN

pronunciation: [MAY-vən]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Yiddish, 1960s

 

meaning: 

1. An expert or connoisseur.

 

Example:

"I consider myself a maven on all things French." 
"The chef was a maven when it came to preparing fish."

 

About Maven

While the word "maven" is tossed around Instagram in relation to makeup artists and home cooks, the origin is Yiddish. The spelling was originally "meyvn," and meant an expert or connoisseur. The definition has largely remained the same, but it evolved into "maven" as it infiltrated American advertising and marketing.

 

Did you know?

In "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference,“ Malcolm Gladwell describes when you might want expert advice. "When people are overwhelmed with information and develop immunity to traditional forms of communication, they turn instead for advice and information to the people in their lives whom they respect, admire, and trust. The cure for immunity is finding Mavens, Connectors, and Salesmen.”

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - AUREATE

pronunciation: [OR-ee-eit]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin:  Latin, 15th century

 

meaning: 

1. Denoting, made of, or having the color of gold.

2. (of language) highly ornamented or elaborate.

 

Example:

"The aureate exterior of her jewelry box was only a preview of what was inside." 
"The book of poetry was written in an aureate style."

 

About Aureate

A fortune teller might claim your aura is aureate, but they don't have the same etymology. Aura comes from the Latin for a breeze, while aureate, or gold, comes from the Latin "aurum," which, you guessed it, means gold.

 

Did you know?

When describing language, aureate means fancy or elaborate. But the process of aureation describes how languages evolve. When one language is improved or heightened by borrowing from another, that's called aureation. Loan words are considered a form of aureation.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - OSCILLATE

pronunciation: [AH-sə-leit]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin:  Latin, early 18th century

 

meaning: 

1. Move or swing back and forth at a regular speed.

2. (Physics) Vary in magnitude or position in a regular manner around a central point.

 

Example:

"The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.' — Carl Gustav Jung" 
"The light made the electrons in each atom oscillate back and forth from one side of the atom to the other."

 

About Oscillate

As a verb, to oscillate means to move back and forth like a pendulum. If you're a physicist you can use it to describe atoms or voltage varying around a central point. And then if you're just feeling flighty, your emotions might oscillate throughout the day.

 

Did you know?

Your old tabletop fan can be traced back to German-American inventor Philip Diehl, who invented the electric ceiling fan when he worked for the Singer Company. He took a motor from a sewing machine and mounted it to the ceiling with blades. After several iterations, the oscillating fan was born. The first electric fan for household use was introduced by Westinghouse in 1910.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word? - FORENOON

pronunciation: [FOR-noon]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin:  Old English, 15th century

 

meaning: 

1. The morning.

 

Example:

"'Some of my pleasantest hours were during the long rain-storms in the spring or fall, which confined me to the house for the afternoon as well as the forenoon, soothed by their ceaseless roar and pelting.' — Henry David Thoreau" 
"Come over in the forenoon, and we'll have a cup of coffee and chat."

 

About Forenoon

Forenoon is a fairly self explanatory word. It is the time before noon. AKA the morning. So if your friend asks what time you want to meet up, but you want to keep your options open, just say "forenoon."

 

Did you know?

If you're not a morning person, maybe you just don't have the words to describe it. Try to add some variety to your early hours. There's cockcrow, daybreak, dayspring, first blush, wee hours, morningtide, sunup, crack of dawn, and good old forenoon.