DarkRavie Posted March 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 What's the Word? - PLEONASM pronunciation: [PLEE-ə-naz-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, mid 16th century Meaning: 1. The use of more words than are necessary to convey meaning (e.g. see with one's eyes), either as a fault of style or for emphasis. Example: "I enjoyed the book despite the author’s tendency toward pleonasm." "Karen edited her papers carefully to cut out all pleonasm." About Pleonasm Pleonasm originated in Greek by way of Latin — specifically from the Greek words “pleonasmos” and “pleonazein,” which mean to “be superfluous.” Did You Know? Pleonasm can be described by a more flowery term: purple prose. Purple prose is extravagant writing that uses more words than necessary to convey meaning. Sometimes intentionally, it often calls attention to the writing style rather than the topic at hand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 What's the Word? - CHARTREUSE pronunciation: [shar-TROOS] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A pale green or yellow liqueur made from brandy and aromatic herbs. 2. A pale yellow or green color resembling the liqueur chartreuse. Example: "To celebrate the project’s success, the team leader brought in some chartreuse to share." "I forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day until I noticed folks wearing every shade of green from chartreuse to kelly." About Chartreuse Chartreuse originated in French, specifically from the La Grande Chartreuse, a monastery that produced the liquor of the same name. Did You Know? The specific shade of green now recognized as chartreuse comes from an alcoholic beverage of the same name. Chartreuse, a liquor made from brandy and a blend of aromatic herbs, is named for the La Grande Chartreuse, the monastery that first made it. This beverage is imbibed on its own, but is best appreciated as an addition to a cocktail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 What's the Word? - SCHUSS pronunciation: [shoos] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, 1930s Meaning: 1. A straight downhill run on skis. Example: "While a schuss is inviting to experienced skiers, beginners are advised to steer clear." "Harold impressed onlookers by expertly navigating the steep schuss." About Schuss Schuss originated from the German word “schuss,” which means “shot.” Did You Know? Schuss is a word referencing a straight downhill run on skis, but is also notable as the name of one of the first official Olympic mascots. Schuss was a little man on skis who became the face of the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics, sold on merchandise like keyrings, magnets, and pins. Despite his polished, minimalistic appearance, Schuss’ design was thrown together in a hurry — the designer reportedly only had one night to put together a submission. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 What's the Word? - TWIG pronunciation: [twig] Part of speech: verb Origin: Unknown, mid 18th century Meaning: 1. (as verb) understand or realize something Example: "Tyson suddenly twigged that he had forgotten his report in the car." "After the appraisal that the family began to twig the old coin collection was immensely valuable." About Twig The noun twig (a slender woody shoot) comes from the old English word “twigge,” (as well as the Dutch “twijg” and German “zweig”), its origins as a verb describing the action of realization are largely unknown. Did You Know? The word twig is probably best known as the slender, woody shoots that protrude from trees and other plants. These twigs, however, can help gardeners and homeowners twig, or understand, the health of their trees. If it is green inside, the tree is alive, while a rotten or dry twig might indicate a sick tree. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 What's the Word? - VERNAL pronunciation: [VER-nl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid 16th century Meaning: 1. of, in, or appropriate to spring Example: "Justine paused her hike to admire the vernal forest view." "I have a particular affection for vernal flowers, especially daffodils and tulips." About Vernal This word originated from the Latin word “vernalis,” which developed from the words “vernus” (of the spring) and “ver” (spring). Did You Know? Vernal is a word used to describe all things related and associated with the season of spring — including a species of crocus (scientific name Crocus vernus), the spring snowflake flower (scientific name Leucojum vernum), and the Spring Equinox (also known as the Vernal Equinox). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 What's the Word? - COGNOSCENTE pronunciation: [kahn-yə-SHEN-tee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, late 18th century Meaning: 1. a connoisseur; a discerning expert Example: "Jackie took special pride in her reputation as a film cognoscente." "While he could make anything behind the bar, Jerome worked best as a wine cognoscente." About Cognoscente This word — which translates directly into “people who know” — developed in the late 18th century from the Italian words “cognoscent” (getting to know) and “cognoscere.” Did You Know? While there are specific training programs that one can apply to in order to become a wine cognoscente, a person can also become a connoisseur through personal experience. Attending workshops on the craft, listening to recommendations from people established in the field, and getting hands-on experience in wineries are all recommended ways to get started as a sommelier. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2021 What's the Word? - AUSPICE pronunciation: [AHS-pəs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid 16th century Meaning: 1. a divine or prophetic token Example: "The swallow sighting was a favorable auspice." "Gregory was superstitious about all kinds of auspices and omens." About Auspice Auspice developed in French, but finds its roots in Latin — specifically the Latin word “auspicium,” from “auspex” (observer of birds) and the combination of “avis” (bird) + “specere” (to look). Did You Know? Many different cultures see birds as an auspice, both positively and negatively. For example, birds appearing in a dream are often considered a sign of life, rebirth, and hope for the future. On the other hand, birds often disappear before natural disasters, leading many people to look to them and other animals for warnings to the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2021 What's the Word? - LAGOMORPH pronunciation: [LA-gə-morf] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 1880s Meaning: 1. a mammal of the order Lagomorpha; a hare, rabbit, or pika. Example: "The professor clarified that he only studied lagomorphs, not other rodents." "The meadow was empty save for a lone lagomorph grazing at the edge of the woods." About Lagomorph While this word developed from the Latin word “lagomorpha” (referring to the order of the animal), it also has roots in the combination of the Greek words “lagos” (hare) + “morpha” (an individual in a certain species). Did You Know? “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, tells the story of a family of anthropomorphic lagomorphs (rabbits that act like people). The mother warns her four rabbit children — Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter — about the dangers of a vegetable garden’s caretaker, but Peter risks it. Originally published in 1902, the story has gone on to become one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 What's the Word? - LEITMOTIF pronunciation: [LAYT-mo-teef] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, late 19th century Meaning: 1. a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation Example: "Alexander Hamilton's life and philosophical outlook is the leitmotif of this particular musical." "The writers revisited the leitmotif of wealth leading to corruption as the play progressed." About Leitmotif Leitmotif originated from the German word “leitmotiv,” composed of the words “leit” (leading) and “motiv” (motive). Did You Know? It can refer to literature, but leitmotif originally applied to musical compositions only. The German loanword is notably demonstrated by the operas of Richard Wagner. Short, recognizable melodies are repeated through the work to tie the larger piece together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 What's the Word? - SHEEPSHANK pronunciation: [SHEEP-shangk] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, mid 17th century Meaning: 1. a kind of knot used to shorten a rope temporarily Example: "Killian was glad he remembered a few knots, like a sheepshank, from his Boy Scout days." "The sailor quickly tied some sheepshanks to keep the rope out of the way." About Sheepshank While we know that this noun first originated in the 17th century as shorthand for the sheepshank knot (a temporary knot used to shorten a rope), it’s literal origins are largely unknown. Did You Know? A sheepshank is a knot that can quickly be tied to take up slack on a rope. It’s not very stable, so it shouldn’t be used in situations that require a secure hold. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2021 What's the Word? - COEVAL pronunciation: [koh-EE-vəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. a person of roughly the same age as oneself; a contemporary Example: "It was hard to believe that level-headed Margaret is a coeval to those wild children." "Only your coevals would understand that pop culture reference." About Coeval Coeval developed from the Latin word “coaevus,” the combination of the words “co” (jointly) + “aevum” (age). Did You Know? Folks who belong to the same generation are coevals, or roughly the same age. Millennials are coevals born between 1981 and 1996, but Gen Z is starting to come of age. They were born between 1997 and 2012. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 27, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 What's the Word? - NODUS pronunciation: [NO-dəs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, late 14th century Meaning: 1. a problem, difficulty, or complication Example: "The team hadn’t expected to encounter a nodus this early into the project." "Despite the nodus of the car not starting, they both managed to get to work on time." About Nodus Nodus developed in Late Middle English as a way to describe a knotty swelling; it originated in Latin as the literal translation for “knot.” Did You Know? Escape rooms are a novel way to spend some time with friends. A group of people is locked into a room filled with puzzles and clues. They must solve each nodus within a set period of time to be released. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2021 What's the Word? - ASTERISM pronunciation: [AST-uh-riz-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, late 16th century Meaning: 1. a prominent pattern or group of stars, typically having a popular name but smaller than a constellation. 2. A group of three asterisks (⁂) drawing attention to following text. Example: "Eagle-eyed astronomers will easily be able to pick out several asterisms tonight." "I saw a flashing light to the left of that asterism." About Asterism Asterism evolved from the Greek word “asterismos,” from “aster” (star). Did You Know? Stargazers might be able to easily point out the Big Dipper in the night sky, but it’s not actually a constellation. Instead, the seven stars of the Big Dipper are an asterism, located within the larger constellation of Ursa Major. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2021 What's the Word? - OBNUBILATE pronunciation: [ahb-NOO-bə-layt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, late 16th century Meaning: 1. darken, dim, or cover with or as if with a cloud; obscure Example: "The overcast skies didn’t obnubilate the car’s newly waxed, gleaming exterior." "Cory refused to allow the sudden downpour to obnubilate his good mood." About Abnubilate This word developed from the Latin word “obnubilat,” which means “covered with clouds or fog.” Did You Know? The power of clouds to obnubilate, both figuratively or literally, is a popular concept in music, especially from folk singer Joni Mitchell. In “Both Side Now” she croons, “I've looked at clouds from both sides now / From up and down and still somehow / It's cloud's illusions I recall / I really don't know clouds at all.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2021 What's the Word? - AMUSE-GUEULE pronunciation: [ah-mooz-GUHL] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, unknown Meaning: 1. a small savory item of food served as an appetizer before a meal. Example: "Can peanut butter and jelly bites really be considered amuse-gueule for such a fancy meal?" "I enjoyed the amuse-gueule much more than the main course." About Amuse-gueule This word originated from the French words for “amuse” and “mouth” — literally, food that amuses your mouth. Did You Know? Amuse-gueule, also known as amuse-bouche, are hors d’oeuvres, but are slightly different from an appetizer. Traditionally, amuse-gueules are offered by a restaurant for free as part of a meal, rather than ordered and paid for via a menu. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted March 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2021 What's the Word? - SPRACHGEFÜHL pronunciation: [SHPRAK-ɡə-fool] Part of speech: noun Origin: German, unknown Meaning: 1. the essential character of a language. 2. Intuitive feeling for the natural idiom of a language. Example: "All the flashcards in the world won’t teach you the Sprachgefühl of a new language." "He had to study French for ten years to begin to grasp its Sprachgefühl." About Sprachgefühl This word originated in German from a combination of the words “Sprache” (speech, a language) + “Gefühl” (feeling). Did You Know? Sprachgefühl is one of the ways experienced wordsmiths instinctively know that something sounds off. Experience working with words, as well as familiarity with the language as a whole, allows a writer to intuit that a certain pause might require a comma, or when the order in a list might need to be rearranged. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2021 What's the Word? - WAGGISH pronunciation: [WAG-ish] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Middle English, 1580s Meaning: 1. Humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner. Example: "This book appeals to readers with a particularly waggish nature." "While Joshua seems serious when you first meet him, he becomes quite waggish once he gets comfortable." About Waggish This word finds its roots in the Middle English word “waggen,” either a verb referring to the act of moving something back and forth or a noun describing a person who uses mischievous humor. “Waggen” originated from the Old Norse words “vaga” (to sway) and “vagga” (cradle). Did You Know? Waggish describes someone or something that is humorous in a playful way, and the word's prefix is used for similar effect. “Wag” is a noun that directly means a class clown or joker, while “waggery” describes a situation of general merriment and mischievousness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2021 What's the Word? - NORTHEASTER pronunciation: [north-EES-tər] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, late 18th century Meaning: 1. a storm or wind blowing from the northeast, especially in New England Example: "Even though the northeaster knocked down a lot of trees in my neighborhood, we didn’t lose power." "Jane’s flight was delayed because of the northeaster passing over Rhode Island." About Northeaster The word northeaster developed as a description of the powerful northeast winds that cause storms in the New England region of the United States. Did You Know? A northeaster, often contracted to be called a nor’easter, can happen year round, which is why people might get a spring nor’easter composed of rain and winds and a winter nor’easter bringing piles of snow in the same year. However, the storms are most likely to be strongest between September and April. These winter nor’easters can cause billions of dollars in damage, so batten down the hatches if you’re anywhere near one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2021 What's the Word? - BOBTAIL pronunciation: [BAHB-teyl] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, mid 16th century Meaning: 1. A docked tail of a horse or dog. 2. Cut short; abbreviated. Example: "NOUN: The Australian Sheepdog has a natural, genetic bobtail." "ADJECTIVE: We had longer plans but the weather bobtailed our date." About Bobtail This word is thought to have come about from a combination of the noun “bob” (a short haircut) and “tail.” Did You Know? In order to save space and time for the listener, some audiobooks use a bobtail script rather than the full text of the book. If you would like to listen to the full-text of a book, make sure to check whether the audiobook you’re purchasing is full-text or abridged. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2021 What's the Word? - SIMPATICO pronunciation: [sim-PA-də-koh] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Italian and Spanish, 1860s Meaning: 1. (of a person) likable and easy to get along with. 2. Having or characterized by shared attributes or interests; compatible. Example: "The new manager is a pleasant, simpatico man." "Their shared love of rock climbing began a happy simpatico relationship." About Simpatico This word is credited with developing in both Italian and Spanish, most likely from each respective language’s word for sympathetic. Did You Know? Conventions are a perfect place to find simpatico people who share similar interests. Conventions usually have panels of experts and events corresponding to a specific interest, but there’s also plenty of time to mingle with fellow-minded folks. From Comic Cons to Book Cons, there’s a convention for everyone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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