DarkRavie Posted June 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2021 What's the Word? - YEN pronunciation: [yen] Part of speech: noun Origin: Chinese, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A longing or yearning. 2. The basic monetary unit of Japan. Example: "Nathan always had a yen for an ice-cream sundae after a concert." "He spent most of his yen on souvenirs before the group even reached the hot springs." About Yen This word is thought to have originated from the Chinese word “yǎn” (craving). There is a chance that this term was also influenced by the word “yān” (opium), as it describes something that induces an intense yearning or longing feeling. Did You Know? Yen isn’t just a noun describing a longing or yearning feeling — it is also a noun that describes Japan’s currency. While other countries have names for different categories of their currency — such as the United States’ dollars, quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies — Japanese currency is called yen whether it is paper money or a coin. Yen can appear as bills or as coins, and are differentiated from each other by variations in shape, color, and value. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 What's the Word? - PROFUNDITY pronunciation: [prə-FUN-də-dee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, late 14th century Meaning: 1. Deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought. 2. Great depth or intensity of a state, quality, or emotion. Example: "Critics praised the artist’s second album for the profundity of the lyrics." "Even astronomers get swept up by the profundity of space." About Profundity This word originally meant “the bottom of the sea,” used to describe vastness and depth before its meaning shifted to include the definition “depth of intellect, feeling, or spiritual mystery” in the 15th century. It is thought to have developed twofold from the Old French word “profundite,” and the Latin words “profunditatem” (depth, intensity, immensity) and “profundus” (deep, vast). Did You Know? While profundity can refer to deep insight or a great depth of knowledge, it can also be used to describe the sheer state of something profound or difficult to understand. Many people experience a state of profundity when trying to understand the breadth of the ocean or the vastness of space. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2021 What's the Word? - TEMPORIZE pronunciation: [TEM-pə-riyz] Part of speech: verb Origin: French, late 16th century Meaning: 1. Avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time. 2. Temporarily adopt a particular course in order to conform to the circumstances. Example: "The council intended to temporize the vote until the final member could arrive." "Kyra decided to temporize her roommate’s walking pace to continue the conversation." About Temporize The word temporize developed from the French word “temporiser” (to bide one’s time), the medieval Latin word “temporizare” (to delay), and the Latin word “tempus” (time). Did You Know? Many are already familiar with temporize (to avoid making a decision to gain time) by another name: procrastination. Procrastination is delaying or postponing an action to a later time, and is a problem that everyone, whether a student or a working adult, faces at some point. Advice to avoid procrastination varies from breaking work into smaller tasks, to finishing high-priority tasks when they are first received, and completing a task during a set amount of time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 What's the Word? - HARBINGER pronunciation: [HAR-bən-jər] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, 1100s Meaning: 1. A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another. 2. A forerunner of something. Example: "Robins are often considered the harbingers of spring." "Those first three chords were the harbinger of a chart-topping album." About Harbinger This word made its way into Late Middle English by way of the Old French words “herbergier” (provide lodging for) and “herberge” (lodging). However, its true origins lie in Old Saxon, particularly the combination of the German word “heri” (army) + a word for a fortified base to create the word “heriberga” (shelter for an army, lodging). Did You Know? Harbingers are often associated with doom or assumed to be bad omens, especially when related to supernatural phenomena. However, harbingers are simply people or things that announce or signal the approach of another, whether that approach is good or bad. A famous example is Paul Revere and other American riders who completed a twelve-mile midnight ride to warn founding fathers John Hancock and Patrick Henry that the British army was heading their way. Thanks to Revere and his associates, the fledgling American militia was able to hide their supplies before the British arrived. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 What's the Word? - PERVIOUS pronunciation: [PER-vee-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. (of a substance) allowing water to pass through; permeable. Example: "Despite extensive repairs, the boat’s hull was still pervious in choppier waves." "Rather than have his driveway paved, David decided to use a pervious layer of gravel." About Harbinger This word originated from the Latin word “pervius,” which means “having a passage through.” Did You Know? Pervious membranes are crucial to most organic, living things — humans would not exist without the permeable cells that make up our systems. However, these cells are still extremely picky about what enters and leaves at any given time. The cell membrane is selectively pervious, which means that it regulates which materials and substances are allowed to enter and leave with water and other bodily fluids. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 7, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2021 What's the Word? - EFFACE pronunciation: [ə-FAYS] Part of speech: verb Origin: French, late 15th century Meaning: 1. Erase (a mark) from a surface. 2. (efface oneself) Make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous. Example: "The babysitter was relieved to find that the spilled juice was easy to efface from the carpet." "Once Julia ceased trying to efface herself in front of the other contestants, she truly began to shine." About Harbinger This word developed from the French word “effacer,” made of a combination of the Latin word “ex” (away from) + face. Did You Know? Many people are familiar with the opposite of the word “efface” — the verb “deface,” the act of spoiling the surface or appearance of something by drawing or writing on it. For a long period of time, graffiti (painted images and words on surfaces in urban landscapes) was thought to deface buildings, bridges, and other urban landmarks. While graffiti is still illegal to apply to both public and private buildings, it is also recognized as an art form; approved graffiti and commissioned murals are now popularly used to efface unapproved graffiti, and even become landmarks and tourist attractions on their own. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2021 What's the Word? - OSCULATE pronunciation: [AHS-kyoo-leyt] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, mid 17th century Meaning: 1. (formal or humorous) kiss. Example: "The ocean and sky were so blue that it was difficult to discern where they osculated on the horizon." "Many cultures greet each other by osculating their companions’ cheeks." About Osculate This word originated from the Latin word “osculat” (kissed), which was derived from the verb “osculari” and the word “osculum” (little mouth or kiss). Did You Know? While a romantic kiss between the happily married couple is often considered the highlight of a wedding ceremony, Ancient Romans viewed the practice very differently. Ancient Roman couples would osculate as a symbol of their mutual agreement to the marriage. Since literacy was not as widespread during this time, historians speculate that this was a way of sealing an agreement — and that this action is likely what led to the development of the phrase “sealed with a kiss.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 9, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2021 What's the Word? - ZONK pronunciation: [zoNGk] Part of speech: verb Origin: of imitative/echoic origin, mid-20th century Meaning: 1. Fall or cause to fall suddenly and heavily asleep or lose consciousness 2. Hit or strike. Example: "Nothing makes me zonk out quite as quickly as NyQuil." "The bowl zonked Cheryl when she tried to grab it from the top shelf." About Zonk Zonk is a slang, onomatopoeic term from the mid-20th century with unknown origin. Did You Know? Zonk has its own unofficial meaning within the Army. A commanding officer will usually use it during physical training formations as a fun way to dismiss his or her unit from duty. Once the word is shouted out, the entire unit can run off while shouting with glee. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2021 What's the Word? - FRUITION pronunciation: [froo-ISH-ən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old French and Latin, early 15th century Meaning: 1. The point at which a plan or project is realized 2. The state or action of producing fruit Example: "Everything started falling into place as her plan came to fruition." "The chemist’s lab research came to fruition." About Fruition Fruition originates from the Latin verb frui, meaning “to enjoy.” Did You Know? Even though “fruition” and “fruit” both come from the Latin verb frui, they were developed independent of each other. In fact, when “fruition” was first used in the 1400s, it simply meant “pleasurable use or possession.” It wasn’t until the 1800s that the word developed its modern-day definition: “the state of bearing fruit.” This newer definition might be a simple case of mistaken etymology; regardless, the meaning has clearly expanded into metaphorical language. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2021 What's the Word? - CADUCOUS pronunciation: [kə-DYOO-kəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, late 17th century Meaning: 1. (of an organ or part) easily detached and shed at an early stage Example: "The protective layer of a poppy can be caducous, falling off to reveal the bright petals." "Jane slid the bulky fur coat off her body in a caducous manner." About Caducous Caducous is a botany term that derives from the Latin caducus, meaning “liable to fall,” and -ous, meaning “characterized by.” Did You Know? It would be easy to think that “caducous” and “deciduous” are synonyms because they both refer to plants shedding parts of themselves. But a closer look at their definitions proves otherwise. Caducous refers to something on a plant or creature that is easily shed at an early stage of development; deciduous describes a tree or shrub that sheds its leaves annually. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2021 What's the Word? - RURITANIAN pronunciation: [rə-rə-TAY-nyən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, Late 1890s Meaning: 1. Relating to or characteristic of the imaginary kingdom of Ruritania from the novels of Anthony Hope, especially with reference to romantic adventure and intrigue Example: "David planned a Ruritanian trip to several exotic locales." "My daydreams can become quite Ruritanian." About Ruritanian Ruritanian hails from Latin rus, meaning "rural," and the Latinate ending -itania. British author Anthony Hope helped create the term in one of his novels. Did You Know? British author Anthony Hope published his mythical novel, The Prisoner of Zenda, in 1894. It quickly grew in popularity, capturing readers’ imaginations with its sense of adventure, courtly romances, heroes, and sword fights. Shortly after the book’s release, George Bernard Shaw used the story’s fictional locale, Ruritania, as an adjective when he said, “Our common sense ... must immediately put a summary stop to the somewhat silly Ruritanian gambols of our imagination.” It's an obscure term for fanciful places and attitudes, but perhaps it deserves to be brought back? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2021 What's the Word? - PIED pronunciation: [pihyd] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin and Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. Having two or more different colors Example: "The horse had a pied coat even though his mother’s coat was a solid brown." "The pied scarf contained all the colors of the rainbow." About Pied Pied is a Middle English term that combines the Latin pica with the Old English suffix -ede, used to turn nouns into adjectives. Did You Know? The notion of the “pied piper” comes from a legend called “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” In it, a piper wearing a multicolored (pied) coat comes to the German town of Hamelin because he has been hired to lure the overflowing rat population away with the music from his magical pipe. When the citizens refuse to pay his fee, he strikes back by luring the town’s children away with his pipe. Various iterations of this tale appeared in the writings of The Brothers Grimm and Robert Browning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2021 What's the Word? - GAMESOME pronunciation: [GEYM-səm] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. Playful and merry Example: "The toddler was gamesome as he ran happily through the field." "Stacy had a bubbly, gamesome personality that made her welcoming to all newcomers." About Gamesome Gamesome originates from the Germanic gaman-, meaning “amusement” and Middle English suffix -some Did You Know? Gamesome can be found in many forms of literature, but perhaps its most famous usage is when Brutus tells Cassius, “I am not gamesome. I do lack some part of that quick spirit that is in Antony” early in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” And Brutus proves to have a less-than-gamesome personality when he aids in the assassination plot against Caesar, causing the dictator to ask the famous line “Et tu, Brute?” in his last moments. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2021 What's the Word? - PARLANCE pronunciation: [PAR-ləns] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. A particular way of speaking or using words, especially a way common to those with a particular job or interest Example: "Sarah wasn’t used to the parlance in the medical journal." "The parlance of the mental health field is becoming easier for the general public to understand." About Parlance Parlance derives from the Old French “parler,” meaning “speak,” and from the Latin noun “parabola,” meaning “comparison.” Did You Know? The parlance in the 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski” is so quotable for audiences because characters often repeat specific phrases they’ve heard other people say in prior conversation. In fact, both The Dude (played by Jeff Bridges) and Maude (played by Julianne Moore) slip the phrase “the parlance of our times” into their own parlance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2021 What's the Word? - FAUNA pronunciation: [FAH-nə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 18th century Meaning: 1. The animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period. Example: "The fauna in the Serengeti includes the increasingly rare black rhino." "A trip to the aquarium is a great way to study the fauna of the sea." About Fauna This word derived from a modern Latin application of Fauna, a Roman rural goddess and sister of Faunus, in the late 18th century. Did You Know? There’s a reason “flora and fauna” are often paired together. The word “fauna” became popular after Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus used it in the title of his 1746 catalog, “Fauna Svecica.” It detailed all the animals in his country, and he paired the word as a companion to “flora” within the text. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2021 What's the Word? - CULL pronunciation: [kəl] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, 13th century Meaning: 1. To select from a large quantity or obtain from a variety of sources. Example: "The reading list was culled from all the books published in the last five years." "Some believe that culling certain species can prevent animal overpopulation." About Cull This word is rooted in the Old French “coillier,” which is based on the Latin “colligere.” Did You Know? “Cull” is almost always used as a verb. But it can also be a noun that refers to selectively reducing a surplus of livestock or an overpopulation of wild animals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2021 What's the Word? - BURGEON pronunciation: [BUR-jən] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, 14th century Meaning: 1. Begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish. Example: "The market for feminist literature has burgeoned over the last five years." "Austin’s suburbs continue to burgeon because it’s so trendy." About Burgeon This word stems from the Old French “bourgeonner,” meaning “put out buds.” And that is based in the late Latin “burra,” meaning “wool.” Did You Know? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, usage of the word “burgeon” died out around the 18th century with one exception — when talking about gardening. However, the word found a new literary audience in the poetry of the 19th century. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2021 What's the Word? - DELPHIC pronunciation: [DEL-fik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, late 14th century Meaning: 1. (Typically of a pronouncement) deliberately obscure or ambiguous. Example: "The commentators’ election predictions were Delphic and hard to follow." "The man sitting at the bar had a mysterious, Delphic air about him." About Delphic The word “Delphic” descends from the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi. Did You Know? Pythia was the high priestess and oracle at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. She was widely praised for her prophecies, both on affairs of government and of the heart. Between the 6th century BCE and the 4th century CE, Pythia was the most authoritative oracle in the country and, long after her time, one of the most powerful women in the world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2021 What's the Word? - PHLEGMATIC pronunciation: [fleg-MAD-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 14th century Meaning: 1. Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition. Example: "Patrick’s phlegmatic temperament means he doesn’t anger easily." "Some people mask their emotions with a phlegmatic exterior." About Phlegmatic This word originates from the Old French “fleumatique,” which derives from the Greek “phlegmatikos,” meaning “inflammation.” Did You Know? The phrase “stiff upper lip” is British, but the phlegmatic philosophy is actually rooted in Ancient Greece. The Spartans developed a strict culture of discipline that sparked inspiration for the English public school system. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2021 What's the Word? - SUCCOR pronunciation: [SUH-kər] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, 13th century Meaning: 1. Assistance and support in times of hardship and distress. Example: "The United States has offered succor to many allies in times of conflict." "Sebastian decided he needed his sister’s succor to pick out the perfect engagement ring." About Succor The word comes from Middle English via the Old French “sucors.” The medieval Latin “succursus” means “run to the help of,” a combination of “sub-,” “from below” and “currere,” meaning “run.” Did You Know? “Succor” is often confused with “sucker” in spoken conversation because they’re homophones — words that sound the same yet have different spellings and meanings. A “sucker” is a gullible person. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now