New Game: What's the Word?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CARAPACE

pronunciation: [KER-ə-pays]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 19th century

 

Meaning: 

1. The hard upper shell of a tortoise, crustacean, or arachnid.

2. Something regarded as a protective or defensive covering.

 

Example:

"The trickiest part of eating a lobster is removing the meat from the carapace."

"Humor can serve as a carapace to protect someone from their more complex and private emotions."

 

About Carapace

“Carapace” comes directly to English from the French “carapace,” as well as the Spanish “carapacho,” which refers to the shell covering the back of a turtle.

 

Did You Know?

While “carapace” originally referred to tough outer shells on certain animals and insects, it also has a more modern symbolic use. As a metaphor, “carapace” describes some means of defense. For example, actor Hugh Jackman plays the character Wolverine with a carapace of aggressive hostility, but he has a soft spot for helping underdogs, and Jackman himself is known for his well-mannered gentleness.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ATARAXY

pronunciation: [AD-ə-rak-see]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, 17th century

 

Meaning: 

1. A state of serene calmness.

 

Example:

"Many people achieve ataraxy through exercise and meditation."

"Upon arriving home and petting my dog, I was filled with ataraxy."

 

About Ataraxy

“Ataraxy” is based on the Greek “ἀταραξία,” meaning “impassiveness” or “lack of disturbance.” It entered English from the French “ataraxie” in the early 1600s.

 

Did You Know?

“Ataraxy” is sometimes used as a synonym for “deep relaxation” or “serenity.” However, the idea was developed by Stoic philosophers in ancient Greece who used “ataraxy” to describe a state of emotional balance that resulted from living in harmony with nature. The Stoics also thought ataraxy could be achieved by abandoning passions in favor of reason. While today ataraxy might be associated with a pleasant evening at home, Stoics encouraged soldiers entering battle to cultivate ataraxy, since mental stillness would help protect them in combat.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CONCOMITANT

pronunciation: [kən-KAM-əd-ənt]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, 17th century

 

Meaning: 

1. Naturally accompanying or associated.

 

Example:

"Arthur enjoys a big Sunday meal and the concomitant nap that follows."

"I like highway driving, but I don’t like the concomitant stress of driving in the city."

 

About Concomitant

“Concomitant” entered English from the Latin “concomitant,” meaning “accompanying.”

 

Did You Know?

McDonald’s Happy Meals, a children’s meal sold with a concomitant toy, debuted in 1979. However, over the years critics have argued offering toys and other concomitant gifts alongside fast food encourages unhealthy eating. As a result, San Francisco banned the sale of unhealthy meals featuring toys or games in 2010, in the hope of forcing meals featuring concomitant gifts for children to meet minimum nutritional standards. Companies found they could skirt this ban by offering the toys for sale at a very low price, rather than having them concomitant to the meal.

 

[DarkRavie]

Notice

 

I will be back posting What's the Word on Monday, August 8th. (going on vacation!)

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CONCOMITANT

pronunciation: [di-ER-əs-əs]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin/Greek, 17th century

 

Meaning: 

1. A mark (¨) placed over a vowel to indicate that it is sounded in a separate syllable, as in naïve, Brontë.

2. The division of a sound into two syllables, especially by sounding a diphthong as two vowels.

 

Example:

""The New Yorker" is known for using a dieresis on words with a repeated vowel, such as “reënter.”"

"Luanne and Sally chose to use a dieresis in place of a hyphen when naming their store “Coöperative.”"

 

About Dieresis

“Dieresis” comes directly from both the Latin “diæresis” and the nearly identical Greek “διαίρεσις,” meaning “division” or “split.”

 

Did You Know?

The dieresis is sometimes confused with its identical-in-appearance relative, the umlaut, yet the two serve different functions. Both appear as the same two dots over a letter, however, a dieresis is specifically used to indicate that the pronunciation of vowels in a word is split. A dieresis is the reason the word “naïve” is pronounced as two syllables. Without the dieresis, it might rhyme with “rave” or “cave.” On the other hand, umlauts appear only in German, and their job is either to change the sound of a vowel, or to modify the word in some way (for example, by making it plural).

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: VIATOR

pronunciation: [vi-EY-tawr]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 16th century

 

Meaning: 

1. A traveler or wayfarer

 

Example:

"A viator appeared at the door just before the desk clerk was about to leave the inn for the night."

"At the conference, viators from many different nations ate together in the dining room."

 

About Viator

“Viator” draws directly on the Latin “viator,” whose basis is “via,” meaning “road” or “path.”

 

Did You Know?

While “viator” is rare, “aviator” is a more recognizable word also referring to a kind of traveler, yet the two terms are unrelated. “Viator” refers to someone who travels a road or path (called a “via” in Latin), while “aviator” is based on the French term “aviateur,” which combines the Latin “avis,” meaning “bird,” and the suffix “-ation,” indicating an activity. The “via” in “aviator” does not refer to the Latin root suggesting a path, but rather the similarity to birds. A viator travels along a road or path, while an aviator travels the skies.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CONTRADISTINCTION

pronunciation: [kan-trə-de-STINK-shən]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: English, 17th century

 

Meaning: 

1. Distinction made by contrasting the different qualities of two things.

 

Example:

"Porpoises and dolphins are so similar they sometimes require contradistinction to highlight the differences between them."

"On St-Jean Baptiste day, we ate poutine and other Quebec foods in contradistinction to our usual meals."

 

About Contradistinction

“Contradistinction” combines the Latin prefix “contra-” (meaning “against”) with the Middle English term “distinction” (originally “distinccioun”). “Distinction” itself is related to the Latin “distinguo,” meaning “I distinguish.”

 

Did You Know?

Most readers know the noun “contradiction,” which is built on similar ideas as “contradistinction.” However, the difference between the two is notable: In “contradiction,” one factor denies or refutes another. In “contradistinction,” two factors are presented together so the distinction between their differences may be discerned clearly. For example, seals and sea lions are easily confused animals. Only through contradistinction — considering the two species of animals together to identify how they differ from one another — is it possible to show one’s distinct differences from the other.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SILT

pronunciation: [silt]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Middle English, 15th century

 

Meaning: 

1. Fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment, especially in a channel or harbor.

 

Example:

"There was mostly silt and a few rocks at the bottom of the pond."

"Chris has a special attachment for his pool vacuum to pick up silt so fine it would otherwise clog the machine."

 

About Silt

“Silt” is a centuries-old word with uncertain origins, though it came into English through the Middle English words “silte” and “cylte” which also indicate sediments left by water sources.

 

Did You Know?

There are many words similar to “silt” across northern European languages. In Norwegian and Dutch the word “sylt” refers specifically to a “salt marsh,” as does the word “sylta” in Swedish. These words were preceded by the Middle Low German “sulte,” also meaning “salt-marsh.” All are related to the Old English “sealt” (circa 11th century) meaning “salt.” Between the 15th and 16th century, “silt” developed its modern meaning of fine sediment deposited by water.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ANTHOPOGLOT

pronunciation: [an-THRə-poh-glot]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin/Greek, 18th century

 

Meaning: 

1. An animal (e.g. a parrot) whose tongue is similar to a human tongue, making possible sounds similar to human speech.

 

Example:

"Harry had an affinity for anthropoglots and had several talking birds as pets."

"An anthropoglot doesn’t actually know what it’s saying, but sometimes the animal’s “statements” sound convincingly real."

 

About Anthropoglot

“Anthropoglot” is based either on the Latin “anthropoglottus” or the related Greek “ἀνθρωπόγλωττος,” both meaning “speaking like a human being.” As a prefix, “anthropo-“ indicates human beings, while “glot” indicates knowledge of language.

 

Did You Know?

The definition of “anthropoglot” usually refers to animals with tongues — such as parrots and other talking birds — who can “speak” like humans. Yet one of the most fascinating animals to learn to “speak” human language does so without using its tongue. Rather, South Korea’s Koshik the elephant has proven himself capable of “speaking” Korean by placing his trunk in his mouth against his molars and tongue, and using his trunk as a stand-in for a tongue in order to simulate what scientists called “very accurate imitations of speech.” In 2006, Koshik was capable of simulating the words “yes,” “no,” “sit,” and “lie down,” among a few others, in Korean.

 

Edited August 12, 2022 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ISOPOLITY

pronunciation: [ay-sə-POL-ih-tee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, 19th century

 

Meaning: 

1. Equal citizenship rights, and mutual political rights, across different communities

 

Example:

"Our town encouraged modern values of isopolity by offering free parking for cars with licenses from neighboring states."

"A current example of isopolity is the European Union, in which citizens of one country mutually share rights enjoyed by citizens of other member nations."

 

About Isopolity

“Isopolity” is based on the Greek expression “ἰσοπολῑτεία” (“isopoliteia”), referring to a citizen who has a reciprocal right.

 

Did You Know?

As a political idea, “isopolity” emerged from the city-states of ancient Greece during the Hellenistic period, between 323 BCE and roughly 30 BCE. These states were ruled by citizens rather than kings or emperors, and they developed “isopolity” treaties offering equal citizenship rights between kindred communities. “Isopolity” usually referred to two-way citizenship between two friendly nation-states, where a person from one state did not need to participate in the political life of the second state to which they were a citizen. Still, male citizens from one nation state could marry women, or own land, in another state that they shared isopolity with.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: PLAGE

pronunciation: [plahzh]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 19th century

 

Meaning: 

1. A beach by the sea, especially at a fashionable resort.

 

Example:

"As soon as we unpacked our bags, we took a stroll on the resort’s wide, sandy plage."

"My best childhood memories are at the plage at the resort my family went to every summer in Acapulco."

 

About Plage

“Plage” comes into English directly from the French word “plage,” meaning “shore.” The French “plage” is rooted in the Italian “piaggia,” based on the Latin “plagia,” meaning “shore” or “coast.”

 

Did You Know?

The English word “plage” is drawn from the same word in French, but those more familiar with Spanish — particularly those who’ve taken beach holidays to Spanish-speaking countries — will recognize the similarity with the Spanish term “playa,” also meaning “beach.” The two words are based on the same Latin root, and like “plage,” “playa” is sometimes used in English as a fancy way of describing a beach. However, in English “playa” has an additional geographical meaning describing a flat area in a desert basin. By contrast, “plage” specifically describes seaside beaches at resort locations.

 

[DarkRavie]

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.

 

Example:

"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 in 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.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CORUSCATE

pronunciation: [KOR-ə-skeyt]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin: Latin, 18th century

 

Meaning: 

1. (of light) flash or sparkle.

 

Example:

"The sun coruscated across the many glimmering surfaces of the crashing waves."

"Mark had lit candles before we arrived, and we could see them coruscating in the window from the street."

 

About Coruscate

“Coruscate” is based on the Latin “coruscāre,” meaning “to glitter.”

 

Did You Know?

“Coruscate” — generally a positive action associated with bright sparkles — is frequently confused with the similar sounding verb “excoriate,” which has the very different meaning to “damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin),” or to “censure or criticize severely.” Though “coruscate” and “excoriate” sound similar, they have different Latin roots. “Excoriate” is built on the Latin root “excoriat-,” meaning “skinned,” while “coruscate” refers back to the Latin word “coruscāre” and invokes sparkling, gleaming lights.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: BEL-ESPRIT

pronunciation: [bel-es-PREE]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 17th century

 

Meaning: 

1. A witty person.

 

Example:

"My uncle Ken was a bel-esprit whose presence livened up every family party."

"Hoping to absorb enough wit to become a bel-esprit, Laura read the collected works of Dorothy Parker and Oscar Wilde."

 

About Bel-Esprit

“Bel-esprit” comes directly from the French expression which literally means “nice spirit,” but is defined as “fine mind,” or “wit.”

 

Did You Know?

In the 18th-century, dinner parties could be multi-hour affairs with strict etiquette around conversation, but if one were lucky enough to be seated next to a bel-esprit, then the night was sure to be entertaining. This particular conversationalist was not just clever, but likely had a reputation for witty remarks that every one at the dinner table or party could enjoy and laugh at. A bel-esprit brought such wit, humor, and insight to a conversation that it was considered a privilege — or very good luck — to spend time talking with such a person.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: EFFICACY

pronunciation: [EFF-ə-kə-see]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 16th century

 

Meaning: 

1. The ability to produce a desired or intended result.

 

Example:

"For the greatest efficacy, take this medication before meals."

"John proved the efficacy of his intense study regimen with the high marks he received."

 

About Efficacy

“Efficacy” is based on the Latin “efficācia,” meaning “potential to accomplish.”

 

Did You Know?

“Efficacy” is easily confused with “efficiency,” but the meanings of the two words come from different Latin roots. “Efficacy,” like “effectiveness,” describes a capacity for achievement. It's roughly a direct translation of its Latin root “efficācia.” On the other hand, “efficiency” means the ability to maximize productivity while minimizing effort or expense. It is based on the Latin “efficientia,” meaning “efficient power.”

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: QUIDNUNC

pronunciation: [KWID-nəNGk]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 18th century

 

Meaning: 

1. An inquisitive and gossipy person.

 

Example:

"If you want to know what’s happening in your neighborhood, invite your local quidnunc over for coffee."

"Jorge’s habit of asking lots of questions in the breakroom earned him a reputation as a bit of a quidnunc."

 

About Quidnunc

“Quidnunc” is a compression of a Latin question, “Quid nunc?”, meaning “What now?” Curious to hear the latest gossip, an inquisitive person might ask a version of the question “what now?”

 

Did You Know?

A series of recent studies has busted the myth that women are more likely to be quidnuncs than men. Most people, it turns out, gossip about 52 minutes a day. Gossip tends to be nonjudgmental, rather than negative, but a quidnunc is a person who engages in gossip more frequently or blatantly than average. The term came about from the Latin question “quid nunc?,” or “what now?”

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CALIGINOUS

pronunciation: [kə-LIJ-ə-nəs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, 16th century

 

Meaning: 

1. Misty, dim; obscure, dark.

 

Example:

"The sky had grown caliginous by the time I left the library."

"Smoke from the burning potatoes had left the kitchen caliginous."

 

About Caliginous

“Caliginous” is based on the Latin “cālīginōsus,” meaning “misty” or “obscure.”

 

Did You Know?

“Caliginous” is a literary word used to evoke misty, dark obscurity in a poetic manner. Its Latin root, “cālīginōsus,” is based specifically on the word “cālīgō,” which refers to “fog,” “mist,” and “vapor.” As a result, it describes the state of not being able to see clearly not because of darkness, but because the air is full of something like fog or smoke that impedes a clear view. When “caliginous” is used poetically to describe darkness, it describes a darkness that is so thick and enveloping it is almost physical.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SPRAG

pronunciation: [sprag]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Unknown origin, 17th century

 

Meaning: 

1. A short piece of wood or timber

2. A prop (especially made of wood or timber) used to support a roof, wall, or seam.

 

Example:

"After cutting the firewood, my uncle cut a few sprags to use as door stops around the house."

"My brother once built a backyard tunnel so complex it had a wooden roof supported by sprags."

 

About Sprag

The source of “sprag” is obscure, though in its earliest appearance in English “sprag” referred to a twig, while around the same time “spragge” in Swedish meant the same thing. “Sprag” may also be related to “sprig,” describing a small branch or a rod. The origin of “sprig” is also unknown.

 

Did You Know?

“Sprag” has another meaning closely related to the two listed here. The verb “to sprag” can mean to create a simple vehicle brake by placing a stout stick (i.e. a “sprag”) in between the spokes of a vehicle. As a result, the noun versions of the word can be used as a verb: one can “sprag” a wall by supporting it with a sprag of timber, and one can “sprag” a wheel to stop its motion by jamming a sprag into it.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CANONICAL

pronunciation: [kə-NAN-ə-kel]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, 16th century

 

Meaning: 

1. (of an artist or work) Belonging to the literary or artistic canon.

2. Accepted as being accurate and authoritative.

 

Example:

"Little Richard is canonical in the history of rock 'n' roll."

"Many great works of literature that are now considered canonical were ignored upon their first publication."

 

About Canonical

“Canonical” is based on the Latin “canonicālis,” meaning subject to the “canōn,” meaning rules. In Ecclesiastical Latin, “canōn” came to mean the authorized catalog of books of the Bible or saints.

 

Did You Know?

“Canonical” originally described religious documents accepted as authentic by the Roman Catholic Church. However, the term now has a secular meaning describing books and other works of art permanently established in certain top tiers of literary greatness. For example, William Shakespeare and Jane Austen are considered reigning members of the English literature canon, but Toni Morrison and Kurt Vonnegut belong to a more specific canon of 20th-century American literature.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ACME

pronunciation: [AK-mee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, 16th century

 

Meaning: 

1. The point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful.

 

Example:

"The magazine critic claimed the Rolling Stones reached their creative acme in the 1970s."

"Many Houston Astros fans think pitcher Justin Verlander is at the acme of a long and successful career."

 

About Acme

“Acme” is borrowed directly from the Greek “ἀκμή,” meaning “the highest point” or “the culminating point.”

 

Did You Know?

In classic Looney Tunes cartoons, “Acme” was the brand name for almost every product, from anvils to mouse traps. This satirized the trend of mid-century companies using the name “Acme” as a marketing tactic to advertise high-quality goods. In many cases, the name and the quality of the product fail to match up — as Wile E. Coyote often learned. Looney Tunes played up for laughs the disappointment of buying an “acme” product, only to discover its quality was abysmal — if not dangerously explosive.