New Game: What's the Word?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ABSTEMIOUS

pronunciation: [əb-STEE-mee-əs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, early 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Indulging only very moderately in something, especially food and drink.

 

Example:

"He threw his abstemious diet out the window and indulged in cake on his birthday."

"The family was very abstemious, keeping no sugar or junk food in the house."

 

About Abstemious

Abstemius in Latin is spelled slightly differently from its English counterpart, "abstemious," but they mean the same thing. In Latin, "ab" means "from" and "temetum" means "alcoholic drink." An abstemious man is one who does not indulge in excessive food or drink.

 

Did you Know?

There’s a fun trick hidden in the word "abstemious." Take a look at the vowels — notice anything? Each vowel appears only once and in alphabetical order. Feel free to use this bit of trivia at your next happy hour.

 

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: FUGACIOUS

pronunciation: [fyoo-GEY-shəs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, mid-17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Tending to disappear.

2. Fleeting.

 

Example:

"Cookies are quite fugacious in my house."

"The hummingbird made a fugacious stop on my flowers."

 

About Fugacious

Fugacious is often used in an ephemeral sense — your sadness is fugacious and better times are around the corner. Or it can be used in a physical sense. A gardener might describe a plant with falling leaves as fugacious.

 

Did you Know?

The Latin "fugere" means to flee. Other words that come from this same root include "subterfuge," "fugitive," and "refuge." Think of the movie "The Fugitive," and you'll likely never forget the definition of "fugacious."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ORRERY

pronunciation: [OR-ə-ree]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: English, early 18th century

 

Meaning:

1. A mechanical model of the solar system, or of just the sun, Earth, and moon, used to represent their relative positions and motions.

 

Example:

"The antique orrery held a place of honor in the library."

"The miniature orrery received quite a bit of use in the science class."

 

About Orrery

You've likely made an orrery and didn't realize it. An orrery is a model of the solar system, or at least the sun, Earth, and the moon. Technically it's supposed to be mechanical, but we'll still call your elementary school model of painted styrofoam balls an orrery.

 

Did you Know?

Models of the solar system have been created since ancient times, but the more modern versions are called orreries. There's no scientific origin to the name; the moniker is thanks to a commission from Charles Boyle, the Fourth Earl of Orrery.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: MOIL

pronunciation: [moyl]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin: Latin, mid-16th century

 

Meaning:

1. Work hard.

2. Move around in confusion or agitation.

 

Example:

"You'll need to moil to get the bulbs planted before a frost, but it will be worth it in the spring."

"She seemed lost as she moiled around the street corner."

 

About Moil

As a verb, "moil" primarily means "to work very hard." But if you work too hard, you might get overwhelmed or overheated. In comes the second definition of "moil," meaning "to move around in agitation."

 

Did you Know?

The modern definition of "moil" is the opposite of its roots. In Latin, "mollis" means "soft," and "moil" originally meant "to moisten or soften" a substance. But if you're laboring in mud, it's probably pretty hard work, and that's likely how "moil" came to mean "strenuous work."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: DIVARICATE

pronunciation: [di-VAR-ə-kayt]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin: Latin, early 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Stretch or spread apart.

2. Diverge widely.

 

Example:

"You'll want to divaricate the new plantings in the garden to allow the roots to grow."

"We divaricate on our political views, but we agreed to put them aside for family dinner."

 

About Divaricate

This verb for stretching or spreading apart traces back to Latin. "Varicare" means to stretch the legs apart and the prefix "di-" means expressing intensve force. So divaricate means to stretch with some amount of force. It's not just a slight difference.

 

Did you Know?

As a verb, "divaricate" means "to separate or diverge." It's also used in botany as a noun for a branching pattern of leaves. In that sense, it can be an adjective as well. Shrubs often have divaricating leaves.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: TIFFIN

pronunciation: [TIH-fihn]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Indian, early 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. A light meal, especially lunch.

 

Example:

"Would you like to join us for a tiffin before you leave?"

"My husband always packs up a tiffin for me to take to work when I have a long shift."

 

About Tiffin

As a noun, a tiffin is a small snack, or possibly the box used to carry your lunch. Then you could use it as a verb for eating that light midday meal. The roots are in English, but India has adopted the term, and it's primarily used there today.

 

Did you Know?

While many words were brought into English from other languages through colonization, "tiffin" is an example in reverse. "Tiff" was an old-fashioned English term for a little bite of something, and when Great Britain colonized India, the word "tiffin," meaning "a light lunch," was adopted into Anglo-Indian slang by the mid-19th century. The usage has now expanded slightly, also serving as the name of a stackable type of lunchbox.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: PELLUCID

pronunciation: [pə-LOO-səd]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, early 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Translucently clear.

2. (Of music or other sound) Clear and pure in tone.

 

Example:

"For spring cleaning, I wash the windows until they are pellucid with no streaks or water spots."

"The song she played on her violin was pellucid and sweet."

 

About Pellucid

If you know the word lucid (Expressed clearly; easy to understand), then you’re on your way to understanding pellucid. It can share the exact same definition, or it can be used in a more lyrical sense to describe something beautifully clear, or even clear and pure sounding music.

 

Did you Know?

Lucidus is Latin for "clear," and "per" means "through," so "pellucid" means "completely transparent." Other words that share the clear Latin root include "translucent," "lustrous," "elucidate," "illustrate," and, of course, "lucid."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: RHAPSODY

pronunciation: [RAP-sə-dee]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, mid-16th century

 

Meaning:

1. An effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling.

2. A free instrumental composition in one extended movement, typically one that is emotional or exuberant in character.

 

Example:

"The story captured the rhapsody of first love and the emotions that go along with it. "

"He wrote a rhapsody inspired by the colors of the changing autumn forest."

 

About Rhapsody

As a song, a rhapsody is exuberant and bold, full of feeling. It’s written as one instrumental composition. But you can also apply rhapsody outside of the music world. You might recognize “rhapsodies of praise” or a “rhapsody of spring.” Any expression of intense emotions and enthusiasm can be a rhapsody.

 

Did you Know?

In ancient Greece, a rhapsody was an epic poem, usually recited in one sitting. Over the years, a rhapsody became a song instead of a poem, but still exuberant and often quite long. You can find rhapsodies all throughout the history of classical music and in more modern forms, such as Queen's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SAVANT

pronunciation: [sa-VAHNT]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, early 18th century

 

Meaning:

1. A very learned or talented person, especially one distinguished in a particular field of science or the arts.

2. A person who has an exceptional aptitude in one particular field, such as music or mathematics, despite having significant impairment in other areas of intellectual or social functioning.

 

Example:

"We hired him based on his reputation as a savant in the field of biochemistry. "

"I was honored to be seated next to the department's savant at the reception."

 

About Savant

In French, “savoir” is a verb meaning to know. We adopted the present participle (savant) as a noun in English for an impressively learned person. The woman who wrote every book on a given subject, and the professor at the top of his field? Savants.

 

Did you Know?

The second definition of the word "savant" applies to a specific medical diagnosis of a condition called "savant syndrome." Savant syndrome occurs in people with mental disabilities who have exceptional skill (or "islands of genius," as experts have come to call it) in certain areas. You might be familiar with the syndrome from the movie "Rain Man," in which Dustin Hoffman plays a man with autism who has incredible skill with numbers and memory. Researchers have found that approximately 50% of people with savant syndrome have autism spectrum disorder, and the remainder have some sort of central nervous system injury or disease.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ANALOG

pronunciation: [AN-ə-lawg]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Greek, early 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. Relating to or using signals or information represented by a continuously variable physical quantity such as spatial position, voltage, etc. (often contrasted with digital).

2. Not involving or relating to the use of computer technology, as a contrast to a digital counterpart.

 

Example:

"I prefer analog methods of playing music, such as a record player."

"People born after 2000 might not even know how to read an analog clock."

 

About Analog

The adjective "analog" is most commonly understood when contrasted with "digital." If a clock is not digital, the ticking hands mean it's analog. If email is digital communication, then stamping and sending a postcard is analog.

 

Did you Know?

Today's techies know "analog" as an adjective, but you might also see "analog" (or "analogue") used as a noun. In that usage, one thing is comparable to another. Coke is an analogue for Pepsi.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: EXTEMPORANEOUS

pronunciation: [ik-stem-pə-RAY-nee-əs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, late 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Spoken or done without preparation.

 

Example:

"I was surprised to be asked to give an extemporaneous speech at the wedding."

"The director stood up to give a few extemporaneous remarks at the end of the day."

 

About Extemporaneous

Impromptu, spur of the moment, off the cuff — all casual ways to describe an extemporaneous speech. "Extemporaneous" comes from the Latin "ex tempore," meaning "out of time." There's no time to prepare, but you'll improvise.

 

Did you Know?

Members of the high school speech and debate team probably know this word. In an extemporaneous challenge, participants square off in a one-to-one debate on a given topic, with limited time to prepare. "Extemporaneous" means "done without preparation" — the participants don't know the topic ahead of time, so it's a test of their ability to think on their feet.

 

Edited October 8, 2023 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ZEPHYR

pronunciation: [ZEH-fər]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, late 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. A soft gentle breeze.

2. A very light article of clothing.

 

Example:

"The warm zephyr was a welcome sign that spring was here. "

"You only need to wear a zephyr over your swimsuit for a trip to the beach."

 

About Zephyr

In Greek, "zephuros" means "god of the west wind." As "zefferus" moved into Old English, it became a personification of the west wind, or a metaphor for pleasant weather. By the late 17th century, the word "zephyr" was a poetic way to describe a gentle breeze — possibly from the west, but not necessarily.

 

Did you Know?

You can use "zephyr" to describe a welcome breeze on a warm day, or it might be the article of clothing you're wearing. "Zephyr" once referred to a specific kind of fine cotton gingham, but the term evolved to describe any lightweight garment.

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: DEMONYM

pronunciation: [DEM-ə-nim]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, mid-19th century

 

Meaning:

1. A noun used to denote the natives or inhabitants of a particular country, state, city, etc.

 

Example:

"He knew the demonym for a resident of Indiana is 'Hoosier,' but he didn't know why."

"I currently live in Australia, but I still claim my demonym as British."

 

About Demonym

A demonym identifies a native of a certain geographical place or ethnic group. Forming these words might be as simple as adding a suffix (Japanese, Egyptian, Parisian), or they could be entirely different words (Okie, Mancunian, Neapolitan).

 

Did you Know?

Demonym comes from Greek — "dēmos" meaning "people" and "onuma" meaning "name" — but the usage has changed over time. It used to be applied to a noun used as a pen name, such as on a pamphlet written by "A Country Clergyman." The term was resurrected in the 1990s as a descriptor of residency.

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CHIFFONADE

pronunciation: [shif-ə-NAHD]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, late 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. A preparation of shredded or finely cut leaf vegetables, used as a garnish for soup.

 

Example:

"Sprinkle the soup with a chiffonade of basil before you serve it."

"The chef assigned the assistant to cut the chiffonade needed for the day."

 

About Chiffonade

A chiffonade is a quick way to add a splash of color and flavor to your food. Stolen from the French verb "chiffonner," meaning "to crumble," "chiffonade" is a noun for delicate strips of herbs. It can also be used as a verb to describe the process of slicing the greens.

 

Did you Know?

Even if you haven't heard the word, you'll likely recognize a chiffonade — it's the finely chopped preparation of herbs or greens sprinkled on top of your food. It looks fancy, but it's quite easy to do. Stack the leaves, roll them into a thin cigar shape, and then slice across the roll to form thin ribbons. Now you have a chiffonade of herbs to decorate and flavor your dish.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SAGACIOUS

pronunciation: [sə-GEY-shus]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, early 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.

 

Example:

"She could always rely on her mentor to provide sagacious feedback."

"The op-ed provided a sagacious viewpoint on the recent city council controversy."

 

About Sagacious

To be sagacious means to be wise, but specifically showing keen judgment. It’s not just about intelligence; it's showing discernment, too. Being sagacious could be described as using "street smarts" in addition to "book smarts."

 

Did you Know?

Sage is commonly known as the herb that provides a heavy dose of flavor at Thanksgiving, but the Latin word "sagax" also means "wise." Use "sage" as an adjective meaning "wise," or as a noun for "a wise person." "Sagacious" becomes the adjective if you feel it's wise to use a longer word.

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by DarkRavie

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: EXTRAMUNDANE

pronunciation: [eks-trə-mən-DEYN]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. Outside or beyond the physical world.

 

Example:

"My niece loves to pretend she is playing with fairies and other extramundane creatures."

"Mythology from almost every culture contains extramundane stories and folklore."

 

About Extramundane

Today, if you call someone "extra," it means they're over the top and dramatic. However, the Latin origin doesn't concern being "too much"; it just means "outside." Pair it with "mundus" for "the world," and "extramundane" describes something not of this physical world.

 

Did you Know?

Humans have always had an interest in what lies beyond our world. As an adjective, "extramundane" can be used to describe anything outside the earthly realm. Lightning, seasons, animal discoveries — we have many modern scientific explanations for phenomena that in the past was attributed to the supernatural in mythology and folklore passed down through generations and across cultures.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: TROVE

pronunciation: [trohv]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, late 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. A store of valuable or delightful things.

 

Example:

"The kids were pretending to be pirates on a hunt for the secret treasure trove."

"His wine cellar was a trove of rare vintages."

 

About Trove

Historically, "trove" should be paired with "treasure." The phrase comes from the French "tresor trové," literally "found treasure." The French verb "trover" means "to find," but in English, the noun "trove" means "a stash of valuables."

 

Did you Know?

The origin of "trove" comes from an Anglo-Norman French phrase "tresor trové," literally "found treasure." Today, under British law, when hidden valuables are discovered, these found items are property of the crown. Treasure hunters may not care about the words, but the Treasure Act of 1996 officially referred to these finds as "treasure," not a "treasure trove."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: PATRONAGE

pronunciation: [PEY-trə-nij]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 14th century

 

Meaning:

1. The support given by a patron.

2. The regular business given to a store, restaurant, or public service by a person or group.

 

Example:

"He received enough patronage from the art gallery owner to be able to quit his day job and focus on painting."

"I love to go out to eat, but I try to give my patronage to locally owned restaurants."

 

About Patronage

Coming from Old French, "patron" referred to a protector or advocate (which goes back to the Latin "patronus" for "protector," and "pater" for "father"). Patronage became the support given by this patron. It can be economic support to a particular artist, for example, or it can be a group of customers loyal to a certain shop or restaurant.

 

Did you Know?

Today's primary usage of "patronage" is that of commercial support, and the origins of the words "patron" and "client" go back to ancient Rome with a similar but more formalized structure. Patricians, or upper-class Romans, were the patrons who supported the plebian, lower-class clients. In return, the clients provided many types of services and loyalty to their patrons.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: KINETIC

pronunciation: [kə-NED-ik]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Greek, mid-19th century

 

Meaning:

1. Relating to or resulting from motion.

2. (Of a work of art) Depending on movement for its effect.

 

Example:

"The garden has a large kinetic water fountain as the centerpiece."

"The museum featured a breathtaking display of kinetic art for the spring showcase."

 

About Kinetic

Kinetic comes from the Greek word "kinētikos," from the verb "kinein," meaning "to move." You can describe any sort of motion — from your first stretch in the morning to the giant drop on a roller coaster — as kinetic. The word is also used in the art world to describe moving sculptures.

 

Did you Know?

You might recognize "kine" in other moving words, including "kinesiology" ("the study of the mechanics of body movements"), "kinescope" ("a television picture tube"), and "kinesics" ("gestures and body movements serving as nonverbal communication"). They all come from the Greek root "kinēsis," meaning "movement."

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: PANTHEON

pronunciation: [PAN-thee-ahn]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Greek, 14th century

 

Meaning:

1. A group of particularly respected, famous, or important people.

2. All the gods of a people or religion collectively.

 

Example:

"Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Patsy Cline are original members of the pantheon of female country musicians."

"The vase up for auction displayed the deities of the Greek pantheon."

 

About Pantheon

If there's a particular group of people you wish to honor, you could call the collection a pantheon. If you're honoring the dead, you could do that in a structure called a pantheon. But in ancient Greece and Rome, a pantheon was a temple dedicated to all of the gods.

 

Did you Know?

The Pantheon in Rome is a former Roman temple, now a Catholic church. Built in the second century, it's one of the best preserved examples of ancient Roman architecture. Nearly 2,000 years after it was built, it's still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.