DarkRavie Posted November 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2023 What's the Word: BALACLAVA pronunciation: [bal-ə-KLAH-və] Part of speech: noun Origin: Turkish, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. A close-fitting garment covering the whole head and neck except for parts of the face, typically made of wool. Example: "It was too cold to wear just a hat, so he pulled out his balaclava." "Adding a balaclava under his ski helmet made it fit perfectly." About Balaclava They're not just for cartoon bank robbers — the balaclava is popular in cold climates and in certain sports. This close-fitting hat covers the whole head, neck, and parts of the face, usually leaving only the eyes bare. Did you Know? This winter weather accessory came about because British troops suffered in the cold during the Crimean War, and kind folks back home heard about their plight and started knitting. The special hat made to be worn under a helmet came to be called a balaclava, after the city of Balaklava in the Crimea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted November 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2023 What's the Word: TERMINUS pronunciation: [tər-mən-əs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. A final point in space or time; an end or extremity. 2. The end of a railroad or other transportation route, or a station at such a point; a terminal. Example: "The terminus of the highway construction is scheduled for April 2024." "Take the subway to the terminus, and I'll meet you there." About Terminus You might recognize the adjective "terminal," meaning "situated at the end," but "terminus" is the noun form. Use this word to distinguish an end point, either in space or time. It's a handy word to pull out at the end of a party: "This is the terminus. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." Did you Know? Another usage of "terminus" is as a name for a specific architectural feature. In that case, a terminus is a figure of a human bust or an animal, ending in a square pillar from which it appears to spring. These features were originally used as boundary markers in ancient Rome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted November 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2023 What's the Word: INVARIABLE pronunciation: [in-VEHR-ee-əb-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Never changing. 2. (Of a noun in an inflected language) Having the same form in both the singular and the plural, e.g., sheep. Example: "My mother's kitchen includes the invariable combination of a pot of coffee and plate of cookies." "My daughter's homework this week is to learn about invariable nouns, such as 'sheep' and 'deer.'" About Invariable Invariable can be broken down into its Latin parts for an easy definition. "In" means "not," and "variabilis" means "changeable." If you're invariable, you've made up your mind and there's no changing it. Did you Know? You might not be familiar with the linguistic meaning of "invariable," a noun with the same form in the singular and plural. You'll find these nouns most commonly in the animal world: sheep, buffalo, deer, fish, moose, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted November 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2023 What's the Word: CORPUS pronunciation: [KOR-pəs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 18th century Meaning: 1. A collection of written texts, especially the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject. 2. (Anatomy) The main body or mass of a structure. Example: "I own the corpus of my two favorite authors, Virginia Woolf and Henry James." "We need to examine the corpus for a proper diagnosis." About Corpus Corpus is Latin for "the body," and it was used in Middle English to refer to the body of a human or animal in an anatomical sense. Today, "corpus" is used in the humanities to refer to the entire body of work from one author, or on a particular subject. Did you Know? Lexicographers (people who study words and write the dictionary) call all of the words in the dictionary the "corpus." There are different corpuses for different dictionaries. If you pick up a copy of Merriam-Webster versus the Oxford English Dictionary, the corpus will vary slightly between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2023 What's the Word: BIBELOT pronunciation: [BIH-bə-lo] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A small, decorative ornament or trinket. Example: "Alyssa couldn't resist purchasing a bibelot for her tree at the holiday fair." "Mr. Willis pulled out his collection of Santa-themed bibelots, tchotchkes, and collectibles every year on December 1." About Bibelot Bibelot originated from the French word "bel," which means "beautiful." It developed over time to become a descriptor of the baubles, tchotchkes, knickknacks, and doodads you might find scattered around your house. Did you Know? Among many holiday traditions, the practice of decorating Christmas trees is especially beloved. While you can buy bibelots and baubles to hang on the branches, the best ones are often heirlooms — or handmade with love and preserved carefully over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2023 What's the Word: AVANT-GARDE pronunciation: [ah-vant-GARD] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, early 20th century Meaning: 1. Favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas. Example: "The student art show was sure to include many avant-garde pieces." "The fashion show was a little too avant-garde for my tastes." About Avant-Garde Avant-garde is used as an adjective to describe something unusual or experimental. It can also be used as a noun to refer to certain out-there ideas, or the people introducing them. You might meet the avant-garde at an avant-garde art gallery. Did you Know? The adjective "avant-garde" — commonly used to refer to the arts — can also describe cultural change. Social change and shifting values can be considered avant-garde in one decade, then accepted as the norm in the next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2023 What's the Word: TENSILE pronunciation: [TEN-siyl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Relating to tension. 2. Capable of being drawn out or stretched. Example: "The flooding increased the tensile forces and caused cracks in the foundation." "The tensile quality of steel allowed for the construction of high-rises." About Tensile In Latin, the verb "tendere" means "to stretch." It evolved into an adjective, "tensilis," in medieval Latin. We use "tensile" as an adjective in English mainly in technical contexts. It can describe tension related to physics or a material capable of being stretched. Did you Know? A tensile structure is an architectural construction built using only tension with no compression or bending. Recognizable tensile structures include the O2 in London, the Denver International Airport, and Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2023 What's the Word: MERINGUE pronunciation: [mə-RANG] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, early 18th century Meaning: 1. An item of sweet food made by baking a mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar until crisp. 2. A light mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar, baked until crisp or used as a topping for desserts. Example: "Follow this recipe to produce a perfect meringue." "We need to get more eggs for the meringue." About Meringue A pastry chef can tell you there are three different types of meringue. The most commonly known is the French meringue, made with fine sugar beaten into egg whites. Italian meringue is made with heated sugar syrup instead of granular sugar, and Swiss meringue is made by combining the sugar and egg whites over a pot of simmering water. Did you Know? The two-syllable "meringue" (mə-RANG) is the dessert treat. Add another syllable (mə-RENG-geh) and you have a variant spelling of the Latin dance merengue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2023 What's the Word: GRABBLE pronunciation: [GRA-bəl] Part of speech: verb Origin: Dutch, late 16th century Meaning: 1. Feel or search with the hands; grope about. 2. Sprawl or tumble on all fours. Example: "I had to grabble for the books hidden on the top shelf." "Move that broom before someone trips and grabbles." About Grabble If you trip on a chair leg and take a tumble, don't feel embarrassed — just call it a grabble. You can use this new vocabulary word to describe sprawling on all fours. The usage evolved from the original meaning of reaching about for an object. Did you Know? We get the word "grab" from Middle Dutch and German, also the origin of the similar words "grip" and "grope." "Grabble" is originally from the Dutch word "grabbelen," meaning "to scramble for a thing." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 What's the Word: APHYLLOUS pronunciation: [ey-FIL-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 19th century Meaning: 1. (Botany) Having no leaves. Example: "The aphyllous trees wrapped in bright holiday lights brought cheer to the street." "The aphyllous branches looked menacing silhouetted against the sky at night." About Aphyllous Aphyllous developed from the Latin word "aphyllus," via the Greek word "áphyllos." All of these words mean "leafless." Did you Know? While holiday lights draped over aphyllous trees make a cheery seasonal sight, they also have a practical purpose — for certain cold-sensitive plants, these lights may provide just enough warmth for the winter season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2023 What's the Word: EDIFICE pronunciation: [ED-ə-fəs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 14th century Meaning: 1. A building, especially a large, imposing one. 2. A complex system of beliefs. Example: "The edifice at the center of campus holds the business school classes." "The first task of the new government is to establish a constitutional edifice." About Edifice An imposing word comes with imposing roots. In Latin, "aedis" means "dwelling" and "facere" means "to make." The first definition of "edifice" retains the idea of building construction, but sense number two is more figurative. A figurative edifice is built of a complex set of beliefs. Did you Know? The largest edifice in the United States is the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington. This facility was built in the 1960s for the manufacturing of the 747. The edifice is still used for the construction of some of the Boeing company's largest aircrafts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 What's the Word: CRAIC pronunciation: [krak] Part of speech: noun Origin: Irish, 1970s Meaning: 1. Enjoyable social activity. 2. A good time. Example: "Tim's birthday was such a craic, even though we got rained on." "My neighbors are always up for a craic." About Craic Craic is an Irish Gaelic word that originated from English in the 1970s. However, the English word "crack" (meaning "a good time") apparently came from Scots around the mid-20th century. "Craic" went on a bit of a circuitous journey from Scots to English to Irish and back to English. Did you Know? While you'll hear mostly English in Ireland, a lot of people also speak Irish and Gaelic. "Craic" means "a good time," but some other Gaelic terms you might hear are "fáilte" ("welcome") and "grá" ("love.") Fair warning: Don't try to pronounce any of these words with English phonetics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2023 What's the Word: MIRTH pronunciation: [mərTH] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old English, pre-12th century Meaning: 1. Amusement, especially as expressed in laughter. Example: "I was full of mirth while watching the holiday parade." "The silly cartoons inspired chuckles of mirth from the kids." About Mirth The noun "mirth" comes from the Old English word "myrgth," which is of Germanic origin. The original meaning is related to the adjective "merry," meaning "cheerful and lively." Use "mirth" when you're so amused that you can't control your laughter. Did you Know? Look up "mirth" in the dictionary, and you'll also find an entry for "mirthquake." This punny portmanteau means "an extremely funny play, film, or other entertainment" — essentially something that inspires body-shaking chuckles of mirth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2023 What's the Word: CODEX pronunciation: [KOH-deks] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, late 16th century Meaning: 1. An ancient manuscript text in book form. 2. An official list of medicines, chemicals, etc. Example: "The library has a prize collection of ancient books, including a codex that can't be found anywhere else." "This codex will serve as an inventory for the storeroom." About Codex While a physical codex can be millennia old, the word comes from 16th-century Latin. It translates literally as "a block of wood," but it came to describe a block split into tablets for writing. Now it's used to refer to a very old manuscript, or possibly an official inventory of chemicals and medicines. Did you Know? Indiana Jones might treasure a codex. It's an ancient manuscript in book form, and any archaeologist would love to discover a new specimen. The Codex Sinaiticus, from the fourth century CE, is the earliest known version of the Christian Bible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 What's the Word: DAUNTLESS pronunciation: [DAHNT-ləs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Showing fearlessness and determination. Example: "Ride that zip line and show that you're dauntless." "Finishing this job will require someone dauntless and dedicated." About Dauntless If a new piece of technology intimidates you, you might be feeling daunted. Add a "-less" to that root word, and now you're dauntless, or feeling brave and determined. Did you Know? If you're dauntless, you can't be tamed. The verb "daunt" can be traced back to the Latin "domare," meaning "to tame." The adjective "dauntless" can show off how you overcome obstacles and face your fear. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2023 What's the Word: ACROLOGICAL pronunciation: [AK-rə-LAH-dji-kəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, early 19th century Meaning: 1. Relating to or based on initial letters or sounds. Example: "My daughter wrote an acrological poem of the word 'mother' for my wife's birthday." "The ordering isn't alphabetical, but it is acrological." About Acrological If something is alphabetical, then it must be acrological. But not everything acrological is always alphabetical. "Acrological" means concerning the first letter or sound, and "alphabetical" means the first letters are arranged in a specific order dictated by the alphabet. Did you Know? An acronym is pronounced as a word — for example, NASA, SCUBA, SWAT. A lot of other abbreviations that people call acronyms are usually initialisms. These are pronounced by saying the first letters of the words they stand for individually. CNN, IRS, DKNY — all acrological initialisms. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2023 What's the Word: TRICHROMATIC pronunciation: [tri-kro-MAD-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Having or using three colors. 2. Having normal color vision, which is sensitive to all three primary colors. Example: "Have you noticed that most flags are trichromatic?" "My brother is colorblind, but I'm lucky to be trichromatic." About Trichromatic What's black, white, and red all over? A newspaper! This punny joke is also trichromatic — that is, using three colors. "Chromatic" comes from the Greek "khrōma," meaning "color." Did you Know? Most humans have trichromatic vision. There are three types of cone cells in the eye, which interpret different colors. These three colors are then transmitted to the brain to produce the vast array of colors you see. People with colorblindness cannot see one or more of these three colors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2023 What's the Word: ANON pronunciation: [ə-NAHN] Part of speech: adverb Origin: Old English, pre-12th century Meaning: 1. Soon: shortly. Example: "Don't worry — I'll see you anon." "I'll explain everything anon." About Anon Instead of promising that you'll do the dishes soon, pacify your partner with "anon." This Old English adverb means "soon" or "shortly." It's a fancy word to mask your procrastination. Did you Know? In Old English, "on ān" meant "into one," and the original meaning was about something being in one state or course of action. Over time, the meaning of "anon" evolved into the temporal sense of "at once." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2023 What's the Word: SCHWAG pronunciation: [SHwag] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, 1990s Meaning: 1. Products given away free, typically for promotional purposes. Example: "The indie band's schwag featured an image of the lead singer's dog." "Jane loved showing up to events early so she could get schwag." About Shwag Schwag was altered in the 1990s from the word "swag," which came from a Middle English word meaning "bulging bag." It's thought that the "sch" addition was modeled after Yiddish words. Did you Know? Schwag may be free, but that doesn't mean that the products inside are cheap. The annual Oscars gift bags, which are given to attendees of the star-studded event, regularly contain items priced over six figures. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted December 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2023 What's the Word: MAUNDER pronunciation: [MAWN-dər] Part of speech: verb Origin: Unknown, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Talk in a rambling manner. 2. Move or act in a dreamy or idle manner. Example: "Don't get him started on his favorite movies, or he will maunder forever." "The blooming trees inspired me to maunder all afternoon in the garden." About Maunder They're not etymologically related, but "maunder" and "meander" have similar spellings and meanings. To "meander" means to "wander at random," and to "maunder" means to "speak in a rambling way." Did you Know? Sometimes a word doesn't have a traceable origin. It had to come from somewhere, but etymologists can't pin it down. "Maunder" is one such word. An obsolete usage of "maunder" meant "to beg," but that definition dropped away. Today's "maunder" concerns how someone speaks or moves about. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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