DarkRavie Posted January 4 Author Report Share Posted January 4 What's the Word: BEASTIE pronunciation: [BEE-stee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Scottish, early 18th century Meaning: 1. (Humorous) An animal, insect, or germ. 2. (Informal) A vehicle or device of a particular kind. Examples: "Watch out for beasties trying to invade your picnic." "I hate to carry my big camera, so I bring this little beastie in my purse." About Beastie You’re not going to hear this word from a veterinarian, or see it in a biology textbook, but you can use "beastie" to refer to any kind of creature, mythical or real. The word has Scottish roots, and you might hear it used as “wee beastie,” with a jovial or even exasperated tone. When it's not referring to critters, it's used to refer to objects in the same sense that Americans might call something a "thingie." Did you Know? From Nessie to unicorns, Scotland is overrun with beasties. The unicorn is an officially sanctioned national animal beastie and has been used as a symbol on the Scottish royal coat of arms since the 12th century. As for Nessie, countless witnesses claim to have seen the long, thin, reptilian creature rising from Loch Ness, but for now, she remains folklore. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 5 Author Report Share Posted January 5 What's the Word: DRAMATURGY pronunciation: [DRAH-mə-tər-gee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, early 19th century Meaning: 1. The theory and practice of dramatic composition. Examples: "The style of 20th-century dramaturgy is very different from classical theater." "I prefer the nuance of stage dramaturgy over anything you might see on television." About Dramaturgy Dramaturgy is the practice of taking a story and bringing it to life with dramatic elements. It could be through a play, a musical, even a modern film or streaming TV show. If actors are portraying the story, then you're watching dramaturgy. Did you Know? Sometimes a book is turned into a play or movie through dramaturgy, but it also can be the other way around. "Peter Pan" was a play first; J.M. Barrie capitalized on the success of the 1904 play with a novel in 1911, called "Peter and Wendy." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 6 Author Report Share Posted January 6 What's the Word: BAROQUE pronunciation: [bə-ROHK] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, mid-18th century Meaning: 1. Relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail. 2. Highly ornate and extravagant in style. Examples: "I do enjoy listening to baroque music, but the architecture is too much for me." "The historical home was maintained in the height of its baroque style." About Baroque While "baroque" can be used as a noun to designate the particular style and period of art, it's more commonly used as an adjective. It can describe works from the Baroque period, but it's now used in a common sense to describe anything over-the-top and elaborately ornate. Did you Know? As an artistic style, baroque pieces are recognizable for their ornate details. In architecture, the period is exemplified by the Palace of Versailles and by the work of Bernini in Italy. Major composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Caravaggio and Rubens are important baroque artists. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 7 Author Report Share Posted January 7 What's the Word: NEOPHYTE pronunciation: [NEE-ə-fahyt] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, 14th century Meaning: 1. A person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief. 2. A new convert to a religion. Examples: "This week I'm training a neophyte to take over when I retire." "The service introduced the neophyte to our congregation." About Neophyte Originally a Greek word ("neophutos") meaning "newly planted," this term was used to describe a newly ordained priest. A modern usage relates to anyone who is new to a belief or skill. Did you Know? Many English words have origins that correspond to translations of the Bible. "Neophyte," meaning "newly planted" in ecclesiastical Latin, was first used by St. Paul in 1 Timothy 3:6 to describe a new convert. In the King James version of the Bible, "neophyte" was translated into "novice": "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 8 Author Report Share Posted January 8 What's the Word: GONZO pronunciation: [GAHN-zoh] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Italian, 1970s Meaning: 1. Of or associated with journalistic writing of an exaggerated, subjective, and fictionalized style. 2. Bizarre. Examples: "The longtime columnist was known for his gonzo writings." "That gonzo mural down the street is bringing a lot of people who want to take photos." About Gonzo In Spanish, "ganso" means "goose or fool." In Italian, "gonzo" means "foolish." "Gonzo" was adopted into English to describe the wild, literary, stylized journalism popularized in the 1970s, which often described some pretty outrageous activities. Did you Know? Perhaps the most famous figure of gonzo journalism is Hunter S. Thompson. His book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" was brought to the big screen in a 1998 adaptation. His work was often controversial, but it earned him a place in magazines including "Esquire," "Harper's," and "Rolling Stone." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 9 Author Report Share Posted January 9 What's the Word: BENEFIC pronunciation: [bə-NEH-fik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Beneficent or kindly. 2. (Astrology) Relating to or denoting the planets Jupiter and Venus, traditionally considered to have a favorable influence. Examples: "Our benefic neighbor is always kind when the children lose their balls in his yard." "I don't usually believe in astrology, but my sister says my horoscope is benefic, and I should expect good things." About Benefic In Latin, the verb phrase "bene facere" means "to do good to." The adjective "benefic" is taken from Latin to describe a kind and good person. We should all try to be a little more benefic to one another. Did you Know? Before science was the law of the land, great power was attributed to the stars and planets. When Jupiter or Venus are aligned in your astrological charts, it's believed there will be a benefic or positive influence. Other planets can have the opposite effect — Mars and Saturn are considered to be malefic planets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 10 Author Report Share Posted January 10 What's the Word: GEORGIC pronunciation: [JOR-jik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, early 16th century Meaning: 1. Rustic; pastoral. Examples: "He loved visiting rural Maine for its georgic atmosphere." "The farm had a georgic feeling, complete with a horse and buggy." About Georgic Georgic comes from the Greek word "geōrgos," which means "farmer." Since farmers often live in rural areas, it makes sense that this word eventually evolved into a descriptor of rustic areas. Did you Know? If you're looking for beautiful georgic views, try visiting a rural area. Areas are denoted as rural based on a low population density, but fewer people often means more untouched displays of natural beauty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 11 Author Report Share Posted January 11 What's the Word: ADYNATON pronunciation: [a-dih-NAH-tən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. A figure of speech by which an impossible (or highly unlikely) situation is used for emphasis; an instance of this. Examples: "With a bit of adynaton, the story went from mundane to fantastic." "It's just adynaton, but the campfire story was so impossibly scary, none of us could sleep." About Adynaton If you take a rhetoric class, you'll learn tools for persuasive writing and public speaking. One of these tricks is adynaton, a figure of speech in which an impossible situation is described to make a point. For example: "raining cats and dogs" and "when pigs fly." Did you Know? Parents might use the tale of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" as a lesson to teach their children not to exaggerate or tell false stories. In this case, the adynaton is both the overblown tale, and the danger of exaggeration itself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 13 Author Report Share Posted January 13 What's the Word: CETOLOGY pronunciation: [see-TA-lə-gee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. The branch of zoology that deals with whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Examples: "The marine biologist was specifically an expert in cetology." "Captain Ahab was obsessed with cetology after his years of pursuing the white whale." About Cetology The Latin word for "whale," "cetus," joins with "-ology," the Latin suffix for "the study of a subject." In academics, an almost limitless amount of words are paired with "-ology," including "biology" ("the study of life"), "psychology" ("the study of how people think"), and "entomology" ("the study of insects"). Did you Know? Cetology is the study of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, so a person who is committed to studying these animals is a cetologist. It's fair to say that a cetologist will have a deep love for and interest in whales — childhood fans of the movie "Free Willy" might have considered becoming such a scientist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 13 Author Report Share Posted January 13 What's the Word: ADHOCRACY pronunciation: [ad-HOC-rə-see] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 20th century Meaning: 1. A flexible, adaptable, and informal organizational structure without bureaucratic policies or procedures. Examples: "The neighborhood group was an adhocracy that everyone felt comfortable contributing to." "The Star Trek crew came across an alien civilization that operated as a successful adhocracy." About Adhocracy This word, created in the 1960s, is a combination of the Latin phrase "ad hoc," meaning "something created for a specific purpose," and "bureaucracy," "a system where elected officials make decisions." Your book club is likely an adhocracy — it was created for the purpose of discussing books with friends, but these groups generally have a loose structure without a lot of rules. Did you Know? If you've ever been a part of a group or project with loose rules and regulations, or one that is generally informal, that's an adhocracy. There are likely no official rules or leaders, and if those begin to form, the group is moving into a different type of "-cracy." The combining form "-cracy" comes from the Greek "-kratia," meaning "power, rule." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 14 Author Report Share Posted January 14 What's the Word: TOPONYM pronunciation: [TA-pə-nim] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, 20th century Meaning: 1. A place name, especially one derived from a topographical feature. Examples: "J.R.R. Tolkien created many descriptive toponyms in his books, such as Mount Doom." "The toponym for the new neighborhood is Pond Place, thanks to all the small pools on the golf course." About Toponym Top is from the Greek word "topos" ("place"), and the Greek root word "nym" means "name." A toponym is the name of a specific place. It could be a country, such as France, or a region based on a land feature, such as the Alps. Did you Know? Toponymy is the study of place names. As cities and places have changed over time, so have the names (toponyms) of different locations. Through toponymy, experts are able to find out information about the development and exchange of language, historical landmarks, and features of a certain area. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 15 Author Report Share Posted January 15 What's the Word: COUTURIER pronunciation: [koo-TOOR-ee-ey] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A fashion designer who manufactures and sells clothes that have been tailored to a client's specific requirements and measurements. Examples: "The top couturiers will be showing at Fashion Week." "He worked in a dry cleaner doing alterations, but his dream was to be a couturier." About Couturier Couture means "sewing" or "dressmaking" in French, but it has come to refer to a specific design of high-fashion garments made to specific measurements. "Couturier" is the word for the person who makes such specialized clothes. Did you Know? Not just any fashion designer can be called a couturier. If a designer qualifies in France, they could be invited to be a member of the "Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture," and become an official couturier. Well-known members include Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Schiaparelli, and Giambattista Valli. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 16 Author Report Share Posted January 16 What's the Word: PERVICACITY pronunciation: [per-vi-KA-si-tee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. The quality or state of being pervicacious. 2. Obstinacy; stubbornness; willfulness. Examples: "My toddler is the perfect example of stubborn pervicacity." "They were both guilty of pervicacity, but eventually they came to a compromise." About Pervicacity This noun, synonymous with "stubbornness" or "willfulness," deserves to be brought back into the regular lexicon. It comes from the Latin "pervicacitas," meaning "obstinacy." Did you Know? He's as stubborn as a mule! What did mules do to earn a reputation of pervicacity? They're the result of cross-breeding a horse and a donkey, and Charles Darwin himself documented mules with more strength, intelligence, and, yes, stubbornness than the parents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 17 Author Report Share Posted January 17 What's the Word: FORFEND pronunciation: [for-FEND] Part of speech: verb Origin: Middle English, 14th century Meaning: 1. Avert, keep away, or prevent (something evil or unpleasant). 2. Protect (something) by precautionary measures. Examples: "The fence should forfend rabbits getting into the garden." "We need to rent a tent to forfend against any showers during the reception." About Forfend You're more likely to hear the second half of this word in modern conversation. One might fend against sunburn by wearing a hat and long-sleeved shirt. "Defend" has come to serve the purpose of "forfend," but the older term, with a connotation of preventative action, still deserves a place in your vocabulary. Did you Know? You might have heard someone exclaim, "Heaven forbid!" to express mock horror, but the original version of this phrase was "Heaven forfend." The intention is quite tongue-in-cheek with dismay at the thought of some ill-advised activity taking place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 18 Author Report Share Posted January 18 What's the Word: DESIDERATUM pronunciation: [də-zi-də-RAH-dəm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Something that is needed or wanted. Examples: "A sense of humor is my first desideratum in a partner." "I don't care about the monetary award, but my desideratum is recognition of the clean-water program." About Desideratum Desideratum describes a want or a need, but it goes beyond needing a gallon of milk from the grocery. It usually applies to a philosophical need, or the ultimate desire or outcome. As it comes from the Latin for "something desired," the plural is "desiderata." Did you Know? Desiderata is a poem written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann. It rose in popularity in the 1960s, even being recorded by Leonard Nimoy as "Spock Thoughts." The title is a plural of the word "desideratum," which means "something that is needed or wanted." The desideratum of the poem is clear in the last lines: "Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 19 Author Report Share Posted January 19 What's the Word: TERTIARY pronunciation: [TER-shee-er-ee] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. Third in order or level. 2. Relating to or denoting the medical treatment provided at a specialist institution. Examples: "A sense of humor is my first desideratum in a partner." "I don't care about the monetary award, but my desideratum is recognition of the clean-water program." About Tertiary "If my first two paint choices aren't available, I'll still be happy with the tertiary one on the list." "My primary care doctor recommended I visit a physical therapist for tertiary treatment." Did you Know? Quite simply, "tertiary" means "third." But it also has specialized definitions in many applications. To geologists, "tertiary" is a specific period of the Cenozoic Era. Chemists use the term to describe particular organic compounds, and ecologists describe carnivores that eat other carnivores as tertiary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 20 Author Report Share Posted January 20 What's the Word: PANEGYRIC pronunciation: [pa-nə-JI-rik] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, early 17th century Meaning: 1. A public speech or published text in praise of someone or something. Examples: "The best man directed his panegyric to the newlyweds." "The delivery of the award was preceded by a panegyric that listed the recipient's lifetime of accomplishments." About Panegyric While the modern version of "panegyric" comes from the French word "panégyrique," it originated in Greek as "panēgurikos." The word is made up of "pan," meaning "all," and "aguris," which means "assembly." Did you Know? While the word "panegyric" often applies to speeches, it can also describe a genre of poetry. Heroic poetry — in the form of an epic or a blend of fantasy and reality — relies on metaphor to create a panegyric exulting the actions of a hero. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 21 Author Report Share Posted January 21 What's the Word: COPSE pronunciation: [kops] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old English, late 16th century Meaning: 1. A small group of trees. Examples: "The hikers took shelter near a convenient copse." "The center of the plaza featured a copse draped in twinkling lights." About Panegyric The Latin word "colpus," or "a blow," transitioned into the Old English word "coppice," which described the act of cutting back shrubbery to encourage new growth. This growth often ended up taking over the area, and over time, the word shortened into "copse" to denote the group of trees that resulted. Did you Know? While a copse can be created by growing seedlings in a close group, those found in the wild often sprout from the stumps of cut or felled trees. Often, several new sprouts emerge from the same stump, which creates a tightly packed copse. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted January 22 Author Report Share Posted January 22 What's the Word: NEOPHILIA pronunciation: [nee-ə-FIL-ee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A small group of trees. Examples: "My neophilia means I always buy the new generation of iPhone as soon as it's released." "I might be succumbing to a bit of neophilia when I'm tempted to buy another smart gadget." About Neophilia Ancient Greek is still alive because countless words have been created from its roots. For example, "neo" means "new" and "philia" means "fondness." "Neophilia," therefore, is "a love or preference for all that is new and trendy." Did you Know? The first documented usage of "neophilia" was in "Political Science Quarterly," an academic journal founded in the late 19th century. While it's a centuries-old word, Gen Z social media influencers are the perfect purveyors of neophilia, or a love of new trends. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arisien Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 12 hours ago, DarkRavie said: What's the Word: NEOPHILIA pronunciation: [nee-ə-FIL-ee-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A small group of trees. The definition is from yesterday's word. Got a bit confused for a second from what looked to be a greek compound word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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