DarkRavie Posted April 11 Author Report Share Posted April 11 What's the Word: CHARTREUSE pronunciation: [shar-TROOS] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 19th century Meaning: 1. A pale green or yellow liqueur made from brandy and aromatic herbs. 2. A pale yellow or green color resembling the liqueur chartreuse. Examples: "To celebrate the project’s success, the team leader brought in some chartreuse to share." "I forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day until I noticed folks wearing every shade of green from chartreuse to kelly." About Chartreuse Chartreuse originated in French, specifically from La Grande Chartreuse, a monastery that produced the liquor of the same name. Did you Know? The specific shade of green now recognized as chartreuse comes from an alcoholic beverage of the same name. Chartreuse — a pale yellow-green liquor made from brandy and a blend of aromatic herbs — is named for La Grande Chartreuse, the French monastery where it was first made. This beverage can be imbibed on its own, but is best appreciated as an addition to a cocktail. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 12 Author Report Share Posted April 12 What's the Word: SHEEPSHANK pronunciation: [SHEEP-shangk] Part of speech: noun Origin: Unknown, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. A kind of knot used to shorten a rope temporarily. Examples: "Killian was glad he remembered how to tie a sheepshank from his Boy Scout days." "The sailor quickly tied some sheepshanks to keep the rope out of the way." About Sheepshank While we know that this noun first originated in the 17th century as a type of temporary knot used to shorten a rope quickly, its literal origins are largely unknown. Did you Know? A sheepshank is a knot that can quickly be tied to take up slack on a rope. It’s not very stable, so it shouldn’t be used in situations that require a secure hold. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 13 Author Report Share Posted April 13 What's the Word: NODUS pronunciation: [NO-dəs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, late 14th century Meaning: 1. A problem, difficulty, or complication. Examples: "The team hadn’t expected to encounter a nodus this early in the project." "Despite the nodus of the car not starting, they both managed to get to work on time." About Nodus Nodus developed in Late Middle English as a way to describe a knotty swelling; it originated in Latin as the literal translation for "knot." Over time, it evolved to describe a knotty problem or conundrum. Did you Know? Escape rooms are a novel way to spend some time with friends. A group of people is locked in a room filled with puzzles and clues. They must solve each nodus within a set period of time to win. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 14 Author Report Share Posted April 14 What's the Word: FETTLE pronunciation: [fedl] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, 1300s Meaning: 1. Condition. Examples: "Despite being over a decade old, the biplane remained in fine fettle." "Mark had experience with repairing manual vehicles from keeping his own vintage cars in good fettle." About Fettle While the word "fettle" developed as a verb meaning "to prepare oneself or get ready" in Late Middle English, it originated from the Old English word "fetel" (referring to a strip of material) and the Germanic word "fessel" (meaning "chain, band"). In English, it can still be used as a verb meaning "to make or repair" or in a specific pottery usage, but its most common usage is as a noun, meaning "condition." It's often paired idiomatically with "fine," as in "fine fettle." Did you Know? Old vehicles displayed in museums and in classic car shows may seem to naturally remain in fine fettle, but a lot of care goes into maintaining their condition. A vintage Mustang or classic roadster can't go to just any mechanic. People who make classic cars their hobby either learn the skills to maintain the vehicles themselves, or pay an expert in the specific model of car to keep it in good fettle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 15 Author Report Share Posted April 15 What's the Word: SYNECDOCHE pronunciation: [sə-NEK-də-kee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, 1350s Meaning: 1. A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa. Examples: "The team's full name is the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they are often referred to by the synecdoche 'Jaguars.'" "The tourism campaign was pushing for 'Maple Town' to be the synecdoche for the village known for its maple syrup festival." About Synecdoche While synecdoche became used through Late Middle English, it originated from the Greek word "sunekdokhē" — a combination of the words "sun" ("together") and "ekdekhesthai" ("to take up"). Did you Know? Despite the complicated spelling and pronunciation of the word "synecdoche" (suh-NEK-duh-kee), you likely use this type of figure of speech every day. If your favorite sports team is the Oakland Athletics baseball team and you call them the "A's," that's synecdoche. Referring to the United States as "America" or saying a statement has been put out by the company when it was actually a single spokesperson are both examples of synecdoche. To clarify, anytime you use a simplified term as a part to represent a whole, or vice versa, that's synecdoche. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 16 Author Report Share Posted April 16 What's the Word: DIGERATI pronunciation: [dih-jə-RAH-dee] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 1990s Meaning: 1. People with expertise or professional involvement in information technology. Examples: "Betty had complete faith that if she couldn’t fix her computer, the company’s digerati could." "It was hard to pick one candidate out of the many qualified digerati who applied." About Digerati This word developed from a 1990s mash-up of the words “digital” and “literati” (describing well-educated people who are interested in literature). Did you Know? A badge of honor for some digerati is a high WPM (words-per-minute typing skill), but the QWERTY keyboard was actually designed to slow down typists. Mechanical typewriters were prone to jamming, and even though a skilled typist could get a job based on a high WPM, typing too quickly would cause delays. Today's digerati continue to use the QWERTY keyboard because of the legacy of decades of typing classes taught using the layout. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 17 Author Report Share Posted April 17 What's the Word: SOCKDOLAGER pronunciation: [sahk-DOL-e-jər] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. An exceptional person or thing. 2. A forceful blow. Examples: "All of the nominees tonight are well-accomplished sockdolagers." "The baseball hit Randy with a sockdolager that knocked the wind out of him." About Sockdolager It's believed that "sockdolager" developed as a fanciful formation from "sock." How the word became associated with an exceptional person or a forceful blow is unknown. Did you Know? To find a sockdolager, you need not look much further than the Nobel Prizes. People who qualify for nomination are exceptional in their actions and impact, and have found a way to contribute to humanity’s progress in a particular field. Some notable recipients include activist Malala Yousafzai, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna, chemists who invented genome editing tools. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 18 Author Report Share Posted April 18 What's the Word: CONSANGUINEOUS pronunciation: [kan-sang-GWIN-ee-us] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Relating to or denoting people descended from the same ancestor. Examples: "You two look so similar, you could be consanguineous." "The patients are not consanguineous; they are husband and wife." About Consanguineous Consanguineous originated from the Latin word "consanguineus," or "of the same blood," which is a combination of the words "con" ("together") and "sanguis" ("blood"). Did you Know? Testing DNA is a relatively recent invention, but now almost anyone can provide a saliva or cheek swab sample to receive their genetic profile from any one of several services. Even beyond discovering consanguineous relations, people are now able to learn more about their health and predispositions to certain conditions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 What's the Word: BETIDE pronunciation: [bə-TAHYD] Part of speech: verb Origin: Middle English, mid-1100s Meaning: 1. (Literary) Happen. 2. (With object) Happen to (someone). Examples: "The couple promised to remain loyal to each other, whatever events may betide them." "Woe betide any student who forgot their homework on the final day of class." About Betide This word originated from the now-obsolete Middle English word "tide" ("befall"), which in turn came from the Old English word "tīdan" ("happen"). Did you Know? The phrase “woe betide you” comes from the common use of this medieval word. The word “tide” originated from the obsolete Old English word “tīdan,” used to mean “befall,” while “woe” means “distress.” When combined together, these words are meant to warn someone of the possible consequences of their bad behavior. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 20 Author Report Share Posted April 20 What's the Word: SOLATIUM pronunciation: [sə-LAY-shee-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 19th century Meaning: 1. (Formal) A thing given to someone as a compensation or consolation. Examples: "Management gave the customers who had been overcharged a free item as a solatium." "Even though his dog came home on her own, Jacob still offered a solatium to everyone who had helped him search." About Solatium This word originated from Latin, and it literally translates to "solace." The meaning of "solace" is "comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness." Did you Know? The word "solatium" was first used to describe compensation for emotional (rather than physical) injury in the 1800s. The types of "solatia" (the plural) offered depend on the relationship between the two parties. While friends might exchange a hug or a card to make up after a fight, a business will likely offer monetary or physical compensation in exchange for any mishaps — such as serving the wrong dish to a customer at a restaurant. The solatium could be a discount on a bill or an extra dessert, for example. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 21 Author Report Share Posted April 21 What's the Word: LEONINE pronunciation: [LEE-ə-niyn] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Late Middle English, 1350s Meaning: 1. Of or resembling a lion or lions. Examples: "The leonine habitat was one of the top attractions at the zoo." "The actor’s leonine face made him a popular choice for charming villains." About Lionine While we're using "leonine" as an adjective referencing lions, it can also be used as a capital "L" adjective. "Leonine" means "relating to one of the popes named Leo, especially Leo IV and the part of Rome that he fortified." Did you Know? The word "leonine" might bring to mind the iconic image of a maned, male lion, but the female lions are the stars of the show in the wild. The core of a pride (a group of lions) are the females of the group, who are largely responsible for securing most of the food, raising offspring, and guarding territory. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 22 Author Report Share Posted April 22 What's the Word: REDOUBTABLE pronunciation: [re-DOW-də-bl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Late Middle English, mid-1300s Meaning: 1. (Of a person) Formidable, especially as an opponent. Examples: "He was a redoubtable chess player, but he still had to fight nerves before every match." "John earned his redoubtable reputation after leading his team to several victories." About Redoubtable This word came from the Old French word "redoutable," which developed from the combination of the words "redouter" ("to fear") and "douter" ("to doubt"). Did you Know? Video game developers specialize in creating formidable opponents. The goal is for a game to start at a moderate level of difficulty, which increases as the player progresses and becomes more familiar with the material. The main villain, often referred to as the "final boss," is the most redoubtable character and the hardest to overcome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted April 23 Author Report Share Posted April 23 What's the Word: COUNTERVAIL pronunciation: [kown-tər-VEIL] Part of speech: verb Origin: Late Middle English, 1350s Meaning: 1. Offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force. Examples: "The dentist hoped the new toothpaste would countervail the candy’s effect." "As a skilled debater, Andy was familiar with countervailing arguments." About Countervail Countervail developed in Late Middle English by way of the Anglo-Norman French word "contrevaloir." This word is derived from the Latin term "contra valere" ("be of worth against"). Did you Know? As simple machines (levers, pulleys, etc.) developed, the first scales worked very similarly to how a seesaw works. However, as scales grew more complex, being able to accurately balance items on both sides of the scale became an important development. Merchants could ensure that they were buying and selling the right amount every time by using rocks and other materials to countervail what was being weighed. This countervailing method allowed for more specific weights and measures using a scale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Wednesday at 03:53 PM Author Report Share Posted Wednesday at 03:53 PM (edited) What's the Word: ABSTRUSE pronunciation: [əb-STROOS] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. Difficult to understand; obscure. Examples: "The single was critically acclaimed despite its abstruse lyrics." "The movie’s ending was far too abstruse to be popular with the general public." About Abstruse Abstruse comes from the Latin word "abstrusus" ("put away, hidden"). The Latin developed in turn from the word "abstrudere" ("conceal"), a combination of "ab" ("from") and "trudere" ("to push"). Did you Know? Although this word sounds similar to "obtuse" ("slow or difficult to understand") and the meanings are similar, "abstruse" has a different root. "Abstruse" is derived from the Latin word "abstrusus" ("hidden, put away"), while "obtuse" is derived from the Latin word "obtustus" ("to beat against"). "Abstruse" references something that has been obscured or is difficult to understand, while "obtuse" describes a person who has difficulty understanding a situation. Edited Wednesday at 05:23 PM by DarkRavie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Thursday at 01:21 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 01:21 PM What's the Word: REFECTION pronunciation: [rə-FEK-shun] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, early 14th century Meaning: 1. (Literary) Refreshment by food or drink. 2. A meal, especially a light one. Examples: "After a brief stop for refection, the Johnsons continued their drive home." "The backpackers made sure to pack a refection for later in the hike." About Refection While the word "refection" found prominence in Middle English, its origins lie in Old French. Old French borrowed the term from the Latin word "reficere," meaning "renew." Did you Know? While 24-hour diners seem like pure Americana, they weren't always there to provide refection to passing travelers. One of the earliest examples of the diner can be found in 1872, when Rhode Island entrepreneur Walter Scott sold refreshments out of a horse-pulled cart to workers. Diners with fixed locations took off in the 1940s and ’50s and quickly became a staple of American culture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Friday at 03:36 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 03:36 PM What's the Word: REJOINDER pronunciation: [rə-JOIN-dər] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, late 15th century Meaning: 1. A reply, especially a sharp or witty one. 2. (Law, dated) A defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply or replication. Examples: "I always think up the perfect rejoinder hours later, long after the chance for a retort is gone." "The court fell silent, waiting for the defendant's rejoinder." About Rejoinder This word developed in Late Middle English by way of the Anglo-Norman French word "rejoindre" ("to reunite something again"). Did you Know? Do you continually find yourself practicing comebacks hours later? If so, it's time to work on your rejoinder skills. According to the BBC, one of the ways to craft a witty comeback is to work on your listening skills. Listening precisely and actively to conversations — as well as taking advantage of humans' ability to think faster than they speak — can make it easier to quickly form a well-timed, snappy reply the next time you need a rejoinder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Saturday at 01:00 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 01:00 PM What's the Word: APLOMB pronunciation: [ə-PLAM] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 18th century Meaning: 1. Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation. Examples: "The lead actor recovered with such aplomb that the audience forgot he had tripped onstage moments before." "I think I could pull off that outfit with aplomb." About Aplomb Aplomb meant "perpendicularity, steadiness" in a physical sense, coming from the French term "à plomb," or "according to a plumb line." This early definition evolved into the modern usage of "self-confidence and assuredness." Did you Know? Aplomb comes from the French word "à plomb," meaning "according to a plumb line" — but what is a plumb line? With origins that can be traced back to ancient Egypt, a plumb bob is a line with a weight affixed to the end. When the weight is dangled, it creates a vertical line known as a plumb line, which was used by architects, builders, and engineers as a vertical reference point. While plumb bobs are still used in their original form, more efficient and technologically advanced updates are often used in their place. A laser level, for example, can project both vertical and horizontal lines hands-free. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Sunday at 02:24 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 02:24 PM What's the Word: SCINTILLA pronunciation: [sin-TIL-ə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, late 17th century Meaning: 1. A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling. Examples: "A scintilla of hope rose in his chest when the elevator door opened." "There wasn't even a scintilla of evidence to support Kim’s claims." About Scintilla This word originated from Latin, where it translates literally to "spark." Did you Know? The noun "scintilla" and the verb "scintillate" come from the same root. Both words originate from the Latin "scintilla," which translates directly to "spark" or "ember." As a noun, a scintilla is a tiny speck, but as a verb, a scintillating light is sparkling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted 18 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 18 hours ago What's the Word: ADDUCE pronunciation: [ə-DOOS] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Cite as evidence. Examples: "You'll have to adduce your sources before submitting the paper." "Their minds were made up well before any proof was adduced." About Adduce This word made its way into Late Middle English by way of the Latin word "adducere," a combination of the words "ad" ("toward") and "ducere" ("to lead"). Did you Know? Don't believe everything you read — unless the writer can adduce the appropriate sources. To adduce a source (or cite it as evidence) means the writer has researched and vetted the source. Depending on where and how something is published, citation methods and styles vary. The most commonly used citations are done in Chicago Manual Style (used for history, economics, and social sciences), MLA Style (developed by the Modern Language Association for arts and the humanities), and APA Style (used in social sciences and psychology). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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