DarkRavie Posted May 1 Author Report Share Posted May 1 What's the Word: BASAL pronunciation: [BAY-zəl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Old French and Middle English, late 14th century Meaning: 1. Forming or belonging to a bottom layer or base. Examples: "The bush’s basal leaves were large and lush." "The pre-k school offered students some basal education." About Basal This word comes from Old French, but stems originally from either the Latin “basis,” meaning “foundation” or the Greek “basis,” meaning “a stepping, a step, that on which one steps or stands, pedestal.” The “-al” suffix means “of, like, related to, pertaining to.” Did you Know? A person’s basal metabolism is the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to maintain vital functions. Research has shown low-calorie diets tend to suppress basal metabolism. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 2 Author Report Share Posted May 2 What's the Word: PIEDMONT pronunciation: [PEED-mahnt] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, mid 19th century Meaning: 1. A gentle slope leading from the base of mountains to a region of flat land. Examples: "The area’s piedmont had surprisingly fertile land." "The piedmont rarely experienced severe flooding." About Piedmont This word comes from the Italian “piemonte,” meaning “mountain foot.” Did you Know? When people hear “piedmont,” they tend to think of one of two specific locations: either northwestern Italy at the foot of the Alps, or the hilly highland between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coast. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 3 Author Report Share Posted May 3 What's the Word: BENISON pronunciation: [BEN-ə-sən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old French, 14th century Meaning: 1. A blessing. Examples: "The priest ended every service with a benison." "Sharon came to see missing her train as a benison in disguise." About Benison This word hails from the Old French “beneiçun,” originally from Latin “benedictio.” Did you Know? “Benison” and its synonym, “benediction,” come from the same Latin root, “benedicere.” But “benison” has a longer history in the English language; “benediction” didn’t show up in print until roughly a century later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 4 Author Report Share Posted May 4 What's the Word: COMPLAISANT pronunciation: [kəm-PLAY-sənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Willing to please others; obliging; agreeable. Examples: "Larger breeds of dogs tend to be incredibly sweet and complaisant pets." "The dentist found that her new receptionist was both competent and complaisant." About Complaisant This word developed in French from the word "complaire" ("acquiesce in order to please"), but originally came from the Latin word "complacere" ("to please"). Did you Know? While "complaisant" is similar in spelling and in pronunciation to the word "complacent," they have different meanings. Both "complaisant" and "complacent" come from the Latin word "complacere" ("to please"), but each word has evolved to address different aspects of this root. "Complaisant" describes a sense of being willing to please others, while "complacent" means being self-satisfied with one's personal accomplishments — often in a negative sense, as in they are unmotivated to move on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 5 Author Report Share Posted May 5 What's the Word: SELVAGE pronunciation: [SEL-vij] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, 15th century. (Geological term is from the 1930s.) Meaning: 1. An edge produced on woven fabric during manufacture that prevents it from unraveling. 2. (Geology) a zone of altered rock, especially volcanic glass, at the edge of a rock mass. Examples: "The curtain’s selvage was a different color, creating a noticeable border." "Tom wanted to study how the selvage of obsidian formed." About Selvage This word hails from late Middle English. It is an alteration of “self” + “edge,” patterned off of the early modern Dutch “selfegghe.” Did you Know? “Selvage” doesn’t just refer to fabric. For instance, in printing, it means the excess area of a printed or perforated sheet, such as the white border area of a sheet of stamps or the wide margins of an engraving. It can also refer to the clay-like material found along a geological fault. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 6 Author Report Share Posted May 6 What's the Word: AVIDITY pronunciation: [ə-VID-ə-dee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Late Middle English, mid 15th century Meaning: 1. Extreme eagerness or enthusiasm. 2. [Biochemistry] the overall strength of binding between an antibody and an antigen. Examples: "The doctor scoured the medical studies on antibody avidity, hoping to find answers." "Kate binged the Netflix series with an avidity she rarely showed for anything." About Avidity This word stems from the French “avidité” or directly from the Latin “aviditas,” from “avidus,” meaning “eager, greedy.” Did you Know? In biochemistry, “affinity” and “avidity” are closely related. “Affinity” is how well a single antibody-antigen site binds, whereas “avidity” refers to the strength of all those interactions collectively. With avidity, binding strength depends on the effects that come from multiple proteins “working together” because it’s easier for one to bind if another is already tethered nearby. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 7 Author Report Share Posted May 7 What's the Word: SCUMBLE pronunciation: [SKUM-bəl] Part of speech: verb Origin: Unknown location, late 17th century Meaning: 1. [With object] modify (a painting or color) by applying a very thin coat of opaque paint to give a softer or duller effect. 2. Modify (a drawing) with light shading in pencil or charcoal to give a softer effect. Examples: "Today’s online art lesson will teach students how to scumble." "Pablo decided to scumble the sharp lines in his painting." About Scumble Even though the word’s specific roots are unknown, “scumble” is possibly related to the verb “scum,” an antiquated version of “skim.” Did you Know? Scumbling became a popular artistic technique during the 15th century. Some art historians believe Renaissance-era painter Titian invented the technique. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 8 Author Report Share Posted May 8 What's the Word: PRESCIENT pronunciation: [PRESH-ənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place: Examples: "The psychic gave a prescient warning of things to come." "No one understood how prescient the press statement was until a few days later." About Prescient This word comes from the Latin “praescient-,” meaning “knowing beforehand.” This stems from the verb “praescire” — “prae” meaning “before” and “scire” meaning “know.” Did you Know? Jeane Dixon, a self-proclaimed psychic, was admired by many for her supposed prescience. She reportedly predicted John F. Kennedy’s assassination, that one pope would be harmed, and another would be assassinated during the twentieth century, among other predictions. Richard Nixon followed her predictions via his secretary, and Dixon was one of several astrologers Nancy Reagan consulted. However, Temple University mathematician John Allen Paulos coined “the Jeane Dixon effect,” which outlines a penchant for highlighting a few correct predictions while ignoring a larger amount of incorrect ones. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted May 9 Author Report Share Posted May 9 What's the Word: SEDULOUS pronunciation: [SEH-jəl-əs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. (Of a person or action) Showing dedication and diligence. Examples: "Marnie’s sedulous nature was a good fit for medical research." "He caught the mistake right away thanks to his sedulous practices." About SedulouS This word stems from the Latin “sedulus,” meaning “zealous.” Did you Know? Even though the word “sedulous” offers a positive connotation of widely cherished values in society, it’s not a commonly used word. Words such as "hardworking," “diligent,” "meticulous," and "thorough" are used more frequently to describe sedulous individuals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Friday at 03:44 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 03:44 PM What's the Word: FULCRUM pronunciation: [FUHL-krəm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, late 17th century Meaning: 1. A thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation. 2. The point on which a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots. Examples: "He pointed to his relationship with his wife as the true fulcrum of his success." "Levers are a simple way to demonstrate how fulcrums work." About Fulcrum This word comes from the Latin “fulcrum,” meaning “bedpost, foot of a couch.” It stems from “fulcire,” meaning “to prop up, support.” Did you Know? Zoologists sometimes use the word “fulcrum” to describe an animal’s joint that serves as a support or hinge, such as the one in a bird’s wing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Saturday at 12:57 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 12:57 PM What's the Word: PARAGON pronunciation: [PAR-ə-gahn] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. A perfect diamond of 100 carats or more. 2. A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality. Examples: "I’ve never seen a paragon on display in a museum or a jewelry exhibit." "The family held the matriarch up as a paragon of cherished virtues." About Paragon This word stems from French by way of the Italian “paragone,” meaning “touchstone to try good (gold) from bad.” It is originally from the medieval Greek “parakonē,” meaning “whetstone.” Did you Know? The largest flawless diamond in the world is the Paragon, a gem that weighs over 130 carats. The diamond’s current owner, London jeweler Graff Diamonds, cut it and set it into a necklace with other colored diamonds. It attracted a lot of attention in 1999 when it was linked to end-of-millennium celebrations — supermodel Naomi Campbell wore it at a diamond gala jointly sponsored by De Beers and Versace at London’s Syon House. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Sunday at 09:24 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 09:24 PM What's the Word: SACHET pronunciation: [sa-SHAY] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. A small perfumed bag used to scent clothes. Examples: "Sadie bought French lavender sachets to put in her dresser drawers." "The women would meet monthly and bring different dried herbs to make sweet-smelling sachets." About Sachetp This word comes directly from French, meaning “little bag.” It is a diminutive of the Latin “saccus,” meaning “sack, bag.” Did you Know? Sachets have had varied cultural uses in history. For instance, in ancient China, a sachet was worn on the body, intended to absorb sweat and repel insects and evil spirits. During the Qing dynasty, a scented sachet was considered a token of love. In medieval Europe, sachets called “plague-bags” were worn around the neck to provide protection against what we now know were parasites and germs. In modern times of better hygiene, sweet-smelling sachets are still used in linen closets and clothing drawers for freshness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Monday at 02:17 PM Author Report Share Posted Monday at 02:17 PM What's the Word: REGALIA pronunciation: [rə-GAYL-yə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. The emblems or insignia of royalty, especially the crown, scepter, and other ornaments used at a coronation. 2. The distinctive clothing worn and ornaments carried at formal occasions as an indication of status. Examples: "The higher the military rank, the more regalia will be featured on formal dress." "The collection of crown jewels is part of the queen’s regalia. " About Regalia This word stems from the medieval Latin meaning “royal privileges.” It originates from the neuter plural of “regalis,” meaning “regal.” Did you Know? The word “regalia” traditionally applied to those with royal backgrounds, but in the Middle Ages, the definition started to broaden a bit. Academic regalia in graduation ceremonies — gowns, caps, hoods, and medals — is a tradition from that time when hooded gowns were necessary to keep the graduating students and educators warm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted yesterday at 12:41 PM Author Report Share Posted yesterday at 12:41 PM (edited) What's the Word: PREPOSSESSING pronunciation: [pree-pə-ZES-ing] Part of speech: adjective Origin: English, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Attractive or appealing in appearance. Examples: "The neighborhood has become more prepossessing with the recent renovations." "Miriam had a prepossessing aura that always attracted people to her." About Prepossessing In the 1610s, this word was related to “getting possession of land beforehand.” The meaning morphed about 20 years later into “possessing a person beforehand with a feeling or notion.” And in the 1640s, the meaning broadened into causing someone to “have a favorable opinion of something; to preoccupy the mind or heart of.” It's been simplified over the years as an adjective to mean “attractive.” Did you Know? “Prepossessing” also has some archaic definitions that mean "creating prejudice" and "possessing something prior to a specific time." Edited yesterday at 02:17 PM by DarkRavie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted 5 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 5 hours ago What's the Word: BURNISH pronunciation: [BER-nish] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, early 14th century Meaning: 1. Enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or a skill). 2. Polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing. Examples: "Ricardo knew he would have to burnish his research skills to shine in his job hunt." "Betty liked to burnish her collection of silver every month." About Burnish This word comes from Middle English by way of the Old French “burniss-,” a lengthened stem of “burnir” that means to “make brown.” Did you Know? Burnish can also be a noun that means "the shine on a highly polished surface." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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