DarkRavie Posted June 26 Author Report Share Posted June 26 What's the Word: KINE pronunciation: [kahyn] Part of speech: noun (plural) Origin: Middle English, date unknown Meaning: 1. Cows collectively. Examples: "The kine moved around the pasture." "The farmer purchased a kine of 25 for a reasonable price." About Kine This word stems from the genitive plural of the Middle English “kye,” meaning “cows,” from the Old English “cy,” plural of “cu.” Did you Know? “Kine” holds the distinction of being the only plural word in the English language that shares no similar letters with its singular, “cow.” Of course, English has lots of irregular singular-plural noun pairings, such as “mouse”/“mice” and “foot”/“feet.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 27 Author Report Share Posted June 27 What's the Word: ARCUATE pronunciation: [ARK-yoo-eyt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, 16th century Meaning: 1. Shaped like a bow, curved. Examples: "His smile was full and arcuate." "The populations on the arcuate chain of islands shared a common culture and language." About Arcuate This word stems from the Latin “arcuatus,” meaning “bow-like, arched.” It is a past participle of “arcuare,” meaning “to bend like a bow,” from “arcus,” meaning “a bow.” Did you Know? “Arcuate” is an adjective that describes a curved shape, and it has been applied to anatomy. The arcuate nucleus is located within the hypothalamus in the human brain. It is a critical component of regulating feeding and metabolism and reflects energy levels and nutrient availability. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 28 Author Report Share Posted June 28 What's the Word: TINCTORIAL pronunciation: [tinGK-TOR-ee-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Relating to dyeing, coloring, or staining properties. Examples: "The concentrated solution had a strong tinctorial ability." "Permanent markers' tinctorial capabilities make it difficult to remove from cloth." About Tinctorial This word comes from the Latin “tinctorius,” from “tinctor,” meaning “dyer,” and from “tingere,” meaning “to dye or color.” Did you Know? There is research being conducted to see if certain bacteria could replace chemical dyes with the same tinctorial power. U.K.-based bio-design research studio Faber Futures works with Streptomyces coelicolor, a bacteria that produces pigment as it grows. The microbe naturally changes color based on the pH of the medium it grows inside. By tweaking that environment, it could be possible to program the organism to produce a wide array of colors. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 29 Author Report Share Posted June 29 What's the Word: QUINQUENNIAL pronunciation: [kwiNG-KWEN-ee-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, late 15th century Meaning: 1. Recurring every five years; lasting for or relating to a period of five years. Examples: "The quinquennial survey showed changes in the community over many years." "My parents renew their vows on a quinquennial basis." About Quinquennial This word stems from the Latin “quinquennis,” which comes from “quinque,” meaning “five,” and “annus,” meaning “year.” Did you Know? “Quinquennial” can also take a noun form, meaning something that occurs every five years. A related term, “quinquennalia,” refers to the public games celebrated every five years in ancient Rome. They included musical, gymnastics, and equestrian contests. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted June 30 Author Report Share Posted June 30 What's the Word: EPIPHENOMENON pronunciation: [ep-ee-fə-NAH-mən-ahn] Part of speech: noun Origin: New Latin, early 18th century Meaning: 1. A secondary effect or byproduct that arises from but does not causally influence a process. Examples: "Some economists believe the rising inflation rates are simply an epiphenomenon." "Maggie’s doctor felt her symptoms were an epiphenomenon and not a direct correlation." About Epiphenomenon This word comes from the Greek “epi-,” a word-forming element meaning “on, upon, above,” plus “phenomenon,” originally from the Greek “phainomenon,” meaning "that which appears or is seen." Did you Know? There's a theory in psychology that suggests that the images we conjure in our brains are an epiphenomenon of a more basic cognitive process. In the computational theory, your mind comprehends and retrieves information on a more fundamental level, and what you perceive (the mental image) is simply a byproduct of this process. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 1 Author Report Share Posted July 1 What's the Word: OVEREGG pronunciation: [oh-vər-EG] Part of speech: verb Origin: English, year unknown Meaning: 1. Overembellish or exaggerate (something). Examples: "Matt would always overegg his stories to get drastic reactions." "The pastry chef overegged the cake decor to the point of gaudiness." About Overegg While specific etymology is unknown, this term is believed to be uniquely English. Did you Know? The idiom “overegg the pudding,” meaning "to overexaggerate," popped up in England in the mid-19th century, taken from the idea that baked goods can be ruined by using too many eggs. One of the earliest examples of the phrase in print is said by Yorkshire farmers in Robert Smith Surtees’ 1845 novel, “Hillingdon Hall.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 2 Author Report Share Posted July 2 What's the Word: ARMAMENTARIUM pronunciation: [arm-ə-men-TER-ee-əm] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 19th century Meaning: 1. The medicines, equipment, and techniques available to a medical practitioner; the collection of weapons and military equipment in a country's possession. 2. A collection of resources available for a certain purpose. Examples: "The clinic's armamentarium should always be well stocked." "Parents of a newborn are always surprised how fast their armamentarium of diapers dwindles." About Armamentarium This word comes from the Latin “little arsenal,” from “armamenta,” meaning “implements, weapons.” It entered English as “armamentary” in the 18th century. Did you Know? While “armamentarium” refers to a doctor’s tools in general, it's a popular name for medical supply companies, and across video game and role-playing databases. The overall meaning of “a collection of resources” makes the term useful for many scenarios. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 3 Author Report Share Posted July 3 What's the Word: STHENIC pronunciation: [sTHen-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, late 18th century Meaning: 1. Of or having a high or excessive level of strength and energy. Examples: "The patient was fairly sthenic for someone who had surgery recently." "Certain medications can make people feel sthenic." About Sthenic This word stems from the Greek “sthenos,” meaning “strength.” Did you Know? Sometimes used as a synonym for “sthenic,” “pyknic” means “characterized by shortness of stature, broadness of girth, and powerful muscularity.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 4 Author Report Share Posted July 4 What's the Word: GARNITURE pronunciation: [GAR-ne-CHər] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, late 15th century Meaning: 1. A set of decorative accessories, in particular vases. Examples: "Mabel decorated her living room around the antique garniture." "The matching, ornate candelabras were eye-catching garniture." About Garniture This word is an alteration of the Old French noun “garnesture,” which is derived from the verb “garnir,” which meant "to warn, equip, or garnish." Did you Know? “Garniture” also appears in the culinary world and can easily be mistaken for “garnish.” In this sense, garniture consists of ingredients added to a dish during the cooking process, especially near the end. These ingredients become an integral part of the dish. Meanwhile, a garnish is an ingredient that serves as a finishing step because it is placed on top of the dish to provide texture and visual appeal, although it should also be edible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 5 Author Report Share Posted July 5 What's the Word: TELLURIAN pronunciation: [tə-LOO-ree-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. Of or inhabiting the Earth. Examples: "The sci-fi series featured only tellurian species." "The tellurian beauty of the Earth from space is indescribable." About Tellurian From the Latin "tellur-,” meaning "earth," "tellurian" can be used as an adjective to describe something of the Earth, or as a noun to identify an inhabitant of Earth. Did you Know? When this word first appeared in English around the late 18th century, it was just an adjective used for things related to the Earth. It has since been adopted by the sci-fi community to relate to species from Earth, specifically as opposed to alien creatures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 6 Author Report Share Posted July 6 What's the Word: EXCURSUS pronunciation: [eks-KUR-səs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, early 19th century Meaning: 1. A detailed discussion of a particular point in a book, usually in an appendix. 2. A digression in a written text. Examples: "The footnotes in the third edition had a thorough excursus on the research developments since the first edition was published." "The excursus in the appendix detailed the experiments and the results." About Excursus This word stems from the Latin “excurrere,” meaning “run out.” Did you Know? Even though an excursus is usually found in modern nonfiction, it used to have other purposes. In literature from centuries ago, an excursus might have nothing to do with the topics being discussed in the main work; rather, it was used to lighten the atmosphere in a tragic story. In the Middle Ages, it was a favored rhetorical device that allowed the narrator to comment or suspend the action for the audience to reflect on what was going on in the story. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 7 Author Report Share Posted July 7 What's the Word: CURVET pronunciation: [kər-VET] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, late 16th century Meaning: 1. A graceful or energetic leap. Examples: "Denishia was learning how to do graceful ballet curvets." "Stephan leaped into a curvet when he heard the good news." About Curvet This word comes from the Italian “corvetta,” a derivative of “corva,” meaning “a curve.” It comes from the Latin “curvus,” meaning “bent.” Did you Know? “Curvet” can also be a verb, meaning “to make a graceful, energetic leap.” Another definition of "curvet" is specifically linked to a horse's movements: "perform a series of jumps on the hind legs." In the horsemanship sport of dressage, the courbette movement (from the same Latin root word) fits that description exactly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 8 Author Report Share Posted July 8 What's the Word: PENSILE pronunciation: [PEN-səl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 17th century Meaning: 1. Hanging down; pendulous. Examples: "The peaches were ripe and pensile." "The heavy snow on the branches made them pensile." About Pensile This word stems from the Latin “pensilis,” from the verb “pendere,” meaning “hang.” Did you Know? There’s some confusion about how to pronounce “pensile.” In American English, it's common to say it the way “pencil” is pronounced. In British English, it’s “pen-sahyl,” with a long “i” sound. Either is correct, although the latter pronunciation might prevent some confusion in verbal communication. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 9 Author Report Share Posted July 9 What's the Word: INSPIRIT pronunciation: [in-SPEER-it] Part of speech: verb Origin: Middle English, 15th century Meaning: 1. Encourage and enliven (someone). Examples: "My puppy always inspirits me, no matter how stressful my day was." "I tried to inspirit my sleep-deprived sister who had just had a baby, by giving her a break for a few afternoons." About Inspirit This word comes from the Middle English “inspiriten,” meaning “to stir (someone’s mind) into action.” Did you Know? The word “inspirit” has inspirited many people to incorporate it into their company names. There’s Inspirit AI, an artificial intelligence education program developed and taught by MIT and Stanford students; Inspirit Yoga Studio in Florida; the mystical Inspirit Crystals in Massachusetts; several retirement homes with the name Inspirit; and the Inspirit Foundation in Toronto, which promotes inclusion and pluralism through the arts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 10 Author Report Share Posted July 10 What's the Word: FOSSORIAL pronunciation: [fah-SOR-ee-əl] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. Burrowing, specifically related to animals. 2. Limbs that are adapted and particularly well suited to burrowing or digging. Examples: "There's a fossorial animal digging up holes in my backyard — I suspect an armadillo." "The fossorial limbs of badgers make them excellent at digging the burrows they live in. " About Fossorial Fossorial comes from the medieval Latin "fossorius," which was originally from the Latin "fossor" (meaning "digger") and "fodere" (meaning "to dig"). Did you Know? Fossorial animals are not the same as subterranean animals — they might burrow and dig, but they don’t spend all their time underground. Subterranean creatures, such as mole rats and earthworms, create complicated underground networks of burrows and spend most of their time underground. Fossorial animals, including groundhogs or chipmunks, create simple burrows and spend a lot of time above ground. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 11 Author Report Share Posted July 11 What's the Word: RECONDITE pronunciation: [rə-KAHN-diyt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. (Of a subject or knowledge) Little known; abstruse. Examples: "The advanced textbook contained recondite information that was hard for beginning students to understand." "It shouldn't take someone with recondite knowledge to fix this." About Recondite “Recondite” comes from the Latin word “reconditus,” which means “hidden or put away.” The term can be turned into an adverb, “reconditely,” or a noun, “reconditeness.” Did you Know? Remove the prefix “re-,” and you are left with the verb “condite,” which means “to pickle or preserve.” “Condite” is possibly a more recondite word than “recondite” itself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 12 Author Report Share Posted July 12 What's the Word: CICERONIAN pronunciation: [sis-ə-ROH-nee-ən] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. (Characteristic of the work and thought of Cicero. 2. (Of a piece of speech or writing) In an eloquent and rhythmic style similar to that of Cicero. Examples: "She delivered a lecture in a Ciceronian manner — clear, logical, and riveting." "There was a Ciceronian elegance to the letter, which made logical arguments for the board to consider." About Ciceronian “Ciceronian” is derived from the name of the great Roman statesman, orator, and writer Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE). He had an incredible influence on Latin prose style, which in turn directly influenced much European prose. Did you Know? Cicero, after whom the word “Ciceronian” was coined, was known for oratory and prose that relied heavily on rhythm and flow, while also being logically balanced. For example, “a room without books is like a body without a soul” is credited to Cicero. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 14 Author Report Share Posted July 14 What's the Word: ILLATION pronunciation: [ə-LAY-shən] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-16th century Meaning: 1. The action of inferring or drawing a conclusion. 2. An inference. Examples: "The board game Clue depends on players drawing illations." "We came to the illation that Tim didn’t want to join us after his long hike." About Illation This word comes from the Latin “illat-,” meaning “brought in.” It originates from the verb “inferre,” meaning to “bring in, bring about.” Did you Know? “Illation” can be confused with “elation” and “alation” because they sound similar, even though they mean very different things. “Elation” is a noun that means “great happiness,” and “alation” is a biological term that means “the state of having wings.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 14 Author Report Share Posted July 14 What's the Word: VARIEGATE pronunciation: [VER-ee-ə-gait] Part of speech: verb Origin: Late Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. Alter in appearance, especially by adding different colors. 2. Make more diverse or varied. Examples: "Rebecca wanted to variegate her painting to draw more attention to it during the exhibition." "The president plans to variegate her Cabinet to include more diverse perspectives." About Variegate This word stems from the Latin “variegatus,” meaning “made of various sorts or colors.” Did you Know? Many plants have the word “variegated” in their names. There’s variegated liriope, variegated shell ginger, variegated flax lily, variegated pittosporum, variegated string of hearts, and variegated fiddle leaf figs, just to name a few. All of these plants have differently colored zones in their leaves and sometimes their stems. This usually occurs because of a cell mutation within the plant from a lack of the green pigment found in chlorophyll. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted July 15 Author Report Share Posted July 15 What's the Word: WONTED pronunciation: [WAHN-təd] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Middle English, early 15th century Meaning: 1. Habitual; usual. Examples: "When Clara returned home, she slipped back into her wonted, quiet life." "Stan knew his husband had a wonted morning routine." About Wonted This word is an adjective formation of “wont,” which means “in the habit of doing something; accustomed.” It comes from the Old English “wunod,” meaning “to dwell, inhabit, exist; be accustomed, be used to.” This stems from the Germanic “wohnen,” meaning “to dwell.” Did you Know? The homophones around "want," "wont,” and "wonted" can cause some confusion. Spoken, "wonted" sounds nearly identical to "wanted," so they can be easily mixed up. "Wont" (which can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb, relating to customary behavior) also sounds somewhat similar to the contraction "won’t," meaning "will not." However, the context for these words should be enough to clue you in on which version is being used. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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