DarkRavie Posted August 25 Author Report Share Posted August 25 What's the Word: ARENACEOUS pronunciation: [ar-ə-NEY-shəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. (Geology) Consisting of sand or particles of a substance similar to sand. 2. (Biology, of animals or plants) Living or growing in sand. Examples: "Quartz sandstone is a type of arenaceous rock." "Kalyn was shopping for arenaceous plants that would thrive in her desert home." About Arenaceous This word stems from the Latin “arenaceus” and “harenaceus,” originally from “harena,” meaning “sand, sandy place.” The figurative sense of “dry” is from 1870. Did you Know? Not all flora requires rich, dark, moist soil. Some plants actually grow best in arenaceous settings. Black-eyed susans, lavender, hibiscus, potatoes, cucumbers, beans, and, of course, cacti and other succulents thrive in sandy locales, especially in the American Southwest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 26 Author Report Share Posted August 26 What's the Word: CAVORT pronunciation: [kə-VORT] Part of speech: verb Origin: American English, 18th century Meaning: 1. Jump or dance around excitedly. Examples: "Every evening I watch the possums cavort in my backyard." "Elated partygoers cavorted beneath the light of a disco ball." About Cavort “Cavort” is believed to be an alteration of the now-rare verb “curvet,” describing hind-leg jumps performed in series by trained horses. By the late 19th century, slang dictionaries recorded the existence of “cavaulting,” which became “cavorting.” Dictionaries at that time connected “cavorting” to the term “horsing” (as in “horsing around”). Did you Know? “To cavort” has always been associated with animals, beginning with the word’s root in “curvet,” which describes performing horses. As a result, “cavort” as a verb can be used to describe animal playfulness, and also people behaving like excited animals. In modern usage, “cavort” can suggest scandalous behavior, but it’s more often used generally to describe actions that make people seem like playful animals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 27 Author Report Share Posted August 27 What's the Word: EIDETIC pronunciation: [i-DED-ik] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Greek, 1920s Meaning: 1. Relating to or denoting mental images having unusual vividness and detail, as if actually visible. Examples: "The artist recalled things she’d seen with eidetic clarity and painted from those crisp images." "Thanks to his eidetic memory, Terry never forgets which section of the parking lot he’s left his car in." About Eidetic Though “eidetic” is based on the ancient Greek “εἰδητικός” (meaning “constituting an appearance”), the word was coined in the early 1900s. German psychologist Erich Rudolf Jaensch coined the term “eidetisch” based on the Greek to describe the particular precision of mental images that were different from and far clearer than regular memories. Did you Know? “Eidetic” is often used interchangeably with “photographic” to describe the capacity for incredibly detailed and precise memories. There is a difference between the two terms, however; “photographic memory” usually describes the ability to recall detailed information (including texts and numbers), while “eidetic memory” describes an ability to maintain a vivid picture of something after it is gone, and even experiencing a feeling of the image still being present. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 28 Author Report Share Posted August 28 What's the Word: PEDAGOGUE pronunciation: [PED-ə-gog] Part of speech: noun Origin: Middle English, late 14th century Meaning: 1. (Formal, humorous) A teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one. Examples: "Mr. Mullins was a well-known pedagogue." "The strictest teachers have been branded as pedagogues by their students." About Pedagogue This Late Middle English word stems from the Greek “paidagōgos,” denoting an enslaved person who accompanied a child to school. Comes from “pais,” meaning “boy,” and “agōgos,” meaning “guide.” Did you Know? A pedagogue is typically a dull or strict teacher, but in the education field, “pedagogy” refers specifically to the teaching of children or dependent personalities. “Andragogy,” on the other hand, refers to methods and principles used to teach adults, and an andragogue is an adult educator who uses these methods. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 29 Author Report Share Posted August 29 What's the Word: LACUNA pronunciation: [lə-KYOO-nə] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, mid-17th century Meaning: 1. An unfilled space or interval; a gap; a missing portion in a book or manuscript. 2. (Anatomy) A cavity or depression, especially in bone. Examples: "The lacuna in the manuscript made it a confusing read." "Her forearm had a lacuna due to improper bone development." About Lacuna This word comes from the Latin “lacuna,” meaning “hole, pit,” or in a figurative sense, “a gap, void, want.” Did you Know? The word “lacuna” is used to refer to gaps across different fields. In music, a lacuna is an extended, intentional passage during which no notes are played. A scientific lacuna is an area of science that has yet to be studied. A lacuna in the legal realm is similar to a “non liquet” (translated from Latin to “it is not clear”), or a situation where there is no applicable law. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 30 Author Report Share Posted August 30 What's the Word: TRANSMUTE pronunciation: [tranz-MYOOT] Part of speech: verb Origin: Latin, 15th century Meaning: 1. Change in form, nature, or substance. 2. Subject (base metals) to alchemical transmutation. Examples: "The goal of ancient alchemy was to transmute lead into gold." "Shane left the ROTC transmuted into an athlete." About Transmute The key Latin root of “transmute” is “mūtāre,” meaning “to change.” To this, the word adds the Latin prefix “trans-,” meaning “across” or “beyond.” Together, they suggest a change that moves beyond the original form, nature, or substance. Did you Know? Beginning in the 17th century, the verb “transmute” became closely associated with alchemy, the practice of attempting to turn a base metal (copper, lead, nickel, zinc) into a precious metal (gold, silver). Today, alchemy is thought of as an esoteric occult practice, but it was taken seriously as a branch of science and philosophy for centuries, faltering only with the rise of the scientific method and modern scientific expectations that theories must be proved with experiments. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted August 31 Author Report Share Posted August 31 What's the Word: NUMERACY pronunciation: [NOOM-ə-rə-si] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 20th century Meaning: 1. The ability to understand and work with numbers. Examples: "John developed his numeracy by balancing the books for his father’s business." "Many students have a harder time developing numeracy than they do developing literacy." About Numeracy “Numeracy” and the adjective “numerate” were formed in reflection of the existing terms “literacy” and “literate.” The Latin root “litterātus” was discarded and substituted with the Latin root “numerus.” Did you Know? “Numeracy” is an understanding of numbers. The term describes a person’s comfort and facility using numbers and mathematics, in the same way “literacy” describes a state of ease and ability to read printed text. Yet the two terms did not develop side by side: The first appearance of “literate” was in the 15th century, and the noun “literacy” appeared in the 19th century, but “numeracy” did not appear in English until the mid-20th century. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 What's the Word: VANGUARD pronunciation: [VAN-gard] Part of speech: noun Origin: Old French, 15th century Meaning: 1. A group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas; a position at the forefront of new developments or ideas. 2. The foremost part of an advancing army or naval force. Examples: "Tom Brady is part of a vanguard of older athletes who delivered peak performance well past average retirement age." "As an early investor in Bitcoin, Carl was in the vanguard of the cryptocurrency revolution." About Vanguard “Vanguard” appeared in the 15th century as a collapsed version of the Old French term “avant-garde” (“forward-guard”), referring to the foremost part of an advancing army. Its definition was chiefly military at first, but by the 19th century, “vanguard” had come into wide use as a metaphor for any group leading the way into new territory. Did you Know? Like “vanguard,” the word “avant-garde” derives from a military expression. While “vanguard” has stayed true to its intention of people leading a new charge forward, “avant-garde” has shifted almost exclusively to the world of art and culture. It’s not just forward-thinking; avant-garde art moves in unusual or experimental directions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 2 Author Report Share Posted September 2 What's the Word: SAPONACEOUS pronunciation: [sap-ə-NAY-shəs] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 18th century Meaning: 1. Of, like, or containing soap; soapy. Examples: "A saponaceous substance was smeared on my windshield." "Tim used a saponaceous liquid to clean the dirt off his tires." About Saponaceous This word comes from the modern Latin “saponaceus,” stemming from the Latin “sapo,” meaning “soap,” and the adjective-forming suffix “-ous.” Did you Know? “Saponaceous” describes substances used to make soap, such as aloe gel and glycerin, but it can also describe substances that have a soapy feel or appearance, including mica and some shales. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the word started to be used to describe people who exhibit an evasive, slippery character. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 3 Author Report Share Posted September 3 (edited) What's the Word: NOTAPHILY pronunciation: [no-TAH-fə-lee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 1970 Meaning: 1. The collecting of banknotes as a hobby. Examples: "Gerald’s favorite hobby as he entered retirement was notaphily." "Notaphily can be a time-consuming, expensive hobby." About Notaphily This word stems from the Latin “nota,” meaning “note,” and “philia,” an ancient Greek term meaning “fondness.” Did you Know? Anyone who’s seriously into notaphily can tell you that the rarest of U.S. currency notes is the 1890 “Grand Watermelon” $1,000 bill. It earned its nickname because the color and design of the large zeroes on the reverse side resemble watermelons. In 2014, one sold at auction for $3.29 million, making it the single most valuable piece of currency in existence. Only two “Grand Watermelons” are thought to still exist, with one being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Edited September 4 by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 4 Author Report Share Posted September 4 What's the Word: REMONTANT pronunciation: [rə-MAHN-tənt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: French, mid-19th century Meaning: 1. (Of a plant) Blooming or producing a crop more than once a season. Examples: "The bush had lush, remontant flowers." "Sharon wanted to plant remontant bushes in hopes of winning Yard of the Month." About Remontant This word stems from the French verb “remonter,” which translates to “coming up again.” Did you Know? Remontant hydrangeas have two distinct periods of growth that produce flowers. The first flush of growth occurs on “old wood,” or last year’s stems. The second flush begins in late summer or early autumn on “new wood,” the newest stems. In the southeastern United States, these hydrangeas experience their first flush in late May or early June and their second sometime in September. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 5 Author Report Share Posted September 5 What's the Word: MONOPSONY pronunciation: [mə-NAHP-sə-nee] Part of speech: noun Origin: Greek, 1930s Meaning: 1. (Economics) A market situation in which there is only one buyer. Examples: "The conglomerate used questionable tactics to create this monopsony. " "I learned about the unique circumstance of a monopsony in my economics class today." About Monopsony This word stems from the Greek suffix “mono-,” meaning “one,” and the Greek “opsōnein,” meaning “buy provisions.” Did you Know? “Monopsony” can be easily mistaken with “monopoly,” but they have somewhat inverse definitions. While a “monopsony” is a market situation in which there is only one buyer of a good or service, a “monopoly” is a situation in which there is only one producer of a good or service. Economic theory proposes that monopsonies can lead to lower wages for workers because they are paid less than their marginal revenue product. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 7 Author Report Share Posted September 7 Friday's Word What's the Word: ENDUE pronunciation: [en-DOO] Part of speech: verb Origin: Middle English, 15th century Meaning: 1. Endow or provide with a quality or ability. Examples: "Max was endued with incredible compassion for his friends’ problems." "If I’d been endued with a better sense of direction, I wouldn’t be lost right now." About Endue “Endue” is related to the Latin “indūcĕre,” from “in-,” meaning “into,” and “dūcĕre,” meaning “lead.” The word is closely related to “induce” (meaning "bring about"), based on the same Latin root. Did you Know? “Endue” is very similar to “endow,” and the two share nearly identical contemporary definitions of being provided with something. However, the words are based on different Latin roots. “Endue” is from the Latin “indūcĕre,” with the idea of a person being led into certain qualities or abilities. “Endow” is based on the Latin root “dōtāre,” meaning “dowry.” In the 16th century, “endow” originally meant to bestow a dowry upon a woman. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 7 Author Report Share Posted September 7 What's the Word: BOSWELL pronunciation: [BAHZ-well] Part of speech: noun Origin: English, 18th century Meaning: 1. A person who accompanies another and records their life. Examples: "The CEO wanted to hire a Boswell to become her assistant in writing a memoir." "I've become a social-media Boswell as I follow my favorite rock band and record everything on Instagram." About Boswell The eponym refers directly to biographer James Boswell, best known for his 1791 book “The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D,” considered by many to be the template for the modern biography. Did you Know? James Boswell, after whom “Boswell” is coined, was a Scot who moved to London in the 1760s. Boswell was a close friend and constant companion of Samuel Johnson, author of the first Dictionary of English. He diligently wrote down Johnson’s wisdom and witticisms in private and public conversations, and Johnson described Boswell by saying, “One would think the man had been hired to spy on me.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 What's the Word: TRADE-LAST pronunciation: [TRAYD-last] Part of speech: noun Origin: American English, 19th century Meaning: 1. A compliment from a third person that is relayed to the person complimented in exchange for a similarly relayed compliment. Examples: "Tom told me Sarah loved my haircut, so, as a trade-last, I told him Carnie said he was handsome." "I don’t need a trade-last; I’m just telling you Jan said you were brilliant." About Trade-Last The expression “trade-last” emerged in the late 19th century as a shortening of the phrase “will you trade your last compliment?” which was later shortened to “will you trade your last?” Did you Know? “Trade-last” is an old but charming expression that describes giving compliments in a somewhat convoluted fashion. For example, John tells Ringo that Paul thinks Ringo is a great drummer. In exchange, Ringo reveals to John that George is a fan of his latest lyrics. The trade-last exchange is similar to “paying it forward,” but rather than leaving something of value for the next person to enjoy, the first flatterer is doing so in hopes the person they’re talking to has another compliment to trade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 What's the Word: CONSPECTUS pronunciation: [kən-SPEK-təs] Part of speech: noun Origin: Latin, 1830s Meaning: 1. A summary or overview of a subject. Examples: "Professor Wells posted the course conspectus online." "The paper was a good conspectus of the impact of social media on larger society." About Conspectus This word stems from the Latin “conspectus,” meaning a “a looking at, sight, view; range or power of vision.” It is the noun use of the past participle of “conspicere,” meaning “to look at,” which originates from “specere,” meaning “to look at.” Did you Know? “Conspectus” sounds like another word that’s more common in modern English: “prospectus.” They also share a Latin root, “specere,” which means “to look at.” While “conspectus” means “an overview of a particular subject,” “prospectus” means “a printed document that advertises or describes a school, commercial enterprise, forthcoming book, etc., in order to attract or inform clients, members, buyers, or investors.” 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted September 10 Author Report Share Posted September 10 What's the Word: PINNATE pronunciation: [PIN-eyt] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, early 18th century Meaning: 1. (Botany — of a compound leaf) Having leaflets arranged on either side of the stem, typically in pairs opposite each other. 2. (Zoology — especially of an invertebrate animal) Having branches, tentacles, etc., on each side of an axis, like the vanes of a feather. Examples: "The tree had delicate, pinnate leaves." "Feathers have a pinnate, symmetrical structure." About Pinnate This word comes from the Latin “pinnatus,” meaning “feathered.” This stems from “pinna,” meaning “feather, wing.” Did you Know? Pinnate leaves can be separated into two categories: imparipinnate and paripinnate. “Imparipinnate,” or “odd-pinnate,” means the leaflets are arranged on both sides with an odd terminal leaflet up top. “Paripinnate,” or “even-pinnate,” describes a leaf that lacks the terminal leaflet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Wednesday at 01:58 PM Author Report Share Posted Wednesday at 01:58 PM What's the Word: IMPRESARIO pronunciation: [im-prə-SAR-ee-oh] Part of speech: noun Origin: Italian, 18th century Meaning: 1. A person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, or operas. 2. The manager of a musical, theatrical, or operatic company. Examples: "My grandfather was a vaudeville impresario who produced and emceed touring variety shows." "The impresario heard Sharon’s voice and invited her to join the chorus." About Impresario In Italian, "impresario" means one who undertakes a task, such as running a business. The term is related to "impresa," meaning "undertaking." By the 18th century, "impresario" in English primarily referred to undertaking theater and stage productions. Did you Know? The figure of an impresario is a bit antiquated, but not extinct. Consider Andrew Lloyd Webber, the modern theater impresario and composer of "Cats," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Evita," and "Phantom of the Opera." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Thursday at 02:28 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 02:28 PM (edited) What's the Word: EMBLEMATIZE pronunciation: [em-BLEM-ə-tiyz] Part of speech: verb Origin: Greek, 17th century Meaning: 1. Serve as a symbolic representation of (a quality or concept). Examples: "The spectacle of the Super Bowl emblematizes the intensity of America’s love of football." "Singer Lizzo emblematizes a generation of women who love their bodies in a variety of shapes and sizes." About Emblematize “Emblematize” was coined as a verb after the word “emblematist,” a 17th-century term for a person who drew or painted emblems. Did you Know? “Emblem” comes from the Latin “emblema,” referring to an ornament that represents a grander idea. For example, the national flag of France is an emblem that could represent the country and its people in a variety of contexts. Likewise, religious emblems represent complex beliefs, traditions, and histories. To emblematize means to stand for something in the way an emblem stands for an abstract idea. Edited Friday at 01:12 PM by DarkRavie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkRavie Posted Friday at 01:15 PM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 01:15 PM What's the Word: DESULTORY pronunciation: [deh-SUHL-tor-ee] Part of speech: adjective Origin: Latin, late 16th century Meaning: 1. Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused. 2. Occurring randomly or occasionally. Examples: "The conversation at the party became more desultory as the night wore on." "Evelyn had a habit of popping in on her friends in a desultory manner." About Desultory This word stems from the Latin “desultorius,” meaning “superficial” (literally “relating to a vaulter”). That comes from “desultor,” meaning “vaulter,” from the verb “desilire.” Did you Know? “Desultory” stems from the Latin adjective “desultorius.” In ancient times, this term was used to refer to a “desultor,” a circus performer whose primary trick was to leap from one horse to another and another without stopping. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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