New Game: What's the Word?

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: CAUSERIE

pronunciation: [koz-ə-REE]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. An informal article or talk, typically on a literary subject.

 

Examples:

"As we walked, Tom improvised a causerie about the works of Virginia Woolf."

"Our dinner discussion turned into a causerie about the “James Bond” novels."

About Causerie

“Causerie” is based on the French expression “causer,” meaning “to talk,” which itself is based on the Latin “causārī,” meaning “to debate or dispute.”

 

Did you Know?

The difference between a causerie and a lecture is informality. In the original French, the term “causerie” refers to “a chat” or “a chin-wag,” but rather than simply talking about anything, “causerie” marries an informal type of conversation with a subject of some depth, such as literature. Educational discussions of literature can be very formal. By contrast, a causerie offers those who love literature the opportunity to have informal chats that nonetheless approach the subject in detail. Consider calling your next book club chat a “causerie.”

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ESCUTSHEON

pronunciation: [ə-skəCH-ən] 

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Old French, 15th century

 

Meaning:

1. (Also escutcheon plate) A flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch.

2. A shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.

 

Examples:

"Every outdoor lock was protected from the elements by a swiveling brass escutcheon."

"The antique tapestry featured a large escutcheon at the center."

About Escutcheon

“Escutcheon” came into English from the Old French “escuchon,” which referred to the Latin “scūtum,” meaning “shield.”

 

Did you Know?

With the Latin root “scūtum,” meaning “shield,” “escutcheon” once described a shield-shaped coat of arms, but it’s more commonly used now in architecture. It refers to shield-shaped stone ornaments that have decorated buildings from the Gothic era into modern times. Today, most escutcheons are literal — not figurative — shields. Their job is to shield less attractive parts of functional items from view. For example, an escutcheon may be placed to cover the hole in the wall from which a bathroom pipe emerges, or around a doorknob or light switch to hide the hardware.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: QUASI

pronunciation: [KWEI-zi]

 

Part of speech: combining form

Origin: Latin, 15th century

 

Meaning:

1. Seemingly; apparently but not really.

2. Being partly or almost.

 

Examples:

"George was a quasi-Floridian; he loved Jimmy Buffett and followed the Buccaneers, but he lived in North Dakota."

"My father never went to college, but he read so much that he spoke like a quasi-academic."

About Quasi

“Quasi” was taken directly from the same word in Latin, meaning “as if” or “almost.”

 

Did you Know?

“Quasi” is a combining form, which is similar to a prefix, but works slightly differently. A prefix adjusts the function of the word, such as “in-” in “inability” or “im-” in “impossible.” A combining form, such as “quasi-,” helps determine a new meaning of the word. “Quasi” describes something or someone that is closely similar to something else without bridging the gap and becoming that thing. For example, a “quasi-vegetarian” is a person who eats meat extremely rarely, but they can’t claim to be a complete vegetarian.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: DECOCTION

pronunciation: [də-KAK-shən]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Old French, 13th century

 

Meaning:

1. The liquor resulting from concentrating the essence of a substance by heating or boiling, especially a medicinal preparation made from a plant.

2. The action or process of extracting the essence of something.

 

Examples:

"My grandmother fed her own decoction of medicinal herbs to anyone who was sick."

"To make a plant-based tincture, start with a decoction of the plant mixed with alcohol."

About Decoction

“Decoction” entered English from the Old French “decoccion,” which was based on the Latin “decoquō,” meaning “I boil down.”

 

Did you Know?

“Decoction” and “concoction” share some similarities, but their differences are important. A decoction is specifically a concentration of a single substance through heat — it comes from the Latin “dēcoquĕre,” meaning “to boil down.” A concoction is a combination of several substances merged together by heating. The “con-” prefix comes from the Latin “concoquĕre,” meaning “to boil together.” “Concoction” could be used to describe pretty much any dish whipped up over the stove, but “decoction” will likely pop up in the kitchen for preparing jams, syrups, and herbal tinctures.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: KINDRED

pronunciation: [KIN-drəd]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Old English, pre-13th century

 

Meaning:

1. Similar in kind; related.

 

Examples:

"When I saw how enthusiastically Joan cheered for the home team, I knew she was a kindred fan."

"Lali spent all weekend at the record fair with kindred collectors."

About Kindred

“Kindred” is based on the word “kin,” which entered Old English from the Germanic “cyn,” indicating “kind or stock.” The suffix “-red” developed out of the Old English “rǣden,” meaning “condition.”

 

Did you Know?

One of the most popular modern uses for the word “kindred” is as part of the expression “kindred spirit,” with a basic definition of “a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one’s own.” However, “kindred spirit” often refers to those people with whom one shares not only interests and attitudes, but also a feeling of profound connection. This feeling need not be limited to people. Sometimes a person in a close relationship with a pet may describe that animal as a “kindred spirit” to indicate a deep affection that transcends species.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: RESIDUUM

pronunciation: [rə-ZIJ-yoo-əm]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. A substance or thing that remains or is left behind, in particular, a chemical residue.

 

Examples:

"All that was left after the chemical reaction was a sticky green residuum."

"Johan soaked his saucepan to soften the chili residuum burned to the bottom."

About Residuum

“Residuum” is borrowed directly from Latin, in which it meant “something that remains.”

 

Did you Know?

“Residuum” began its life in scholarly writing as a direct reference to the Latin root word “residuum,” and for many years it was used interchangeably with the early English word “residue.” (“Residue” appeared in English roughly 250 years earlier than “residuum.”) In the world of 19th-century chemistry, however, the two words split. “Residue” referred to any sort of leftover remainder or byproduct, and “residuum” took on the specific meaning of waste products left over following a chemical reaction.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ACERVATION

pronunciation: [a-sər-VEY-shən]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. A heaping up; accumulation.

 

Examples:

"The great hill in the park was created by the acervation of the earth removed to build the subway station."

"The sledding hill was made by snow plows conducting the acervation of the parking lot snow."

About Acervation

“Acervation” is taken directly from the Latin “acervation,” meaning “piling up” or “heaping.”

 

Did you Know?

Around the United States there are ancient sites created by pre-Columbian Indigenous cultures known collectively as “mound builders.” Mound builders existed from as early as 3500 BCE until European contact in the 16th century. They came from different cultures and traditions, but were united by their use of acervation to create mound earthworks used as ceremonial sites, burial grounds, and residential areas. Some used acervation to create gigantic earthwork representations of animals — such as at Serpent Mound in Ohio, which is shaped like a snake.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: DISCURSIVE

pronunciation: [də-SKUR-siv]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, 16th century

 

Meaning:

1. Digressing from subject to subject.

2. (Of a style of speech or writing) Fluent and expansive rather than formulaic or abbreviated.

 

Examples:

"The author’s talk wasn’t showy, but he spoke with the same discursive eloquence with which he wrote."

"My favorite college professor gave discursive lectures that connected widely different subjects."

About Discursive 

“Discursive” is based on the Latin word “discursivus,” whose root is “discurs-,” meaning “going hastily to and fro.”

 

Did you Know?

The “shaggy-dog story” is essentially a long joke format composed of many irrelevant, yet highly detailed, discursive tangents that lead to an anticlimactic punchline. It earned its name from an original joke that emphasizes the shagginess of a dog in excessive detail before a punchline in which a character — sometimes the judge of a shaggy dog contest — announces the dog is not actually very shaggy. An audience tends to get the giggles from the unrelenting discursive descriptions, which are more important to the jokes than their punchlines. Late comedian Norm MacDonald was known for his version of a shaggy-dog story, an extraordinarily discursive four-minute telling of the “moth joke.”

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: COUNTERPANE

pronunciation: [KOUN-tər-payn]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Old French, 15th century

 

Meaning:

1. A bedspread.

 

Examples:

"The bed was made up with an antique counterpane quilted by my husband’s great-grandmother."

"The counterpane in the guest bedroom was more for show than for warmth."

About Counterpane

“Counterpane” is an alteration of “counterpoint,” which was based on the Latin “culcitra puncta,” or “quilted mattress.” The suffix “pane” — an old word for “cloth” — replaced “point.”

 

Did you Know?

A counterpane is a decorative bedspread designed more to be seen than used for warmth. Traditionally, counterpanes were woven to showcase raised details, making the blanket seem embossed. However, many counterpanes were also quilted or knit. As nice as counterpanes are to look at, they are generally insubstantial as blankets. Sleepers in cold climates usually require additional layers beyond a counterpane to keep them warm at night.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: VISAGISTE

pronunciation: [viz-ah-JEEST]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 20th century

 

Meaning:

1. A makeup artist.

 

Examples:

"Roseanne sat for an hour with a visagiste who applied her makeup perfectly before the show."

"Shauna started her career as a visagiste, before she realized her true passion was styling hair."

About Visagiste

Coming directly from the French “visagiste,” this word combines the French word “visage,” meaning “face,” and the suffix “-iste” (like the English “-ist”), suggesting “one who studies and practices a discipline.”

 

Did you Know?

A visagiste doesn’t just apply their own cosmetics; they skillfully apply makeup to others in flattering and creative ways. Why not simply call themselves “makeup artists”? Most do, but that label is also used by influencers with different levels of training and experience. Using the term “visagiste” might make a statement about one’s expertise. Visagistes are experts of the face — “visage” is “face” in French — and of how to flatter it with cosmetics that celebrate its beauty.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: ARABLE

pronunciation: [ER-ə-bəl]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Middle French, 15th century

 

Meaning:

1. (Of land) Used or suitable for growing crops.

2. (Of crops) Able to be grown on suitable land.

 

Examples:

"The land at the back of the house is arable and ready for crops to be planted."

"This county has twice as much arable land as its neighbors, which is why we have so many farms."

About Arable

From the French “arable,” this word is based on the Latin “arābilis,” meaning “capable of being plowed.”

 

Did you Know?

The amount of arable land — land suitable for growing crops — around the world has been growing slowly over the past 50 years. As of 2019, the World Bank reported that 10.8% of the world’s land area was arable, up from 10% in 1972. Thirty years ago, the percentage of arable land around the world was 10.6% — meaning the world has gained only 0.2% of arable land area since that time, due to brief declines in the 1990s and 2000s caused partly by expanding cities and urban sprawl absorbing farmland.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: PRIVY

pronunciation: [PRIV-ee]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Anglo-Norman, 13th century

 

Meaning:

1. Sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private).

2. (Archaic) Hidden; secret.

 

Examples:

"My sisters and I made sure our mom wasn’t privy to our surprise party plans."

"My uncle’s office opened onto a room whose door appeared to be a privy bookcase."

About Privy

This comes from the Anglo-Norman/middle French “prevé” (also “privié” or “privé”), which at various times has meant “intimate,” “reserved for only some people,” “secret,” and “isolated.”

 

Did you Know?

The most common form of “privy” in modern English is the adjective describing someone who shares in the knowledge of something secret or private, such as when a judge calls attorneys to the bench and has a conversation only they are privy to. But dating back to its entry into English in the 1200s, the word “privy” has also evoked the common outdoor toilet. The simple reason for this is that the early forms of the root word “prevé” apply to outhouses. They are isolated places reserved for only some people — the inhabitants of a home, and their guests.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: RORIFETOUS

pronunciation: [roh-RIF-ə-rəs]

 

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Italian, 16th century

 

Meaning:

1. Producing or generating dew.

 

Examples:

"Before dawn, the roriferous clouds rolled in from the ocean."

"The roriferous fog left the grass heavy with morning dew."

About Roriferous

“Roriferous” is based on the Italian word “rorifero,” which comes from the Latin “rōrifer.” That word is a combination of the Latin “rōs,” meaning “dew,” and “ferō,” meaning “carry.” The English word “roriferous” has the suffix “-ous,” meaning “an abundance of.”

 

Did you Know?

“Rory” was a popular poetic synonym for “dewy” from the 16th to 18th centuries, and “roriferous” is built on this root. The words “dewy” and “dewiness” are directly related to dew, but they describe the presence of dew or similarity to dew. By contrast, “roriferous” describes the characteristic of attracting or producing dew.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SCINTILLATION

pronunciation: [sin-tə-LEY-shən]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, 16th century

 

Meaning:

1. A flash or sparkle of light.

2. (Astronomy) The twinkling of the stars, caused by the Earth's atmosphere diffracting starlight unevenly.

 

Examples:

"We could see the scintillation of the city’s lights from the top of the mountain."

"Arlene sat on her roof on clear summer nights and enjoyed the scintillation of the stars."

About Scintillation

“Scintillation” is taken directly from the same word in French, which itself is based on the Latin “scintillation,” meaning “sparkling” or “twinkling.”

 

Did you Know?

In everyday English, the word “scintillating” describes the bright thoughts and wit of a clever person, or the dazzling talent of a skilled individual. The word “scintillation” is closely associated with “scintillating,” though it is rarely used as a metaphor. Rather, “scintillation” refers specifically to flashes of light, particularly light that is sparkling or twinkling rather than constant. One might describe an evening of conversation as “scintillating,” while “scintillation” could be used for the flicker of the candles at the dinner party.

 

Edited November 6, 2024 by DarkRavie

[warriorpirate]

5 hours ago, DarkRavie said:

Fact of the Day - SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

Did you know.... Technically, serving on the U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t have to be a life sentence.

 

 

You posted this in the wrong thread. 

[DarkRavie]

16 hours ago, warriorpirate said:

 

You posted this in the wrong thread. 

Oops!  I fixed it! Thank you!

 

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: INFRACANINOPHILE

pronunciation: [in-fra-ka-NI-no-file]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: American English, 20th century

 

Meaning:

1. A person who loves or admires underdogs.

 

Examples:

"Irma’s such an infracaninophile that she changes her favorite baseball team every year to whoever’s lowest in the standings."

"The infracaninophile in me always wants to see the end of the game to find out if the underdog turns it around."

About Infracaninophile

“Infracaninophile” combines the Latin prefix “infrā-,” meaning “underneath,” with “canin,” referring to the Latin “canīnus,” meaning “dog.” Together these create a Latin improvisation of the U.S. slang term “underdog” (coined in the late 19th century), meaning “the competitor at a disadvantage or expected to lose.” The suffix “-phile” comes from Greek, meaning “dear” or “beloved.” Thus, “infracaninophile” is one for whom the underdog is dear or beloved.

 

Did you Know?

“Infracaninophile” was coined in the first half of the 20th century by American humorist, journalist, poet, novelist, and essayist Christopher Morley. In a preface to Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Complete Sherlock Holmes,” Morley wrote of Holmes that “he was always also the infracaninophile — the helper of the underdog.” Morley likely knew the word “underdog” was a recent American invention; he saw the humor of rephrasing a modern slang word in ancient-sounding Latin.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: EFFECTUATE

pronunciation: [ə-FEK-tyoo-eyt]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin: Latin, 16th century

 

Meaning:

1. Put into force or operation.

 

Examples:

"The new highway law effectuated updates to all driver’s licenses."

"The arrival of the rainy season effectuated a wave of growth across the jungle canopy."

About Effectuate

“Effectuate” comes from the medieval Latin “effectuat-” (“caused to happen”), from the Latin “effectus.”

 

Did you Know?

“Effectuate” is a transitive verb, meaning an action that a subject does to an object. Often, “effectuate” describes a secondary action that occurs as a consequence of other things happening, such as changes to policies or circumstances. Some shifts are deliberately effectuated, such as new legislation. Other times, changes may be effectuated due to shifts in technology or society. For example, advances in DNA sequencing continue to effectuate the evolution of cancer treatments.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: GALVANIZE

pronunciation: [GAL-və-niyz]

 

Part of speech: verb

Origin: French, early 19th century

 

Meaning:

1. Shock or excite (someone) into taking action.

2. Coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc.

 

Examples:

"The new star rookie galvanized the city into basketball fandom after years of lackluster game attendance."

"The strength Eleanor needed to lift her grandchildren surprised her and galvanized her to start going to the gym."

About Galvanize

“Galvanize” comes from the French “galvaniser,” meaning “stimulate by electricity,” named for Italian physician Luigi Galvani.

 

Did you Know?

In 1792, Italian physician and physicist Luigi Galvani helped develop the idea of bioelectromechanics, the relationship between magnetic/electrical forces and biological subjects such as cells and tissues. Galvani gave his name to “galvanism,” the process of generating electricity from chemical sources. This electrical connection is the basis of the modern definitions of “galvanize.” The word can refer to the human experience of being shocked or excited into taking action, as well as to the chemical practice of using an electric charge to coat metal with a thin layer of protective zinc.

 

[DarkRavie]

What's the Word: SUPERSEDENCE

pronunciation: [soo-pər-SEED-ns]

 

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Latin, 17th century

 

Meaning:

1. The act of taking the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use), or supplanting.

 

Examples:

"Gasoline-powered cars face supersedence by the rising popularity of electric vehicles."

"Since the 1990s, the supersedence of hip-hop and pop music over rock 'n' roll on the charts has been clear."

About Supersedence

“Supersedence” is formed out of the verb “supercede,” from the Latin “supersedere,” meaning “be superior to.” The current sense of “supplanting a previous version” dates from the mid-17th century.

 

Did you Know?

Consumer electronics is a market of supersedence. Manufacturers offer updated models every year, which they hope will supersede last year’s model in the eyes of consumers. Supersedence isn’t built into the market of every consumer product, however. Many simple items — such as hand tools or cooking utensils — hardly change at all. Automobile manufacturers have relied on a degree of supersedence with the release of each year’s models of cars and trucks. However, car and truck makers are rarely able to offer the kinds of continual technological upgrades that smartphone, tablet, and computer makers tout as the hallmarks of each new product they release.