WORD O' THE DAY
parry \ PAIR-ee \ verb
Definition
1 : to ward off a weapon or blow
2 : to evade especially by an adroit answer
Examples
The fencer skillfully parried her opponent's thrusts.
"The AMP [Accelerated Mobile Pages] technology … indirectly parries one of the main threats facing digital ad companies—the growing use of ad-blocking software in response to slow, buggy, and hard-to-use Web pages—by stopping ads from slowing down access to articles."
— Jack Clark and Gerry Smith, The Boston Globe, 25 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Parry (which is used in fencing, among other applications) probably comes from parez, a form of the French verb parer, meaning "to guard or ward off." Its history can be compared with that of two other English words: parapet and parasol. Those two terms go back to an Italian word (parare) that means "to shield or guard." (A parapet shields soldiers and a parasol wards off the sun.) All three—parry, parapet, and parasol—can ultimately be traced to the Latin parare, meaning "to prepare." And they're not alone. Other descendants of the Latin term include apparatus, disparate, emperor, and even prepare.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Sidereal
WORD OF THE DAY
sidereal \ sye-DEER-ee-ul \ adjective
Definition
1 : of or relating to stars or constellations
2 : measured by the apparent motion of the stars
Examples
David's parents were so pleased by his newfound interest in sidereal phenomena that they bought him an expensive telescope for his birthday.
"Today, these various astronomical functions can mainly be found in very complicated watches…. These exceptional timekeepers are masterpieces of knowledge, technique and know-how, presenting a range of complex functions: display of sidereal time, equation of time, hours of sunrise and sunset, star charts, angular movement of the moon, phases of the moon...."
— Grégory Gardinetti, CNN.com, 6 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
In Latin, the word for a star or constellation is sidus. Latin speakers used that word to form desiderare ("from a heavenly body") and considerare ("to think about a heavenly body"), which were adopted into English as desire and consider. Sidereal, another sidus creation, was first documented in English in 1642.
Thirty-four years later, an astronomer coined the phrase "sidereal year" for the time in which the earth completes one revolution in its orbit around the sun, measured with respect to the fixed stars. Not surprisingly, other sidereal measurements of time followed, including the sidereal month, the sidereal day, the sidereal hour, and even the sidereal minute.
sidereal \ sye-DEER-ee-ul \ adjective
Definition
1 : of or relating to stars or constellations
2 : measured by the apparent motion of the stars
Examples
David's parents were so pleased by his newfound interest in sidereal phenomena that they bought him an expensive telescope for his birthday.
"Today, these various astronomical functions can mainly be found in very complicated watches…. These exceptional timekeepers are masterpieces of knowledge, technique and know-how, presenting a range of complex functions: display of sidereal time, equation of time, hours of sunrise and sunset, star charts, angular movement of the moon, phases of the moon...."
— Grégory Gardinetti, CNN.com, 6 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
In Latin, the word for a star or constellation is sidus. Latin speakers used that word to form desiderare ("from a heavenly body") and considerare ("to think about a heavenly body"), which were adopted into English as desire and consider. Sidereal, another sidus creation, was first documented in English in 1642.
Thirty-four years later, an astronomer coined the phrase "sidereal year" for the time in which the earth completes one revolution in its orbit around the sun, measured with respect to the fixed stars. Not surprisingly, other sidereal measurements of time followed, including the sidereal month, the sidereal day, the sidereal hour, and even the sidereal minute.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Quorum
WORD OF THE DAY
QUORUM \ KWOR-um \ noun
Definition
1 : a select group
2 : the number (such as a majority) of officers or members of a body that when duly assembled is legally competent to transact business
Examples
The organization's charter states that a quorum of at least seven board members must be present before any voting can take place.
"The City Council meeting that was supposed to continue from Tuesday night didn't happen after only one member showed up, leaving the council without a quorum."
— Garrett Brnger (yes that is his name), KSAT.com (San Antonio, Texas), 17 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
In Latin, quorum means "of whom" and is itself the genitive plural of qui, meaning "who." At one time, Latin quorum was used in the wording of the commissions issued to justices of the peace in England.
In English, quorum initially referred to the number of justices of the peace who had to be present to constitute a legally sufficient bench. That sense is now rare, but it's not surprising that quorum has come to mean both "a select group" and "the minimum people required in order to conduct business."
QUORUM \ KWOR-um \ noun
Definition
1 : a select group
2 : the number (such as a majority) of officers or members of a body that when duly assembled is legally competent to transact business
Examples
The organization's charter states that a quorum of at least seven board members must be present before any voting can take place.
"The City Council meeting that was supposed to continue from Tuesday night didn't happen after only one member showed up, leaving the council without a quorum."
— Garrett Brnger (yes that is his name), KSAT.com (San Antonio, Texas), 17 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
In Latin, quorum means "of whom" and is itself the genitive plural of qui, meaning "who." At one time, Latin quorum was used in the wording of the commissions issued to justices of the peace in England.
In English, quorum initially referred to the number of justices of the peace who had to be present to constitute a legally sufficient bench. That sense is now rare, but it's not surprising that quorum has come to mean both "a select group" and "the minimum people required in order to conduct business."
Monday, March 28, 2016
Auspicious
WORD OF THE DAY
auspicious \ aw-SPISH-us \ adjective
Definition
1a: showing or suggesting that future success is likely
1b: propitious
2a: attended by good fortune
2b: prosperous
Examples
Being nominated for four awards, including Best Picture, the movie proved to be an auspicious start to his directing career.
"In Chinese lobster is called 'long xia,' or dragon prawn, which has an auspicious ring to it."
— The Economist, 13 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Auspicious comes from Latin auspex, which literally means "bird seer" (from the words avis, meaning "bird," and specere, meaning "to look at"). In ancient Rome, these "bird seers" were priests, or augurs, who studied the flight and feeding patterns of birds, then delivered prophecies based on their observations.
The right combination of bird behavior indicated favorable conditions, but the wrong patterns spelled trouble. The English noun auspice, which originally referred to this practice of observing birds to discover omens, also comes from Latin auspex.
Today, the plural form auspices is often used with the meaning "kindly patronage and guidance.
auspicious \ aw-SPISH-us \ adjective
Definition
1a: showing or suggesting that future success is likely
1b: propitious
2a: attended by good fortune
2b: prosperous
Examples
Being nominated for four awards, including Best Picture, the movie proved to be an auspicious start to his directing career.
"In Chinese lobster is called 'long xia,' or dragon prawn, which has an auspicious ring to it."
— The Economist, 13 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Auspicious comes from Latin auspex, which literally means "bird seer" (from the words avis, meaning "bird," and specere, meaning "to look at"). In ancient Rome, these "bird seers" were priests, or augurs, who studied the flight and feeding patterns of birds, then delivered prophecies based on their observations.
The right combination of bird behavior indicated favorable conditions, but the wrong patterns spelled trouble. The English noun auspice, which originally referred to this practice of observing birds to discover omens, also comes from Latin auspex.
Today, the plural form auspices is often used with the meaning "kindly patronage and guidance.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Undulant
WORD OF THE DAY
undulant \ UN-juh-lunt \ adjective
Definition
1 : rising and falling in waves
2 : having a wavy form, outline, or surface
Examples
The narrow greens, pesky hazards, and undulant fairways make the golf course one of the most challenging places to play in the area.
"As the plane taxied and turned, I saw the runway rolled out before us, an undulant grey tarmac wave, swooping into and out of a substantial dip. It had been folly to come to Guernsey, I thought—and now I would pay for it with my life."
— Will Self, The New Statesman, 30 Sept. 2015
— Will Self, The New Statesman, 30 Sept. 2015
Did You Know?
Unda, Latin for "wave," ripples through the history of words such as abound, inundate, redound, surround, and, of course, undulant, which first showed up in print in English around 1822. (The adjective undulate, a synonym of undulant, is almost 200 years older but rarely used today.
The far more common verb undulate has several meanings including "to form or move in waves.") The meaning of undulant is broad enough to describe both a dancer's hips and a disease marked by a fever that continually waxes and wanes.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Consummate
WORD OF THE DAY
consummate \ KAHN-suh-mut \ adjective
Definition
1a : complete in every detail
1b: perfect
2 : extremely skilled and accomplished
3 : of the highest degree
Examples
Always the consummate professional, Erika has testimonials from dozens of satisfied clients on her website.
"[Daniel] Bryan, 34, loved professional wrestling, and Miami is where the consummate wrestler became a top notch WWE superstar."
— Jim Varsallone, The Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2016
— Jim Varsallone, The Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Consummate, which derives from the Latin verb consummare (meaning "to sum up" or "to finish"), has been used as an adjective in English since the 15th century.
Some usage commentators feel the word is overused and others think it should be limited to the "perfect" sense (as in "a consummate little model of a clipper ship"), but neither of those positions is more than an opinion.
All of the senses of the word are well-established and have served careful writers well for many, many years.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Propensity
WORD OF THE DAY
propensity \ pruh-PENN-suh-tee \ noun
Definition
: an often intense natural inclination or preference
Examples
His propensity to speak his mind makes some of his colleagues wary.
"In fact, Welch's propensity for forming partnerships along with her enthusiasm for the alliance's mission is what caught the attention of the search committee, says Anthony Crutcher, immediate past president of the alliance board."
— Susan Pierce, The Chattanooga Times Free-Press, 22 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
When it comes to synonyms of propensity, the letter "p" predominates. Proclivity, preference, penchant, and predilection all share with propensity the essential meaning of "a strong instinct or liking."
Not every word that is similar in meaning to propensity begins with "p," however. Propensity comes from Latin propensus, the past participle of propendēre, a verb meaning "to incline" or "to hang forward or down." Thus leaning and inclination are as good synonyms of propensity as any of those "p"-words.
propensity \ pruh-PENN-suh-tee \ noun
Definition
: an often intense natural inclination or preference
Examples
His propensity to speak his mind makes some of his colleagues wary.
"In fact, Welch's propensity for forming partnerships along with her enthusiasm for the alliance's mission is what caught the attention of the search committee, says Anthony Crutcher, immediate past president of the alliance board."
— Susan Pierce, The Chattanooga Times Free-Press, 22 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
When it comes to synonyms of propensity, the letter "p" predominates. Proclivity, preference, penchant, and predilection all share with propensity the essential meaning of "a strong instinct or liking."
Not every word that is similar in meaning to propensity begins with "p," however. Propensity comes from Latin propensus, the past participle of propendēre, a verb meaning "to incline" or "to hang forward or down." Thus leaning and inclination are as good synonyms of propensity as any of those "p"-words.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Hie
WORD OF THE DAY
hie \ HYE \ verb
Definition
1a : to go quickly
1b: hasten
2 : to cause (oneself) to go quickly
Examples
"Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence's cell; / There stays a husband to make you a wife."
— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 1597
"The Tulsa State Fair is an annual, autumnal assault on the senses—a cornucopia of cacophony, a symphony of scents, a fulsomeness of flashing lights, a horde of humanity hieing themselves hither and yon along … the Expo Square fairgrounds."
— James D. Watts Jr., The Tulsa (Oklahoma) World, 30 Sept. 2015
Did You Know?
Hie has been part of English since the 12th century, and it stems from the even hoarier hīgian, an Old English word meaning "to strive" or "to hasten." Hie enjoyed a high popularity period from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and you're sure to encounter it in the literature of those times—writers from Shakespeare to Twain penned it into their prose.
But don't get the idea that hie is just a word of the past; it regularly pops up in current publications as well—often, though not always, in contexts in which the author is wanting to approximate an old-timey way of communicating.
hie \ HYE \ verb
Definition
1a : to go quickly
1b: hasten
2 : to cause (oneself) to go quickly
Examples
"Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence's cell; / There stays a husband to make you a wife."
— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 1597
"The Tulsa State Fair is an annual, autumnal assault on the senses—a cornucopia of cacophony, a symphony of scents, a fulsomeness of flashing lights, a horde of humanity hieing themselves hither and yon along … the Expo Square fairgrounds."
— James D. Watts Jr., The Tulsa (Oklahoma) World, 30 Sept. 2015
Did You Know?
Hie has been part of English since the 12th century, and it stems from the even hoarier hīgian, an Old English word meaning "to strive" or "to hasten." Hie enjoyed a high popularity period from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and you're sure to encounter it in the literature of those times—writers from Shakespeare to Twain penned it into their prose.
But don't get the idea that hie is just a word of the past; it regularly pops up in current publications as well—often, though not always, in contexts in which the author is wanting to approximate an old-timey way of communicating.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Farraginous
WORD OF THE DAY
farraginous \ fuh-RAJ-uh-nus \ adjective
Definition
1: consisting of a confused mixture
2: formed of various materials in no fixed order or arrangement
Examples
The large box at the hotel's lost and found desk contained a farraginous assortment of hats, umbrellas, cell phones, and other personal items.
"The next noise was the resonant but farraginous sound of twisted metal; a nightmarish squeal followed by eerie silence, as if the night held its breath with me."
— Patti Callahan Henry, Coming up for Air, 2011
Did You Know?
Farraginous is the adjective connected with farrago. In Latin, the stem farragin- and the noun farrago both mean "mixture" and, more specifically, "a mixture of grains for cattle feed." They derive from far, the Latin name for spelt, a type of grain.
In the 1600s, English speakers began using farrago as a noun meaning "hodgepodge" and farraginous as an adjective meaning "consisting of a mixture." The creation of the adjective was simply a matter of adding the adjectival suffix -ous to farragin- (although at least one writer had previously experimented with farraginary, employing a different adjectival suffix).
farraginous \ fuh-RAJ-uh-nus \ adjective
Definition
1: consisting of a confused mixture
2: formed of various materials in no fixed order or arrangement
Examples
The large box at the hotel's lost and found desk contained a farraginous assortment of hats, umbrellas, cell phones, and other personal items.
"The next noise was the resonant but farraginous sound of twisted metal; a nightmarish squeal followed by eerie silence, as if the night held its breath with me."
— Patti Callahan Henry, Coming up for Air, 2011
Did You Know?
Farraginous is the adjective connected with farrago. In Latin, the stem farragin- and the noun farrago both mean "mixture" and, more specifically, "a mixture of grains for cattle feed." They derive from far, the Latin name for spelt, a type of grain.
In the 1600s, English speakers began using farrago as a noun meaning "hodgepodge" and farraginous as an adjective meaning "consisting of a mixture." The creation of the adjective was simply a matter of adding the adjectival suffix -ous to farragin- (although at least one writer had previously experimented with farraginary, employing a different adjectival suffix).
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Morass
WORD OF THE DAY
morass \ muh-RASS \ noun
Definition
1 : marsh, swamp
2 a : a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes
2b : an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture
Examples
"Once the sales are complete, the work won't be over. Delivering the items means navigating a morass of regulations from shippers, insurance companies and foreign governments."
— Thad Moore, The Tampa Bay Times, 16 Feb. 2016
"The morass Joy finds herself in nearly 20 years later—single mother raising three children, working at an airport, with a deadbeat ex-husband … living in the basement, … is a far cry from the boundless dreams she entertained growing up."
— Jonah Allon, The Tufts (University) Daily, 19 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
Not to swamp you with details: morass comes from the Dutch word moeras, which itself derives from an Old French word, maresc, meaning "marsh."
Morass has been part of English for centuries, and in its earliest uses it was a synonym of swamp or marsh. (That was the sense Robert Louis Stevenson used when he described Long John Silver emerging from "a low white vapour that had crawled during the night out of the morass" in Treasure Island.)
Imagine walking through a thick, muddy swamp—it's easy to compare such slogging to trying to disentangle yourself from a sticky situation. By the mid-19th century, morass had gained a figurative sense, and could refer to any predicament that was as murky, confusing, or difficult to navigate as a literal swamp or quagmire.
morass \ muh-RASS \ noun
Definition
1 : marsh, swamp
2 a : a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes
2b : an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture
Examples
"Once the sales are complete, the work won't be over. Delivering the items means navigating a morass of regulations from shippers, insurance companies and foreign governments."
— Thad Moore, The Tampa Bay Times, 16 Feb. 2016
"The morass Joy finds herself in nearly 20 years later—single mother raising three children, working at an airport, with a deadbeat ex-husband … living in the basement, … is a far cry from the boundless dreams she entertained growing up."
— Jonah Allon, The Tufts (University) Daily, 19 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
Not to swamp you with details: morass comes from the Dutch word moeras, which itself derives from an Old French word, maresc, meaning "marsh."
Morass has been part of English for centuries, and in its earliest uses it was a synonym of swamp or marsh. (That was the sense Robert Louis Stevenson used when he described Long John Silver emerging from "a low white vapour that had crawled during the night out of the morass" in Treasure Island.)
Imagine walking through a thick, muddy swamp—it's easy to compare such slogging to trying to disentangle yourself from a sticky situation. By the mid-19th century, morass had gained a figurative sense, and could refer to any predicament that was as murky, confusing, or difficult to navigate as a literal swamp or quagmire.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Obnubilate
WORD OF THE DAY
obnubilate \ ahb-NOO-buh-layt \ verb
Definition
: becloud, obscure
Examples
The writer's essay includes some valid points, but they are obnubilated by his convoluted prose style.
"Early street lighting had the disconcerting effect of obnubilating as well as illuminating urban space."
— Matthew Beaumont, Nightwalking: A Nocturnal History of London, 2015
Did You Know?
The meaning of obnubilate becomes clearer when you know that its ancestors are the Latin terms ob- (meaning "in the way") and nubes ("cloud"). It's a high-flown sounding word, which may be why it often turns up in texts by and about politicians.
This has been true for a long time. In fact, when the U.S. Constitution was up for ratification, 18th-century Pennsylvania statesman James Wilson used obnubilate to calm fears that the president would have too much power: "Our first executive magistrate is not obnubilated behind the mysterious obscurity of counsellors…. He is the dignified, but accountable magistrate of a free and great people."
obnubilate \ ahb-NOO-buh-layt \ verb
Definition
: becloud, obscure
Examples
The writer's essay includes some valid points, but they are obnubilated by his convoluted prose style.
"Early street lighting had the disconcerting effect of obnubilating as well as illuminating urban space."
— Matthew Beaumont, Nightwalking: A Nocturnal History of London, 2015
Did You Know?
The meaning of obnubilate becomes clearer when you know that its ancestors are the Latin terms ob- (meaning "in the way") and nubes ("cloud"). It's a high-flown sounding word, which may be why it often turns up in texts by and about politicians.
This has been true for a long time. In fact, when the U.S. Constitution was up for ratification, 18th-century Pennsylvania statesman James Wilson used obnubilate to calm fears that the president would have too much power: "Our first executive magistrate is not obnubilated behind the mysterious obscurity of counsellors…. He is the dignified, but accountable magistrate of a free and great people."
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Golem
WORD OF THE DAY
GOLEM \ GOH-lum \ noun
1 : an artificial being in Hebrew folklore endowed with life
2 : someone or something resembling a golem, such as an automaton or a blockhead
Examples
"Honestly I don't remember all that much about how the golem looked; it had big feet, each with five clay toes…."
— Michael Chabon, Maps and Legends, 2008
"But the reality is that [Ronda] Rousey is human, not an infallible, laser-eyed fighting golem made for good television."
— Dan Bisno, The Oberlin Review, 20 Nov. 2015
Did You Know?
The Hebrew ancestor of the word golem meant "shapeless mass," and the original golems started as lumps of clay that were formed into figures and brought to life by means of a charm or a combination of letters forming a sacred word.
In the Middle Ages, golems were thought to be the perfect servants; their only fault was that they were sometimes too literal or mechanical in fulfilling their masters' orders. In the 16th century, the golem was thought of as a protector of the Jews in times of persecution.
But by the late 1800s, golem had acquired a less friendly second sense, referring to a man-made monster that inspired many of the back-from-the-dead creations of classic horror fiction.
GOLEM \ GOH-lum \ noun
1 : an artificial being in Hebrew folklore endowed with life
2 : someone or something resembling a golem, such as an automaton or a blockhead
Examples
"Honestly I don't remember all that much about how the golem looked; it had big feet, each with five clay toes…."
— Michael Chabon, Maps and Legends, 2008
"But the reality is that [Ronda] Rousey is human, not an infallible, laser-eyed fighting golem made for good television."
— Dan Bisno, The Oberlin Review, 20 Nov. 2015
Did You Know?
The Hebrew ancestor of the word golem meant "shapeless mass," and the original golems started as lumps of clay that were formed into figures and brought to life by means of a charm or a combination of letters forming a sacred word.
In the Middle Ages, golems were thought to be the perfect servants; their only fault was that they were sometimes too literal or mechanical in fulfilling their masters' orders. In the 16th century, the golem was thought of as a protector of the Jews in times of persecution.
But by the late 1800s, golem had acquired a less friendly second sense, referring to a man-made monster that inspired many of the back-from-the-dead creations of classic horror fiction.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Verbatim
WORD OF THE DAY
verbatim \ ver-BAY-tim \ adverb
Definition
: in the exact words
: word for word
Examples
The coach was quoted verbatim in the article announcing that she would retire at the end of the season.
"The year is 1993. Carlito's Way is our favorite movie. We watched it at least 10 times. We knew the lines of our favorite scenes verbatim. Moya would play Gail, and I Carlito."
— Dr. Kirk Anthony James, The Huffington Post, 2 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Latin has a phrase for "exactly as written": verbatim ac litteratim, which literally means "word for word and letter for letter." Like the verbatim in that Latin phrase, the English verbatim means "word for word." As you may have noticed, there's a verb in verbatim—and that's no mere coincidence.
Both verb and verbatim are derived from the Latin word for "word," which is verbum. Other common English words that share this root include adverb, proverb, and verbose. Even the word word itself is related. Verbatim can also be an adjective meaning "being in or following the exact words" (as in "a verbatim report") and a rarer noun referring to an account, translation, or report that follows the original word for word.
verbatim \ ver-BAY-tim \ adverb
Definition
: in the exact words
: word for word
Examples
The coach was quoted verbatim in the article announcing that she would retire at the end of the season.
"The year is 1993. Carlito's Way is our favorite movie. We watched it at least 10 times. We knew the lines of our favorite scenes verbatim. Moya would play Gail, and I Carlito."
— Dr. Kirk Anthony James, The Huffington Post, 2 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Latin has a phrase for "exactly as written": verbatim ac litteratim, which literally means "word for word and letter for letter." Like the verbatim in that Latin phrase, the English verbatim means "word for word." As you may have noticed, there's a verb in verbatim—and that's no mere coincidence.
Both verb and verbatim are derived from the Latin word for "word," which is verbum. Other common English words that share this root include adverb, proverb, and verbose. Even the word word itself is related. Verbatim can also be an adjective meaning "being in or following the exact words" (as in "a verbatim report") and a rarer noun referring to an account, translation, or report that follows the original word for word.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Levigate
WORD OF THE DAY
levigate \ LEV-uh-gayt \ verb
Definition
1 : polish, smooth
2 a : to grind to a fine smooth powder while in moist condition
2b : to separate (fine powder) from coarser material by suspending in a liquid
Examples
The apothecary levigated zinc oxide and calcium carbonate with linseed oil.
"There were water wheels for breaking down porcelain stone, stone stamping poles, stone mortars and different ponds for washing, draining, levigating, kneading, drying, and storing clay."
— Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China, volume 5, 2004
Did You Know?
Levigate comes from Latin levigatus, the past participle of the verb levigare ("to make smooth"). Levigare is derived in part from levis, the Latin word for "smooth." Alleviate and levity can also be traced back to a Latin levis, and the levi- root in both words might suggest a close relationship with levigate. This is not the case, however. The Latin levis that gives us alleviate and levity does not mean "smooth," but "light" (in the sense of having little weight). One possible relative of levigate in English is oblivion, which comes from the Latin oblivisci ("to forget"), a word which may be a combination of ob- ("in the way") and the levis that means "smooth."
levigate \ LEV-uh-gayt \ verb
Definition
1 : polish, smooth
2 a : to grind to a fine smooth powder while in moist condition
2b : to separate (fine powder) from coarser material by suspending in a liquid
Examples
The apothecary levigated zinc oxide and calcium carbonate with linseed oil.
"There were water wheels for breaking down porcelain stone, stone stamping poles, stone mortars and different ponds for washing, draining, levigating, kneading, drying, and storing clay."
— Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China, volume 5, 2004
Did You Know?
Levigate comes from Latin levigatus, the past participle of the verb levigare ("to make smooth"). Levigare is derived in part from levis, the Latin word for "smooth." Alleviate and levity can also be traced back to a Latin levis, and the levi- root in both words might suggest a close relationship with levigate. This is not the case, however. The Latin levis that gives us alleviate and levity does not mean "smooth," but "light" (in the sense of having little weight). One possible relative of levigate in English is oblivion, which comes from the Latin oblivisci ("to forget"), a word which may be a combination of ob- ("in the way") and the levis that means "smooth."
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Palatable
WORD OF THE DAY
palatable \ PAL-uh-tuh-bul \ adjective
Definition
1 : agreeable to the palate or taste
2 : agreeable or acceptable to the mind
Examples
Derrick is afraid of flying so traveling by train is the best and most palatable alternative.
"Cooking with a special someone fosters a kinship, a connection, an appreciation that infuses the relationship with a sense of harmony that's as palatable as the aromas that linger on in memory long after the meal has been consumed."
— Silvia Bianco, quoted in The Darien (Connecticut) Times, 4 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Palatable comes from palate, a Latin-derived word for the roof of the mouth. The palate was once thought of as the seat of the sense of taste, so the word eventually came to mean "sense of taste," or broadly, "liking."
Palatable has been used in English to refer to palate-pleasing foods since 1619, but it isn't our only—or our oldest—adjective for agreeable tastes. Savory dates from the 14th century. Toothsome has been around since 1551. Tasty was first used in the early 17th century. And appetizing has been gracing culinary reviews since 1653.
palatable \ PAL-uh-tuh-bul \ adjective
Definition
1 : agreeable to the palate or taste
2 : agreeable or acceptable to the mind
Examples
Derrick is afraid of flying so traveling by train is the best and most palatable alternative.
"Cooking with a special someone fosters a kinship, a connection, an appreciation that infuses the relationship with a sense of harmony that's as palatable as the aromas that linger on in memory long after the meal has been consumed."
— Silvia Bianco, quoted in The Darien (Connecticut) Times, 4 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Palatable comes from palate, a Latin-derived word for the roof of the mouth. The palate was once thought of as the seat of the sense of taste, so the word eventually came to mean "sense of taste," or broadly, "liking."
Palatable has been used in English to refer to palate-pleasing foods since 1619, but it isn't our only—or our oldest—adjective for agreeable tastes. Savory dates from the 14th century. Toothsome has been around since 1551. Tasty was first used in the early 17th century. And appetizing has been gracing culinary reviews since 1653.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Rankle
WORD OF THE DAY
RANKLE \ RANK-ul \ verb
Definition
1 : to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness in
2 : to feel anger and irritation
Examples
The ongoing roadwork has begun to rankle local owners who worry that the closed-off streets are hurting their businesses.
"That goal should sit well with many neighborhood residents—but it might rankle some landlords."
— Avery Wilks and Sarah Ellis, The State (Columbia, South Carolina), 26 Sept.
2015
Did You Know?
The history of today's word is something of a sore subject. When rankle was first used in English, it meant "to fester," and that meaning is linked to the word's Old French ancestor—the noun raoncle or draoncle, which meant "festering sore."
Etymologists think this Old French word was derived from the Latin dracunculus, a diminutive form of draco, which means "serpent" and which is the source of the English word dragon. The transition from serpents to sores apparently occurred because people thought certain ulcers or tumors looked like small serpents.
RANKLE \ RANK-ul \ verb
Definition
1 : to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness in
2 : to feel anger and irritation
Examples
The ongoing roadwork has begun to rankle local owners who worry that the closed-off streets are hurting their businesses.
"That goal should sit well with many neighborhood residents—but it might rankle some landlords."
— Avery Wilks and Sarah Ellis, The State (Columbia, South Carolina), 26 Sept.
2015
Did You Know?
The history of today's word is something of a sore subject. When rankle was first used in English, it meant "to fester," and that meaning is linked to the word's Old French ancestor—the noun raoncle or draoncle, which meant "festering sore."
Etymologists think this Old French word was derived from the Latin dracunculus, a diminutive form of draco, which means "serpent" and which is the source of the English word dragon. The transition from serpents to sores apparently occurred because people thought certain ulcers or tumors looked like small serpents.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Jettison
WORD OF THE DAY
jettison \ JET-uh-sun \ verb
jettison \ JET-uh-sun \ verb
1 : to throw (goods) overboard to lighten a ship or aircraft in distress
2 : discard
Examples
As the boat began to take on water, the pirates argued over whether they should jettison some of the heavy, stolen loot.
"… [Wayne Pathman, chair of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce] says banks have not yet jettisoned the 30-year mortgage, but 'it's out there,' and he expects them to 'start looking at how they give mortgages and protect their collateral' as sea levels rise."
— Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2016
2 : discard
Examples
As the boat began to take on water, the pirates argued over whether they should jettison some of the heavy, stolen loot.
"… [Wayne Pathman, chair of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce] says banks have not yet jettisoned the 30-year mortgage, but 'it's out there,' and he expects them to 'start looking at how they give mortgages and protect their collateral' as sea levels rise."
— Nina Burleigh, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2016
Jettison comes from the Anglo-French noun geteson, meaning "action of throwing," and is ultimately from the Latin verb jactare, meaning "to throw." The noun jettison ("a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress") entered English in the 15th century; the verb has been with us since the 19th century.
The noun is also the source of the word jetsam ("jettisoned goods"), which is often paired with flotsam ("floating wreckage") - stuff not deliberately thrown overboard. These days you don't have to be on a sinking ship to jettison something. In addition to literally "throwing overboard," jettison means simply "to get rid of." You might jettison some old magazines that are cluttering your house, or you might make a plan but jettison it at the last minute.
The noun is also the source of the word jetsam ("jettisoned goods"), which is often paired with flotsam ("floating wreckage") - stuff not deliberately thrown overboard. These days you don't have to be on a sinking ship to jettison something. In addition to literally "throwing overboard," jettison means simply "to get rid of." You might jettison some old magazines that are cluttering your house, or you might make a plan but jettison it at the last minute.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Babel
WORD OF THE DAY
BABEL \ BAY-bul \ noun
Definition
1 : (sometimes capitalized Babel) a confusion of sounds or voices
2 : (sometimes capitalized Babel) a scene of noise or confusion
Examples
Amidst the babel in the auditorium, Kathy thought she could hear someone calling her name.
"A steady stream of travelers dragging wheeled suitcases and speaking a Babel of tongues is helping revive downtown Jamaica, a vibrant hub of Queens that weathered several gloomy decades of decay and crime."
— Joseph Berger, The New York Times, 30 Dec. 2011
Did You Know?
The story of the Tower of Babel comes from the Bible, specifically, Genesis 11:4-9. It describes an attempt by Noah's descendants to build a giant tower that would reach to heaven. God interrupted the project, however, by causing the builders to begin speaking different languages. Construction of the tower ceased, and the people were dispersed over the Earth.
The account of the Tower of Babel, which may have been inspired by an actual tower in Babylonia, is generally read as an attempt to explain the diversity of languages. The story has also given English a word for any situation that calls to mind the noisy chaos that would surely have ensued as the workers first tried to communicate using different languages.
BABEL \ BAY-bul \ noun
Definition
1 : (sometimes capitalized Babel) a confusion of sounds or voices
2 : (sometimes capitalized Babel) a scene of noise or confusion
Examples
Amidst the babel in the auditorium, Kathy thought she could hear someone calling her name.
"A steady stream of travelers dragging wheeled suitcases and speaking a Babel of tongues is helping revive downtown Jamaica, a vibrant hub of Queens that weathered several gloomy decades of decay and crime."
— Joseph Berger, The New York Times, 30 Dec. 2011
Did You Know?
The story of the Tower of Babel comes from the Bible, specifically, Genesis 11:4-9. It describes an attempt by Noah's descendants to build a giant tower that would reach to heaven. God interrupted the project, however, by causing the builders to begin speaking different languages. Construction of the tower ceased, and the people were dispersed over the Earth.
The account of the Tower of Babel, which may have been inspired by an actual tower in Babylonia, is generally read as an attempt to explain the diversity of languages. The story has also given English a word for any situation that calls to mind the noisy chaos that would surely have ensued as the workers first tried to communicate using different languages.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Zaftig
WORD OF THE DAY
zaftig \ ZAHF-tig \ adjective
Definition
: having a full rounded figure
: pleasingly plump
Examples
"… Marilyn is lucky that … the Hollywood powers at least had the smarts not to put her on a diet. She looked plenty good zaftig."
— Bookwormroom.com, 31 May 2012
"But Oprah—now there's a woman who has run the dieting gauntlet over the years. In 1988, she pulled a wagon full of 67 pounds of quivering fat onto the stage to show what she had lost on a liquid diet. Then she ballooned up to 200 pounds after a thyroid malfunction, before running the Marine Corps Marathon at a healthy zaftig size."
— Leah McLaren, The Globe and Mail (Canada), 23 Oct. 2015
Did You Know?
Over the centuries, some women have been approvingly described as full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, and statuesque. Such women are, in a word, zaftig.
Zaftig has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived futz, hoo-ha, and schmaltz, not to mention lox). It comes from the Yiddish zaftik, which means "juicy" or "succulent" and which in turn derives from zaft, meaning "juice" or "sap."
zaftig \ ZAHF-tig \ adjective
Definition
: having a full rounded figure
: pleasingly plump
Examples
"… Marilyn is lucky that … the Hollywood powers at least had the smarts not to put her on a diet. She looked plenty good zaftig."
— Bookwormroom.com, 31 May 2012
"But Oprah—now there's a woman who has run the dieting gauntlet over the years. In 1988, she pulled a wagon full of 67 pounds of quivering fat onto the stage to show what she had lost on a liquid diet. Then she ballooned up to 200 pounds after a thyroid malfunction, before running the Marine Corps Marathon at a healthy zaftig size."
— Leah McLaren, The Globe and Mail (Canada), 23 Oct. 2015
Did You Know?
Over the centuries, some women have been approvingly described as full-figured, shapely, womanly, curvy, curvaceous, voluptuous, and statuesque. Such women are, in a word, zaftig.
Zaftig has been juicing up our language since the 1930s (the same decade that gave us Yiddish-derived futz, hoo-ha, and schmaltz, not to mention lox). It comes from the Yiddish zaftik, which means "juicy" or "succulent" and which in turn derives from zaft, meaning "juice" or "sap."
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Camaraderie
WORD OF THE DAY
CAMARADERIE \ kahm-RAH-duh-ree \ noun
Definition
: a spirit of friendly good-fellowship
Examples
The sense of camaraderie among colleagues in the sales department is the main reason Julie enjoys coming to work each day.
"Today, visits combine adventure, relaxation and camaraderie. The latter is hard to come by in winter when snow and cold isolate people in this already desolate part of the state."
— Paul Post, The New York Times, 2 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Camaraderie made its first appearance in English in the middle of the 19th century. It comes from camarade, the French word whose Middle French ancestor was also the source for our word comrade.
In Middle French, camarade was used to mean "roommate," "companion," or "a group sleeping in one room."
It derived by way of Old Spanish from the Late Latin camera, or camara, meaning "chamber."
We also have the word comradery, which means the same thing as camaraderie but did not take the same etymological route as its synonym. That word, formed by attaching the -ry suffix (as found in wizardry and citizenry) to comrade, didn't appear in English until almost 40 years after camaraderie.
CAMARADERIE \ kahm-RAH-duh-ree \ noun
Definition
: a spirit of friendly good-fellowship
Examples
The sense of camaraderie among colleagues in the sales department is the main reason Julie enjoys coming to work each day.
"Today, visits combine adventure, relaxation and camaraderie. The latter is hard to come by in winter when snow and cold isolate people in this already desolate part of the state."
— Paul Post, The New York Times, 2 Feb. 2016
Did You Know?
Camaraderie made its first appearance in English in the middle of the 19th century. It comes from camarade, the French word whose Middle French ancestor was also the source for our word comrade.
In Middle French, camarade was used to mean "roommate," "companion," or "a group sleeping in one room."
It derived by way of Old Spanish from the Late Latin camera, or camara, meaning "chamber."
We also have the word comradery, which means the same thing as camaraderie but did not take the same etymological route as its synonym. That word, formed by attaching the -ry suffix (as found in wizardry and citizenry) to comrade, didn't appear in English until almost 40 years after camaraderie.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Somnolent
WORD OF THE DAY
somnolent \ SAHM-nuh-lunt\ adjective
somnolent \ SAHM-nuh-lunt\ adjective
Definition
1 : of a kind likely to induce sleep
2a : inclined to or heavy with sleep; drowsy
2b : sleepy
— Penelope Green, The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2015
"Traditionally, Bordeaux had turned its back on its tourists. Sooty and somnolent, it was an insular place where the streets were clogged with traffic and shutters snapped closed on weekends."
— Suzanne Mustacich, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2012
2a : inclined to or heavy with sleep; drowsy
2b : sleepy
Examples
"George, a somnolent ginger [cat] curled in an orange felt bed, was sleeping through the overtures of Molly Flanagan…."— Penelope Green, The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2015
"Traditionally, Bordeaux had turned its back on its tourists. Sooty and somnolent, it was an insular place where the streets were clogged with traffic and shutters snapped closed on weekends."
— Suzanne Mustacich, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2012
Somnolent first appeared in the late 15th century in the redundant phrase "somnolent sleep." It came into English by way of Anglo-French from the Latin word somnolentus, which itself comes from somnus, meaning "sleep."
Another offspring of somnus is somnambulism, a synonym of sleepwalking.
Insomnia is also a member of this sleepy word family, though it might be considered the black sheep, since it means, of course, "the inability to sleep."
Another offspring of somnus is somnambulism, a synonym of sleepwalking.
Insomnia is also a member of this sleepy word family, though it might be considered the black sheep, since it means, of course, "the inability to sleep."
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
A cappella
WORD OF THE DAY
a cappella \ ah-kuh-PEL-uh \ adverb or adjective
Definition
: without instrumental accompaniment
Examples
The audience quieted when the singer walked out and began singing a cappella.
"… one woman came all the way from Portugal to sing an a cappella version of 'Space Oddity'…. She repeated before and after her solo how much she appreciated Bowie's sense of humor."
— Joy C. Mitchell, billboard.com, 17 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
A cappella arrived in English from Italian sometime around the late-18th century. In Italian, a cappella means "in chapel or choir style." Cappella is the Italian word for "chapel"; the English word chapel is ultimately (if independently) derived from the Medieval Latin word cappella, which is the source of the Italian cappella as well.
Scholars once thought all "chapel style" music written before the 1600s was performed a cappella, but modern research has revealed that instruments might have doubled or substituted for some voices back then. Today a cappella describes a purely vocal performance.
a cappella \ ah-kuh-PEL-uh \ adverb or adjective
Definition
: without instrumental accompaniment
Examples
The audience quieted when the singer walked out and began singing a cappella.
"… one woman came all the way from Portugal to sing an a cappella version of 'Space Oddity'…. She repeated before and after her solo how much she appreciated Bowie's sense of humor."
— Joy C. Mitchell, billboard.com, 17 Jan. 2016
Did You Know?
A cappella arrived in English from Italian sometime around the late-18th century. In Italian, a cappella means "in chapel or choir style." Cappella is the Italian word for "chapel"; the English word chapel is ultimately (if independently) derived from the Medieval Latin word cappella, which is the source of the Italian cappella as well.
Scholars once thought all "chapel style" music written before the 1600s was performed a cappella, but modern research has revealed that instruments might have doubled or substituted for some voices back then. Today a cappella describes a purely vocal performance.
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