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Discuss Email this Feedback RSS/XML Permalink A.Word.A.Day--crasis crasis (KRAY-sis) noun 1. Composition; constitution; blending. 2. Contraction of two vowels into one long vowel or into a diphthong. [From Greek krasis (mixture, blend), from kerannynai (to mix).] "However, I do not wish to condemn the Greek-Latin crasis. After all I have used it to mould my surname (Latro=thief [Latin], Nike=victory [Greek]) into a more palatable form (victory over the thieves) than might be inferred from its slanderous (for me) Latin stem!" Nicola Latronico; Making Sense; The Lancet (London, UK); Mar 30, 1996. This week's theme: archaic words. X-Bonus Wherever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship. -Harry S Truman, 33rd US president (1884-1972)

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