A.Word.A.Day --crepitate

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Sep 24, 2012

This week's theme
Verbs

This week's words
crepitate
ramify
ameliorate
adhibit
decorticate

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A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

Yoda of the Star Wars universe once advised, "Do. Or do not. There is no try." Clearly, by saying "Do", he was exhorting one to take action. But in English the word "try" is also a verb, an action word. And not to quarrel with the wise Yoda, but sometimes to choose not to do is also a form of action.

This week we'll arm you with five verbs and send you on your way to do, to do not, or to try. Go explore faraway galaxies or your corner of the world.

crepitate

PRONUNCIATION:

(KREP-i-tayt)

MEANING:

verb intr.: To make a crackling or popping sound.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin crepitare (to crackle), frequentative of crepare (to rattle, crack). Earliest documented use: 1623.

USAGE:

"John Grisham's sentences thud and crepitate all over the page, and he has become a literary tycoon."
Gene Weingarten; The Fiddler in the Subway; Simon & Schuster; 2010.

See more usage examples of crepitate in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

My feeling is that there is nothing in life but refraining from hurting others, and comforting those who are sad. -Olive Schreiner, author (1855-1920)

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