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Discuss Email this Feedback RSS/XML Permalink A.Word.A.Day--speculum This week's theme: words that have many unrelated meanings. speculum (SPEK-yoo-luhm) noun 1. A mirror used as a reflector in an optical instrument, such as a telescope. 2. Speculum metal: any of various alloys of copper and tin used in making mirrors. 3. An instrument for holding open a body cavity for medical examination. 4. A bright patch of color on the wings of certain birds, for example ducks. [From Latin speculum (mirror), from specere (to look at), ultimately from the Indo-European root spek- (to observe) which is also the root of such words as suspect, spectrum, bishop (literally, overseer), espionage, despise, telescope, and spectacles.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus. -Anu Garg (garg wordsmith.org) "The beautiful green speculum on the wings is common to both sexes." Charles Darwin; Descent Of Man; 1871. X-Bonus Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)

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