A.Word.A.Day Archives from https://wordsmith.org/awad -------- Date: Tue Nov 1 00:01:03 EDT 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hypogeal X-Bonus: The wisest man is he who does not fancy that he is so at all. -Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, poet and critic (1 Nov 1636-1711) This week's theme: Words made with combining forms hypogeal (hy-puh-JEE-uhl, HIP-uh-) adjective Underground: living, growing, or existing below the surface of the earth. [From Greek hypo- (under) + -geal (relating to earth), from ge (earth). Earliest documented use: 1686.] St. George's, a hypogeal church in Ethiopia https://wordsmith.org/words/images/hypogeal_large.jpg Photo: Babak Fakhamzadeh https://www.flickr.com/photos/mastababa/8373450983/ "A long black escalator lowered the two of them into the hypogeal twilight of the McPherson metro-station." M.B. Neff; Year of the Rhinoceros; Red Hen Press; 2009. -------- Date: Wed Nov 2 00:01:02 EDT 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--xerophilic X-Bonus: Our cemeteries are full of people who prayed to live. -Annie Laurie Gaylor, freethinker and activist (b. 2 Nov 1955) This week's theme: Words made with combining forms xerophilic (zee-ruh-FIL-ik) adjective Adapted to a very dry or desert environment. [From Greek xero- (dry) + -philic (liking). Earliest documented use: 1961.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/xerophilic https://wordsmith.org/words/images/xerophilic_large.jpg Photo: Caitriana Nicholson https://www.flickr.com/photos/caitriana/5672457992/ "Hall went on in a delightful voice, 'The cantrip is a tonic extract of a rare, xerophilic plant.'" Christopher James Dubey; Assignment Yggdrasil; Andrews UK; 2014. -------- Date: Thu Nov 3 00:01:02 EDT 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--steganography X-Bonus: This is the devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim. -James Reston, journalist (3 Nov 1909-1995) This week's theme: Words made with combining forms steganography (ste-guh-NOG-ruh-fee) noun The practice of concealing a message within another, nonsecret message. [From Greek stego- (cover) + -graphy (writing). Ultimately from the Indo-European root (s)teg- (to cover), which also gave us thatch, toga, stegosaurus, detect, and protect. Earliest documented use: 1569.] NOTES: Examples of steganography: shrinking the secret text until it's the size of a dot and then putting it in an unsuspected place, such as the dot on top of a letter i in some innocuous letter. Second, shaving the head of a man, writing the secret message on his pate with unwashable ink, and then letting the hair grow back before dispatching him to the destination (example from history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histiaeus ). To take an example from modern digital techniques, one could put the text of a message in the blank spaces in an image file. See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/steganography https://wordsmith.org/words/images/steganography_large.jpg "Using steganography, Steve was able to hide his message in the photographs he took that day." Andre Le Gallo; The Caliphate; D Street Books; 2012. -------- Date: Fri Nov 4 00:01:02 EDT 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--nidicolous X-Bonus: A king can stand people's fighting, but he can't last long if people start thinking. -Will Rogers, humorist (4 Nov 1879-1935) This week's theme: Words made with combining forms nidicolous (ny-DIK-uh-luhs) adjective 1. Remaining with the parents for a long time after birth. 2. Living in the home of another species. [From Latin nidi- (nest) + -colous (inhabiting). Ultimately from the Indo-European root sed- (to sit), which is also the source of nest, sit, chair, saddle, assess, sediment, soot, cathedral, and tetrahedron. Earliest documented use: 1902.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/nidicolous NOTES: Etymologically speaking, the word nidicolous refers to birds that stay in the nest due to their dependence on the parents for food and protection. But there's no reason you couldn't apply it to other species. The opposite is nidifugous (literally, fleeing the nest), leaving soon after birth. https://www.flickr.com/photos/muriel215/5141354997/ Photo: Muriel Heard-Collier https://www.flickr.com/photos/muriel215/5141354997/ "Two adults and two chicks ... they seemed to Shasta to be getting along fine enough, their nidicolous coexistence." William Penn; Love in the Time of Flowers; Trafford Publishing; 2009. -------- Date: Mon Nov 7 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--celerity X-Bonus: Humanity also needs dreamers, for whom the disinterested development of an enterprise is so captivating that it becomes impossible for them to devote their care to their own material profit. Without doubt, these dreamers do not deserve wealth, because they do not desire it. Even so, a well-organized society should assure to such workers the efficient means of accomplishing their task, in a life freed from material care and freely consecrated to research. -Marie Curie, scientist, Nobel laureate (7 Nov 1867-1934) The poet and novelist Margaret Atwood once said, "A word after a word after a word is power." Well, we give you a word after a word after a word ... week after week after week. That would be some power. With great power comes great responsibility. Use it wisely. This week we've a set of five assorted words. Use them only for the good. celerity (suh-LER-i-tee) noun Swiftness; speed. [From French célérité (promptness), from Latin celer (swift). Earliest documented use: 1483.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/celerity "Every time Isaac's phone went off he snatched it off his lap with unusual celerity." Darcy Darbin; Hopeless; Booktango; 2015. -------- Date: Tue Nov 8 00:01:04 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--symphysis X-Bonus: Your voice dries up if you don't use it. -Patti Page, singer (8 Nov 1927-2013) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words symphysis (SIM-fi-sis) noun A growing together. [From Latin, from Greek symphysis (growing together), from syn- (with) + phyein (to grow). Earliest documented use: 1578.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/symphysis NOTES: The word is often used in anatomy to describe the fusion of two bones, cartilages, etc. It is also used for the line or junction thus formed. "How do you begin to describe the symphysis of the psyche with as many points of contact as there are stars in the universe?" Michael J. A. Speyer; The Chronicles of Samuel Sassodoro; Lulu; 2006. -------- Date: Wed Nov 9 02:31:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--opprobrious X-Bonus: The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (9 Nov 1934-1996) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words opprobrious (uh-PRO-bree-uhs) adjective 1. Expressing strong criticism. 2. Deserving disgrace. [From Latin opprobrium (reproach), from ob- (against) + probrum (infamy, reproach). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bher- (to carry), which also gave us bear, birth, barrow, burden, fertile, transfer, offer, suffer, euphoria, and metaphor. Earliest documented use: 1410.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/opprobrious "In fact, he also insulted me and used opprobrious language in front of my wife." Ferrol Sams; Down Town; Penguin; 2007. -------- Date: Thu Nov 10 00:01:04 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--politic X-Bonus: As freely as the firmament embraces the world, / or the sun pours forth impartially his beams, / so mercy must encircle both friend and foe. -Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller, poet and dramatist (10 Nov 1759-1805) This week's theme: Miscellaneous words politic (POL-i-tik) adjective Tactful; shrewd. [From Old French politique (political), from Latin politicus (political), from Greek politikos, from polites (citizen), from polis (city). Earliest documented use: 1427.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/politic "I think it might be politic to keep our views to ourselves." William Stafford; Drinkwater's Daughter; Andrews UK; 2013. -------- Date: Fri Nov 11 00:01:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--comport X-Bonus: Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. -Vietnamese proverb This week's theme: Miscellaneous words comport (kuhm-PORT) verb tr.: To conduct (oneself). verb intr.: To agree with. [From French comportement (behavior), from comporter (to bear), from Latin comportare (to transport), from com- (with) + portare (to carry). Ultimately from the Indo-European root per- (to lead, pass over), which also gave us support, petroleum, sport, passport, colporteur (a peddler of religious books) https://wordsmith.org/words/colporteur.html , rapporteur https://wordsmith.org/words/rapporteur.html , deportment https://wordsmith.org/words/deportment.html , Swedish fartlek https://wordsmith.org/words/fartlek.html , Norwegian fjord (bay), and Sanskrit parvat (mountain). Earliest documented use: 1565.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/comport "It is always possible to comport oneself with dignity. If one has a quarrel it ought to elevate rather than to degrade one." Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Translated by C.J. Hogarth); The Gambler; 1867. -------- Date: Mon Nov 14 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--kakistocracy X-Bonus: No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power. -P.J. O'Rourke, writer (b. 14 Nov 1947) Feeling at a loss for words? Don't be! We dive into the language to bring you the finest, freshest words, just when you need them. Use them and share with friends and family https://wordsmith.org/awad/gift.html . Never stop speaking. And speak loudly. That's what language is for! This week's selection has words that will make you say: I didn't know there was a word for it. kakistocracy (kak-i-STOK-ruh-see, kah-ki-) noun Government by the least qualified or worst persons. [From Greek kakistos (worst), superlative of kakos (bad) + -cracy (rule). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kakka-/kaka- (to defecate), which also gave us poppycock, cacophony, cacology https://wordsmith.org/words/cacology.html , and cacography https://wordsmith.org/words/cacography.html . Earliest documented use: 1829.] "We must weigh our votes carefully. Else we are in danger of turning America's time-tested democracy into a kakistocracy." Dan Warner; The Best Man for the Job Is Not as Easy as it Sounds; The News Press (Fort Myers, Florida); Jan 17, 2016. -------- Date: Tue Nov 15 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--coulrophobia X-Bonus: There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." -Isaac Asimov, scientist and writer (1920-1992) This week's theme: There's a word for it coulrophobia (kool-ruh-FOH-bee-uh) noun The fear of clowns. [From Greek kolobatheron (stilt) + -phobia (fear). Earliest documented use: 1980s.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/coulrophobia_large.jpg Photo: Bryan Katz https://www.flickr.com/photos/joiseyshowaa/2554630372 "They all share my coulrophobia with Congressional clowns and presidential hopefuls." Fred Pfisterer; Which Came First, Clowns or the Politicians?; The News Leader (Staunton, Virginia); Mar 6, 2016. -------- Date: Wed Nov 16 00:01:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--boodler X-Bonus: Remember, when the judgment's weak, the prejudice is strong. -Kane O'Hara, composer and playwright (1711/1712-1782) This week's theme: There's a word for it boodler (BOOD-luhr) noun Someone involved in bribery or corruption. [From Dutch boedel (property). Earliest documented use: 1872.] "McCall, however, was something of a political grafter, a boodler, and was known to use his status of political prominence in an unsportsmanlike manner." Kale Meggs; 99 Nooses; Black Oak Media; 2012. -------- Date: Thu Nov 17 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--ambisinistrous X-Bonus: Though boys throw stones at frogs in sport, the frogs die not in sport, but in earnest. -Bion of Borysthenes, philosopher (c. 325-250 BCE) This week's theme: There's a word for it ambisinistrous (am-bi-SIN-uh-struhs) adjective Clumsy with both hands. [Modeled after ambidextrous (able to use both hands with equal ease), from Latin ambi- (both) + sinister (left). Earliest documented use: 1863.] NOTES: An ambisinistrous person has two left hands, etymologically speaking. You'd think it would be rare for such an uncommon word to have a perfect synonym, but there is one: ambilevous, from Latin laevus (left). A similar expression is "to have two left feet" (to be clumsy, especially while dancing). "When Palinuro accused him of being ambidextrous, he protested he was actually ambisinistrous which was more or less the same thing, but not quite, and went back to peeling his second orange." Fernando Del Paso, Elisabeth Plaister (translator); Palinuro of Mexico; Dalkey Archive Press; 1996. -------- Date: Fri Nov 18 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--defenestration X-Bonus: Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world. -William Shenstone, poet (18 Nov 1714-1763) This week's theme: There's a word for it defenestration (dee-fen-uh-STRAY-shuhn) noun Throwing someone or something out of a window. [From Latin de- (out of) + fenestra (window). Earliest documented use: 1620.] Notes: There have been many defenestrations over the course of history, but the most famous, and the one that inspired the word defenestration, was the Defenestration of Prague on May 23, 1618. Two imperial regents and their secretary were thrown out of a window of the Prague Castle in a fight over religion. The men landed on a dung heap and survived. The Defenestration of Prague was a prelude to the Thirty Years' War. The word is also used in a metaphorical sense to remove someone from an office. Check out the defenestration of various articles of furniture in this unique San Francisco sculpture http://defenestration.org The Defenestration of Prague, 1618 https://wordsmith.org/words/images/defenestration_large.jpg Art: Václav Bro¾ík "The defenestration of Moscow: Idaho will not dignify with an answer -- that is, file a response to -- a $940,000 claim by a young San Jose man and his parents. The former student at the University of Idaho in Moscow, who was hurt when he 'mooned' other students and fell out a window, argued in a lawsuit that the university was negligent for, among other failings, not warning students of the risks associated with upper-story dorm windows. Surely there's something in the student handbook about gravity and open windows, next to the warning about blow-dryers in the bathtub." Patt Morrison; Snapshots of Life in the Golden State; Los Angeles Times; Sep 2, 1994. "The catalyst for the defenestration [of the chairman] was the lack of performance at some of the group's big companies." Cyrus Mistry Hits Back at Being Ousted from Tata; The Economist (London, UK); Oct 26, 2016. -------- Date: Mon Nov 21 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--pulchritude X-Bonus: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire, philosopher (21 Nov 1694-1778) A saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover." We are also encouraged not to judge people by their appearance. Well, this week's words are selected in the same spirit. They may sound ugly, but don't let that fool you. A prime example is the word "petrichor" https://wordsmith.org/words/petrichor.html . This is the word to describe that earthy fragrance that fills the air after the first rain of the season. If there were ever an International Pageant of Words That Sound Ugly But Aren't, "pulchritude" would be a strong candidate too. What words would you enter in such a pageant? pulchritude (PUL-kri-tood, -tyood) noun Beauty. [From Latin pulchritudo, from pulcher (beautiful). Earliest documented use: 1460.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pulchritude First International Pageant of Pulchritude, 1926 (yes, that was the name of the contest) Galveston, Texas https://wordsmith.org/words/images/pulchritude_large.jpg Photo: LOC/Cecil Thomson Studios "Robert continued to admire her pulchritude." Gary Newsom; People Like That...; Back Country; 2014. -------- Date: Tue Nov 22 00:01:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--degustation X-Bonus: The color of truth is grey. -Andre Gide, author, Nobel laureate (22 Nov 1869-1951) This week's theme: Don't judge a word by its sound degustation (dee-guh-STAY-shuhn) noun Tasting samples of a variety of similar foods or drinks. [From Latin degustare (to taste), from de- (completely) + gustare (to taste). Ultimately from the Indo-European root geus- (to taste or choose), which also gave us choice, choose, gusto, ragout, and disgust. Earliest documented use: 1651.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/degustation Salt degustation in Niederfinow, Germany https://wordsmith.org/words/images/degustation_large.jpg Photo: Ralf Roletschek/Wikimedia "We could host a chocolate degustation for the board members." Charlotte De Pace; Hot Chocolate; Harlequin; 2016. -------- Date: Wed Nov 23 00:01:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--bucolic X-Bonus: Poetry is a sort of homecoming. -Paul Celan, poet and translator (23 Nov 1920-1970) This week's theme: Don't judge a word by its sound bucolic (byoo-KOL-ik) adjective: 1. Pastoral; rustic. 2. Of or relating to a herdsman or a shepherd. noun: 1. A pastoral poem. 2. A farmer; shepherd. [From Greek boukolos (herdsman), from bous (ox). Earliest documented use: 1609. Other words derived from the same animal are boustrophedon https://wordsmith.org/words/boustrophedon.html , bovine https://wordsmith.org/words/bovine.html , and hecatomb https://wordsmith.org/words/hecatomb.html .] The Arcadian or Pastoral State: https://wordsmith.org/words/images/bucolic_large.jpg Art: Thomas Cole (1801-1848) See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bucolic "The word the real estate agent used to describe the land was bucolic. Bucolic, Dan knew, was generous. The dirt was dusty, muddled. There were dozens of stumps he'd need to dig out by hand." Laura Dave; Eight Hundred Grapes; Simon & Schuster; 2015. -------- Date: Thu Nov 24 00:01:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--puissant X-Bonus: Do we need weapons to fight wars? Or do we need wars to create markets for weapons? -Arundhati Roy, author (b. 24 Nov 1961) This week's theme: Don't judge a word by its sound puissant (PWIS-uhnt, PYOO-uh-suhnt) adjective Potent. [Via French from Latin posse (to be able). Ultimately from the Indo-European root poti- (powerful, lord), which also gave us power, potent, possess, posse, possible, and Turkish pasha (via Persian). Earliest documented use: 1435.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/puissant "He knew that the demon was puissant enough to guarantee them victory this day." William Carson; Few Far Fallen; Morning Rain Publishing; 2014. -------- Date: Fri Nov 25 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--crepuscular X-Bonus: Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community. -Andrew Carnegie, industrialist (25 Nov 1835-1919) This week's theme: Don't judge a word by its sound crepuscular (kri-PUHS-kyuh-luhr) adjective 1. Relating to or resembling twilight: dim. 2. Active or occurring in twilight, as certain animals. [From Latin crepusculum (twilight), from creper (dusky, obscure). Earliest documented use: 1668.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/crepuscular Ocelot, a crepuscular animal https://wordsmith.org/words/images/crepuscular_large.jpg Photo: Daniele Paccaloni https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielepaccaloni/6902123831/ "The crepuscular sky was dim and there were still nocturnal insects flying about." Christopher James Dubey; Assignment Yggdrasil; Andrews; 2013. -------- Date: Mon Nov 28 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gnar X-Bonus: One law for the lion and ox is oppression. -William Blake, poet, engraver, and painter (28 Nov 1757-1827) What does a zipper have in common with a buzz saw? Or flip-flops with a tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw)? All of them are named after the sounds they make. Of course, the same sound can be interpreted differently by different people. But this is how English speakers interpreted the sounds made by these objects or actions. This week we'll look at five words that are coined by onomatopoeia, which is the formation of a word from the sound it represents (from Greek onomatopoiia, literally "making of words"). gnar or gnarr (nar) verb intr. To snarl or growl. [Of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1496.] https://wordsmith.org/words/images/gnar_large.jpg Photo: Alex Turton https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexturton/7475200930/ "'Watch your tongue, Hreidar,' Moldof gnarred, 'unless you want to dig your own burial mound with it.'" Giles Kristian; Winter's Fire; Transworld; 2016. -------- Date: Tue Nov 29 00:01:02 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--cackle X-Bonus: The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. -Madeleine L'Engle, writer (29 Nov 1918-2007) This week's theme: Onomatopoeic words cackle (KAK-uhl) verb intr.: 1. To make the sharp broken noise such as a hen does after laying an egg. 2. To laugh in a shrill manner. 3. To chatter. noun: 1. The sharp broken noise of a hen after laying an egg. 2. Shrill laughter. 3. Chatter. [From Middle English cakelen (to cackle), of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1225.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/cackle Blue-winged kookaburra https://wordsmith.org/words/images/cackle_large.jpg Photo: Mark Helle https://www.flickr.com/photos/21342600@N03/5006330004/ Blue-winged kookaburra recording https://soundcloud.com/bob-gosford/blue-winged-kooka-kath-edit-04032015 "Mrs Clinton, an experienced and articulate politician, has a calm and capable delivery in small settings. But she is less comfortable on the stump, especially in the current hot-and-bothered American political climate, where a politician is expected to signal that they are mad as hell and not going to take it any more. When Mrs Clinton attempts this, with her voice high and loud at its peaks, she is called 'shrill' and 'hectoring', while her laugh is a 'cackle' -- words rarely aimed at men." War of Words; The Economist (London, UK); Jul 16, 2016. http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21702161-women-are-judged-way-they-speak-war-words -------- Date: Wed Nov 30 01:52:03 EST 2016 Subject: A.Word.A.Day--susurrate X-Bonus: An old miser kept a tame jackdaw, that used to steal pieces of money, and hide them in a hole, which a cat observing, asked, "Why he would hoard up those round shining things that he could make no use of?" "Why," said the jackdaw, "my master has a whole chestful, and makes no more use of them than I do." -Jonathan Swift, satirist (30 Nov 1667-1745) This week's theme: Onomatopoeic words susurrate (SOO-suh-rayt) verb intr. To make a whispering or rustling sound. [From Latin susurrare (to whisper or hum), of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1623.] See usage examples in Vocabulary.com's dictionary: http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/susurrate https://wordsmith.org/words/images/susurrate_large.jpg Photo: Grant Simon Rogers https://www.flickr.com/photos/grantsrogers/15663167872/ "If it's possible to susurrate visually then that's what 'Summer Nights at the Dollar Tree' does. Lazy and slow and gentle, it feels just right." Mark Feeney; Robert Adams's Striking Photos; Boston Globe (Massachusetts); Mar 2, 2016.