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These are the words you could find on this page:
Abnegate
[v. AB-nih-gayt]
To abnegate something is to give it up, renounce
it, deny it to yourself, or to surrender or relinquish it. To do so is the act of
abnegation [n. ab-nih-GAY-shun]. Example: "As part of his spiritual purification, Jim
chose to abnegate all forms of liquor."
The immediate ancestor of these words was the Latin abnegare (to refuse), a compound of
ab- (away) and negare (to deny). Thus, to abnegate something is literally to "deny it
away."
Here are more "denial" words from negare:
negate: nullify; neutralize; rule out; deny
deny: declare untrue; disavow; contradict; refuse
renegade: one who rejects; outlaw; deserter
renege: fail to keep a contract; renounce; disown
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Bibliotaphy [n. BIB-lee-oh-TAF-ee]
Bibliotaphy is the practice of hoarding or hiding books, and someone who engages in
bibliotaphy is a bibliotaph.
Like many "bookish" words, this one includes the biblio- prefix, from the Greek
biblion (book), which also gave us Bible. The suffix, -taphy, is from Greek taphos (tomb),
since the books hoarded or hidden might as well be entombed.
Another word from taphos is cenotaph [n. SEN-uh-taf] (an empty tomb that commemorates
someone who is actually buried elsewhere), with the prefix ceno- from Greek kenos (empty).
Here are more "bookish" words:
bibliopegy: the art of binding books
bibliopolist: a seller of books, especially rare or used ones
bibliotics: examination of documents for authenticity
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Bikini [n. bih-KEE-nee]
A bikini is a very brief two-piece bathing suit worn by a woman, or it is a similar
one-piece suit worn by a man. There is also the Bikini Atoll, a tropical island in the
Pacific Ocean.
When French fashion designer Louis Reard introduced his very revealing two-piece women's
bathing suits in 1946, he looked for a good name for them. Since the U.S. had just started
atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, the name was in the news and he adopted it for his new
suits.
Although Reard later claimed that he named the suit after the islands, not the atomic bomb
tests, clearly the tests contributed to the name's popularity. Another designer named
Jacques Heim had also created a tiny bathing suit, which he named "The Atome"
(The Atom).
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Boreal
[adj. BOR-ee-ul]
If something is boreal, then it is in or from the
north. A more specific sense of the word relates to the northern, coniferous forests of
the world. Example: "The boreal forests of Canada extend all the way to the edge of
the tundra."
The Roman god of the north wind, Boreas, is the source of this word. His name in turn was
derived from the Greek boreios (coming from the north). The opposite of boreal is austral,
from the Latin auster (south).
The Romans had a legend about the "Hyperboreoi," a race of people who were from
"above the north," beyond the reach of Boreas. They lived in a land of perpetual
sunshine. From their name, we have hyperborean [adj. HY-pur-BOR-ee-un], describing
anything relating to the extreme north, especially people indigenous to these areas, such
as Eskimos.
We also have the aurora borealis (northern lights) which shimmer in the arctic sky, and
their opposite, the aurora australis.
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Brio [n. BRE-oh]
First thing in the morning most of us lack brio. After breakfast or a cup of
coffee, when we've perked up, this noun might be more applicable. Brio is verve or
enthusiastic vigor. Example: "Despite his brio and wit, Alan was unable to charm the
young salesclerk."
This spirited word entered English in the 18th century from the Italian. Taken from the
Spanish brio (energy, determination), it was likely derived from the Celtic brigos which
was related to the Old Irish brig (power, strength, force).
Near synonyms include: vim, pep, liveliness, sprightliness, and vivacity.
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Brummagem [n., adj. BRUM-uh-jum]
If something is brummagem then it is a cheap and showy imitation, lacking real
value. The word is usually applied to phony jewelry or shiny metallic items. Example:
"Those glittery earrings of glass and tinfoil are nothing but worthless
brummagem."
This slang word is an alteration of the name of Birmingham, England, and is also
pronounced the same way that some locals pronounce the city's name. The Romans called the
place Bremenium [bruh-MEN-ee-um].
This word has a dark, little known history. In the sixteenth century, Great Britain took
part in a thriving slave trade, in which cheap, poorly made trinkets were traded for
slaves in Africa. Birmingham was a center for the production of this gaudy garbage or
"Brummagem ware," which included shiny jewelry, mirrors, beads and knives.
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Bus [n. BUS]
A bus is a long passenger vehicle with a central aisle and seats along the sides.
It can also be a cart for carrying dishes in a restaurant, a metal bar that distributes
electricity to many different devices, or a group of electrical lines that carries data
signals. Strangely, all these meanings are closely related.
In France in 1828, a new kind of conveyance was invented. It was called a "voiture
omnibus," where the first word was French for "carriage" and the second was
Latin for "for all." The new kind of carriage caught on quickly in England,
where it was simply called the omnibus. In a strange twist of linguistics, the name was
shortened to bus, leaving only the suffix of the original Latin word without the root.
Since a bus carried a collection of diverse people, the same word became applied to other
things having to do with diverse collections, such as the cart for dishes and the
electrical cables for power and data distribution.
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Cadre
[n. KAHD-ree]
A cadre is a group of competent people who work
together, usually at the center of a larger organization. Example: "Among the many
rescue workers present in the aftermath of the bombing was a cadre of paramedics, without
whose aid many people would have died."
A cadre can also be a framework, and this sense is most closely related to the word's
origin. Just as a cadre of people can support and stabilize an organization, so a
connected group of squares can support a framework. The root is the Latin quadrum
(square), which entered Italian as quadro, then migrated to French, where it took on the
current meaning.
More "square" words from Latin quadrum:
squad: a small group of workers; a team
square: four-sided regular polygon
quadrant: circular arc of 90 degrees; one quarter of a circle
quarrel: crossbow bolt; square hammer; diamond shaped window pane
quarry: open pit where stone is cut (often in rectangular blocks)
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Diurnal [adj. or n. di-UR-n'l]
Diurnal refers to an everyday recurrence, like brushing your teeth, or to a daily
cycle, such as the tides. It can also mean occurring or primarily active in the daytime.
For example, diurnal flowers are those that open during the day and close at night.
Diurnal has been in use in English since the 14th century. It comes from the Latin
diurnalis (of the day), from diurnus (daily), from the root dies (day).
Other contemporary words that share the Latin root dies:
* journal and diary (both accounts of day-to-day events)
* journey (a day's travel)
* dial (a face upon which some measurement is registered, originally a sundial)
* circadian (occurring in approximately 24-hour cycles)
* meridian (a great circle on the earth passing through the poles)
* quotidian (occurring every day)
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Enervate [vt. EH-nur-vate or adj.
ih-NUR-vut]
To enervate is to reduce the mental vigor or lessen the vitality of someone or
something. Near synonyms of this verb include: unnerve and deplete. Example: "Carrie
was enervated by the long hours and lack of sleep."
The adjective enervate (note the different pronunciation!) means lacking in physical
strength, mental strength, or strength of character. ("Enervated", from the
verb, can also be used for this purpose.) Near synonyms of this sense include: spiritless
and debilitated.
Enervate is from the Latin enervatus past participle of enervare which is formed by the
prefix e- and nervus (sinew). The adjective appeared first in 1603; the verb form followed
shortly thereafter.
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Ephemeral [adj. or n. ephemeral]
Ersatz [adj. UR-zats
or UR-sats or ur-ZATS or ur-SATS]
Febrile [adj. FEE-bryl or FEB-bryl]
Fracas [n. FRAE-kus or
FRAK-us]
Being involved in a fracas is something that most of us seek to avoid. A fracas
is a noisy argument, a disorderly disturbance, or fight. Example: "Eric was reluctant
to join the violent fracas outside the stadium so he remained in his seat."
This English noun comes from the French word fracasser, which in turn comes from the
Italian fracasso. Fracasso was derived from the Italian verb fracassare (to make an
uproar), which was probably derived from the Latin frangere (to break) and quassare (to
shake).
Near synonyms include row, uproar, altercation, quarrel, and run-in.
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Fuddy duddy [n. FUD-ee DUD-ee]
Fulcrum [n. FOOL-krum or FUL-krum]
This noun specifically refers to the support at which something is balanced or the
point at which a lever turns. An extension of this meaning sees fulcrum used to describe a
part of an animal that serves as hinge or support.
Fulcrum is used in the figurative sense to mean something that is the main subject or the
pivotal point. Example: "The fulcrum of the group's argument was freedom of
speech."
A fulcrum can also be an agent, something that makes action possible.
Fulcrum traces back to the late 1600s. It is borrowed from the Latin fulcire (to prop).
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Hoary [adj. HOR-ee]
Something that is hoary is colored gray or white because of old age, or it is
covered with gray or white hairs, or it is something that is extremely ancient, inspiring
veneration. Example: "The hoary leaves of dusty miller bear thousands of tiny hairs
to conserve water."
Today the word carries two primary senses: color and age. The original sense was the
color, in the ancient Indo-European root koi-. From that root came the German
color-related heiter (bright) and age-related herr (mister), as well as the Dutch mijnheer
(sir, mister).
The source in English was Old English har, which led to hoar. That word is part of
hoarfrost (ice crystals condensed from the air that form a white coating). The -y ending
was added about five hundred years ago, but both forms of the word are still correct.
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Garrulous [adj. GAR-uh-lus or
GAR-yuh-lus]
Someone who is garrulous talks a great deal, especially about things that are of
little importance. Near synonyms include: gabby, long-winded, loquacious, and talkative.
This adjective can also refer to a speech that is especially wordy, rambling, or verbose.
Garrulous entered the English language between 1605 and 1615. It comes from the Latin
garrulus (talkative) which is derived from garrire (to chatter, prattle).
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Gerrymander [v., n.
JER-e-man-der or GER-e-man-der]
To divide land into voting units that will benefit one group, party, or
constituency is to gerrymander. This word for manipulating the electoral boundaries in
order to gain an unfair advantage was first coined in 1812.
Gerrymander is a combination of the last name of Governor Elbridge Gerry and salamander.
Gerry decided in 1812 to rearrange the Congressional Districts in Massachusetts to boost
the fortunes of his Democratic party. An editorial artist for a Boston paper drew a
caricature that turned the new map of Essex County into a lizard-like amphibian which was
dubbed a gerrymander.
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Gossamer [n., adj. GOS-uh-mer]
Anything that is light, delicate, and flimsy can be
described as gossamer, and gossamer is also any fabric or material that has those
properties. The oldest sense of the word describes thin, filmy spiderwebs drifting in the
air. Example: "The luna moth's gossamer wings are a lovely transparent green."
The origins of this word are somewhat mysterious. The most common theory relates to the
time of year when delicate spiderwebs are most likely to be seen: the warm, dry spells of
mid-autumn, in Europe. That time of year is also when goose is most likely to be cooked.
For that reason, it was known in Middle English as gosesomer (goose summer), and in German
as Gaensemonat (goose month).
It's not difficult to imagine that someone might have described the filmy spiderwebs of
autumn as "gosesomer webs." From there, the word might have evolved its current
meanings, as the original one dropped away.
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Lithe [adj. LYTH]
Something that is lithe bends readily. This adjective describes someone or
something that is able to move and bend with ease. Near synonyms include: pliant, limber,
supple, and flexible. Example: "Adrian found he was more lithe if he stretched out
before and after a game."
Lithe can also describe a person who is light, graceful, and flexible -- like a dancer or
gymnast. Near synonyms of this sense include agile and nimble.
Lithe has been in use by the English since before 900. The Middle English lith was a
variant on the Old English lithe (flexible, mild).
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Macabre [adj. muh-KAHB,
muh-KAH-bruh, muh-KAY-bruh]
Something that relates to death can be called macabre, especially if it's
horrifying. Example: "Lisa had this macabre fascination with the more sensational
crime stories in the paper." Near synonyms include ghastly, grisly, and hideous.
This French word is taken from the phrase danse macabre (dance of death, in which a figure
of death is seen enticing people to dance with him until they die). The origins of the
phrase are unclear, but some trace it to the Maccabees, 2nd-century Jewish patriots
associated with reverence for the dead.
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Mad as a hatter
If someone says you are mad as a hatter, they are accusing you of being quite
irrational. The sense of madness here is "suffering from a disorder of the mind;
insane." This phrase usually refers not to someone who is actually insane, but rather
to a more normal person who is behaving in an irrational way.
The phrase emerged in England in the 19th century. Hatmakers in those days used a lot of
felt that was treated with chemicals including lead, arsenic, and mercury.
Unfortunately, those chemicals are highly toxic. The symptoms of such poisoning include
palsy, confused speech, and distorted thinking. Today, making hats is a much safer
profession, but the phrase survives.
An interesting alternate explanation of the phrase derives hatter from Anglo-Saxon atter
(poison), which is related to adder (a poisonous snake whose bite was thought to cause
insanity).
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Marauder [n. muh-RAWD-er]
A marauder is one who roves around looking for something to plunder or steal.
Example: "They were attacked by marauders who hurled stones and set the camp on
fire."
Marauder is a noun derivation of the verb maraud which is to raid or plunder. The word
entered English between 1705 and 1715 from the French maraudeur (rogue, vagabond). There
were also similar Spanish (merodear) and German (marodiren) versions of the verb to maraud
at this time.
When the French word was adopted into German in the 17th century it was associated with
Count Merode, an imperialist general in the Thirty Years War, whose troops were notorious
for their lack of discipline.
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Mawkish [adj. MAW-kish]
A sappy television movie could be described as mawkish. Near synonyms include
syrupy, cloying, mushy, and over-sentimental.
Mawkish can also mean having an unpleasant taste. Near synonyms include sour and rancid.
Both of these meanings are tamer versions of this adjective's literal meaning. The
original word mawk is derived from the Middle English mawke (maggot), which developed from
the Old Norse word mathkr of the same meaning.
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Mordant [adj., n., vt.
MORE-dnt]
A mordant wit is a biting one. Someone who is mordant is sharply sarcastic,
incisive, or cruel. Example: "His mordant humor made him an unusual clown, unwelcome
at children's birthday parties."
Mordant traces back to the 1400s. It entered Middle English from the Middle French mordre
(to bite). This word has its roots in the Latin mordere of the same meaning. Mordere is
also the root word for the English words morsel (a piece bitten off) and remorse (painful
regret).
There are also noun and verb forms of mordant that have a specific usage in visual arts. A
mordant is a substance used to fix the coloring matter when dyeing something. This noun
also is an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching. To mordant is to treat
something with a mordant.
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Nostrum
[n. NOS-trum]
If a medicine contains secret ingredients, is highly
recommended by the person who prepared it, and lacks scientific proof that it works, then
it might be called a nostrum. A nostrum can also be a questionable scheme or remedy for
some vexing problem. Example: "Senator Harvey's proposal for tax incentives was
widely derided as an expensive nostrum."
In the days of "patent medicine," there were traveling salesmen all over North
America, selling various kinds of mostly ineffective nostrums. The word today implies
quackery and fraud, but prior to the nineteenth century its meaning was much more honest.
The word comes from a Latin phrase, "nostrum remedium" (our remedy), and its
root meaning is simply "ours." Starting in the early 1600s, medicines were
marked with the Latin phrase, to show that they were the unique product of the maker.
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Obstreperous [adj.
ab-STREP-ur-us]
Someone who is loudly resisting control, management, or advice could be
described with the adjective obstreperous. Near synonyms include: difficult, obstinate,
contrary, and unruly.
Obstreperous also describes noisy, clamorous, boisterous or vociferous people. Example:
"Emily loved her nephews but they were so obstreperous it tired her out to have them
visit."
Obstreperous traces back to the Latin obstreperus (clamorous) akin to obstrepere (to make
noise at) which comes from ob- and strepere (to rattle). It was first used in the English
language in the late 1500s.
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Octothorp [n. AHK-tuh-thorp]
You may know it as the "pound key" or as the
"number sign." It's the "#" symbol on the telephone dial, also known
as the octothorp (sometimes spelled octothorpe).
Apparently, the word was coined in the 1960s by a telephone company employee who wanted a
single word for the symbol. All of our sources agree that octo- refers to the eight points
on the symbol, but there are many stories about the origin of -thorp.
According to one story, the person who invented the word was involved in an effort to have
the gold medals of the athlete Jim Thorpe returned from Sweden, so he added -thorpe to the
word.
Another possibility is that -thorp is related to Old Norse thorpe (village, farm, hamlet),
maybe because the symbol looks something like eight fields around a village.
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Pasquinade [n., v. PAS-kwuh-NAYD]
A satirical poem, song, or story about someone in particular that has been posted
in a public place is a pasquinade, and to post such a lampoon is to pasquinade the person
who is being satirized. Usually, pasquinades are anonymous.
The word originated in Rome, Italy. According to one story, there was a shop there in the
15th century owned by a man named Pasquino. Outside of his shop there was a somewhat
mutilated statue, where satirical poems were frequently posted. Pasquino himself was said
to be quite a wit, and was thought to have been the source of most of the poems.
The satirical pasquinades did not go unanswered. Some distance across town, there was a
very old statue called Marforio. On that statue, replies to the pasquinades were posted.
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Phytoremediation [n.
FY-toe-ruh-mee-dee-AY-shun]
Phytoremediation is the use of living plants to remove toxic substances from soil,
water, or air. It's a relatively new concept that takes advantage of plants' natural
ability to absorb and process toxins.
This word has two parts. Phyto- is based on the Greek phuton (plant), which comes from
phuein (to cause growth). There are many other words using this root, including these:
epiphyte: plant that grows on another plant
phytography: science of describing plants
phytophagous: feeding on plants
The second part can be a word by itself. Remediation is solving a problem by correcting a
fault or deficiency. It's from the Latin remedium (cure), from re- (again) plus mederi (to
heal). Related words include remedy, medicine, and medicate.
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Pilgarlic [n. pil-GAR-lik]
This obsolete word almost always appears after "poor." It's an expression
of false pity or amused contempt for someone with a bald head. Example: "Lost in the
muddy back alleys of London, Friar Marlson thought, 'How did such a poor pilgarlic as I
get into such a mess?'"
The connection with baldness has to do with the origin of the word. Literally, it means
"peeled garlic," since pil was the ancestor of today's peel. So a poor pilgarlic
is someone whose head resembles a peeled garlic clove.
The dark side of the word is that the original meaning also included the sense of how the
man's head became bald: through the ravages of the pox, a deadly disease. In time, the
connection with disease was lost, and by the end of the eighteenth century the phrase
itself was falling out of use.
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Platitude [n. PLAT-ih-tood or
PLAT-ih-tyood]
A platitude is a boring, meaningless, and unoriginal remark. Often meant to sound
fresh or perceptive, it falls flat instead because of its triteness. Example: "The
press on the campaign bus were tired of hearing the candidate's platitudes about the glory
of patriotism."
Platitude also means the quality of being flat or lacking in originality, particularly in
speech or writing. Near synonyms of this sense include insipidity, dullness, and
triteness.
Since it is ultimately derived from the vulgar Latin plattus (flat) it is no surprise that
platitude has meant a flat remark in English since the early 1800s. It was borrowed from
the French which literally meant flatness. The vulgar Latin Plattus (which may go back to
the Greek platus for broad) is also the root of the English words plate, platter,
platform, and plateau.
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Proselytize [v. PROS-uh-li-tize]
To proselytize is to attempt to persuade someone to change their political or
religious beliefs, or the way that they live their lives. Near synonyms include: reorient,
recruit, inculcate, and win over.
Proselytize is related to the noun proselyte (a new convert). Proselyte comes from the
late Latin proselytus which is derived from the Greek proselytos (newcomer), a variant on
the verb proserchesthai (to come, approach).
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Pterylology [n. TER-ul-OL-uh-gee]
If you engage in pterylology then you are studying the arrangement of feathers on
birds, and you are a pterylologist.
Like other sciences, pterylology gets its -ology suffix from the Greek suffix -logia (the
study of). Informally, an ology is a field of scientific study.
The ptery- prefix is from Greek pteron (feather, wing). That root has been adopted into
words for a wide variety of feathery or winglike things, including these:
pteridology: ths study of ferns (whose leaves are often feathery)
ornithopter: a machine with wings that flap like a bird's wings
pterodactyl: extinct flying reptile whose wings are supported by long toes
pteropod: sea butterfly, a marine mollusc with winglike lobes on the foot
pteryla: area of a bird's skin from which feathers grow
pteronophobia: fear of being tickled by feathers
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Puerile
Puerile describes someone or something that is youthful, juvenile, or childish.
Quite often this adjective has a negative connotation describing something or someone as
childishly foolish, immature, or silly. Example: "Tired of Jake's puerile pranks,
Greg decided it was time to move out."
Puerile entered English in the 1650s from the Latin puerilis. This was a conjunction of
puer (boy or child) and ilis (ile). Near synonyms include: childish, sophomoric,
infantile, and naive.
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Redolent [adj. reh-D'L-ent]
Redolent is an adjective used to describe something that has or emits a
fragrance, especially a pleasant one. Near synonyms include: aromatic and sweet-smelling.
Something that prompts memories, evokes feelings or suggests a certain time, event, or
place, can also be redolent. Example: "The living room was still redolent with the
scent of her late father's pipe." This broader sense of the word was first recorded
in the early 19th century.
A word first used in Middle English, redolent was taken from the Latin redolent (via
Middle French). It is a variant on redolere (to emit a scent). The Latin word olere is
related to the contemporary English word odor (scent).
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Rhabdomancy [n. RAB-duh-man-see]
If you tell fortunes by casting sticks or rods, or if
you seek out water or underground ores using a rod or a stick, then you practice
rhabdomancy. Seeking out water or ore with a stick is also known as dowsing.
The first part of the word comes from the Greek rhabdos (rod). The second part is from the
Greek -manteia (-mancy), a suffix form of manteuesthai (to prophecy), which was derived
from mantis (seer, prophet).
The insect called the praying mantis (or mantid) also got its name from the same source,
because of the "prayerful" way it holds its forelegs while waiting to catch
prey, similar to the way a seer might pose while awaiting a vision.
Here are more ways to tell fortunes:
oneiromancy: from dreams
lithomancy: from the patterns of scattered stones
spodomancy: from the patterns of ashes
halomancy: from spilled salt
bibliomancy: from random pages in a book
rhapsodomancy: from random pages in a poetry book
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Sartorial [adj. sar-TOR-ee-ul]
Spurious [adj. SPYOOR-ee-us]
Spurious means false or inauthentic. Near synonyms include sham and
counterfeit. For example, a spurious quotation would be one that doesn't come from the
source claimed. Spurious can also mean plausible but false; illegitimate. Example:
"She rejected his spurious arguments knowing that he had not read the background
materials."
This adjective comes from the Latin word spurius (illegitimate). It was first seen in
English in the early 1600s.
A botanical use of spurious describes two or more plants or parts that have a similar
appearance but a different structure.
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Talion
[n. TAL-ee-un]
If the punishment for an offense is exactly the same as
the offense, then it is a talion, and it is talionic punishment. Example: "For the
crime of murder, the talion is death."
In Latin, talio was retaliation, which is another word from the same root. The idea was
that retaliation should be measured out to exactly balance the offense, as in the
expression "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."
The ancient root was tele-, which had meanings related to lifting, supporting, and
weighing, with derivatives relating to measuring and money.
From the same ancient root, we also have these words:
toll: fee paid for passage or service; extent of loss or damage
tolerate: to allow; to endure
talent: marked innate ability, specific weight of gold or silver
tola: the weight of one silver Indian rupee
extoll: to praise highly ("lift up")
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Tetraskelion [n. tet-ruh-SKEL-ee-un]
Verisimilitude
Verisimilitude is the appearance of truth or reality. Near synonyms include
credibility, likelihood, and probability. Example: "His testimony gave verisimilitude
to her claim."
Verisimilitude can also mean an accurate portrayal of reality in art or literature. A near
synonym of this sense is realism.
In the late 1500s, verisimilitude was taken from the Latin verisimilitudo. This was a
variant on verisimilis from the Latin veri (a singular form of verum which meant truth)
and similis (like).
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Vitriolic [adj. vit-ree-OL-ik]
In common use, this adjective applies to a person's
manner. To be vitriolic is to be bitterly critical, with strong emotion. Example:
"Phil was surprised by the intensity of Harry's vitriolic accusations."
There is a more technical meaning of the word that led to its common meaning. Vitriolic
substances are sulfates like copper sulfate or sulfuric acid, which is also known as oil
of vitriol. Someone who is being vitriolic is being emotionally caustic, like chemically
caustic sulfuric acid.
Why are sulfate chemicals called vitriols? Some of them can have a glassy appearance in
the crystalline form, so the Latin root vitrum (glass) was modified to name them.
Here are more "glassy" words:
vitreous: glassy
vitrify: to make into glass, usually by melting and cooling
vitrescent: like glass, able to be vitrified
vitrine: glass paneled cabinet for displaying small items
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Xylophagous [adj. zy-LOF-uh-gus]