Thimblerig \THIM-buhl-rig\ , verb;
1. To cheat of swindle, as in the traditional shell game known as thimblerig
noun;
1. A game in which the operator rapidly moves about three inverted thimbles, often with sleight of hand, one of which conceals a token, the other player betting on which thimble the token is under
Thimblerig dates to the 1825 and is a combination of thimble + rig where rig means "a fraudulent auction; a mock auction". Thimble goes back to Old English þymel ("sheath or covering for the thumb") which is a combination of thuma + -el where thuma is the forebear of thumb and -el is a suffix used in forming names of instruments. The addition of the -b- happened in the mid-15th century and it is excrescent, which means it was added without etymological justification. In all likelihood it was added because there is a faint [b] sound produced when [m] is immediately followed by [l].
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 31
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Vulpine
Vulpine \VUHL-pahyn\ , adjective;
1. Cunning or crafty
2. Of or resembling a fox
This word dates to the 1620's and comes from Latin vulpinus ("of or pertaining to a fox"), which derives from vulpes. Vulpes is a later form of volpes ("fox") which is of unknown origin.
I'm so happy that a fox-related word came up because it gives me an excuse to post a picture fennec foxes:
Awwwww!
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 30
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Cunning or crafty
2. Of or resembling a fox
This word dates to the 1620's and comes from Latin vulpinus ("of or pertaining to a fox"), which derives from vulpes. Vulpes is a later form of volpes ("fox") which is of unknown origin.
I'm so happy that a fox-related word came up because it gives me an excuse to post a picture fennec foxes:
 | ||
| photo credit: Treasure Ranch |
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 30
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Cacoethes
Cacoethes \kak-oh-EE-theez\ , noun;
1. An irresistible urge; mania
This word, with the meaning "itch for doing something", dates to the 1560's and comes from Greek kakoethes via Latin. Kakoethes ("ill-habit, wickedness, itch for doing (something)") comes from kakos ("bad") + ethe- ("disposition, character"). The most famous use of this word is in Juvenal's insanabile scribendi cacoethes, or "incurable passion for writing".
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 29
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. An irresistible urge; mania
This word, with the meaning "itch for doing something", dates to the 1560's and comes from Greek kakoethes via Latin. Kakoethes ("ill-habit, wickedness, itch for doing (something)") comes from kakos ("bad") + ethe- ("disposition, character"). The most famous use of this word is in Juvenal's insanabile scribendi cacoethes, or "incurable passion for writing".
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 29
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Friday, January 28, 2011
Rakish
Rakish \REY-kish\ , adjective;
1. Smart; jaunty; dashing
2. Of a vessel: having an appearance suggesting speed
3. Like a rake; dissolute: rakish behavior
Rakish dates to 1706 and is a combination of rake + -ish. There are a couple of etymologies for rake, one is the "toothed tool" which comes from Old English raca ("rake") and earlier ræce which derives from Proto-Germanic *rak- ("gather, heap up"). This is not the one that applies to rakish. That rake is a 1650's shortened form of rakehell which dates to the 1540's and means "debauchee". Rakehell is probably an alteration of Middle English rakel ("hasty, rash, headstrong") which is related to raken ("to go, proceed"). Both Middle English forms derive from Old English racian, and that's as far as it has be traced. The OED doesn't have the same etymology as I just gave for rakehell, so you should take it with a grain of salt I suppose.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 28
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Smart; jaunty; dashing
2. Of a vessel: having an appearance suggesting speed
3. Like a rake; dissolute: rakish behavior
Rakish dates to 1706 and is a combination of rake + -ish. There are a couple of etymologies for rake, one is the "toothed tool" which comes from Old English raca ("rake") and earlier ræce which derives from Proto-Germanic *rak- ("gather, heap up"). This is not the one that applies to rakish. That rake is a 1650's shortened form of rakehell which dates to the 1540's and means "debauchee". Rakehell is probably an alteration of Middle English rakel ("hasty, rash, headstrong") which is related to raken ("to go, proceed"). Both Middle English forms derive from Old English racian, and that's as far as it has be traced. The OED doesn't have the same etymology as I just gave for rakehell, so you should take it with a grain of salt I suppose.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 28
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Jobbery
Jobbery \JOB-uh-ree\ , noun;
1. The conduct of public or official business for the sake of improper private gain
This word is first attested in 1769 and is a relative of jobber and jobbing, all three are derived from a noun form of job that is of uncertain origin.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 27
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. The conduct of public or official business for the sake of improper private gain
This word is first attested in 1769 and is a relative of jobber and jobbing, all three are derived from a noun form of job that is of uncertain origin.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 27
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Gung-ho
Gung-ho \GUHNG-HO\ , adjective;
1. Wholeheartedly enthusiastic and loyal; eager; zealous
2. In a successful manner
This word dates to 1942 and originated as a slang motto of Carlson's Raiders, a U.S. guerrilla unit operating in the Pacific in WWII. They borrowed it from Chinese kung hou* meaning "work together, cooperate". It was widely adopted in American English around 1959.
*So I've been looking around for this kung ho(u) word in all my Chinese reference sources and I cannot find it. Chinese is a difficult language and 'romanizing' the words (spelling them with letters we are used to) was highly variable until the mid-1950's, so it's difficult to pin down what this would translate to in modern pinyin. Additionally, this word was adopted by GI's with different linguistic backgrounds (i.e. accents) so the way it was understood and repeated would have been highly variable. Plus, there are accents and dialects in Chinese that would have made the word sound slightly different coming from different people (for example, nar in northern China is the same word as na li in southern China, just with different accents). Consider the English word car and the way it sounds when spoken by a person from Boston versus a person from Chicago versus a person from New Orleans. Now imagine a person from northern China hearing one of those versions and trying to repeat it to a person from southern China. See how muddled this can get?
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 26
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Wholeheartedly enthusiastic and loyal; eager; zealous
2. In a successful manner
This word dates to 1942 and originated as a slang motto of Carlson's Raiders, a U.S. guerrilla unit operating in the Pacific in WWII. They borrowed it from Chinese kung hou* meaning "work together, cooperate". It was widely adopted in American English around 1959.
*So I've been looking around for this kung ho(u) word in all my Chinese reference sources and I cannot find it. Chinese is a difficult language and 'romanizing' the words (spelling them with letters we are used to) was highly variable until the mid-1950's, so it's difficult to pin down what this would translate to in modern pinyin. Additionally, this word was adopted by GI's with different linguistic backgrounds (i.e. accents) so the way it was understood and repeated would have been highly variable. Plus, there are accents and dialects in Chinese that would have made the word sound slightly different coming from different people (for example, nar in northern China is the same word as na li in southern China, just with different accents). Consider the English word car and the way it sounds when spoken by a person from Boston versus a person from Chicago versus a person from New Orleans. Now imagine a person from northern China hearing one of those versions and trying to repeat it to a person from southern China. See how muddled this can get?
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 26
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Dharna
Dharna \DAHR-nuh\ , noun;
1. In India, the practice of exacting justice or compliance with a just demand by sitting and fasting at the doorstep of an offender until death or until the demand is granted.
So this is like the ole, "I'm gonna hold my breath until you buy me a pony, Mom" routine?
This word dates to the 1790's and comes from Hindi dharnā ("placing, act of sitting in restraint") which derives from Sanskrit dhrr ("to place").
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 25
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. In India, the practice of exacting justice or compliance with a just demand by sitting and fasting at the doorstep of an offender until death or until the demand is granted.
So this is like the ole, "I'm gonna hold my breath until you buy me a pony, Mom" routine?
This word dates to the 1790's and comes from Hindi dharnā ("placing, act of sitting in restraint") which derives from Sanskrit dhrr ("to place").
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 25
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
Paphian
Paphian \PEY-fee-uhn\ , adjective;
1. Of or pertaining to love, especially illicit physical love
2. Of or pertaining to Paphos, an ancient city of Cyprus sacred to Aphrodite
3. Noting or pertaining to Aphrodite or to her worship or service
This word is first attested in English in 1569 and it comes from Classical Latin Paphius, meaning "of or associated with Paphos (or Venus)".
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 24
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Of or pertaining to love, especially illicit physical love
2. Of or pertaining to Paphos, an ancient city of Cyprus sacred to Aphrodite
3. Noting or pertaining to Aphrodite or to her worship or service
This word is first attested in English in 1569 and it comes from Classical Latin Paphius, meaning "of or associated with Paphos (or Venus)".
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 24
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Homograph
Homograph \HOM-uh-graf\ , noun;
1. A word of the same written form as another but of different meaning, whether pronounced the same way or not
This word dates to around 1810 and is a combination of homo- + -graph. Homo- is a common prefix in the formation of modern words. It means "the same" and comes from Greek homos, meaning "one and the same" and "belonging to two or more jointly." Homos derives from Proto-Indo-European *somos, which is also the forebear of Sanskrit samah ("even, the same"), Lithuanian similis ("like"), Gothic sama ("the same") and samana ("together"). You can probably guess from the forms and definitions that *somos is connected with our Modern English word same. The suffix -graph is also a Greek borrowing and is used to express a passive sense of "writing".
It's interesting that this word came up today because recently Mr. B and I were discussing the word desert and he suggested I write about it in the blog. In some of his reading for class he came upon this word, used to convey "suitable reward or punishment" (as in his just deserts). His main concern was about pronunciation, but sorting out pronunciations is just the tip of the iceberg with these homographs.
There are four entries in the Oxford English Dictionary for desert. Here they are, simplified for the sake of clarity:
/dɪˈz3ːt/ , noun;
1. Deserving; worthiness of recompense, merit or demerit
2. An action or quality that deserves recompense
Pronounced \di-ZERT\, this form dates to the late 1200's and comes from Old French deservir, which is related to Modern English deserve.
/dɪˈz3ːt/ , verb;
1. To abandon a thing, place, position, institution
2. To forsake one's duty, post or party; especially of a soldier or sailor
Also pronounced \di-ZERT\, this form dates to the mid-1500's and comes from Modern French déserter ("to abandon"), which meant "to make desert, leave desert" in Old French.
/ˈdɛzət/ , noun;
1. An uninhabited and uncultivated tract of country; a wilderness
Pronunced \DE-zert\, this form may be as old as 1225 and it definitely dates to the early 1300's. It comes from Old French desert, which derives from ecclesiastical Latin dēsertus, the past participle of dēserĕre ("to sever connection with, leave, forsake, abandon, etc.")
/ˈdɛzət/ , adjective;
1. Uninhabited, desolate, lonely; like a desert
Also pronunced \DE-zert\, this form dates to the late 1200's and comes from Middle English de 'sert, which derives from Old French desert and follows the same etymology as it's homophone above.
This is why people study linguistics: how amazing is it to find such complexities lying just below the surface? Here we have one written form, two pronunciations, four definitions, and three etymologies. It doesn't get any better than this!
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 23
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. A word of the same written form as another but of different meaning, whether pronounced the same way or not
This word dates to around 1810 and is a combination of homo- + -graph. Homo- is a common prefix in the formation of modern words. It means "the same" and comes from Greek homos, meaning "one and the same" and "belonging to two or more jointly." Homos derives from Proto-Indo-European *somos, which is also the forebear of Sanskrit samah ("even, the same"), Lithuanian similis ("like"), Gothic sama ("the same") and samana ("together"). You can probably guess from the forms and definitions that *somos is connected with our Modern English word same. The suffix -graph is also a Greek borrowing and is used to express a passive sense of "writing".
It's interesting that this word came up today because recently Mr. B and I were discussing the word desert and he suggested I write about it in the blog. In some of his reading for class he came upon this word, used to convey "suitable reward or punishment" (as in his just deserts). His main concern was about pronunciation, but sorting out pronunciations is just the tip of the iceberg with these homographs.
There are four entries in the Oxford English Dictionary for desert. Here they are, simplified for the sake of clarity:
/dɪˈz3ːt/ , noun;
1. Deserving; worthiness of recompense, merit or demerit
2. An action or quality that deserves recompense
Pronounced \di-ZERT\, this form dates to the late 1200's and comes from Old French deservir, which is related to Modern English deserve.
/dɪˈz3ːt/ , verb;
1. To abandon a thing, place, position, institution
2. To forsake one's duty, post or party; especially of a soldier or sailor
Also pronounced \di-ZERT\, this form dates to the mid-1500's and comes from Modern French déserter ("to abandon"), which meant "to make desert, leave desert" in Old French.
/ˈdɛzət/ , noun;
1. An uninhabited and uncultivated tract of country; a wilderness
Pronunced \DE-zert\, this form may be as old as 1225 and it definitely dates to the early 1300's. It comes from Old French desert, which derives from ecclesiastical Latin dēsertus, the past participle of dēserĕre ("to sever connection with, leave, forsake, abandon, etc.")
/ˈdɛzət/ , adjective;
1. Uninhabited, desolate, lonely; like a desert
Also pronunced \DE-zert\, this form dates to the late 1200's and comes from Middle English de 'sert, which derives from Old French desert and follows the same etymology as it's homophone above.
This is why people study linguistics: how amazing is it to find such complexities lying just below the surface? Here we have one written form, two pronunciations, four definitions, and three etymologies. It doesn't get any better than this!
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 23
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Lollop
Lollop \LOL-uhp\ , verb;
1. To move forward with a bounding, drooping motion
2. To hang loosely; droop; dangle
noun;
1. The action or act of 'lolloping'
2. A trifling lazy person
This word is first attested in 1745 with a definition of "to lounge or sprawl; to go with a lounging gait". It is an onomatopoeic extension of loll and first verb definition seems to have evolved from a sense of the phonetic expressiveness of the word. Usage as a noun dates to the 1800's.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 22
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To move forward with a bounding, drooping motion
2. To hang loosely; droop; dangle
noun;
1. The action or act of 'lolloping'
2. A trifling lazy person
This word is first attested in 1745 with a definition of "to lounge or sprawl; to go with a lounging gait". It is an onomatopoeic extension of loll and first verb definition seems to have evolved from a sense of the phonetic expressiveness of the word. Usage as a noun dates to the 1800's.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 22
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Friday, January 21, 2011
Totemic
Totemic \toh-TEM-ik\ , adjective;
1. Pertaining to an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or group considers itself closely related
2. Relating to a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group
Totem, with the meaning "animal or natural object considered as the emblem of a family or clan", dates to about 1760 (in English) and comes from an Algonquian language, probably Ojibwa. The Native American word is odoodeman, meaning "his sibling kin, his group or family", hence "his family mark". It is attested in French from around 1600 as aoutem from the Micmacs or other natives from around Nova Scotia. The word-initial [t] is explained by some as the final letter (sound) of a preceding posessive pronoun. This would be analogous to 'her home' being adopted into a foreign language as 'rome'.
Totem pole is attested in 1808 in reference to west coast Canadian Indians. Totemic is attested to 1846.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 21
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Pertaining to an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or group considers itself closely related
2. Relating to a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group
Totem, with the meaning "animal or natural object considered as the emblem of a family or clan", dates to about 1760 (in English) and comes from an Algonquian language, probably Ojibwa. The Native American word is odoodeman, meaning "his sibling kin, his group or family", hence "his family mark". It is attested in French from around 1600 as aoutem from the Micmacs or other natives from around Nova Scotia. The word-initial [t] is explained by some as the final letter (sound) of a preceding posessive pronoun. This would be analogous to 'her home' being adopted into a foreign language as 'rome'.
Totem pole is attested in 1808 in reference to west coast Canadian Indians. Totemic is attested to 1846.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 21
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Grangerize
Grangerize \GRYEN-juh-rahyz\ , verb;
1. To add to the visual content of a book by inserting images not included in the original volume, often by mutilating other books
2. To mutilate books in order to get illustrative material for such a purpose
I think it's kind of funny that the name of one of the libraries at my alma mater was named Grainger...
Grangerize derives from a man's name, James Granger. In 1769, Granger published a 'Biographical History of England' and purposefully inserted blank pages for engraved portraits or other illustrations. People really got a kick out of filling these blank pages; grangerizing them, if you will, and thus the word was born. People liked it so much they grangerized other books in a similar manner.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 20
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To add to the visual content of a book by inserting images not included in the original volume, often by mutilating other books
2. To mutilate books in order to get illustrative material for such a purpose
I think it's kind of funny that the name of one of the libraries at my alma mater was named Grainger...
Grangerize derives from a man's name, James Granger. In 1769, Granger published a 'Biographical History of England' and purposefully inserted blank pages for engraved portraits or other illustrations. People really got a kick out of filling these blank pages; grangerizing them, if you will, and thus the word was born. People liked it so much they grangerized other books in a similar manner.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 20
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Fain
Fain \FEYN\ , adverb;
1. Gladly; willingly
adjective;
1. Content; willing
2. (archaic) Constrained; obliged
3. (archaic) Desirous; eager
This word comes from Old English fægen or fagen, meaning "glad, cheerful, happy, joyful, rejoicing. There are similar words in Old Saxon (fagan), Old Norse (feginn, "glad"), Old High German (faginon), and Gothic (faginon, "to rejoice"), all of which derive from a common Germanic root. That Germanic root possibly comes from Proto-Indo-European *pek- ("to make pretty"). The adverbial usage dates to around 1200.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 19
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Gladly; willingly
adjective;
1. Content; willing
2. (archaic) Constrained; obliged
3. (archaic) Desirous; eager
This word comes from Old English fægen or fagen, meaning "glad, cheerful, happy, joyful, rejoicing. There are similar words in Old Saxon (fagan), Old Norse (feginn, "glad"), Old High German (faginon), and Gothic (faginon, "to rejoice"), all of which derive from a common Germanic root. That Germanic root possibly comes from Proto-Indo-European *pek- ("to make pretty"). The adverbial usage dates to around 1200.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 19
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Shibboleth
Shibboleth \SHIB-uh-lith\ or \SHIB-uh-leth\ , noun;
1. A peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons
2. A slogan; catchword
3. A common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth
One of the two main ways I get etymologies for this blog is the online Oxford English Dictionary (OED). If you've ever tried using it before you know that it is password protected and costs about $300 per year for unrestricted individual access. As much as I love the OED, I'm not paying that. Luckily I can still access it via my alma mater's library website using my student i.d. and password, but recently they have implemented a new login system, delightfully called 'Shibboleth', which I've been wrestling with it for a couple days now. I think I've got it all sorted out, so here's a post in honor of this great Linguistics 101 word.
The etymology of shibboleth is actually not that interesting; It's a Hebrew word meaning "ear of corn" or "stream in flood". The interesting part (and the reason we talked about it in linguistics class) is its usage in the Hebrew Bible as a nearly fool-proof password. An 'open sesame', if you will.
Around 1200BC (give or take 100 years) the people of Gilead beat the tribe of Ephraim in some sort of military battle within the Gilead's territory. After their defeat, the surviving Ephraimites tried to cross the Jordan River to get back to their own territory, but were stopped by Gileadites who were controlling access to the river's fords. Given that all these people were from the same part of the world, they looked more or less the same. This meant that the Gileadites could not reliably identify the Ephraimites on sight alone, so someone came up with an ingenious idea:
As a side note, while we are forming our language(s)-specific vocal tract, our hearing is becoming highly tuned as well. There is a lot of variability in the way we pronounce different sounds in our language, but not all of the differences are important. For example, the [k] in kit is technically different than the [k] in skill. In kit it is aspirated (which means you release a puff of air when pronouncing it, IPA: [kʰ]), but in skill it is not (IPA: [k]). If you don't believe me, hold a lit match in front of your mouth and say each word, the flame will dance for kit but won't for skill. The difference in aspiration is not important in English so we don't notice it, but in some other languages it is. Asians famously cannot distinguish [l] and [ɹ]*** very well and Westerners have a difficult time hearing Chinese tones for similar reasons.
*Zulu uxolo: "Excuse me!"
** I couldn't get the link to work correctly, but to hear the French pronunciation, copy and paste this link: http://french.about.com/library/media/wavs/rouge.wav
***The English 'r' is represented by [ɹ] in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
****Okay, I stand corrected: the etymology is kind of cool, thanks Balashon
1. A peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons
2. A slogan; catchword
3. A common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth
One of the two main ways I get etymologies for this blog is the online Oxford English Dictionary (OED). If you've ever tried using it before you know that it is password protected and costs about $300 per year for unrestricted individual access. As much as I love the OED, I'm not paying that. Luckily I can still access it via my alma mater's library website using my student i.d. and password, but recently they have implemented a new login system, delightfully called 'Shibboleth', which I've been wrestling with it for a couple days now. I think I've got it all sorted out, so here's a post in honor of this great Linguistics 101 word.
The etymology of shibboleth is actually not that interesting; It's a Hebrew word meaning "ear of corn" or "stream in flood". The interesting part (and the reason we talked about it in linguistics class) is its usage in the Hebrew Bible as a nearly fool-proof password. An 'open sesame', if you will.
Around 1200BC (give or take 100 years) the people of Gilead beat the tribe of Ephraim in some sort of military battle within the Gilead's territory. After their defeat, the surviving Ephraimites tried to cross the Jordan River to get back to their own territory, but were stopped by Gileadites who were controlling access to the river's fords. Given that all these people were from the same part of the world, they looked more or less the same. This meant that the Gileadites could not reliably identify the Ephraimites on sight alone, so someone came up with an ingenious idea:
Gilead then cut Ephraim off from the fords of the Jordan, and whenever Ephraimite fugitives said, "Let me cross," the men of Gilead would ask, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," then they said, "Very well, say 'Shibboleth'" (שיבולת). If anyone said, "Sibboleth" (סיבולת), because he could not pronounce it, then they would seize him and kill him by the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites fell on this occasion.
Human babies are born with the ability to make a huge array of linguistically distinct sounds, everything from African tribal clicks* to the nearly universal [a]. As we acquire our native language(s), we only practice making the sounds we hear (this is what babbling is for) so the extreme malleability of our vocal tract is replaced by a highly efficient muscle memory. This is why adult foreign language learners find it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to achieve total fluency. French speakers, for example, have a difficult time with English 'th' ([θ] and [ð]) sounds because they don't exist in French. For the same reason English speakers can't pronounce French 'r' sounds very well. So, the Gileadites asking the Ephraimites to say shibboleth is like asking an English speaker to pronounce French rouge** - it's hard, maybe impossible.-Judges 12:5-6
As a side note, while we are forming our language(s)-specific vocal tract, our hearing is becoming highly tuned as well. There is a lot of variability in the way we pronounce different sounds in our language, but not all of the differences are important. For example, the [k] in kit is technically different than the [k] in skill. In kit it is aspirated (which means you release a puff of air when pronouncing it, IPA: [kʰ]), but in skill it is not (IPA: [k]). If you don't believe me, hold a lit match in front of your mouth and say each word, the flame will dance for kit but won't for skill. The difference in aspiration is not important in English so we don't notice it, but in some other languages it is. Asians famously cannot distinguish [l] and [ɹ]*** very well and Westerners have a difficult time hearing Chinese tones for similar reasons.
*Zulu uxolo: "Excuse me!"
** I couldn't get the link to work correctly, but to hear the French pronunciation, copy and paste this link: http://french.about.com/library/media/wavs/rouge.wav
***The English 'r' is represented by [ɹ] in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
****Okay, I stand corrected: the etymology is kind of cool, thanks Balashon
Concupiscible
Concupiscible \kon-KYOO-pi-suh-buhl\ , adjective;
1. Worthy of being desired
This word dates to around 1400 and comes from French concupiscible, which derives from Latin concupiscibilis.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 18
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Worthy of being desired
This word dates to around 1400 and comes from French concupiscible, which derives from Latin concupiscibilis.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 18
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Monday, January 17, 2011
Offal
Offal \AW-fuhl\ , noun;
1. The edible internal parts of an animal, such as the heart, liver, and tongue
2. Dead or decomposing organic matter
3. Refuse; rubbish
This word dates to the late 14th century and comes from the idea that the "waste parts" or "refuse" falls off (off + fall) the butcher's block. There was a Middle Dutch word afval from af + vallen ("off" + "fallen") that may have been influential in the formation of the English word.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love words like this because they are so (surprisingly) rare. What is so rare about this word, you ask? It is pure English. Off is at least as old as 1200AD as an emphatic form of Old English of, which is the unstressed form of æf ("away, away from"). Æf comes from Proto-Germanic *af- which comes from Proto-Indo-European *apo- ("off, away"). Fall was feallan ("to fall; fail, decay, die") in Old English and comes from Proto-Germanic *fallanan, which derives from the Proto-Indo-European base *pol- ("to fall").
Here's a challenge for you: write me a sentence using only 'pure English' words...it's tougher than you think!
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 17
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. The edible internal parts of an animal, such as the heart, liver, and tongue
2. Dead or decomposing organic matter
3. Refuse; rubbish
This word dates to the late 14th century and comes from the idea that the "waste parts" or "refuse" falls off (off + fall) the butcher's block. There was a Middle Dutch word afval from af + vallen ("off" + "fallen") that may have been influential in the formation of the English word.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love words like this because they are so (surprisingly) rare. What is so rare about this word, you ask? It is pure English. Off is at least as old as 1200AD as an emphatic form of Old English of, which is the unstressed form of æf ("away, away from"). Æf comes from Proto-Germanic *af- which comes from Proto-Indo-European *apo- ("off, away"). Fall was feallan ("to fall; fail, decay, die") in Old English and comes from Proto-Germanic *fallanan, which derives from the Proto-Indo-European base *pol- ("to fall").
Here's a challenge for you: write me a sentence using only 'pure English' words...it's tougher than you think!
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 17
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Spirituel
Spirituel \spir-i-choo-EL\ , adjective;
1. Showing or having a refined and graceful mind or wit
2. Light and airy in movement; ethereal
The OED says that this word comes from French spirituel and indicates its etymology is related to that of spiritual. Spiritual is much older than spirituel, it is attested to the 1300's while spirituel is first attested in 1673. Both ultimately come from Old French spirituel which derives from Latin spiritualis. Spiritualis is from spiritus, which means "of breathing, of the spirit".
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 16
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Showing or having a refined and graceful mind or wit
2. Light and airy in movement; ethereal
The OED says that this word comes from French spirituel and indicates its etymology is related to that of spiritual. Spiritual is much older than spirituel, it is attested to the 1300's while spirituel is first attested in 1673. Both ultimately come from Old French spirituel which derives from Latin spiritualis. Spiritualis is from spiritus, which means "of breathing, of the spirit".
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 16
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Felicitate
Felicitate \fi-LIS-i-teyt\ , verb;
1. To compliment upon a happy event; congratulate
2. Archaic: to make happy
This word is first attested in the 1620's with the definition "to render happy". A short 10 or so years later it had already changed a little to mean "to reckon happy." If you 'render' someone happy you make them that way, but if you 'reckon' them happy you merely recognize them as such and don't take an active roll. This difference is illustrated by the usage of felicitate as a congratulatory word (also from the 1630's). It comes from Latin felicitatus, which is the past participle of felicitare ("to make happy"). Felicitare comes from felicitas ("fruitfulness, happiness") which derives from felix. Felix (genetive: felicis) means "happy, fortunate, fruitful, fertile" and comes from the Latin base *fe-, which is the equivalent of Proto-Indo-European *dhe(i)- ("to suck, suckle, produce, yield").
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 15
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To compliment upon a happy event; congratulate
2. Archaic: to make happy
This word is first attested in the 1620's with the definition "to render happy". A short 10 or so years later it had already changed a little to mean "to reckon happy." If you 'render' someone happy you make them that way, but if you 'reckon' them happy you merely recognize them as such and don't take an active roll. This difference is illustrated by the usage of felicitate as a congratulatory word (also from the 1630's). It comes from Latin felicitatus, which is the past participle of felicitare ("to make happy"). Felicitare comes from felicitas ("fruitfulness, happiness") which derives from felix. Felix (genetive: felicis) means "happy, fortunate, fruitful, fertile" and comes from the Latin base *fe-, which is the equivalent of Proto-Indo-European *dhe(i)- ("to suck, suckle, produce, yield").
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 15
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Friday, January 14, 2011
Klatsch
Klatsch \KLAHCH\ , noun;
1. A casual gathering of people, especially for refreshments and informal conversation
This word in German means "gossip" because it is onomatopoeic to hand clapping. So klatschen means "clap hands" and klatsch means "a single clap of the hands". Use in English with the current definition is first attested in 1953. It probably entered the language in part because of an earlier borrowing of kaffeeklatsch, which means "gossip over cups of coffee" (kaffee + klatsch is "coffee" + "gossip"). This word entered the language in 1888.
Mmm, coffee... I love it. Interestingly, it's kind of hard to pinpoint the etymology of this word for a dark and tasty breakfast beverage. European languages basically use the same word with spelling variations to fit the different rules and phonologies. Coffee (and café, koffie, kaffe, etc.) comes from Turkish kahveh, which is a borrowing from Arabic qahwah. Where qahwah came from is where the issue lies. Arab lexicographers say it is derived from qahiya ("to have no appetite") and originally meant "wine" or some kind of wine. Others posit that it is a disguised foreign word, probably African, possibly connected to Ethiopian province Kaffa, coffee's native home.
If I had to guess I'd say that when coffee was gaining popularity in the Arab world in the 1400's it was referred to as a special 'brewed drink' ("wine"?) from this far-away place called Kaffa. Time passes, language changes, eventually Kaffa wine becomes shortened to Kaffa which evolves into qahwah. Just my opinion though, so don't quote me on that. Unless it's brilliant, then tell everyone.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 14
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. A casual gathering of people, especially for refreshments and informal conversation
This word in German means "gossip" because it is onomatopoeic to hand clapping. So klatschen means "clap hands" and klatsch means "a single clap of the hands". Use in English with the current definition is first attested in 1953. It probably entered the language in part because of an earlier borrowing of kaffeeklatsch, which means "gossip over cups of coffee" (kaffee + klatsch is "coffee" + "gossip"). This word entered the language in 1888.
Mmm, coffee... I love it. Interestingly, it's kind of hard to pinpoint the etymology of this word for a dark and tasty breakfast beverage. European languages basically use the same word with spelling variations to fit the different rules and phonologies. Coffee (and café, koffie, kaffe, etc.) comes from Turkish kahveh, which is a borrowing from Arabic qahwah. Where qahwah came from is where the issue lies. Arab lexicographers say it is derived from qahiya ("to have no appetite") and originally meant "wine" or some kind of wine. Others posit that it is a disguised foreign word, probably African, possibly connected to Ethiopian province Kaffa, coffee's native home.
If I had to guess I'd say that when coffee was gaining popularity in the Arab world in the 1400's it was referred to as a special 'brewed drink' ("wine"?) from this far-away place called Kaffa. Time passes, language changes, eventually Kaffa wine becomes shortened to Kaffa which evolves into qahwah. Just my opinion though, so don't quote me on that. Unless it's brilliant, then tell everyone.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 14
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Creolize
Creolize \KREE-uh-lahyz\ , verb;
1. To combine local and foreign elements into a new, distinct whole
2. To render a pidgin into a distinct, spoken language
Creole came from French créole in the 17th century. The French word came from Spanish criollo ("person native to a locality") which came from Portuguese crioulo, the diminutive of cria ("person, especially a servant, raised in one's house"). Cria is related to criar ("to raise or bring up"), which derives from Latin creare ("to produce, create"). Basically this is a word that appears in several languages and conveys a somewhat different sense in each. Originally this word bore no connotation of race or skin color and in the US it was applied to Louisiana settlers for French for Spanish descent at least as early as 1792. It has referred to a language type or category since about 1879. Its adjectival use dates to 1748.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 13
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To combine local and foreign elements into a new, distinct whole
2. To render a pidgin into a distinct, spoken language
Creole came from French créole in the 17th century. The French word came from Spanish criollo ("person native to a locality") which came from Portuguese crioulo, the diminutive of cria ("person, especially a servant, raised in one's house"). Cria is related to criar ("to raise or bring up"), which derives from Latin creare ("to produce, create"). Basically this is a word that appears in several languages and conveys a somewhat different sense in each. Originally this word bore no connotation of race or skin color and in the US it was applied to Louisiana settlers for French for Spanish descent at least as early as 1792. It has referred to a language type or category since about 1879. Its adjectival use dates to 1748.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 13
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Mansuetude
Mansuetude \MAN-swi-tood\ , noun;
1. Mildness; gentleness
This word dates to the late 14th century and comes from Latin mansuetudo ("tameness"), which comes from mansuetus (past participle of mansuescere, "to tame"). Mansuescere literally means "to accustom to the hand" from manus + suescere ("hand" + "to accustom, habituate") and comes from Proto-Indo-European *swdh-sko- from the base *s(w)e-.
Oddly enough, *s(w)e- is also the bases for the Modern English word idiom. Here's the progression:
*s(w)e- > *swed-yo- > idios > idioumai > idioma > idioma > idiome > idiom
PIE > PIE > Greek "personal, private" > Greek "I make my own" > Greek "peculiarity, peculiar phraseology" > Late Latin "a peculiarity in language" > Modern French "form of speech peculiar to a people or place" > English
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 12
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Mildness; gentleness
This word dates to the late 14th century and comes from Latin mansuetudo ("tameness"), which comes from mansuetus (past participle of mansuescere, "to tame"). Mansuescere literally means "to accustom to the hand" from manus + suescere ("hand" + "to accustom, habituate") and comes from Proto-Indo-European *swdh-sko- from the base *s(w)e-.
Oddly enough, *s(w)e- is also the bases for the Modern English word idiom. Here's the progression:
*s(w)e- > *swed-yo- > idios > idioumai > idioma > idioma > idiome > idiom
PIE > PIE > Greek "personal, private" > Greek "I make my own" > Greek "peculiarity, peculiar phraseology" > Late Latin "a peculiarity in language" > Modern French "form of speech peculiar to a people or place" > English
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 12
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Autoschediastical
Autoschediastical \aw-toh-SKEE-dee-az-tik-uhl\ , adjective;
1. Something improvised or extemporized
Booo-ring: this word comes straight from Greek around 1662.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 11
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Something improvised or extemporized
Booo-ring: this word comes straight from Greek around 1662.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 11
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
Lickerish
Lickerish \LIK-er-ish\ , adjective;
1. Fond of and eager for choice food
2. Greedy; longing
3. Lustful; lecherous
This word, with the definition "fond of delicious fare," dates to the 1500's and comes from Middle English lickerous ("pleasing to the palate" - late 13th century). Lickerous derives from Anglo-French *lickerous which comes from Old French licherous. Modern English lecherous ("having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire") also comes from licherous, but at some point its definition took a turn for the tawdry.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 10
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Fond of and eager for choice food
2. Greedy; longing
3. Lustful; lecherous
This word, with the definition "fond of delicious fare," dates to the 1500's and comes from Middle English lickerous ("pleasing to the palate" - late 13th century). Lickerous derives from Anglo-French *lickerous which comes from Old French licherous. Modern English lecherous ("having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire") also comes from licherous, but at some point its definition took a turn for the tawdry.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 10
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Byzantine
Byzantine \BIZ-uhn-teen\ , adjective;
1. Complex or intricate
2. Characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue, especially for the gaining of political power or favor
3. Of or pertaining to Byzantium
4. Of or pertaining to the Byzantine Empire
5. Noting or pertaining to the architecture of the Byzantine Empire and to architecture influenced by or imitating it.
This word technically comes from Latin byzantinus and originally was just a style of art. Later it started to take on meanings related to the Byzantine Empire and the royal court of Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire was named for Byzantium, which was an ancient Greek city founded by colonists from Megara in 667BCE. Byzantium, which was later known as Constantinople and Istanbul, was named after King Byzas who decided where to settle the city after consulting the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 9
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Complex or intricate
2. Characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue, especially for the gaining of political power or favor
3. Of or pertaining to Byzantium
4. Of or pertaining to the Byzantine Empire
5. Noting or pertaining to the architecture of the Byzantine Empire and to architecture influenced by or imitating it.
This word technically comes from Latin byzantinus and originally was just a style of art. Later it started to take on meanings related to the Byzantine Empire and the royal court of Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire was named for Byzantium, which was an ancient Greek city founded by colonists from Megara in 667BCE. Byzantium, which was later known as Constantinople and Istanbul, was named after King Byzas who decided where to settle the city after consulting the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 9
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Sockdolager
Sockdolager \sok-DOL-uh-jer\ , noun;
1. A decisive reply, argument
2. Something unusually large, heavy, etc.
3. A heavy, finishing blow
This word dates to 1830 and the consensus seems to be that it's a fanciful formation, based on the verb sock meaning "hit hard". There is also a possibility that it is a variant on doxology, which is a short hymn of praise. The sense of "something exceptional" was first attested in 1838. Interestingly the word sockdologising was nearly the last word President Abraham Lincoln heard before being shot. As the story goes, John Wilkes Booth was very familiar with the play ("Our American Cousin" by Tom Taylor) so he waited for the line, "Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, you sockdologising old man-trap," and when the audience laughed he shot.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 8
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. A decisive reply, argument
2. Something unusually large, heavy, etc.
3. A heavy, finishing blow
This word dates to 1830 and the consensus seems to be that it's a fanciful formation, based on the verb sock meaning "hit hard". There is also a possibility that it is a variant on doxology, which is a short hymn of praise. The sense of "something exceptional" was first attested in 1838. Interestingly the word sockdologising was nearly the last word President Abraham Lincoln heard before being shot. As the story goes, John Wilkes Booth was very familiar with the play ("Our American Cousin" by Tom Taylor) so he waited for the line, "Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, you sockdologising old man-trap," and when the audience laughed he shot.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 8
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Friday, January 7, 2011
Katzenjammer
Katzenjammer \KAT-suhn-jam-er\ , noun;
1. The discomfort and illness experienced as the afteraffects of excessive drinking; hangover
2. Uneasiness; anguish; distress
3. Uproar; clamor
This word is attested to 1849 as "a hangover," but since it is colloquial American English it is probably much older. It comes from German katze ("cat") + jammer ("distress, wailing"), so the later sense of "any unpleasant reaction" (1897) makes sense.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 7
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. The discomfort and illness experienced as the afteraffects of excessive drinking; hangover
2. Uneasiness; anguish; distress
3. Uproar; clamor
This word is attested to 1849 as "a hangover," but since it is colloquial American English it is probably much older. It comes from German katze ("cat") + jammer ("distress, wailing"), so the later sense of "any unpleasant reaction" (1897) makes sense.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Friday, January 7
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Chatoyant
Chatoyant \shuh-TOI-uhnt\ , adjective;
1. Having changeable lustre; twinkling
2. (Of a gem, especially a cabochon) displaying a band of light reflected off inclusions of other minerals
This word is first attested in 1798 and comes from French chatoyant, which conveys the same sense in French as it does in English. The OED also references a Latin word caticā-re, but I can't figure out what they are talking about. Lexicographer Émile Littré defined one entry of chatoyer as "to stroke or caress as a cat, to pet." It's worth mentioning here that chat is the French word for cat, but I doubt chatoyer is derived from chat in any way.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 6
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Having changeable lustre; twinkling
2. (Of a gem, especially a cabochon) displaying a band of light reflected off inclusions of other minerals
This word is first attested in 1798 and comes from French chatoyant, which conveys the same sense in French as it does in English. The OED also references a Latin word caticā-re, but I can't figure out what they are talking about. Lexicographer Émile Littré defined one entry of chatoyer as "to stroke or caress as a cat, to pet." It's worth mentioning here that chat is the French word for cat, but I doubt chatoyer is derived from chat in any way.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Thursday, January 6
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Prevaricate
Prevaricate \prih-VAIR-uh-kayt\ , intransitive verb;
1. To depart from or evade the truth; to speak with equivocation
This word, with the definition "to transgress", dates to the 1580's and comes from Latin praefaricari ("to make a sham accusation, deviate," literally "walk crookedly" or "plow crookedly"). In Church Latin praefaricari simply means "to transgress." The interpretation of "to speak evasively" dates to the 1630's. Prevaricator predates prevaricate by 40 years and comes from the agent noun from praevaricari, which is praevaricator. There is an additional definition for this word that is an adjective: "that deviates or prevaricates; perverse." This is a rare/obsolete version of this word which also derives from a form of praevaricari.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 5
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To depart from or evade the truth; to speak with equivocation
This word, with the definition "to transgress", dates to the 1580's and comes from Latin praefaricari ("to make a sham accusation, deviate," literally "walk crookedly" or "plow crookedly"). In Church Latin praefaricari simply means "to transgress." The interpretation of "to speak evasively" dates to the 1630's. Prevaricator predates prevaricate by 40 years and comes from the agent noun from praevaricari, which is praevaricator. There is an additional definition for this word that is an adjective: "that deviates or prevaricates; perverse." This is a rare/obsolete version of this word which also derives from a form of praevaricari.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Wednesday, January 5
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Exculpate
Exculpate \EK-skuhl-payt\ or \ek-SKUHL-payt\ , transitive verb;
1. To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit
This word dates to the 1650's and comes from Middle Latin exculpatus, which is the past participle of exculpare which derives from Latin ex culpa. Ex culpa is a combination of ex ("from") + culpa (ablative of culpa "blame"). Exculpated and exculpating are related to this word, exculpation dates to 1715 and exculpatory dates to the 1780's.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 4
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit
This word dates to the 1650's and comes from Middle Latin exculpatus, which is the past participle of exculpare which derives from Latin ex culpa. Ex culpa is a combination of ex ("from") + culpa (ablative of culpa "blame"). Exculpated and exculpating are related to this word, exculpation dates to 1715 and exculpatory dates to the 1780's.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, January 4
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Monday, January 3, 2011
Descry
Descry \dih-SKRY\ , transitive verb;
1. To catch sight of, especially something distant or obscure; to discern
2. To discover by observation; to detect
I've tried to write this entry a couple times now and I keep having trouble because it's confusing. This word with the definition "to see, discern" entered the language around 1300, probably from Old French descrier. The definition "to proclaim" is attested to the mid-1300's and also came from Old French descrier.
Where the problem lies is in the history of descrier. When associated with "to see, discern" it is supposedly from Latin describere (a precursor to describe), but when associated with "to proclaim" it is supposed to derive from Latin quiritare (a precursor of cry). This issue could, of course, be solved if I could find an online dictionnaire étymologique francais, but so far no such luck. Ah bon, c'est la vie!
Too add another twist to the line, the OED says descry is a variant of descrive, also derived from descrier.
Descrive (obsolete) verb;
1. To write down, inscribe; to write out, transcribe
2. To enroll
3. Describe
4. To draw, map out
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 3
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To catch sight of, especially something distant or obscure; to discern
2. To discover by observation; to detect
I've tried to write this entry a couple times now and I keep having trouble because it's confusing. This word with the definition "to see, discern" entered the language around 1300, probably from Old French descrier. The definition "to proclaim" is attested to the mid-1300's and also came from Old French descrier.
Where the problem lies is in the history of descrier. When associated with "to see, discern" it is supposedly from Latin describere (a precursor to describe), but when associated with "to proclaim" it is supposed to derive from Latin quiritare (a precursor of cry). This issue could, of course, be solved if I could find an online dictionnaire étymologique francais, but so far no such luck. Ah bon, c'est la vie!
Too add another twist to the line, the OED says descry is a variant of descrive, also derived from descrier.
Descrive (obsolete) verb;
1. To write down, inscribe; to write out, transcribe
2. To enroll
3. Describe
4. To draw, map out
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, January 3
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Nostrum
Nostrum \NOS-truhm\ , noun;
1. A medicine of secret composition and unproven or dubious effectiveness; a quack medicine
2. A usually questionable remedy or scheme; a cure-all
This word, with the meaning "quack medicine," dates to the 1600's and comes from Latin nostrum remedium or "our remedy." Nostrum is the neuter of noster ("our") from nos ("we") which derives from Proto-Indo-European *nos.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 2
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. A medicine of secret composition and unproven or dubious effectiveness; a quack medicine
2. A usually questionable remedy or scheme; a cure-all
This word, with the meaning "quack medicine," dates to the 1600's and comes from Latin nostrum remedium or "our remedy." Nostrum is the neuter of noster ("our") from nos ("we") which derives from Proto-Indo-European *nos.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, January 2
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary \plen-uh-puh-TEN-shee-air-ee\ or \plen-uh-puh-TEN-shuh-ree\ , adjective;
1. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, "plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers"
noun;
1. A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or diplomatic agent with full power to negotiate a treaty or to transact other business
This word dates from the 1640's and comes from Middle Latin plenipotentiarius ("having full power") which derives from Latin plenus + potentum ("full" + "powerful"). Potentum is the present participle of *potere ("be powerful") which comes from potis ("powerful, able, capable"). Plenus derives from Proto-Indo-European *ple- ("to be full").
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 1
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, "plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers"
noun;
1. A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or diplomatic agent with full power to negotiate a treaty or to transact other business
This word dates from the 1640's and comes from Middle Latin plenipotentiarius ("having full power") which derives from Latin plenus + potentum ("full" + "powerful"). Potentum is the present participle of *potere ("be powerful") which comes from potis ("powerful, able, capable"). Plenus derives from Proto-Indo-European *ple- ("to be full").
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, January 1
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)