Vertiginous \vur-TIJ-uh-nuhs\ , adjective;
1. Affected with vertigo; giddy; dizzy
2. Causing or tending to cause dizziness
3. Turning round; whirling; revolving
4. Inclined to change quickly or frequently; inconstant
This word dates to the 1600's from French vertigineux, which derives from Latin vertiginosus ("suffering from dizziness"). Vertiginosus comes from Latin vertigo (originally "a whirling or spinning movement," later "dizziness") from vertere ("to turn") which is, of course, the forebear of vertigo.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, May 28
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Usufruct
Usufruct \YOO-zoo-fruhkt\ or \YOO-soo-fruhkt\ or \YOOZ-yoo-fruhkt\ or \YOOS-yoo-fruhkt\, noun;
1. Roman and Civil Law: The right of enjoying all the advantages derivable from the use of something that belongs to another, as far as is compatible with the substance of the thing not being destroyed or injured
This word dates to the 1610's from Late Latin usufructus, which is an elision of usus et fructus ("use and enjoyment"). Usus means "use" and fructus literally means "fruit," but it actually conveys a sense of "enjoyment".
1. Roman and Civil Law: The right of enjoying all the advantages derivable from the use of something that belongs to another, as far as is compatible with the substance of the thing not being destroyed or injured
This word dates to the 1610's from Late Latin usufructus, which is an elision of usus et fructus ("use and enjoyment"). Usus means "use" and fructus literally means "fruit," but it actually conveys a sense of "enjoyment".
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Allege
Allege \uh-LEJ\ , verb;
1. To assert without proof
2. To declare with positiveness; affirm; assert
3. To declare before a court or elsewhere, as if under oath
This word dates to the 1300's and is taken from two French words. Anglo-French aleger provided the form, but Old French eslegier provided the definition: "aquit, clear of charges in a lawsuit." Eslegier derives from Latin ex- + litigare ("out of" + "bring suit"). Somewhere along the way it acquired the meaning of French alléguire, which comes from Latin allegare ("send for, the bring forth, name, produce in evidence") from ad- + legare ("to" + "to depute, send").
1. To assert without proof
2. To declare with positiveness; affirm; assert
3. To declare before a court or elsewhere, as if under oath
This word dates to the 1300's and is taken from two French words. Anglo-French aleger provided the form, but Old French eslegier provided the definition: "aquit, clear of charges in a lawsuit." Eslegier derives from Latin ex- + litigare ("out of" + "bring suit"). Somewhere along the way it acquired the meaning of French alléguire, which comes from Latin allegare ("send for, the bring forth, name, produce in evidence") from ad- + legare ("to" + "to depute, send").
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wretch
Wretch \rech\ , noun;
1. A deplorably unfortunate or unhappy person
2. A person of despicable or base character
The origin of wretch is Old English wrecca ("wretch, stranger, exile") from Proto-Germanic *wrakjan. Wrecca is related to Old English wreccan ("to drive out, punish"), which is the forebear of wreak. The meaning "vile, despicable person" developed in Old English as a reflection of the sorry state of an outcast.
1. A deplorably unfortunate or unhappy person
2. A person of despicable or base character
The origin of wretch is Old English wrecca ("wretch, stranger, exile") from Proto-Germanic *wrakjan. Wrecca is related to Old English wreccan ("to drive out, punish"), which is the forebear of wreak. The meaning "vile, despicable person" developed in Old English as a reflection of the sorry state of an outcast.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Prink
Prink \PRINGK\ , transitive verb;
1. To dress up; to deck for show
intransitive verb;
1. To dress or arrange oneself for show; to primp
2. To wink, give a wink, or blink
noun;
1. A person who takes great care over his or her appearance
2. An act of adjusting the appearance or making smart; a prinking
The Oxford English Dictionary says this word dates to around 1330 and is probably a variation of prank ("to dress in a bright, or ostentatious manner"). But, that seems problematic since no version of prank is attested before 1440. There's another prink that is a noun meaning "a blink or twinkling of the eye; a moment, an instant." It originated in Old English and it probably a variant of prick. Prick does appear to be an older word than prink because several Germanic languages have cognates or words of similar in form. How exactly a word meaning "to poke holes" turned into prink is open to interpretation, but there may have been some influence from pink or primp along the way.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, May 24
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To dress up; to deck for show
intransitive verb;
1. To dress or arrange oneself for show; to primp
2. To wink, give a wink, or blink
noun;
1. A person who takes great care over his or her appearance
2. An act of adjusting the appearance or making smart; a prinking
The Oxford English Dictionary says this word dates to around 1330 and is probably a variation of prank ("to dress in a bright, or ostentatious manner"). But, that seems problematic since no version of prank is attested before 1440. There's another prink that is a noun meaning "a blink or twinkling of the eye; a moment, an instant." It originated in Old English and it probably a variant of prick. Prick does appear to be an older word than prink because several Germanic languages have cognates or words of similar in form. How exactly a word meaning "to poke holes" turned into prink is open to interpretation, but there may have been some influence from pink or primp along the way.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Tuesday, May 24
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Monday, May 23, 2011
Witty
Witty \WIT-ee\ , adjective;
1. Possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression
2. Characterized by wit
3. British dialect: Intelligent; clever
The origin of witty is Old English wittig ("clever, wise") from wit + -y ("intellect" + "full of characterized by"). Old English wit is the forebear of the English noun wit, although the more common Old English form was gewit from Proto-Germanic *witjan. The Proto-Indo-European source was *woid-, *weid-, or *wid- which meant "to see" or metaphorically "to know." The verb wit comes from a slightly different but related Old English word, witan ("to know").
1. Possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression
2. Characterized by wit
3. British dialect: Intelligent; clever
The origin of witty is Old English wittig ("clever, wise") from wit + -y ("intellect" + "full of characterized by"). Old English wit is the forebear of the English noun wit, although the more common Old English form was gewit from Proto-Germanic *witjan. The Proto-Indo-European source was *woid-, *weid-, or *wid- which meant "to see" or metaphorically "to know." The verb wit comes from a slightly different but related Old English word, witan ("to know").
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Slaver
Slaver \SLAV-uhr\ or \SLAY-vuhr\ , intransitive verb;
1. To slobber; to drool
noun;
1. Saliva drooling from the mouth
This word dates to the early 14th century from Old Norse slafra ("to slaver") and it may be imitative in origin. Slobber is a little older (1400's) and is also of imitative origin, as are Frisian slobberje, Middle Late German slubberen, and Middle Dutch overslubberen, and more.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, May 22
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. To slobber; to drool
noun;
1. Saliva drooling from the mouth
This word dates to the early 14th century from Old Norse slafra ("to slaver") and it may be imitative in origin. Slobber is a little older (1400's) and is also of imitative origin, as are Frisian slobberje, Middle Late German slubberen, and Middle Dutch overslubberen, and more.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, May 22
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
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