Word of the Week

E.A. School Libraries – Word of the Week

This page will show the Word of the Week brought to you by East Ayrshire School Librarians. Learn new words and use them in a sentence today!

WORD OF THE WEEK

Monday 27th February

anthropomorphic

Definition:
adjective

  • attributing human form of feelings to a god, animal or object.
  • having human characteristics.

Origins:
 From Greek anthropos.
(Collins English Dictionary)

Example:

  • “If you have kids, you are likely familiar with “Peppa Pig,” the British cartoon series that follows the adventures of an anthropomorphic pig named Peppa.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Monday 20th February

ataraxia or ataraxy

Definition:
noun

  • calmness or peace of mind; emotional tranquillity

Origins:
17th Century. From Greek : serenity, from ataraktos meaning undisturbed (and tarassein meaning to trouble)
(Collins English Dictionary)

Example:

  • “Zinedine Zidane’s aura and ataraxy with a ball on a football pitch is renowned throughout the world.” http://www.goal.com

Monday 13th February

mellifluous

Definition:
adjective

  • pleasingly smooth and musical to hear.

Origins:
From the Latin mel meaning honey + fleure meaning to flow.
 (Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

  • “I am a master of the mysteries of words, their meanings and music and mellifluous magic.” Frances Hardinge – Fly By Night
  •  “Liam Neeson’s mellifluous tones fit the role of the monster down to the ground.” A Monster Calls – film review by Gareth Jamieson   http://www.barry-today.co.uk

Monday 6th February

mendacious

[say men-day-shus]

Definition:
adjective

  • untruthful; telling lies

Origins:
From the Latin mendax meaning lying. (Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

Monday 7th December

extemporise 

Definition:
verb

  • to speak, produce or do something without advance preparation

Origins:
From a Latin phrase ex tempore meaning on the spur of the moment. (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Examples:

 

Monday 30th November 2015

conifer 

Definition:
noun

  • a tree bearing cones and evergreen needle-like or scale-like leaves e.g. a pine or cypress.
    (Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:
From Latin meaning “cone-bearing”.

Examples:

Monday 23rd November 2015

eponymous

Definition:
adjective

  • (of a person) being the person after whom a literary work, film, etc. is named
  • (of a literary work, film, etc.) named after its central character or creator
    (Collins English Dictionary)

Origins:
C19: from the Greek epōnumos – giving a significant name

Examples:

Monday 16th November 2015

finicky

Definition:
adjective

  • excessively particular, as in tastes or standards; fussy
  • full of trivial detail; overelaborate

Origins:
C19: from finical meaning too particular.
(Collins English Dictionary)

Examples:

Monday 9th November 2015

sesquipedalian

Definition:
adjective
1. tending to use very long words
2. (of words or expressions) long and ponderous; polysyllabic
noun
1. a polysyllabic word

Origins:
From Latin sēsquipedālis – of a foot and a half long. From sesqui meaning one and a half + pedālis meaning of the foot, from pēs foot. (Collins English Dictionary)

Examples:

Monday 2nd November 2015

syllable 

Definition:
noun

  • a part of a word that forms a unit when you say it. “Dog” has one syllable and “croc-o-dile” has three syllables.
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:
C14 via Old French from Latin syllaba, from Greek sullabē, from sullambanien to collect together, from sul + lambanein to take.
(Collins English Dictionary)

Examples:

  • Janice “Lokelani” Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele has won a battle to have her full name put on her driving licence. Her name is so long – containing 35 letters and 19 syllables – that it would not fit on the documentation.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24098120
  • Babies can hear syllables in the womb, says research… At just 28 weeks’ gestation, the babies appeared to discriminate between different syllables like “ga” and “ba” as well as male and female voices.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21572520

Monday 26th October 2015

verisimilitude

Definition:
noun

  • the appearance or semblance of truth or reality; quality of seeming true
  • something that merely seems to be true or real, such as a doubtful statement
    (Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:

  • C17 from Latin vērisimilitūdō, a word which came from verus meaning true and similis meaning like.
    (Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

 

Monday 19th October 2015

parity

Definition:
noun

  • the state of being equal or equivalent
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:

  • From the Latin word pāritās meaning equality, which came from pār meaning equal or on a level.
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Examples:

Monday 12th October 2015

oscillate

Definition:
verb

  • to move to and fro like a pendulum; to vibrate
  • to waver or vary
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:

  • From the Latin word oscillare meaning “to swing”
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Examples:

Monday 5th October 2015

carcinogen

[say car-sin-oh-jen]

Definition:
noun

  • a substance capable of causing cancer.
    (Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:
From the word carcinoma which came from the Greek karkinōma – from karkinos meaning crab. It was thought that the swollen veins around tumours made them resemble crabs. (www.oxforddictionaries.com)

Examples:

Monday 28th September 2015

churlish

Definition:
adjective
– bad tempered (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)
– rude or surly
– miserly
– of or relating to peasants
(Collins English Dictionary)

Origins:
14th Century English. A churl was a commoner, a fellow of low birth or rude manners. (www.etymonline.com)

Examples:
–“It would be churlish to knock anyone who has reached a half-century of goals for his country.”
www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

– Churlish Theatregoer Tries to Plug iPhone into Broadway set.   http://gawker.com/churlish-theatergoer-tries-to-plug-iphone-into-broadway-1716048433

Monday 21st September 2015

ephemeral

[say if-em-er-al]

Definition:
adjective
– lasting only a very short time.
– a short-lived organism, such as the mayfly.
– a plant that completes its life cycle in less than one year, usually less than six months.
(Collins English Dictionary)

Origins:
From the Greek word ephēmeros – lasting only a day.
(Collins English Dictionary)

Examples:
– Ephemeral messaging service Snapchat has settled over charges it deceived users when it promised their messages would disappear. www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27335255

– Capturing the ephemeral beauty of your garden on camera is hugely satisfying. www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gardening/2010/10/photography

Monday 14th September 2015

xenophobia

[say zen-o-foh-bee-a]

Definition:
noun

  • hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture. (Oxford English Dictionary)
    adjective xenophobic

Origins:
From the Greek xenos meaning foreigner
(Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Example:

Monday 7th September 2015

reverie


[say rev-er-ee]

Definition:
noun

  • A daydream; a state of daydreaming (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:

  • From the French rêver – to dream (Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

Monday 31st August 2015

frivolous 

Definition:
adjective

  • without a serious purpose; light-hearted when you should be serious (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:
From the Latin word frivolus meaning silly, empty, trifling worthless. (www.etymonline.com)

Examples:

 

Monday 24th August 2015

schadenfreude 

Definition:
noun

  • delight in another’s misfortune (Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:

  • German from schaden meaning harm + freude meaning joy. (Oxford English Dictionary)

Example:

  • Researchers in Germany say it is healthy to feel joy over other people’s misfortune…this type of feeling – Schadenfreude as it is called in German – is not only healthy but can give people valuable insights into their own failings. BBC News 18th November 1999 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/526277.stm

 

Monday 17th August 2015

incognito

[say in-kog-neet-oh]

Definition:
adverb, adjective

  • with your name or identity concealed.
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:

  • an Italian word from the Latin incognitus meaning unknown. (Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

  • For the next few years he lived incognito at the homes of various friends.
  • His coat was ripped, with stuffing coming out. He looked kind of like a teddy bear that had been run over by a truck. “Apollo?” I guessed…
    He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.”
    “A god named Fred?”
    From Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse – Rick Riordan

Monday 22nd June 2015

jiggery- pokery

Definition
noun
(informal, mainly British) dishonest or deceitful behaviour or business; trickery.
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/jiggery-pokery

Origins
probably alteration of Scots joukery-pawkery, from jouk to dodge, cheat + pawk trick, wile. First Known Use: circa 1892
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jiggery-pokery

Quote
“Jiggery pokery!” said Harry in a fierce voice. “Hocus pocus — squiggly wiggly —”
“MUUUUUUM!” howled Dudley, tripping over his feet as he dashed back toward the house. “MUUUUM! He’s doing you know what!”
– J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Monday 15th June 2015

vandal

Definition
noun
a person who deliberately causes damage or destruction to personal or public property.
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/vandal?showCookiePolicy=true

Origins
1660s, “willful destroyer of what is beautiful or venerable,” from Vandals, name of the Germanic tribe that sacked Rome in 455 under Genseric, from Latin Vandalus (plural Vandali), from the tribe’s name for itself (Old English Wendlas), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *wandljaz “wanderer.” The literal historical sense in English is recorded from 1550s.
www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=vandal&allowed_in_frame=0

Excerpt
Who would vandalize a doghouse? I ask.
“Cats?” Bee suggests.
Paula Stokes, The Art of Lainey

Monday 8th June 2015

shenanigans

Definition
plural noun (informal) roguishness; mischief; trickery
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/shenanigans

Origins
1855, of uncertain origin. Earliest records of it are in San Francisco and Sacramento, California, U.S. Suggestions include Spanish chanada, a shortened form of charranada “trick, deceit;” or, less likely, German Schenigelei, peddler’s argot for “work, craft,” or the related German slang verb schinäglen. Another guess centers on Irish sionnach “fox.”
www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=shenanigan

Example
The teacher knew there had been shananigans in the classroom when she found paper aeroplanes on the floor!

Monday 1st June 2015

gaberlunzie

Definition
noun
1. (Scottish, archaic (or literary) a wandering beggar
Also called: gaberlunzie-man
2. a pouch carried by Scottish beggars: a strolling beggar.
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gaberlunzie?showCookiePolicy=true

Origins
The word gaban is French for “a cloak with tight sleeves and a hood.” Lunzie is a diminutivo of laine (wool); so that gaberlunzie means “coarse woollen gown.” These bedesmen were also called blue-gowns (q.v.), from the colour of their cloaks. http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/gaberlunzie.html

Excerpt
“There are not perpetual snow and wolves at all in it!—except snow in winter, and—well—a little in summer just sometimes, and a ‘gaberlunzie’ or two stalking about here and there, if ye may call them dangerous.”  Thomas Hardy – “The Mayor of Casterbridge”

Monday 25th May 2015

furtive

Definition
adjective
characterized by stealth; sly and secretive
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/furtive

Origins
French or Latin; French furtif, from Latin furtivus, from furtum theft, from fur thief, from or akin to Greek phōr thief; akin to Greek pherein to carry.
First Known Use: 1612
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/furtive

 Excerpt
“So silent and furtive were his movements, like those of a trained bloodhound picking out a scent, that I could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law instead of exerting them in its defence.”

Dr. Watson’s Observation of Sherlock Holmes -The Sign of Four
http://sherlockholmesquotes.com/Dr.-John-Watson-Quotes.html

 

Monday 18th May 2015

carbuncle

Definition:
noun
1. an extensive skin eruption, similar to but larger than a boil, with several openings: caused by staphylococcal infection
2. a rounded gemstone, esp a garnet cut without facets
3. a dark reddish-greyish-brown colour
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/carbuncle

Origins:
early 13c., “fiery jewel,” from Old North French carbuncle (Old French charbocle, charboncle) “carbuncle-stone,” also “carbuncle, boil,” from Latin carbunculus “red gem,” also “red, inflamed spot,” literally “a little coal,” from carbo.   In English the word was applied to tumors from late 14c.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=carbuncle

Example:
Princle Charles describing the towering extension to the National Gallery.

“a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/5317802/The-Prince-of-Wales-on-architecture-his-10-monstrous-carbuncles.html

Monday 11th May 2015

pulchritude

[pul – krit – yood]

Definition:
noun
beauty
(Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:
From the Latin word pulcher meaning beautiful.
 (Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

  • In Vanilla Sky, Tom Cruise plays a “scarred, disfigured hero, tormenting himself with tragic loss of pulchritude.”
    (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/1786790.stm)
  • “…a lesson on how not to choose words. The ugly pulchritude sounds like the opposite of what it means”.
    Steven Pinker – The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century.

 

Monday 4th May 2015

multitudinous

Definition:
adjective
1. very numerous.
2. consisting of many individuals or elements
(Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:
From the Latin word multitude, from multus meaning many.
(Oxford English Dictionary)

Examples:

Monday 20th April 2015

repentant

Definition:
noun
1. remorse or contrition for one’s past actions or sins
2. an act or the process of being repentant; penitence
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/repentance

Origins:
From Old French repentir (11c.) + Vulgar Latin *penitire “to regret,” from Latin poenitire “make sorry,” from poena (see penal). http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=repent

Example:
“The librarian was most repentant she had forgotten to complete word of the week!”

Monday 30th March

ovoid

Definition:
adjective
(of a solid or a three dimensional surface) more or less egg-shaped.
(of a plane figure) oval.

noun
an ovoid body or surface

Origins:
From the Latin ovoides – from ovum meaning egg. 

Example:
The aubergine can also be ivory-coloured and ovoid, which almost certainly led people in some countries to name it the ‘eggplant’.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/aubergine

Monday 23rd March

skelp

Definition:
(Scottish) verb
To strike, hit, esp. with something flat, as the palm of the hand, ctc., to slap, smack, specif. to smack the bottom, to spank http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skelp_v1_n1_adv

(English) adjective
Skelping – very big or full

Noun
sheet or plate metal that has been curved and welded to form a tube http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/skelp

Origins:
C19: perhaps from Scottish Gaelic sgealb thin strip of wood http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/skelp

Example:
Hear me, auld Hangie, for a wee, An’ let poor, damned bodies bee; I’m sure sma’ pleasure it can gie, Ev’n to a deil, To skelp an’ scaud poor dogs like me, An’ hear us squeel!
Address to the Deil by Robert Burns
http://www.robertburns.org/works/83.shtml

Monday 16th March 2015

pellucid

Definition:
1. transparent or translucent
2. extremely clear in style and meaning; limpid http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pellucid

Origins:
“transparent or translucent”  – 1610s, from Latin pellucidus meaning
“transparent”
from pellucere “shine through” [per “through” (see per) + lucere “to shine” (see light)]
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=pellucid

Example:
“Her poetry has a pellucid simplicity that betrays none of the sweat that went into writing it.”
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pellucid

Monday 9th March 2015

robot

Definition:
noun
1. any automated machine programmed to perform specific mechanical functions in the manner of a human

2. (modifier) not controlled by man; automatic ⇒ a robot pilot

3. a person who works or behaves like a machine; automaton

4. (South Africa) a set of traffic lights

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/robot

Origins:
In 1921, Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots had its premier in Prague. He needed a name for the factory-produced humanoid workers of the story, and he chose an old Czech word for ‘forced labor’, ‘robota.’ And ‘robot’ was born.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-crystal/english-language-history_b_1380908.html

Example
Issac Asimov’s 3 Laws of Robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/robotics.html

Monday 2nd March 2015

conjugate 

[konjoogayt]

Definition:
verb
1. give the different forms of (a verb)
2. (of bacteria or uni-cellular organisms) become temporarily united in order to exchange genetic material

adjective
1. joined or related as a pair
2. (of gametes) fused.

Oxford English Dictionary

Origin:
From the Latin conjugare meaning “yolk together”.

Example:
The verb “break” can be conjugated in several different ways:
I break
I am breaking
I have broken
I broke
I was breaking
I had broken
http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/verbs/what-is-a-conjugated-verb.html

Monday 23rd February 2015

crepuscular

[kripuskyoolar]

Definition:
resembling or relating to twilight.
(of animals) appearing or active in twilight.

Origins:
From the Latin crepusculum meaning “twilight”.

Example:
“The most quoted theory for crepuscular activity is that it offers an optimal balance: there is just enough light to see, but it is dark enough to lower of the odds of being caught and eaten”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9125000/9125617.stm

Monday 16th February 2015

podcast

[pod-kast, ‐kahst]

Definition:
noun
a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer:

“Download or subscribe to daily, one-hour podcasts of our radio show.”

verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
to record and upload as a podcast.

“He podcasts once a week on various topics.”

Origins
2000-05; (i)pod + (broad)cast

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/podcast

Example
“The Infinite Monkey Cage is a humorous science podcast presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince”

Monday 9th February 2015

trope

[trəʊp]

Definition:
noun
1. A figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression.
2. A significant or recurrent theme; a motif.

Origins:
Mid 16th century: via Latin from Greek tropos ‘turn, way, trope’, from trepein ‘to turn’. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/trope

Example:
“The Damsel in Distress trope disempowers female characters and robs them of the chance to be heroes in their own right”
Anita Sarkeesian
Damsel in Distress: Tropes vs Women in Video Games
http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2013/03/08/1690831/anita-sarkeesians-tropes-vs-women-series-is-upand-its-great/

Monday 2nd February 2015

meme

[mi:m]

Definition:
noun

1. An element of a culture or system of behavior passed from one individual to another by imitation or other non-genetic means. 2. An image, video, piece of text, etc., typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, often with slight variations.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/meme

Origins:
1970s: from Greek mimēma ‘that which is imitated’, on the pattern of gene.

Example:

GrumpyCat 1 13 of the best memes from 2013

Source:  GrumpyCat the cat that disapproves of everything – 13 of the best memes from 2013
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/12/27/13-of-the-best-memes-from-2013/7/

“An Internet meme is a hijacking of the original idea. Instead of mutating by random change and spreading by a form of Darwinian selection, Internet memes are altered deliberately by human creativity.” Richard Dawkins

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/20/richard-dawkins-memes

Monday 26th January 2015

allegiant

[a-li-jent]

Definitions:
noun
1. a person who displays constancy, duty, and faithfulness, especially to a ruling body

adjective
2. having or displaying constancy, duty, and faithfulness, especially to a ruling body

Origins:
C14: from Old French ligeance, from lige liege

Example:
“I shouldn’t be surprised that our elected officials want to indoctrinate the next flock of voters to be even more blindly allegiant.” http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/allegiant

Monday 19th January 2015

insurgent

[in-ser-jent]

Definitions:
adjective
1. rebellious or in revolt, as against a government in power or the civil authorities

noun
2. a person who takes part in an uprising or rebellion; insurrectionist

British English: Insurgents are people who are fighting against the government or army of their own country.

3. (international law) a person or group that rises in revolt against an established government or authority but whose conduct does not amount to belligerency

Origins:
C18: from Latin insurgēns rising upon or against, from insurgere to rise up, from surgere to rise

Example:
“By early yesterday, the insurgents had taken control of the country’s main military air base.”

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/insurgent

Monday 12th January 2015

divergent

[dai-ver-jent]

Definitions:
adjective
1. diverging or causing divergence
2. (of opinions, interests, etc) different
3. (mathematics) (of a series) having no limit; not convergent
4. (botany) (of plant organs) farther apart at their tops than at their bases

British English: Divergent things are different from each other.

Origins:
C17: from Medieval Latin dīvergere, from Latin di-2 + vergere to turn

Example:
“He said the talks had stalled in December after there were `divergent opinions and beliefs about fine print issues’.” Misc (1999)

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/divergent

Monday 5th January 2015

dystopia

[dis-teupia]

Definition:
noun
an imaginary place where everything is as bad as it can be

adjective or noun: dystopian

Origins:
C19 (coined by John Stuart Mill): from dys- (unfavourable or bad) + Utopia (any real or imaginary society, place, state, etc, considered to be perfect or ideal)

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dystopia

Example:

“The future is always a dystopia in movies” – Alex Cox, British Film Director

http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/alex-cox/cox_davies/

Monday 15th December 2014

venerable

[venerebl]

Definitions:
adjective
1.(esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc
2.(of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association
3.ancient ⇒ venerable tomes

Origins:
C15: from Latin venerābilis, from venerārī to venerate

Synonyms:
respected, august, sage, revered, honoured, wise, esteemed, reverenced

(http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/venerable)

Example:
“May we wish you all the best as you celebrate the venerable traditions of the festive season.”
In other words, Merry Christmas!

Monday 8th December 2014

tradition

[tre-disen]

Definitions:
noun
1. the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc, esp by word of mouth

2. the body of customs, thought, practices, etc, belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period

3. a specific custom or practice of long standing

Origins:
C14: from Latin trāditiō a handing down, surrender, from trādere to give up, transmit, from trans- + dāre to give

Synonyms:
customs, institution, ritual

Example:
“Certainly the long tradition of finalists beaten in one season returning to win the FA Cup a year later favours Arsenal.” Irish Times (2002)

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tradition

Monday 1st December 2014

photobomb

[feu-teu-bam]

Definition:
verb
1. (informal) to intrude into the background of a photograph without the subject’s knowledge
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/photobomb#trends_box

Origins:
First recorded mention is in a Google search from 2008.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/overshare-and-photobomb-top-lists-of-2014s-new-words-and-phrases-9813549.html

Example:
“Two years after her starring role in the London 2012 opening ceremony, the Queen has gone viral again after appearing to photobomb an Australian hockey player’s selfie.”
Jayde Taylor’s selfie, with a surprise in the background. Photograph: @_JaydeTaylor
www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/24/commonwealth-games-queen-photobombs-australian-selfie

Monday 24th November 2014

lexicon

Definition:
noun

  • the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge
  • a dictionary
    (Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

Origins:
From the Greek lexis meaning “word”. (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Examples:

Monday 17th November 2014

masquerade

Definition:
noun
a pretence
a ball at which the guests wear masks and other disguises

verb
to pretend to be something

(Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:
From the French mascarade meaning masked entertainment.
(http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/114657?rskey=fJgy7b&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid)

Examples:

Monday 10th November 2014

comrade

Definition:
noun

  • a soldier’s comrades are his fellow soldiers, especially in battle.
    (CollinsSchool Dictionary)
  • a companion who shares in your activities
    (Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:
From the Spanish camarada meaning “sharer of a billet”. A billet is a temporary lodging for soldiers, especially in a private house (CollinsSchool Dictionary).

Examples:

  • A ceremony has been held in Glasgow to commemorate [Pte Henry May] a World War One soldier who braved a hail of bullets to save his comrades. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29723330)
  • When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction. – Mark Twain

Monday 3rd November 2014

meticulous

Definition:
adjective

  • Very precise about details. Careful and thorough (Collins New English Dictionary).
  • A meticulous person does things very carefully with great attention to detail (Collins School Dictionary).

Origins:
From the Latin word meticulōsus meaning fearful.
(http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/117606?redirectedFrom=meticulous&#eid37111683)

Examples:

  • Putting on a school show requires months of meticulous planning.
  • The room was meticulously neat.

27th October 2014

doormat

Definition
noun
1. a mat, placed at the entrance to a building, for wiping dirt from shoes
2. (informal) a person who offers little resistance to ill-treatment by others
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/doormat?showCookiePolicy=true

Origins
As a metaphor applied to a person who upon whom others people ‘wipe their boots.’ First used in this sense by Charles Dickens in Great Expectations.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-dickson/words-you-didnt-know-were_b_5207761.html

Example
“She asked me and Joe whether we supposed she was doormats under our feet, and how we dared to use her so, and what company we thought she was graciously fit for?”
Charles Dickens.-Great Expectations, page 81.

20th October 2014

eyesore

Definition
noun
1. something very ugly

Origins
William Shakespeare coined this word for something that is offensive to the eye. In The Taming of the Shrew, Baptista demanded: “Doff this habit, shame to your estate, an eyesore to our solemn festival!”

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/17/authors-invented-words-used-every-day-cojones-meme-nerd

Example
The Architecture Foundation has commissioned artist Scott King to create a site-specific graphic installation on the hoardings around a Native Land and Grosvenor development on Hopton Street, near Tate Modern, as a part of the London Festival of Architecture 2008.

http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/24dash-media/image/2008/07/11/5704/380_Image_temporary_eyesore.jpg

13th October 2014

gremlin

Definition
noun

  1. an imaginary imp jokingly said to be responsible for malfunctions in machinery
  2. any mischievous troublemaker

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gremlin

Origins
“small imaginary creature blamed for mechanical failures,” oral use in R.A.F. aviators’ slang from Malta, Middle East and India said to date to 1923. First printed use perhaps in poem in journal “Aeroplane” April 10, 1929; certainly in use by 1941, and popularized in World War II and picked up by  . Of unknown origin. Speculations in Barnhart are a possible dialectal survival of Old English gremman “to anger, vex” + the -lin of goblin; or Irish gruaimin “bad-tempered little fellow

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=gremlin&searchmode=none

Example
…Pink ones will perch on your perspex,
And dance pirouettes on your prop,
There’s a spherical middle-aged Gremlin,
Who’ll spin on your stick like a top…
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.military/e_m2GT-1shI

6th October 2014

phalanx

Definition:
noun
Word forms:   plural phalanxes, phalanges
1. an ancient Greek and Macedonian battle formation of hoplites presenting long spears from behind a wall of overlapping shields

  1. any closely ranked unit or mass of people.
  2.  a number of people united for a common purpose
  3. (anatomy) any of the bones of the fingers or toes related djective phalangeal
  4. (botany)  a bundle of stamens, joined together by their stalks (filaments) or a form of vegetative spread in which the advance is on a broad front.
    http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/phalanx?showCookiePolicy=true

Origins
1550s, “line of battle in close ranks,” from Latin phalanx “compact body of heavily armed men in battle array,” or directly from Greek phalanx (genitive phalangos) “line of battle, battle array,” also “finger or toe bone,” originally “round piece of wood, trunk, log,” of unknown origin. Figurative sense of “number of persons banded together in a common cause” is attested from 1600 (compare Spanish Falangist, member of a fascist organization founded in 1933).http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=phalanx&searchmode=none

Example
See this image at:http://www.mmdtkw.org/CNAf0355Phalanx.jpg

29th September 2014

hazard

Definition
Noun
: A source of danger
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hazard

Origins
c.1300, from Old French hasard, hasart (12c.) “game of chance played with dice,” possibly from Spanish azar “an unfortunate card or throw at dice,” which is said to be from Arabic az-zahr (for al-zahr) “the die.” But this is doubtful because of the absence of zahr in classical Arabic dictionaries. Klein suggests Arabic yasara “he played at dice;” Arabic -s- regularly becomes Spanish -z-. The -d was added in French in confusion with the native suffix -ard. Sense evolved in French to “chances in gambling,” then “chances in life.” In English, sense of “chance of loss or harm, risk” first recorded 1540s.

Examples
Could your teenager’s bedroom be a health hazard?

22nd September 2014

scavenger

Definition
1.         chiefly British :  a person employed to remove dirt and refuse from streets

2          :  one that scavenges: as
                a :  a garbage collector
                b :  a junk collector
c :  a chemically active substance acting to make innocuous or remove an undesirable substance

3          :  an organism that typically feeds on refuse or carrion
[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scavenger]

Origins
1540s, originally “person hired to remove refuse from streets,” from Middle English scawageour (late 14c.), London official in charge of collecting tax on goods sold by foreign merchants, from Anglo-French scawager, from scawage “toll or duty on goods offered for sale in one’s precinct” (c.1400), from Old North French escauwage “inspection,” from a Germanic source (compare Old High German scouwon, Old English sceawian “to look at, inspect;”
[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=scavenger&searchmode=none]

Example
Cockroaches are scavengers that eat all kinds of materials including paper, clothing and dead animals and plants. [http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep11a.htm]

 

15th September 2014

referendum

[refe-ren-dum]

Definitions
noun

  1. A vote on a particular question by all the people of a country[1]
  2. A poll of the members of a club, union or other group to determine their views on some matter
  3. A diplomatic official’s note to his government requesting instructions

Origins:
19th Century, from Latin referens, from referre (to refer)[2]

Example:
“On 18 September, voters in Scotland will be asked in a referendum whether they want the nation to become independent from the rest of the United Kingdom.”[3]

[1] Delahunty, A. and McDonald, An. (2002) Oxford School Dictionary, 3rd, , Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press
[2] Black, D et al. (2009) Collins English Dictionary, 10th, , Bishopbriggs: HarperCollins
[3] BBC News (2014) Scottish independence: What’s going on in Scotland?, [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26550736 [Accessed 11th September 2014].

8th September 2014

quarantine

[quar·an·tine]

 Definition
noun
: the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading
: the situation of being kept away from others to prevent a disease from spreading
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarantine

Origins
1520s – period of 40 days in which a widow has the right to remain in her dead husband’s house.  Earlier quarentyne (15c.), “desert in which Christ fasted for 40 days,” from Latin quadraginta “forty,” related to quattuor “four.

Sense of “period a ship suspected of carrying disease is kept in isolation” is 1660s,  from Italian quaragtina giorni, literally “space of forty days.”  So called from the Venetian custom of keeping ships from plague-stricken countries waiting off it’s port for 40 days (first enforced 1377) to assure that no latent cases were aboard.  The extended sense of “any period of forced isolation” is from the 1670s.http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=quarantine&searchmode=none

Example
Patients were quarantined in the CityHospital in the Aberdeen typhoid epidemic in 1964. http://aberdeenvoice.com/2014/05/1964-aberdeen-typhoid-epidemic-part-one/

1st Setepmber 2014

heebie-jeebies

Definition
Noun. A state of nervous fear or anxiety.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/heebie-jeebies

Example
“I had the heebie-jeebies when I spotted the large spider in my bath.”

 Origins
Invented by Billy De Beck, a famous American comic strip artist of the 1920′s, in his popular “Barney Google” strip in 1923. …  Also a famous dance!”
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-in/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=000942;p=1

25th August 2014

serendipity

Definition
the ability or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things by accident; also :  an instance of this

Example
As they leapfrog from South Africa to Singapore in search of local delicacies, the authors prove again and again that serendipity is the traveler’s strongest ally: many of their most memorable meals issue from the hands of generous strangers … —Sarah Karnasiewicz, Saveur, June/July 2008
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serendipity 

Origins
1754: coined by Horace Walpole, suggested by The Three Princes of Serendip, the title of a fairy tale in which the heroes ‘were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of’.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/serendipity

“It was once when I read a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of: for instance, one of them discovered that a camel blind of the right eye had traveled the same road lately, because the grass was eaten only on the left side, where it was worse than on the right—now do you understand serendipity?” 

16th June 2014

polymath

pol-ee-math

NOUN
A person of wide knowledge and learning.

EXAMPLE
I discovered that my English professor was a polymath, having a great deal of knowledge about science, history and mathematics.

ORIGIN
From Greek polymathes, having learned much, knowing much, from polys“much” + root of manthanein “to learn.

2nd June 2014

benign

[bih-nahyn]

ADJECTIVE
Having a kindly nature.
Showing gentleness or kindness.
Non-malignant e.g. a benign tumour.

EXAMPLE
Uncle John was much-loved by everyone because of his benign attitude to his unruly nephews and nieces.

ORIGIN
Early 14th century from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus “kindly, kindhearted, friendly, generous”.

 

28th  April 2014

punitive

 [pyoonetiv]

Adjective:

  1. Relating to, done as, or imposed as a punishment
  2. Causing great difficulty or hardship

Synonyms:
Penal, disciplinary, corrective, retaliatory,  revengeful, punishing, harsh.

Origins:
Early 17C from Latin punire – to punish

Example:
The ruler was in a punitive mood, so all of the subjects were charged double taxes.
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/punitive#ixzz2wDie5tmo

22nd April 2014

munitions

[myoo nish’n]

Plural noun:
Military supplies such as weapons and ammunition

Synonyms:
Ammunition, weapons, arms, materiel, stores, supplies, equipment, gear

Origins:
Early 16C from Latin munire – fortify

Example:
“Since it is likely that these two groups will share munitions, Washington will be permitting advanced weaponry to be handed over to its deadliest enemy.” – Patrick Cockburn Al-Qa’ida: the second Act. I newpaper 17thMarch 2014

 31st March 2014

coruscating

 [cora-skeit-ing]

Verb:
Gleaming, sparkling or flashing with light

Adjective:
Showing great brilliance, virtuosity or wit

Origins:
C18: from Latin coruscāre to flash, vibrate

Example:
“The sunlight coruscating on the surface of the water began to lock her gaze in a grip of fascination.” – Stewart, Michael Compulsion

24th March 2014

tardis

 [tar-dis]

Noun:

1. a building or container that is larger inside than it appears to be from outside.

2. a time machine

Origins:

TARDIS (acronym) <Time And Relative Dimension (or Dimensions) InSpace), the name in the science-fiction BBC television series Doctor Who(first broadcast in 1963) of a time machine outwardly resembling a police telephone box, yet inwardly much larger.

Example:

“It was a Tardis of a house. Much bigger inside than it looked from the outside, thanks to a large extension that had been added on the back.”  Diane Lazarus,  Mixed Blessings

17th March 2014

perfidious

 [pe-fidies]

Adjective:

guilty, treacherous, or faithless; deceitful

Synonyms:

treacherous, dishonest, false, corrupt, unfaithful, two-faced, disloyal, deceitful, faithless, untrustworthy, double-dealing, traitorous

 Origins:

1590s, from Latin perfidiosus “treacherous”

Example:

“He took it down, and moved a pace or two towards the door of the perfidious Stranger’s room.”

The Cricket on the Hearth, Charles Dickens

10th March 2014

skeuomorph

 [SKYOO-uh-morf]

Noun:

a functional item redesigned as something decorative 1

 

“A design feature copied from a similar artifact in another material, even when not functionally necessary. For example, the click sound of a shutter in an analog camera that is now reproduced in a digital camera by playing a sound clip.”2

Origins:

From Greek skeuos (vessel, implement) + -morph (form).2

Example:

“The podcast app recently lost its reel-to-reel tape deck look, a reference which would have been lost on many younger smartphone users. Not everyone will be pleased with the decision though, and some regret the decline of the skeuomorph.”3 BBC News Website, 2013

3rd March 2014

mogul

 [meu-gel]

1. Noun:

A mound of hard snow on a ski slope

Origins:

C20th, perhaps from South German dialect Mugel or Norwegian mugje, “a heap, a mound”

Example:

“Canada’s Alex Bilodeau became the first freestyle skiing multiple-Olympic champion with a dominant moguls triumph ahead of rival Mikael Kingsbury.” BBC Sport, 2014

2. Noun:

An important or powerful person, especially in the film or media industry

Origins:

C18th, from a dynasty of Indian emperors (Moguls)

Example: “the pop mogul, Simon Cowell”

24thFebruary 2014

empathize (also –ise)

[em-puh-thahyz]

VERB

To experience empathy.  Empathy (noun) means to identify with the thoughts and feeling of others.

ORIGIN

Mid-nineteenth century. From empathy (noun). From German Einfühling (from ein “in” + Fühling “feeling.”

EXAMPLE

Her ability to empathize with children made her an excellent teacher.

17th February 2014

spinster

[spin-ster]

NOUN 

A woman who has never been married.  Often used in a derogatory sense.

EXAMPLE

Anne was upset when she overheard a man describe her as, “that old spinster who lives in the big house at the end of the street.”

ORIGIN

Mid 14th century, “female spinner of thread,” from Middle Englishspinnen + stere.  Unmarried women were supposed to occupy themselves with spinning.

Monday 11th February 2014

bachelor

[batch–uh-ler]

NOUN

A man who has never been married.   A confirmed bachelor is a man who will never marry.

ORIGIN

C1300 “Young man;” also “youthful knight, novice in arms,” from Old French bacheler (11th century).

 EXAMPLE

When William fell in love with Natalie he knew that he was no longer happy to be a bachelor; he wanted to be a married man.

Monday 3rd February 2014

octogenarian

[ok-tuh-juh–nair-ee-uh n]

Noun

Someone who is from eighty to eighty-nine  years old.

Origin

From French octogénaire meaning “aged 80”.

Example

My eighty-four-year-old grandmother has joined a lunchtime club where she has made friends with other octogenarians.

 

Monday 27th January

indelible

[in-del-ih-bL]

Adjective

  1. impossible to rub out or remove
  2. making indelible marks (indelible ink)

(1. Oxford English Dictionary for Schools. 2. Collins English Dictionary)

Origins:

From the Latin indēlēbilis meaning indestructable.

in + the Latin delēre to destroy or delete.

Example:

The old lady had many indelible memories from her childhood.

 

Monday 20th January

selfie

[selfi]

Noun (informal)

  1. a photograph that one has taken oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/selfie).

Origins:
Early 21st century: self  “a person as an individual” + ie

Example:

Occasional selfies are acceptable, but posting a new picture of yourself every day isn’t necessary.

Monday 13th January

diaphanous

[dy-af-an-us]

Adjective

  • Permitting the free passage of light and vision; perfectly transparent(OED Online)
  • diaphanous fabric is thin, light and almost transparent(Oxford English Dictionary for Schools)

Origins:

From Greek phainein “to show”

(http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/127012?rskey=dkgZqj&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid)

Example:

The insect had beautifully diaphanous wings.

Monday 6th January

nightmare

[nyt-mair]

Noun

  1. a frightening dream
  2. an unpleasant experience
  3. a person, thing or situation that is very difficult or frustrating to deal with

Origins:

1300s. Night the dark hours between sunset and sunrise + marebelieved to be an evil female spirit or monster that settled on a person or animal to cause a feeling of “suffocation or great distress during sleep”.
http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/127012?rskey=dkgZqj&result=1&isAdvanced=false#eid

Example:
Getting up in the morning was a nightmare for John.

16th December 2013

anticipate

(ant-issi-payt)

verb
Meaning:
– expect; look forward to
– also foresee; regard as probable; deal with or use before the proper time.

Origin:
From Latin anticipare = to take before.

Example:
Many children anticipate Christmas before the clock strikes midnight.

9th December 2013

paraphernalia

(par-raf-fan-ale-yah)

Part of speech: noun

Meaning:
miscellaneous belongings; items of equipment; accessories.

(Original meaning: property owned by a married woman).

Origin:
From Latin parapherna= personal property of a married woman.

Example:
When her mother told her to tidy up the rubbish in her bedroom her daughter replied, ‘It isn’t rubbish it’s my paraphernalia’.

2nd December 2013

 

obsequious

ob-seek-wee-us

Part of speech: adjective

Meaning:
respectful in an excessive or sickening way; also servilely obedient or attentive

Origin:
Middle English from Latin obsequiosus = compliance.

Example:
In hoping to get a good mark for his essay the pupil behaved in an obsequious manner towards his teacher who was not at all impressed.

25th November 2013

cantankerous

kan-tang-ker-uh s

Definition:
adjective
bad-tempered, argumentative, uncooperative, stubborn

Origins:
Probably from Middle English contakour “troublemaker”.

EXAMPLE
Clare was a gentle, sweet-natured woman yet she married a cantankerous man.

18th November 2013

archipelago

ahr-kuh–pel–uh-goh

 NOUN
– a large group or chain of islands
–  any large body of water with many islands
– the Aegean Sea  (archipelago should have a capital ‘A’ in this instance.)

 PLURAL
archipelagos or archipelagoes

ORIGIN
Italian arcipelago “the Aegean Sea.”  From Greek archi- chief, andpelagos sea

 EXAMPLE:
The area of the Philippines worse affected by Typhoon Haiyan is an archipelago, making it very difficult for aid to reach the people who need it most.

  11th November 2013

Schadenfreude

[shahd-n-froi-duh]

NOUN:
Pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.

ORIGIN:
German, from Schaden “harm” and Freude “joy”.

EXAMPLE:
Ella felt the thrill of Schadenfreude when Amy, the girl who frequently bullied her, fell and ripped her expensive new trousers.

 

4th November 2013

reputation

[rep–yuh-tey-shuh n]

 NOUN:
The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.

EXAMPLE:  His good reputation was spoiled by an accusation of theft.

 A widespread belief that someone or something has a particular characteristic.

 EXAMPLE:  Her knowledge of antique furniture earned her a reputation as an expert.

ORIGINS
From Latin reputation(n-), from reputare “think over.”

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-90)

Friday 25th October

        doppelgänger        

 [da-pel-gan-er]

Noun

(legend) a ghostly duplicate of a living person [Collins English Dictionary]

Origins:
1830, from German Doppelgänger, literally “double-goer,” originally with a ghostly sense.   [Online Etymology Dictionary]

Example:
“to get to work I used to walk up a long narrow flight of steps, and on dark winter evenings when I would be coming home from work, sometimes the fog would drift in from the river and I could see nothing, in front of me, or behind me. Just the fog. And then I would hear footsteps coming down those steps and I would frighten the life out of myself thinking of the scariest thing I could imagine coming out of that fog.  I never had any doubt what that something would be. Another Me. and of course throughout the world myths and legends abound about doubles, doppelgangers, wafts. Your own double, your other self without a soul.”   [http://catherinemacphail.blogspot.co.uk]

14th October 2013

concurrent

 [kon-karent]

Adjective:

  1. taking place at the same time or in the same location
  2. cooperating
  3. meeting at, approaching, or having a common point ⇒ concurrent lines
  4. having equal authority or jurisdiction
  5. in accordance or agreement; harmonious

Noun:
1. something joint or contributory; a concurrent circumstance or cause

Origins:
C14: from Old French concurrent or directly from Latin concurrentem (nominative concurrens), present participle of concurrere, “to run together, assemble hurriedly; clash, fight”.

Example:
“It may be nine holes short of championship length, but the concurrent grazing by sheep and cattle can make play demanding.” – Times, Sunday Times (2002)

7th October 2013

flummoxed

 [flu-mokst]

Adjective
1.Perplexed, bewildered or baffled

Origins:
C19: origins unknown, probably from a forgotten British dialect with possible references found in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Cheshire and Sheffield.

The OED compares it to the words “flummocks to maul, mangle,flummock slovenly person, also hurry, bewilderment, flummock to make untidy, disorder, to confuse, bewilder. The formation seems to be onomatopoeic, expressive of the notion of throwing down roughly and untidily.”

 

Example:
“Juventus couldn’t cope in midfield, they were completely flummoxed.” Times, Sunday Times(2002)

26th August 2013

hypothetical

 Adjective: based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence

Everyone who has ever taken a science class knows the word “hypothesis,” which means an idea, or a guess, that you are going to test through an experiment. A hypothetical is related to that. It means something based on an informed guess.

Hypotheticals are fun.

There are people in the Pentagon whose jobs are to consider all kinds of hypotheticals – What if Luxembourg armed itself with nuclear weapons?  What if France developed the ability to pelt Switzerland with cannons firing cheese? (Source: www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/hypothetical)

Example hypothetical question: If a guy you knew was cheating on a girl you knew, and you knew, would you try to tell her by asking a hypothetical question? (Source:www.nickandzuzu.com/2001/05/hypothetical)

20th August 2013

random

Definition

Noun
1a     great speed or force in riding or running, an impetuous rush
b       a  haphazard or aimless course

2       the range of a piece of a gun

Adjective
1.      Not sent or guided in a special direction; having no definite aim or purpose

2.    Statistics: Involving equal chances for each of the actual or hypothetical members of a population.

Origins
From Old French randon great speed

Excerpt
“The suitcase into which he had thrown an almost random selection of clothes.” P Barker

From:  Shorter Oxford English dictionary. 5th ed. 2002.

14th June 2013

intolerable

Definition

adj
1.      more than can be tolerated or endured; insufferable

2.      Informal extremely irritating or annoying

          intolerability , intolerableness n

          intolerably  adv

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/intolerable

Origins
Late 14th Century, from the Latin intolerabilis “that cannot bear, that cannot be borne.”  The opposite of tolerabilis “hat may be endured,” from tolerare “to tolerate”

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=intolerable

Example
The librarian found it intolerable that the book had been returned 6 months late.

Quote
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” – Jane Austen

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/books

7th June 2013

pernicious

[per·ni·cious]

adjective
1. a. Tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly: a pernicious virus.
b. Causing great harm; destructive: pernicious rumors.
2.                Archaic Evil; wicked.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pernicious

Origins
Evident in the early 15th century from Middle French pernicious (Coming from the 13th  pernicieux.  Which in turn came from the latin pernicoys meaning destructive and from pernicies meaning destruction, death or ruin  http://etymonline.com/?term=pernicious

Example
Television has a pernicious effect on teenagers today.

Quote
“One of the most pernicious effects of haste is obscurity” – Samuel Johnson

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/pernicious/

27th May 2013

spoonerism

Noun

  1. an expression in which the initial letters of two words are accidentally swapped, e.g. by saying the town drain instead of thedown train.

Origins:
Named after the Reverend William Spooner (1844 – 1930), who often made slips of this kind.

(spoonerism Oxford English Dictionary for Schools 2006, 751)

Example:

“We will have the hags flung out!”

“We will have the flags hung out!”

20th May  2013

dwindle

Verb

1. to become smaller and smaller;  to shrink, waste away, decline.

Origins:
From the Old English dwinen – to waste or pine away, 

dwindle is one of the many words in the English language invented by William Shakespeare. Dwindle originated in 1598 in Shakespeare’sHenry IV part I. It also appears in Macbeth.

(http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/58779?rskey=jfkg0g&result=2&isAdvanced=false#eid)

Example:
“Bardolph, am I not fallen away vilely since this last

action? Do I not bate? Do I not dwindle?”

(Henry IV part I, act 3 scene 3 lines 1-2) 

13th May  2013

geocache

[jee – oh – cash]

Noun

1. a container, typically holding a number of items, hidden at a specific location; an item hidden this way.

Origins:
Geocaching is a type of outdoor treasure hunt. Players around the world locate hidden items using GPS (Global Positioning System). The term geocache was coined by Matt Stum on the “GPS Stash Hunt” mailing list in the year 2000. It comes from the prefix geo – the Earth and the wordcache – a place where information is stored.

(www.geocaching.com/about/history.aspx)

Example:
“Each geocache is filled with little trinkets, and a log book where you record who you are and when you found it” (Ottawa Citizen 16th Feb 2011).

6th May 2013

voracious

[vor-ay-shus]

Adjective

1. a) of animals: eating with greediness; devouring food in large quantities; gluttonous, ravenous.

b) of persons: excessively greedy or eager in some desire or pursuit.

(Oxford English Dictionary Online http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/224664?redirectedFrom=voracious#eid)

Origins:
From the Latin vorāre – to devour .

Example:
“There are several voracious readers in the book club,” said the librarian.

19th April 2013

senioritis 

(Noun)
A supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or university, esp. characterized by a decline in motivation or performance

(Origins)
US. humorous.

Example:
Sixth years be warned, trying to balance extracurricular activities, a social life, University admission and perhaps a part-time job can lead to a severe case of senioritis!

28th March 2013

stupendous

[stu-pen-des]

Adjective 

  1. Amazing, tremendous, astounding or wonderful

Origins:
C17: from Latin stupēre to be amazed

Example:
May you all have a stupendous Easter holiday!

22nd March 2013

perspicacity

[per-spi-kas-ity]

Noun

  1. (formal) perceptiveness (observant)

Adjective – Perspicacious

  1. quick to notice or understand things
  2. acutely perceptive or discerning
  3.  (archaic) having keen eyesight

Origins:
C17: from Latin perspicax, from perspicere to look at closely; seeperspective

Example:
“The artist René Magritte illustrated the quality in his 1936 paintingPerspicacity. The picture shows an artist at work who studies his subject intently: it is an egg. But the painting which he is creating is not of an egg; it is an adult bird in flight.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspicacity#cite_note-7

 15th March  2013

ubiquitous

[yu-bi-kwi-tes]

Adjective

  1. having or seeming to have the ability to be everywhere at once; omnipresent

Origins:
C14: from Latin ubīque everywhere, from ubī where

Example:
I hear the ubiquitous One Direction reached the Number One spot with their single for Comic Relief.

  8th March 2013

haver or haiver

[hay-ver]

Verb

  1. To talk foolishly or speak nonsense
  2. To make a fuss about nothing , make a pretence of being busy

Noun

  1. Nonsense, a person who talks nonsense

Origins:
The earliest quotation of haver in the Dictionary of the Scots Language dates from 1776 and appears in the Weekly Magazine or Edinburgh Amusement. http://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/words/1047

Example:
“And if I haver, hey, I know I’m gonna be

I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you”

The Proclaimers, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), 1988

 1st March 2013

helmer

[hel-ma]

Noun (informal)
A person who directs a film, television programme, etc.

Origins:
Helm (Verb – to guide with or as with a helm; to steer) + er (Suffix)

Example:
Helmer Ang Lee has just won his second Best Director Oscar for his film of the book Life of Pi.

22nd February 2013

abscond

[ab – skond]

(Verb)
To leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution.

Origins
Latin abscondere, to hide : abs-, ab-, away; see ab-1 + condere, to put

Example:
“Abscond. To ”move” in a mysterious way, commonly with the property of another”

 –Ambrose Bierce, Journalist

2nd November 2012

propaganda

[prop-uh-gan-duh]

(NOUN)

1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors etc

3.  the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an Organisation or movement.

4. Roman Catholic Church .  

a. a committee of cardinals, established in 1622 by Pope   Gregory XV, having supervision over foreign missions and the training of priests for these missions.

b.  a school (College of Propaganda) established by Pope Urban VIII for the education of priests for foreign missions.

(ORIGINS)
1710–20; < Neo-Latin, short for congregātiō dē propāgandā fidē  = congregation for propagating the faith

Example: “Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling?” – Bertrand Russell

25th October 2012

Samhain

[Sah-win]

(Noun)

  • 1.              A festival of the ancient Celts, held around November 1 to celebrate the beginning of winter.
  • 2.              Aday of celebration forWiccans and other pagans;alsocalled November Eve, Hallowe’en, Feast of Souls, Feast of the Dead, Day of the Dead

 Origins:
1885–90; < Irish; Old Irish Samain

Example
The Celts celebrated Hallowe’en as Samhain, the Feast of the Dead, when the deceased revisited the mortal world.

October 5th 2012

cherished

(Adjective)

1.  Clung to, especially when fulfillment is unlikely

2.  Treasured

3.   Highly valued, honoured, and respected

(Verb)

1.  To show great tenderness for; treasure

2.  to cling fondly to (a hope, idea, etc); nurse

(Origins)

C14: from Old French cherir, from cher dear, from Latin cārus

Example:
“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” – Roald Dahl,  Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

26th September 2012

susurration

[soo-suh-RAY-shun]

(Adjective)

A soft rustling sound; whisper; murmur 

(Origins)

17th century, from Latin susurrare to whisper

Example:

“‘Quiet!’ hissed Tiffany. ‘Can’t you hear that?’

The Feegles looked around.

‘Hear what?’ said Hamish.

‘It’s a susurration!’

It felt as though the turf was trembling. The sky looked as though Tiffany was inside a diamond. And there was a smell of snow.”       -The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

14th September 2012

vex

[VEKS]

(Verb)

1. To irritate; annoy; provoke.

2. To torment; trouble; distress; plague; worry

3. To discuss or debate (a subject, question, etc.) with vigor or at great length.

4. To disturb by motion; stir up; toss about.

5. To afflict with physical pain.

(Origin)

From the Latin vexāre; to shake, jolt, harass, annoy.

Example:

“Vexed sailors cursed the rain, for which poor shepherds prayed in vain.”

    Edmund Waller –  Poet and Politician 1606 – 1687

 

31st August 2012

stooge

[STOOJ]

(Noun)

1.       An entertainer who feeds lines to the main comedian and usually serves as the butt of his or her jokes.

2.       Any underling, assistant, or accomplice.

Origins:
1910–15, Americanism; origin uncertain

Example:
Sometimes I think the 6th years use me as an unintentional stooge in their antics.

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