Word of the Day Thread 2008

[AYHJA]

Maelstrom

Pronunciation: \MAYL-struhm\

Function: Noun

1. A large, powerful, or destructive whirlpool.
2. Something resembling a maelstrom; a violent, disordered, or turbulent state of affairs.

Etymology: Maelstrom comes from obsolete Dutch maelstroom, from malen, "to grind, hence to whirl round," + stroom, "stream."

[namehunter]

Because I had to confirm my understanding of the option of the poll what might be the likely cause of the end of humanity:
entropy
en*tro*py|ˈentrəpē|
noun Physics
a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system. (Symbol: S)
• figurative lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder : a marketplace where entropy reigns supreme.
• (in information theory) a logarithmic measure of the rate of transfer of information in a particular message or language.

DERIVATIVES
entropic |enˈträpik| adjective
entropically |enˈträpik(ə)lē| adverb
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from en- 2 [inside] + Greek tropē ‘transformation.’

---------------Thesaurus----------
entropy
noun
if a new, conscientious government is not poised to step in, liberation may engender only entropy deterioration, degeneration, crumbling, decline, degradation, decomposition, breaking down, collapse; disorder, chaos.

[AYHJA]

Gimcrack

Pronunciation: \JIM-krak\

Function: Noun

1. A showy but useless or worthless object; a gewgaw.
2. Tastelessly showy; cheap; gaudy.

Etymology: The origin of gimcrack is uncertain. It is perhaps an alteration of Middle English gibecrake, "a slight or flimsy ornament."

[AYHJA]

Contrite

Pronunciation: \KON-tryt; kuhn-TRYT\

Function: Adjective

1. Deeply affected with grief and regret for having done wrong; penitent; as, "a contrite sinner."
2. Expressing or arising from contrition; as, "contrite words."

Etymology: Contrite derives from Latin conterere, "to rub away, to grind," hence "to obliterate, to abase," from con- + terere, "to rub, to rub away."

[AYHJA]

Sentient

Pronunciation: \SEN-shee-uhnt; -tee-; -shuhnt\

Function: Adjective

1. Capable of perceiving by the senses; conscious.
2. Experiencing sensation or feeling.

Etymology: Sentient comes from Latin sentiens, "feeling," from sentire, "to discern or perceive by the senses."

[AYHJA]

Umbrage

Pronunciation: \UHM-brij\

Function: Noun

1. Shade; shadow; hence, something that affords a shade, as a screen of trees or foliage.
2. a. A vague or indistinct indication or suggestion; a hint.
3. b. Reason for doubt; suspicion.
4. Suspicion of injury or wrong; offense; resentment.

Etymology: Umbrage is derived from Latin umbra, "shade."

[AYHJA]

Subfusc

Pronunciation: \sub-FUHSK\

Function: Adjective

1. Dark or dull in color; drab, dusky.

Etymology: Subfusc comes from Latin subfuscus, "brownish, dark," from sub-, "under" + fuscus, "dark-colored."

[AYHJA]

Lachrymose

Pronunciation: \LAK-ruh-mohs\

Function: Adjective

1. Generating or shedding tears; given to shedding tears; suffused with tears; tearful.
2. Causing or tending to cause tears.

Etymology: Lachrymose is from Latin lacrimosus, from lacrima,

[AYHJA]

Capacious

Pronunciation: \kuh-PAY-shuhs\

Function: Adjective

1. Able to contain much; roomy; spacious.

Etymology: Capacious is derived from Latin capax, capac-, "able to hold or contain."

[AYHJA]

Chthonic

Pronunciation: \THONE-ik\

Function: Adjective

1. Dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld

Etymology: Chthonic comes from khthón, the Greek word for earth.