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Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:05 am
by hotheat
Sedulous

Pronunciation: \SEJ-uh-luhs\

Funtion: adjective

1. Involving great care, effort, and persistence.

Etymology: From Latin se (without) + dolus (trickery, guile). Ultimately from the Indo-European root del- (to count or recount) that is also the source of tell, tale, talk, and Dutch taal (speech, language).

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:06 am
by hotheat
Foppery

Pronunciation: \ˈfä-p(ə-)rē\

Function: noun

1 : foolish character or action : folly
2 : the behavior or dress of a fop

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:53 am
by hotheat
Celerity

Pronunciation: \sə-ˈler-ə-tē, -ˈle-rə-\

Function: noun

1. rapidity of motion or action

Etymology: Middle English celerite, from Anglo-French, from Latin celeritat-, celeritas, from celer swift

Date: 15th century

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 6:25 am
by hotheat
Ratiocination

Pronunciation: /ˌræʃiˌɒsəˈneɪʃən, -ˌoʊsə-, ˌræti-/

Function: noun

1. the process of logical reasoning.

Etymology: 1520–30; < L ratiōcinātiōn- (s. of ratiōcinātiō ), equiv. to ratiōcināt ( us )

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:50 am
by hotheat
Sapphic


Pronunciation: /ˈsæf.ɪk/

Function: Adjective

1. Relating to the Greek poetess Sappho from Lesbos or her poetry.
2. Relating to lesbianism; lesbian

Etymology: From Ancient Greek Σαπφώ (Sapphō, “‘the Greek poet’”) + -ic.

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:50 pm
by hotheat
Vexillology


Pronunciation: \ˌvek-sə-ˈlä-lə-jē\

Function: noun


1. the study of flags

Etymology: Latin vexillum

Date: 1959

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:55 pm
by hotheat
Canorous


Pronunciation: /kəˈnɔrəs, -ˈnoʊr-/

Function: adjective

1. melodious; musical.

Etymology: 1640–50; < L canōrus, equiv. to canōr- (s. of canor song, equiv. to can ( ere ) to sing + -or ) + -us -ous

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 7:11 am
by hotheat
Frisson


Pronunciation: /friˈsõʊ̃; Fr. friˈsɔ̃/

Function: noun

1. a sudden, passing sensation of excitement; a shudder of emotion; thrill

Etymology: 1770–80; < F: shiver, shudder, OF friçons (pl.) < LL frictiōnem, acc. of frictiō shiver (taken as deriv. of frīgēre to be cold), L: massage, friction

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:10 am
by hotheat
Oscitant


Pronunciation: /ˈɒsɪtənt/

Function: adjective

1. yawning, as with drowsiness; gaping.
2. drowsy or inattentive.
3. dull, lazy, or negligent.

Etymology: 1615–25; < L ōscitant- (s. of ōscitāns ) (prp. of ōscitāre to gape, yawn), equiv. to ōs mouth + cit ( āre ) to put in motion) + -ant- -ant

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:40 am
by hotheat
Ogonek


Pronunciation: /ˈəʊgənɛk/ , /ˈoʊgənɛk/

Function: noun

1. (orthography): A hook-shaped diacritical mark attached underneath a vowel, typically to indicate nasalization, as in Ąą, Ęę, Įį, Ǫǫ or Ųų.



Etymology: From the Polish word ogonek (“‘little tail’”).