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Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:51 pm
by hotheat
Eleemosynary


Pronunciation: /ˌɛlɪˈmɑːsənɛri/, /ˌɛlɪˈmɑːzənɛri/, /ˌɛliɪˈmɑːsənɛri/

Function: adjective

1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the distribution of charity;  

* 1991, Washington Post, October 27,
Amidst all this, the legal business, the acquiring of land, the construction of the Montgomery Block, Billings had generosity and time to support the founding of the University of California and a half dozen churches, schools, orphan asylums and other eleemosynary institutions.

2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; as, eleemosynary assistance.  

* 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book I ch i,
An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.

3. Supported by charity; as, eleemosynary poor.


Etymology: From Medieval Latin eleemosynarius (“‘alms dispenser’”), from Late Latin eleemosyna (“‘alms’”), from Ancient Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (eleēmosynē), “‘alms’”), from ἐλεέω (eleëō), “‘I have mercy’”), from ἔλεος (eleos), “‘pity’”).

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:20 am
by hotheat
Diffident


Function: Adjective


1. (archaic): Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
2. Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.


Etymology: Latin present participle of diffidere, "to mistrust"

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:35 am
by hotheat
Prolix


Pronunciation: /pɹoʊˈlɪks/

Function: Adjective


1. Tediously lengthy.

* 1843, "Bossi—Necrologia G. C. Leonardo Sismondi.", vol. LXXII, issue CXLIV, p. 333,
People who have blamed [Jean Charles Léonard de] Sismondi as unnecessarily prolix cannot have considered the crowd of details presented by the history of Italy.

2. Tending to use large or obscure words, which few understand.


Etymology: From Latin prōlixus (“‘courteous, favorable’”).

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 6:09 am
by hotheat
Propinquity


Pronunciation: /prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/

Function: Noun


1. Nearness or proximity.
2. Affiliation or similarity.


Etymology: From Old French propinquité or Latin propinquitas, from propinquus ‘neighbouring’ (from prope ‘near’).

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:25 pm
by hotheat
Bijou


Pronunciation: /biˈʒuː/, /bi"Zu:/

Function: Noun

1. jewel
2. a piece of jewelry, a trinket

Function: Adjective

1. (of a residence) small and elegant


Etymology: From French bijou

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 1:37 pm
by hotheat
Dulcet


Pronunciation : /ˈdʌl.sɪt/, /ˈdʌl.sət/


Funtion: Adjective

1. Sweet, especially when describing voice or tones; melodious.
2. Generally pleasing; agreeable.
3. (archaic) Sweet to the taste.

Etymology: From Latin dulcis (“‘sweet, pleasant’”).

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:37 pm
by hotheat
Apraxia


Pronunciation: /ә'præksıә/

Function: Noun

1. Total or partial loss of the ability to perform coordinated movements or manipulate objects in the absence of motor or sensory impairment; specifically, a disorder of motor planning.


Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἀπραξία (apraksia, “‘inaction’”).

WOTD, 16 July 2010

Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 2:07 pm
by AYHJA
Sacristy

Pronunciation: /ˈsækrɪsti/ [sak-ri-stee]

Function: Noun

1. An apartment in or a building connected with a church or a religious house, in which the sacred vessels, vestments, etc., are kept.

Etymology: 1400–50; late ME < ML sacristia vestry, equiv. to sacrist

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:25 am
by hotheat
Selenology


Pronunciation: /sɛliːˈnɒləʤɪ/, /sEli:"nQl@dZI/

Function: Noun

1. (astronomy) The scientific study of the Moon.

- (chiefly) The scientific study of the Moon’s movements in the heavens and the kinetic influences it has upon and it receives from other astronomical bodies
- (occasionally) The scientific study of the formation and composition of the Moon’s crust

Etymology: selen- (“‘moon’”) + -o- + -logy (“‘study’”)

Re: Word of the Day Thread

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:48 am
by hotheat
Algedonic


Pronunciation: /ælʤɪ'dɒnɪk/ /ˌal-jə-ˈdän-ik/

Function: Adjective

1. Pertaining to both pleasure and pain.

Etymology: From Ancient Greek ἄλγος (algos, “‘pain’”) + ἡδονή ‘pleasure’.