Cool Word: gaffer
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 29, 1999
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gaffer [n. GAF-ur]
--
To Americans, a gaffer is a lighting technician on a movie or TV
set. To someone from England, a gaffer is an old man, a rustic (a
simple country person), or a boss, foreman, or supervisor. The
American meaning emerged from the British meanings.
The word originally appeared in the late 1500s, when it was a
respectful title for an old man. It was a combined contraction of
grandfather and godfather that evolved together with gammer, a
similar word for an old woman that was derived from grandmother and
godmother.
When gaffer began to be applied to the oldest man in a work crew, it
shifted to the sense of the foreman or boss. Americans extended the
word to apply to any professional workers with seniority, and the
movie industry narrowed the focus to just those on the lighting crew,
while other American usages disappeared.
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Cool Word: egregious
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 28, 1999 -- egregious [adj. ih-GREE-jus] -- Something that is egregious is so outstandingly bad that it's flagrant. Example: "The movie was marred by a series of flaws, including the egregious error of showing the boom mike hovering at the top of the screen." Here is a word that has reversed its meaning. Originally, it was used in a flattering sense to describe someone who stood out among peers for special accomplishment or talent. But through pejoration, a process in which a word's meaning worsens over time and becomes insulting, the word's sense reversed. The root of this word is Latin egregius (outstanding), a compound of the prefix ex- (out of) and grex (flock; herd). Here are more "flock" words: aggregate: gathered into a whole; to gather together segregate: to separate or isolate from a group congregate: come together into a crowd or assembly gregarious: seeking and enjoying the company of others Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Refill your existing inkjet or toner cartridge with our bulk inks and toners. Save 75% to 90%. Get 1 pint of ink for $21.95. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 158,467 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: potash
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 27, 1999
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potash [n. POT-ash]
--
Salts of potassium, including potassium carbonate, potassium
chloride, and potassium hydroxide, are collectively known as potash.
Potash occurs in veins and beds with halite (sodium chloride) all
around the world, and is an important industrial substance.
Originally, potassium carbonate was obtained by filtering water
through wood ashes and then boiling it in a large metal pot. In
early modern Dutch, the white material that was left behind was
called potasschen (pot ashes). It was used in soap making.
In 1807, the French chemist Sir Humphry Davy needed a name for the
light, silvery metal that he obtained from potash, so he called it
potassium.
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Cool Word: ragtime
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 26, 1999
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ragtime [adj., n. RAG-tym]
--
In the early years of the 20th century, a new form of music
emerged in the southern U.S. Ragtime was a happy combination of folk
tunes with African and Creole elements. Typically, there was a
complex main melody and a steady, accented accompaniment.
One of ragtime's most obvious features is the complex, syncopated
rhythms of the main melodies. The name of the musical style was
probably a reduction of "ragged time," a description of the
unconventional rhythm. A further reduction led to the noun for one
song: a rag.
Ragtime was a popular style before jazz music swept it into
obscurity. In the 1970s, it enjoyed a popular revival, spurred in
part by the use of Scott Joplin's piano rags in the movie "The Sting."
Today ragtime music has legions of devoted fans:
http://www.ragtimers.org/~ragtimers/
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Cool Word: liberty
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 25, 1999 -- liberty [n. LIB-ur-tee] -- Liberty is the condition of being free from restriction or control. It is the power and right to act as one wishes, without constraint, and without servitude or confinement. Example: "Upon arriving at the island, we were at liberty to explore any part of it, or relax at the main house." The Middle English liberte came through Old French from Latin libertas, from liber (free). The ancient root was leudh (to mount up, to grow), a word whose evolution into Latin liber is not well understood. >From liber came a number of "free" words, including these: liberate: to set free liberal: not limited by tradition or dogma; generous in portion libertine: one who acts without moral restraint; a freethinker deliver: to bring to a proper destination; to set free livery: uniform worn by male servants or delivery persons A Cool Fact about the Statue of Liberty: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/10/18.html Today's sponsor: Cybergold Click Here to Join Cybergold -- the Internet's premier Incentive program. Cybergold pays you REAL CASH to read ads, complete surveys and make purchases on the World Wide Web. Become a member and "Get Paid to Surf the Web" today. It's FREE! http://www.cybergold.com/pid/50021094_txt_001 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 159,540 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: gnomon
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 22, 1999
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gnomon [n. NO-mun]
--
The gnomon of a sundial is the part that sticks up and casts a shadow,
showing what time it is. More generally, a gnomon is any kind of
pointer that indicates a value by casting a shadow.
Another kind of gnomon is the shape left behind by removing a
parallelogram (diamond) from a larger parallelogram with which it
shares a corner. The two meanings are related because the shape of a
sundial gnomon is often like a diamond with a smaller diamond taken
out.
The word comes through Latin, from the Greek gignoskein (to know).
That root gave us many "knowing" words, including these:
gnosis: intuitive knowing of esoteric truths
agnostic: one who claims not to know
agnosia: inability to interpret sensory inputs (inability to know)
diagnosis: identification, interpretation, or description
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Cool Word: fore
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 15, 1999 -- fore [interj., adj. FOR] -- When you're golfing, it's wise to watch out when you hear somebody yell "Fore!" It means there's a golf ball headed your way. The adjective sense of this word describes something that is located up ahead or toward the front, as in the nautical opposites, fore and aft. In every case, the word is short for before. It's originally from the ancient root per, which led to a wide variety of words about distance, direction, importance, and temporal sequence. These words include for, far, first, forth, former, from, proton, furnish, approach, probe, prove, private, and prime. The golf warning came out of British military terminology. When troops were lined up for battle, the ranks would fire in sequence. When a line behind was to shoot, the commander would yell out "'ware before!." On hearing this, it was smart to kneel down if you were in front. Today's sponsor: The Beast in Me! http://www.beastinme.com Need a great gift idea? How about a cute, personalized and affordable work of art! Perfect for any animal lover: children, pet owners, baby gifts. I can make any name into any animal. You'll love it! Guaranteed. -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 155,557 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: bloviate
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 14, 1999
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bloviate [v. BLOW-vee-ayt]
--
To bloviate is to speak loudly, verbosely, and at great length,
without saying much. It's an American word that was used by (and to
describe) President Warren Harding, who was known for long, windy
speeches. To bloviate is to engage in bloviation [n. blow-vee-AY-
shun].
In the early nineteenth century, it was fashionable to create
"latinized" words by adding Latin endings to ordinary words, giving
them an enhanced sense of importance or formality. From blow (brag,
boast) was created bloviate, to describe the extended, self-important
speeches of certain political figures.
This word has gone in and out of fashion several times after mostly
vanishing for the first half of the twentieth century. It is not
found in most dictionaries, but is now heard again in the political
arena, where such a word may live for years to come.
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Cool Word: amalgam
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 13, 1999 -- amalgam [n. uh-MAL-gum] -- There are two kinds of amalgam. One is a metallic mixture of mercury or gallium with other metals. Although mercury is liquid at room temperature, amalgam is usually solid but soft. Amalgams are used as fillings for teeth. The other kind of amalgam is a combination of diverse elements, but usually not in a physical mixture. Example: "Flora's personality was an amalgam of strength, cheerful optimism, and patience." English borrowed this word from Old French amalgame, which came from Latin. The ultimate ancestor was probably Greek malagma (soft mass), a word that is pronounced as if one has a soft mass in the mouth. Another word from the same root is malleable. A Cool Fact about mercury: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/10.html A Cool Fact about gallium: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/10/13.html Today's sponsor: Cybergold "Click Here to Join Cybergold -- the Internet's premier incentive program. Cybergold pays you REAL CASH to read ads, complete surveys and make purchases on the World Wide Web. Become a member and "Get Paid to Surf the Web" today. It's FREE!" http://www.cybergold.com/pid/50021094_txt_001 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 154,269 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: apologia
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 12, 1999
--
apologia [n. AP-uh-LOH-gee-uh]
--
An apologia is a formal defense or justification of one's opinions,
position, or actions, almost always written. Example: "After
stepping down as CEO of the company, Mr. Green circulated a lengthy
apologia in which he explained his reasons for resigning."
An apologia is not the same as an apology, although the words are
closely related. The Greek root of both words was apologesthai (to
speak in one's defense), formed from the prefix apo- (away, off) and
logos (speech).
The word passed into Latin and French, then into English as apology,
whose meaning changed in the sixteenth century to include a sense of
regret and an admission of fault.
Apologia came directly from Latin in the 18th century with its modern
meaning. A related word is apologetics [n. uh-POL-uh-JET-iks], the
formal defense of a position or doctrine, especially a religion or
tradition.
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Cool Word: cattalo
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 11, 1999
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cattalo [n. KAT-ul-oh]
--
A cattalo (sometimes spelled catalo) is an animal produced by
cross-breeding the American bison (buffalo) and beef cattle. It's
also known as a beefalo. Most cattaloes are 3/8 bison and 5/8
cattle. The meat of a cattalo is usually leaner than that of a cow
and lower in cholesterol.
Like the animal it names, the word is a compound of cattle and
buffalo. There are many other interesting "cross-breed" words,
including liger (lion and tiger), pluot (plum and apricot), and
jackelope (a fictional cross between an antelope and a jackrabbit).
The first attempt at breeding cattalo was not very successful. In
the 1880s, Charles "Buffalo" Jones produced an ill-tempered animal
that seemed to combine the worst features of both species.
The first cattalo were not very nice:
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Cool Word: humectant
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 8, 1999
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humectant [n., adj. hyoo-MEK-tunt]
--
If something is a humectant, then it promotes retention of moisture.
Such a substance is a moistening agent. Example: "Among the finest
humectants for potting soil are the polymer hydrogels, which take up
water and keep it available for the roots of thirsty plants."
This word's Latin lineage traces back through humectare (to moisten)
and humectus (moist) to humere (to be moist). From the same root we
have humid (moist, usually of air), and humidity (dampness of air).
There is also the humidor [n. HYOO-mih-dor], a tight-lidded container
designed to preserve a moist interior environment, and the humidistat
[n. hyoo-MIH-dih-stat], a sensor and controller that maintains a set
level of humidity.
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Cool Word: such
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 7, 1999 -- such [adj., adv., pron. SUCH] -- This word has many fine shades of meaning. The clearest and most common sense is "of this kind," but it can also mean "to so extreme a degree," or "especially." As a pronoun, it has several subtly different meanings centering around "this one that is being indicated." Example (as an adjective): "Joe was a retired fisherman, one of many such people in his town." Like many short, common words, such has been with us for a very long time. The prehistoric Germanic root was a compound of *swa (so) and *lik- (form, body). From *swa we also have the modern word so, and from *lik- we have like. In Old English, the root evolved to swylc (so formed), which gradually changed to the modern form of such. Ancient words often have close cognates in related languages. In German, such is solch. It's zulk in Dutch, slik in Swedish, and slig in Danish. Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Refill your existing inkjet or toner cartridge with our bulk inks and toners. Save 75% to 90%. Get 1 pint of ink for $21.95. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 151,456 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: pun
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 6, 1999 -- pun [n. PUN] -- A pun is a witty play on words. Sometimes it is a story or sentence including a word that has two meanings, but most often a word is substituted for one that sounds similar, giving a funny or ironic twist to a sentence. In the 17th and 18th centuries in England, it was fashionable to create short one-syllable words from longer ones. One such word was mob, which was short for mobile. Another may have been pun, from pundigrion, a fancy name for a witty play on words. Pundigrion was probably inherited from Italian puntiglio (nice point; quibble), which also gave us punctilious [adj. pungk-TIL-ee-us] (meticulous; precisely proper). More recently, these new words have emerged from pun: punster: one who writes or utters puns punnology: the study of wordplay involving puns punnigram: a short witty poem or statement including a pun We resisted the temptation to include a pun. But if you must have them, here are more than you may ever want: http://www.punpunpun.com/ Today's sponsor: Zmedia http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk Simple... free... fun. Get daily emails on your favorite subjects, from horoscopes to humor, money to motivation. Visit: http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 150,911 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: colonel
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 5, 1999
--
colonel [n. KER-nul]
--
The military rank below brigadier general and above lieutenant
colonel is the colonel. In some U.S. states, the title of colonel
can also be awarded as a nonmilitary honor. The word's odd
pronunciation is a relic of its history.
The small, elite regiment at the head of an army was once known in
Italian as the "compagna colonella" (little column company). This
expression described the shape of a group of marching soldiers, like
a long, straight column on its side. The commander of such a group
was the colonella.
When the word migrated to French, it changed to coronel, which is the
form that originally entered English. The word's pronunciation then
became tighter, losing the second vowel. More recently, a more
authentically Italian spelling was adopted, but the word is still
pronounced KER-nul.
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Cool Word: alacrity
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 4, 1999
--
alacrity [n. uh-LAK-rih-tee]
--
This word usually appears in the phrase "with alacrity." If you act
with alacrity, then you are responding promptly and cheerfully.
Alacrity can also be readiness, willingness or eagerness. Example:
"When the prize committee sent me a mysterious note, I replied with
alacrity." Someone who acts with alacrity is alacritous [adj. uh-LAK-rih-tus].
Since the 15th century, alacrity has been cheerful responsiveness,
either physically or emotionally. It always carries a positive,
upbeat quality. The word is based on Latin alacritas (liveliness),
from alacer (lively).
A near-synonym is celerity [n. suh-LAIR-ih-tee], which carries the
sense of acting quickly but without the overtone of cheerfulness.
It's from Latin celer (swift). Other near-synonyms include dispatch,
expedition, hurry, and haste.
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Cool Word: ollie
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 1, 1999 -- ollie [n. OL-ee] -- If you are a skateboarder, you probably know what an ollie is. You crouch down, then suddenly push down hard behind the rear wheels, while lifting the front foot. The skateboard flies up off the ground, seemingly glued to your feet, and you and the board can jump over barriers like curbs, benches, or railings. The ollie is probably the best known modern skateboarding trick. It was invented in the late 1970s by Alan "Ollie" Gelfand, a Florida skateboarder. Modern skateboarding has generated many new words, including these: Caballerial: full turn on a ramp while riding fakie (after Steve Caballero) carve: to skate in a long arc fakie: riding with the board reversed (backwards) goofyfoot: riding with the left foot forward half pipe: U-shaped ramp for skateboarding tricks mongo-foot: pushing with the front foot nollie: an ollie started by pushing down on the front of the board Today's Cool Fact is about skateboard evolution: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/10/01.html Today's sponsor: Cybergold "Click Here to Join Cybergold -- the Internet's premier incentive program. Cybergold pays you REAL CASH to read ads, complete surveys and make purchases on the World Wide Web. Become a member and "Get Paid to Surf the Web" today. It's FREE!" http://www.cybergold.com/pid/50021094_txt_001 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 149,256 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: palliate
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 30, 1999
--
palliate [v. PAL-ee-ayt]
--
To palliate something is to reduce its intensity or violence. One can
palliate the effects of a disease, the heat of a fire, or the depth
of a depression. Another sense of the word is to cover for a mistake
by using excuses or apologies. Example: "After trying several
medications, Lily was finally able to palliate her pain with a
blended herb tea."
In ancient Greece and Rome, a pallium was a cloak. Later, it was a
white band worn by high religious officials to show their rank. In
the 15th century, the English adjective palliate (cloaked or
concealed) was joined by a verb sense (to conceal; to shelter).
Today, the verb form has shifted and the adjective is no longer used.
We also have the related words pall [n. POL] (cloth cover for a
coffin, obscuring layer of mist or smoke, gloomy atmosphere) and
palliative [adj. PAL-ee-uh-tiv] (relieving symptoms without effecting
a cure).
The pallium is still an important Catholic vestment:
http://www.ghgcorp.com/shetler/catholic/vestments/pallium.html
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Cool Word: susurrus
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 29, 1999
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susurrus [n. soo-SUR-us]
--
A soft, indistinct whispering sound might be described as a susurrus.
Example: "The gentle waves made a quiet susurrus among the gravel
cobbles." A word with exactly the same meaning is susurration [n.
soo-suh-RAY-shun].
This is an onomatopoetic word whose sound imitates the sound of what
it describes. The root was Latin susurrus (whisper), which was also
probably derived from a much older imitative word.
A rather uncommon variant is insusurration [n. in-SOO-suh-RAY-shun]
(whispering in the ear; insinuation). There are also two adjectives,
susurrant [soo-SUR-unt] and sussurous [soo-SUR-us], both of which
describe a susurrus.
We'd also like to suggest the verb susurrate [SOO-suh-rayt], which is
not listed in any of our dictionaries.
Onomatopoeia is a Cool Word:
http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1998/12/07.html
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Cool Word: irenic
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 28, 1999 -- irenic [adj. eye-REN-ik, eye-REEN-ik] -- If you are irenic, then you prefer peace, or you are a peacemaker. Example: "After months of bitter labor disputes, the compromise proposal was an unexpectedly irenic gesture from management." According to Greek mythology the seasons, the hours, and the order of nature were supervised by the Horae, the daughters of Zeus and Themis and the guardians of the gates of heaven. Among them was Eirene, the goddess of peace, whose name means peace. Eirene was the nurse of Demeter, the goddess of fertility. Eirene's name gave us irenic as well as irenics [n. eye-REN-iks], a term for the advocacy of unity among Christians. Also from Eirene is the modern name Irene, and a genus of Asian bluebirds named Irena. >From Eirene's Latin name of Pax we have peace, pacify, pacific, and appease. More about the Horae: http://hsa.brown.edu/~maicar/HORAE.html Today's sponsor: Cybergold "Click Here to Join Cybergold -- the Internet's premier incentive program. Cybergold pays you REAL CASH to read ads, complete surveys and make purchases on the World Wide Web. Become a member and "Get Paid to Surf the Web" today. It's FREE!" http://www.cybergold.com/pid/50021094_txt_001 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 148,042 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: diaphanous
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 27, 1999
--
diaphanous [adj. dy-AF-uh-nus]
--
If something is diaphanous, it is so delicate that it is transparent
or translucent, or it is airy, insubstantial, vague, or ethereal.
Example: "Sherri's wedding dress was an amazing confection of lace
and diaphanous gauze."
This is one of many words derived from the Greek phanein (to show).
With the prefix dia- (through), the word literally translates as
"through showing" or transparent.
The same root can combine with different prefixes. With epi- (over,
above, forth) we get epiphany [n. uh-PIF-uh-nee] (an intuitive or
divinely received insight). With theo- (god) we get theophany [n.
thee-OF-uh-nee] (manifestation of a god to a human being).
We suggest a new word, endophany [n. en-DOF-uh-nee] (an insight
arrived at through introspection or meditation), formed with the
prefix endo- (within).
Another Cool Word for something diaphanous is gossamer:
http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1999/08/03.html
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Cool Word: mofette
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 24, 1999
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mofette [n. moh-FET]
--
A hole in the ground from which gases emerge is a mofette. Usually,
the word refers to holes that release carbon dioxide, possibly
combined with smelly gases like hydrogen sulfide. The gas that
emerges from the hole is also called mofette. Mofettes typically
form in the last stages of volcanic action.
Most mofettes have a musty, dank, moldy smell. In Italian, there is
muffa (mold) and its diminutive, moffetta, which migrated into French
and then English to describe smelly gaseous exhalations. More
recently, the word was applied to the geological source of such gases.
The gases that emerge from a mofette might be described as mephitic
[adj. muh-FIT-ik] (poisonous; foul-smelling). Strangely, this
similar-sounding word is unrelated. It comes from the Latin mephitis
(poisonous gas emitted from the earth).
Today's Cool Fact is about volcanic gases:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/09/24.html
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Cool Word: marble
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 23, 1999
--
marble [n. MAR-bul]
--
Marble is a kind of mottled, banded rock, and a marble can also be a
small sphere, usually made out of glass. Children play games all
around the world using these hard, shiny spheres, and there are
special names like onionskin, popeye, and clambroth for various kinds
of marbles.
Two root words combined to form our modern word. The older root was
Greek marmaros (hard stone). A similar-sounding word was marmairein
(to shine), and through association the two words became combined,
passing into Latin as marmor, then into French as marbre (marble
stone).
Passing into English, the word changed to marble. In the 17th century
small, polished spheres for children's games were made at first out of
colorful marble stone. The new toys called marbles soon included
glass spheres, as well as other stones.
Today's Cool Fact is about making marbles:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/09/23.html
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Cool Word: commodious
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 22, 1999
--
commodious [adj. kuh-MOE-dee-us]
--
If something is commodious then it is comfortably spacious. Example:
"The new sleeper cars feature commodious cabins with private showers
and tables large enough for four to play cards."
The meaning of this word has changed somewhat from Middle English,
when something commodious was convenient, suitable, or handy. The
word is from Latin commodus (convenient), a compound of com-
(together) and modus (measure).
Other words from commodus include these:
commode: decorated cabinet; toilet stand; tall headdress for women
commodity: useful article of trade or commerce
incommode: disturb, cause to be inconvenienced
accommodate: do a favor; make suitable; allow for; adapt to
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Cool Word: eremite
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 21, 1999 -- eremite [n. AIR-uh-myt] -- An eremite is a hermit, one who withdraws from society and lives as a recluse, especially if that person withdraws for religious or spiritual reasons. Such a person is eremitic [adj. AIR-uh-MIT-ik] and is behaving eremitically [adv. AIR-uh-MIT-ik-lee]. Both eremite and hermit derive from the same root, Late Latin eremita (hermit), from Greek eremia (desert), which in turn came from eremos (solitary). Notice how the word's meaning evolved from aloneness to the desert (where one is often alone), then back to aloneness. More words from the same root: eremic [adj. ee-REM-ik]: relating to deserts or sandy areas eremophilia [n. AIR-uh-muh-FIL-ee-uh]: love of solitude eremophobia [n. AIR-uh-muh-FOE-bee-uh]: fear of being alone Today's sponsor: Zmedia http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk Simple... free... fun. Get daily emails on your favorite subjects, from horoscopes to humor, money to motivation. Visit: http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 145,395 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: artifice
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 20, 1999
--
artifice [n. AR-tuh-fis]
--
If someone displays artifice, they are either being cleverly
ingenious or cleverly devious. The two meanings shade into each
other, making this a tricky word. Example: "Harriet's sewing skills
were more artifice than actual talent, as customers discovered when
their shirts began to fall apart."
In its best sense, this word implies a kind of artful genius, but in
its worst sense, the person showing artifice is a complete fraud, who
would only fool a casual observer. Which is it? The context
(surrounding words and sentences) usually gives a clue to the
specific meaning.
This word came through Old French from Latin artificium
(craftsmanship), based on ars- (art) and -fex (maker). From the same
roots, an artificer [n. ar-TIF-ih-sur] is a skilled craftsman or a
deceptive trickster, depending on the context.
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Cool Word: ansible
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 17, 1999 -- ansible [n. AN-sih-bul] -- Although ansible does not appear in any dictionary we could find, the word is known to science fiction fans, especially readers of Ursula K. Le Guin, who invented it. An ansible is a device that allows instantaneous communication across interstellar distances of many light years -- something that violates the laws of physics as we know them today, but fits well in some science fiction tales. No one is sure how Le Guin came up with the word. It was apparently first used in her book "Rocannon's World," published in 1966. Since then it has appeared in other Le Guin books, and also in a book by Orson Scott Card. The ansible device, by other names or without a name, is now commonplace in science fiction, including the TV shows "Star Trek" and "Babylon 5." If such a wonderful device ever becomes a reality, we hope it will be called the ansible. Today's sponsor: The Daily Bargain http://www.TheDailyBargain.com SIGN UP FOR FREE! Every Monday through Friday TheDailyBargain.com highlights a new Internet sale, coupon, or other special. Sign up for our free newsletter today and have a new bargain emailed to you everyday! To get your Daily Bargain, click below! http://www.TheDailyBargain.com AOL: http://www.TheDailyBargain.com">Click -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 144,333 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: fresco
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 16, 1999 -- fresco [n. FRES-koh] -- Although most frescoes are murals, not all murals are frescoes. A fresco is a painting that was created by applying water-based pigments to freshly spread lime plaster, while a mural is a large painting made directly on a wall or ceiling. Fresco is also the art of creating frescoes. It's a very ancient art, the second oldest form of painting known (only cave painting is older). Michelangelo's beautiful paintings in the Sistine Chapel are frescoes. In Italian, fresco means fresh, like the plaster to which the paint is applied. If the plaster is on the dry side when it is painted, then the method is called "fresco secco" (dry fresco). If the plaster is brand new and still quite wet, then it's "buon fresco" (true fresco). The art of fresco is experiencing a modern revival: http://www.pbs.org/fresco/ Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Refill your existing inkjet or toner cartridge with our bulk inks and toners. Save 75% to 90%. Get 1 pint of ink for $21.95. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 144,087 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: nightmare
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 15, 1999 -- nightmare [n. NYT-mair] -- A nightmare is a dream that arouses feelings of intense fear or horror, or it can be any experience that is intensely distressing. Example: "The traffic today was a real nightmare." A nightmare used to be a creature, but it was nothing like the female horse called a mare. In Old English, a maere was an incubus or night- hag, a kind of evil goblin that came at night and sat on the chest of a sleeper. The maere would press down with its weight, making it difficult to breathe, and bad dreams would come. In French, the word is cauchemar, where the first half is derived from caucher (to press). In the mid-16th century, the old superstitions began to fade. Today the frightening dream is the nightmare, and the evil incubus has been mostly forgotten. Today's sponsor: CDNOW http://www.cdnow.com/from=med:n:tfs:rc4t:t0086 $10 off for new customers at CDNOW. With five times the selection of a conventional music store, personal recommendations and more! -- CDNOW. Your music. Your store. http://www.cdnow.com/from=med:n:tfs:rc4t:t0086 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 143,711 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: panegyric
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 14, 1999
--
panegyric [n. PAN-uh-JIR-ik]
--
A panegyric is a lengthy, elaborate oration in praise of someone. It
can also be a formal spoken or written eulogy (composition of praise,
especially for someone who has died). Example: "Professor Kerwood's
introduction of Dr. Jones was a panegyric lasting almost an hour."
The ancient Greeks used to get together on certain days for a
gathering called the paneguris (public assembly of everyone). That
word is from pan- (all) and aguris (assembly; marketplace). At these
events, speakers would go on at length about the wonderful
achievements of great persons past and present, delivering
panegurikos (something relating to a paneguris).
If a panegyric gets out of control, it might become a paneulogism [n.
pan-YOO-luh-jiz-um] (speech or writing of elaborate, indiscriminate
praise).
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Cool Word: parasol
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 13, 1999
--
parasol [n. PARE-uh-sol]
--
When the sun is hot, you could carry a light umbrella called a
parasol to create some shade. Parasols used to be much more popular
than they are today.
As you might expect, the -sol suffix in this word comes ultimately
from Latin sol (sun). In many words, the prefix para- means beside,
beyond, or similar to, and all of these meanings derived originally
from the Greek root para (beside). Does a parasol put you "beyond
the sun?"
In this case, the prefix is from a different root. Parasol comes from
Italian parasole, a compound of parare (to shield) and sole (sun),
from Latin parare (to prepare) and sol (sun). The same "protection"
para- also appears in parachute (protects against a fall) and in the
French parapluie (umbrella).
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Cool Word: peccadillo
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 10, 1999
--
peccadillo [n. PEK-uh-DIL-oh]
--
A peccadillo is a small transgression, a minor offense. Example: "In
the flush of infatuation, we might overlook the harmless peccadilloes
that later become steady irritants."
In Latin, peccare was to sin, and later the Spanish pecado also
carried the full force of a major transgression. But a pecadillo, a
small sin, could be forgiven. In the 1500s, that word entered
English with the sense of youthful foolishness, or perhaps a
forgiveable error in judgment.
>From the same root, we also have impeccable (flawless; incapable of
sin), peccable (prone to sin), peccant (sinful), and peccatophobia
(fear of sinning or of having sinned).
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Cool Word: polyp
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 9, 1999
--
polyp [n. POL-ip]
--
There are two kinds of polyp. One is an animal such as a hydra or sea
anemone with a cylindrical body and tentacles that surround a mouth
at the top. The other kind of polyp is a growth or tumor that forms
in the lining of a body cavity.
Both kinds of polyp go back to Latin polypus (cuttlefish, nasal
tumor), from Greek polupous. That word combines polus (many) and
pous (foot), describing the "many-footed," multi-tentacled creatures
of the sea, as well as the many extensions of some tumors.
The Greek root polus also led to the prefix poly- which is seen in a
vast array of modern "many" words, including these:
polyhistor [n. POL-ee-HIS-ter]: person with broad knowledge
polyptich [n. POL-ip-tik]: painting made of four or more panels
polymer [n. POL-uh-mer]: substance whose molecules are made by
joining many smaller molecules
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Cool Word: prison
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 8, 1999 -- prison [n. PRIZ-un] -- A prison is a place where people are confined as punishment for misdeeds. To place a person into a prison is to imprison them, and such a person is a prisoner. A prison might also be called a jail or a penitentiary. This word has been in use since the thirteenth century. It stems from the Latin root prensio (a seizing), a contraction of prehendere (to seize, arrest, take into custody). Old French altered that root, influenced by pris (taken), resulting in the modern word prison. Today we have several other words from prehendere, including these: apprehend: arrest, take into custody prehensile: able to seize, grasp, or hold comprehend: to grasp the meaning, nature, or importance; understand reprehensible: deserving censure or rebuke; blameworthy prize: something taken by force (seized); to remove or extract by force Today's Sponsor: KidSolutions http://www.kidsolutions.com Need new ideas for spending time with your Kids? We've got the Solutions! The KidSolutions Weekly e-zine features humorous and heartwarming stories, games, travel & craft tips, kid friendly recipes, money saving tips and more! To get your FREE weekly subscription, send a blank e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kidsolutions.com -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 141,844 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: proclivity
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 7, 1999 -- proclivity [n. proh-KLIV-uh-tee] -- If you have a strong, natural inclination toward something, then you have a proclivity. The word often refers to something objectionable. Example: "Max is a good fellow, in spite of his unfortunate proclivity for excessive drink." Proclivity is from Latin pro- (towards) and clivus (slope). You might imagine someone drawn forward by their proclivity, as if they are walking down a steep slope. There is also declivity (a downward slope) and acclivity (an upward slope). We also suggest a new word: anticlivity (aversion). Near-synonyms for proclivity include leaning, inclination, penchant, propensity, predilection, and predisposition. The first four of these share with proclivity the idea of leaning toward that which attracts. Penchant and propensity come from the French word pencher (to incline). Predilection is from the Latin word diligere (to love), and predisposition is from the Latin word disponere (to arrange). Today's sponsor: iPrint http://www.iPrint.com/121.html?ad=399ZU121B SPECIAL OFFER: FREE ADDRESS LABELS Create your own set of FREE personalized address labels at iPrint.com! A great back-of-your-envelope item just in time for back-to-school. Offer available for a limited time to new customers of iPrint.com only. http://www.iPrint.com/121.html?ad=399ZU121B -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 141,537 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: commodious
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 6, 1999
--
commodious [adj. kuh-MOE-dee-us]
--
If something is commodious then it is comfortably spacious. Example:
"The new sleeper cars feature commodious cabins with private showers
and tables large enough for four to play cards."
The meaning of this word has changed somewhat from Middle English,
when something commodious was convenient, suitable, or handy. The
word is from Latin commodus (convenient), a compound of com-
(together) and modus (measure).
Other words from commodus include these:
commode: decorated cabinet; toilet stand; tall headdress for women
commodity: useful article of trade or commerce
incommode: disturb, cause to be inconvenienced
accommodate: do a favor; make suitable; allow for; adapt to
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Cool Word: soi-disant
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 3, 1999
--
soi-disant [adj. swah-dee-ZAHN]
--
Someone who is soi-disant is claiming a role, occupation, or status
for themselves. The term is a derogatory description of someone who
may not be entitled to make such a claim. Example: "Joe was a
soi-disant rock climber, but to the experts it was obvious he had
little experience."
This French expression literally translates as "self saying." It is
one of many French words and phrases imported into English
during the 17th and 18th centuries by British intellectuals who
engaged in regular correspondence with their counterparts in France.
More words that came over from French:
vis-a-vis [prep. veez-uh-VEE]: face to face; opposite to; compared with
denoument [n DAY-noo-MAHN]: final resolution and clarification
potpourri [n. poh-poo-REE]: a mixture of incongruous things
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Cool Word: sternutation
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 2, 1999
--
sternutation [n. stur-nyuh-TAY-shun]
--
Sternutation is the act of sneezing, and a single sneeze can also be
called a sternutation. Example: "One of the most satisfying
experiences one can experience is complete surrender to an enormous
sternutation."
You might think that someone who sneezes is a sternutator, but
actually a sternutator [n. STUR-nyuh-tay-ter] is a substance such as
pepper that causes sternutation. Such a substance can be described
as sternutatory [adj. stur-NYOO-tuh-tor-ee]. Strangely, the
seemingly logical verb sternutate is not listed in any reference we
can find.
All of these words came originally from the Latin sternuere (to
sneeze), through Middle English sternutacioun (sneezing).
Sternutation contains all the vowels a,e,i,o, and u, although they do
not appear in order.
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Cool Word: jinx
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 1, 1999 -- jinx [v., n. jingks] -- To jinx something is to bring bad luck to it, and something that brings bad luck is a jinx, and so is a period of time during which a run of bad luck is experienced. Example: "Joe believed that failing to knock once on the edge of the table before casting the dice would jinx the roll." The modern form of the word dates back to approximately the sixteenth century, when a jynx was a charm or spell that was supposed to cause bad luck or evil influences. The name came from the frequent use of such charms as the feathers of the wryneck, or jynx bird, a kind of woodpecker. That name in turn may have come from the Latin iynx, possibly from Greek iuzein (to call). Jinx is one of the few words in English that ends in -nx. Two others are sphynx and larynx. Can you think of another? Today's sponsor: CDNOW http://www.cdnow.com/from=med:n:tfs:rc4t:t0086 $10 off for new customers at CDNOW. With five times the selection of a conventional music store, personal recommendations and more! -- CDNOW. Your music. Your store. http://www.cdnow.com/from=med:n:tfs:rc4t:t0086 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 139,573 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: bikini
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 31, 1999
--
bikini [n. bih-KEE-nee]
--
A bikini is a very brief two-piece bathing suit worn by a woman, or
it is a similar one-piece suit worn by a man. There is also the
Bikini Atoll, a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean.
When French fashion designer Louis Reard introduced his very
revealing two-piece women's bathing suits in 1946, he looked for a
good name for them. Since the U.S. had just started atomic bomb
tests at Bikini Atoll, the name was in the news and he adopted it for
his new suits.
Although Reard later claimed that he named the suit after the
islands, not the atomic bomb tests, clearly the tests contributed to
the name's popularity. Another designer named Jacques Heim had also
created a tiny bathing suit, which he named "The Atome" (The Atom).
Today's Cool Fact is about one of the bomb tests at Bikini Atoll:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/31.html
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Cool Word: pasquinade
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 30, 1999 -- pasquinade [n., v. PAS-kwuh-NAYD] -- A satirical poem, song, or story about someone in particular that has been posted in a public place is a pasquinade, and to post such a lampoon is to pasquinade the person who is being satirized. Usually, pasquinades are anonymous. The word originated in Rome, Italy. According to one story, there was a shop there in the 15th century owned by a man named Pasquino. Outside of his shop there was a somewhat mutilated statue, where satirical poems were frequently posted. Pasquino himself was said to be quite a wit, and was thought to have been the source of most of the poems. The satirical pasquinades did not go unanswered. Some distance across town, there was a very old statue called Marforio. On that statue, replies to the pasquinades were posted. Today's Sponsor: KidSolutions http://www.kidsolutions.com Need new ideas for spending time with your Kids? We've got the Solutions! The KidSolutions Weekly e-zine features humorous and heartwarming stories, games, travel & craft tips, kid friendly recipes, money saving tips and more! To get your FREE weekly subscription, send a blank e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kidsolutions.com -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 138,691 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: mad as a hatter
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 27, 1999 -- mad as a hatter -- If someone says you are mad as a hatter, they are accusing you of being quite irrational. The sense of madness here is "suffering from a disorder of the mind; insane." This phrase usually refers not to someone who is actually insane, but rather to a more normal person who is behaving in an irrational way. The phrase emerged in England in the 19th century. Hatmakers in those days used a lot of felt that was treated with chemicals including lead, arsenic, and mercury. Unfortunately, those chemicals are highly toxic. The symptoms of such poisoning include palsy, confused speech, and distorted thinking. Today, making hats is a much safer profession, but the phrase survives. An interesting alternate explanation of the phrase derives hatter from Anglo-Saxon atter (poison), which is related to adder (a poisonous snake whose bite was thought to cause insanity). Today's sponsor:BORDERS.COMhttp://www.borders.com/coaster BORDERS.COM is your place for books, music and video on the Web. Visit us today and receive an instant $5 gift certificate, absolutely free! Apply it to any purchase of $15 or more and enjoy the savings. To receive your FREE gift certificate from BORDERS.COM Click Here: http://www.borders.com/coaster -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 137,576 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: balloon
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 26, 1999
--
balloon [n. buh-LOON]
--
Most balloons are bags that are full of gas. Big balloons filled
with hot air or helium can lift people into the sky, while others are
small enough to hold in the hand. There is also the speech balloon,
an outlined, drawn shape in which words appear to indicate what a
comic strip character is saying.
A ball and a balloon are both usually round, and both words came from
the same ancient root, Prehistoric German balluz (round object).
That word entered Old Norse as bollr, then moved into French as
ballon and Italian as ballone. In English, it took on the meaning of
"inflated object."
More "round" words from the same ancient root:
boulder: large, rounded stone
ballot: sheet of paper to register a vote; originally, a small ball
bowl: hemispherical vessel wider at the top
bale: large bundle; originally a rolled-up bundle
boll: seed capsule of cotton or flax
bole: tree trunk
Today's Cool Fact is about balloons made by flies:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/26.html
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Cool Word: bibliotaphy
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 25, 1999
--
bibliotaphy [n. BIB-lee-oh-TAF-ee]
--
Bibliotaphy is the practice of hoarding or hiding books, and someone
who engages in bibliotaphy is a bibliotaph.
Like many "bookish" words, this one includes the biblio- prefix, from
the Greek biblion (book), which also gave us Bible. The suffix,
-taphy, is from Greek taphos (tomb), since the books hoarded or
hidden might as well be entombed.
Another word from taphos is cenotaph [n. SEN-uh-taf] (an empty tomb
that commemorates someone who is actually buried elsewhere), with the
prefix ceno- from Greek kenos (empty).
Here are more "bookish" words:
bibliopegy: the art of binding books
bibliopolist: a seller of books, especially rare or used ones
bibliotics: examination of documents for authenticity
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Cool Word: phytoremediation
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 24, 1999
--
phytoremediation [n. FY-toe-ruh-mee-dee-AY-shun]
--
Phytoremediation is the use of living plants to remove toxic
substances from soil, water, or air. It's a relatively new concept
that takes advantage of plants' natural ability to absorb and process
toxins.
This word has two parts. Phyto- is based on the Greek phuton (plant),
which comes from phuein (to cause growth). There are many other words
using this root, including these:
epiphyte: plant that grows on another plant
phytography: science of describing plants
phytophagous: feeding on plants
The second part can be a word by itself. Remediation is solving a
problem by correcting a fault or deficiency. It's from the Latin
remedium (cure), from re- (again) plus mederi (to heal). Related
words include remedy, medicine, and medicate.
Today's Cool Fact is about phytoremediation:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/24.html
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Cool Word: pterylology
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 23, 1999 -- pterylology [n. TER-ul-OL-uh-gee] -- If you engage in pterylology then you are studying the arrangement of feathers on birds, and you are a pterylologist. Like other sciences, pterylology gets its -ology suffix from the Greek suffix -logia (the study of). Informally, an ology is a field of scientific study. The ptery- prefix is from Greek pteron (feather, wing). That root has been adopted into words for a wide variety of feathery or winglike things, including these: pteridology: ths study of ferns (whose leaves are often feathery) ornithopter: a machine with wings that flap like a bird's wings pterodactyl: extinct flying reptile whose wings are supported by long toes pteropod: sea butterfly, a marine mollusc with winglike lobes on the foot pteryla: area of a bird's skin from which feathers grow pteronophobia: fear of being tickled by feathers Today's sponsor:Gator!http://www.gator.com/offers/ads/penn02/ >>>>>>>> FREE Software Does All the Typing For You! <<<<<<<< Tired of filling out forms? Then grab Gator! Gator fills out forms and remembers passwords. FREE software safely stores your user names, passwords, and other info on your hard drive. BONUS! Get Gator and get $50 in free coupons! http://www.gator.com/offers/ads/penn02/ -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 134,771 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: bus
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 20, 1999
--
bus [n. BUS]
--
A bus is a long passenger vehicle with a central aisle and seats
along the sides. It can also be a cart for carrying dishes in a
restaurant, a metal bar that distributes electricity to many
different devices, or a group of electrical lines that carries data
signals. Strangely, all these meanings are closely related.
In France in 1828, a new kind of conveyance was invented. It was
called a "voiture omnibus," where the first word was French for
"carriage" and the second was Latin for "for all." The new kind of
carriage caught on quickly in England, where it was simply called the
omnibus. In a strange twist of linguistics, the name was shortened
to bus, leaving only the suffix of the original Latin word without
the root.
Since a bus carried a collection of diverse people, the same word
became applied to other things having to do with diverse collections,
such as the cart for dishes and the electrical cables for power and
data distribution.
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Cool Word: brummagem
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 19, 1999
--
brummagem [n., adj. BRUM-uh-jum]
--
If something is brummagem then it is a cheap and showy imitation,
lacking real value. The word is usually applied to phony jewelry or
shiny metallic items. Example: "Those glittery earrings of glass and
tinfoil are nothing but worthless brummagem."
This slang word is an alteration of the name of Birmingham, England,
and is also pronounced the same way that some locals pronounce the
city's name. The Romans called the place Bremenium [bruh-MEN-ee-um].
This word has a dark, little known history. In the sixteenth century,
Great Britain took part in a thriving slave trade, in which cheap,
poorly made trinkets were traded for slaves in Africa. Birmingham
was a center for the production of this gaudy garbage or "Brummagem
ware," which included shiny jewelry, mirrors, beads and knives.
More about the slave trade and anti-slavery campaigns in England:
http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/history/antislavery.html
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Cool Word: hoary
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 18, 1999
--
hoary [adj. HOR-ee]
--
Something that is hoary is colored gray or white because of old age,
or it is covered with gray or white hairs, or it is something that is
extremely ancient, inspiring veneration. Example: "The hoary leaves
of dusty miller bear thousands of tiny hairs to conserve water."
Today the word carries two primary senses: color and age. The
original sense was the color, in the ancient Indo-European root
koi-. From that root came the German color-related heiter (bright)
and age-related herr (mister), as well as the Dutch mijnheer (sir,
mister).
The source in English was Old English har, which led to hoar. That
word is part of hoarfrost (ice crystals condensed from the air that
form a white coating). The -y ending was added about five hundred
years ago, but both forms of the word are still correct.
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Cool Word: pilgarlic
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 17, 1999 -- pilgarlic [n. pil-GAR-lik] -- This obsolete word almost always appears after "poor." It's an expression of false pity or amused contempt for someone with a bald head. Example: "Lost in the muddy back alleys of London, Friar Marlson thought, 'How did such a poor pilgarlic as I get into such a mess?'" The connection with baldness has to do with the origin of the word. Literally, it means "peeled garlic," since pil was the ancestor of today's peel. So a poor pilgarlic is someone whose head resembles a peeled garlic clove. The dark side of the word is that the original meaning also included the sense of how the man's head became bald: through the ravages of the pox, a deadly disease. In time, the connection with disease was lost, and by the end of the eighteenth century the phrase itself was falling out of use. Today's sponsor: Books and more from Amazon.com! Feel like shopping? Click on the link below to find books, music, video, electronics, and toys & games! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/thelearningkingd -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 131,930 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: spoof
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 16, 1999
--
spoof [n., v. SPOOF]
--
A spoof is a bit of nonsense or tomfoolery, or it is a gentle satire,
and to spoof is to deceive or carry out a spoof. Example: "The
hilarious spoof of 'Star Trek' was the best sketch of the evening."
This word started out as the name of a card game invented in the
1880s by Arthur Roberts, a British comedian. As one might expect of
a game invented by a comedian, Spoof was a humorous game that
included elements of trickery and pretense.
By 1889, the word was being used in a more general sense to indicate
nonsense, trickery or deceit, with a negative connotation. It was not
until the 1920s that the lighter sense of "gentle satire" appeared.
Today both meanings are considered valid.
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Cool Word: tetraskelion
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 13, 1999 -- tetraskelion [n. tet-ruh-SKEL-ee-un] -- The mark with four bent arms that was used as a national symbol by Nazi Germany during World War II was the tetraskelion, better known as the swastika. Although many people today have negative feelings about the tetraskelion, it is actually an ancient symbol that carries positive meanings having to do with power, energy, and migration. While the Nazi symbol had arms that bent to the right, the mirror image form with left-bending arms has also been used. The word is made from the Greek prefix tetra- (four) and -skelion, from the Greek skelos (leg). The swastika is also known as the Hackenkreuz in Germany, the crux gammata in Latin countries, the fylfot in England, and the gammadion in Greece. There is also a three-armed symbol called the triskelion. More about the tetraskelion: http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/15/151.html http://www.erm.ee/naitus/symbol/svastika_eng.html Today's sponsor: Books and more from Amazon.com! Feel like shopping? Click on the link below to find books, music, video, electronics, and toys & games! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/thelearningkingd -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 129,999 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: the bee's knees
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 12, 1999 -- the bee's knees -- If something is the bee's knees, it's the very best, the most desirable. Example: "Everyone agreed that Harry's diamond studded cufflinks were just the bee's knees." This strange expression is one of many that emerged during the 1920s "flapper" period, when anything excellent was likely to receive a catchphrase having something to do with an animal part. There were "monkey's eyebrows," "gnat's elbows," "bullfrog's beard," "elephant's adenoids," "cat's pyjamas," and many more. Not many of these creative descriptions survive today. We'd like to see the custom revived. How about some new terms of excellence? We suggest: "tapir's toes," "polliwog's wiggle," and "eagle's eye." Why not invent your own? Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 129,494 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: rhabdomancy
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 11, 1999 -- rhabdomancy [n. RAB-duh-man-see] -- If you tell fortunes by casting sticks or rods, or if you seek out water or underground ores using a rod or a stick, then you practice rhabdomancy. Seeking out water or ore with a stick is also known as dowsing. The first part of the word comes from the Greek rhabdos (rod). The second part is from the Greek -manteia (-mancy), a suffix form of manteuesthai (to prophecy), which was derived from mantis (seer, prophet). The insect called the praying mantis (or mantid) also got its name from the same source, because of the "prayerful" way it holds its forelegs while waiting to catch prey, similar to the way a seer might pose while awaiting a vision. Here are more ways to tell fortunes: oneiromancy: from dreams lithomancy: from the patterns of scattered stones spodomancy: from the patterns of ashes halomancy: from spilled salt bibliomancy: from random pages in a book rhapsodomancy: from random pages in a poetry book How to use dowsing to find water or ore: http://home.interstat.net/~slawcio/dowsing.html Today's sponsor:Net Atlantichttp://www.netatlantic.com AT LAST! Web site hosting made EASY and AFFORDABLE! ~ www.yourdomain.com $24 / month ~ www.yournon-profit.org $20 / month ~ secure commerce directory $15 / month Plus new FRONT PAGE 2000 hosting no extra charge! http://www.netatlantic.com or mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 128,908 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: sartorial
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 10, 1999
--
sartorial [adj. sar-TOR-ee-ul]
--
If something is sartorial then it has to do with tailoring or tailored
clothing, more specifically, men's clothing. Example: "At our
exclusive menswear showroom, you can experience the latest sartorial
splendors, in an atmosphere of tasteful elegance."
The root of this word is Late Latin sartor (tailor). Originally, the
word referred only to tailors and their work, but the meaning
broadened in the mid-1800s.
There is also the sartorius, the longest muscle in the human body.
It runs obliquely across the front of the thigh, from hip to tibia.
This muscle is used when the legs are crossed in the "broken four"
position, which was the position of tailors at work in Roman times.
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Cool Word: varvel
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 9, 1999
--
varvel [n. VAR-vul]
--
Until the end of the nineteenth century, people who harbored hunting
birds (falconers) used flat, silver or brass rings called varvels to
identify their birds. Engraved with the owner's coat of arms or
address, the varvel hung at the end of leather straps attached to the
bird's legs.
Varvels are no longer used because they are heavy and can become
caught in vegetation. Today, birds are identified by markings on
small bells, or even by the radio transmissions of tiny electronic
beacons.
The art of falconry has generated many interesting words, including
these:
eyas: a young falcon, still untrained
bewits: small leather straps that fasten a bell to the legs
cadge: a portable perch for several birds
creance: a long line used to train the bird to return
feak: to clean the beak by scrubbing it against the perch
jesses: leather straps attached to the bird's legs
A "conversation thread" about varvels from a falconry discussion
group:
http://www.theriver.com/Public/raptor/lstmsg97/856450565.arc.html
http://www.theriver.com/Public/raptor/lstmsg97/856545623.arc.html
More about falconry:
http://www.USFalconry.org/
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Cool Word: abnegate
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 6, 1999
--
abnegate [v. AB-nih-gayt]
--
To abnegate something is to give it up, renounce it, deny it to
yourself, or to surrender or relinquish it. To do so is the act of
abnegation [n. ab-nih-GAY-shun]. Example: "As part of his spiritual
purification, Jim chose to abnegate all forms of liquor."
The immediate ancestor of these words was the Latin abnegare (to
refuse), a compound of ab- (away) and negare (to deny). Thus, to
abnegate something is literally to "deny it away."
Here are more "denial" words from negare:
negate: nullify; neutralize; rule out; deny
deny: declare untrue; disavow; contradict; refuse
renegade: one who rejects; outlaw; deserter
renege: fail to keep a contract; renounce; disown
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Cool Word: feldspar
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 5, 1999
--
feldspar [FELD-spar]
--
One of the most common minerals in the Earth's crust is feldspar, any
of several varieties of aluminum silicate with various other elements
mixed in. Feldspar is usually light colored, with flat surfaces
where it has broken (cleaved) along crystal planes.
German farmers plowing their fields used to turn up this light colored
mineral, often broken by the plow into flat-edged fragments. They
called this mineral feldspath, from feld- (field) and spath (spar, a
stone that cleaves). There are also other kinds of spar, including
"iceland spar" (a clear variety of calcite).
Today, the Old High German name for the mineral survives as a
technical adjective, feldspathic (relating to or containing feldspar).
Today's Cool Fact is about feldspar:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/05.html
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Cool Word: octothorp
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 4, 1999
--
octothorp [n. AHK-tuh-thorp]
--
You may know it as the "pound key" or as the "number sign." It's the
"#" symbol on the telephone dial, also known as the octothorp
(sometimes spelled octothorpe).
Apparently, the word was coined in the 1960s by a telephone company
employee who wanted a single word for the symbol. All of our sources
agree that octo- refers to the eight points on the symbol, but there
are many stories about the origin of -thorp.
According to one story, the person who invented the word was involved
in an effort to have the gold medals of the athlete Jim Thorpe
returned from Sweden, so he added -thorpe to the word.
Another possibility is that -thorp is related to Old Norse thorpe
(village, farm, hamlet), maybe because the symbol looks something
like eight fields around a village.
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Cool Word: gossamer
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 3, 1999 -- gossamer [n., adj. GOS-uh-mer] -- Anything that is light, delicate, and flimsy can be described as gossamer, and gossamer is also any fabric or material that has those properties. The oldest sense of the word describes thin, filmy spiderwebs drifting in the air. Example: "The luna moth's gossamer wings are a lovely transparent green." The origins of this word are somewhat mysterious. The most common theory relates to the time of year when delicate spiderwebs are most likely to be seen: the warm, dry spells of mid-autumn, in Europe. That time of year is also when goose is most likely to be cooked. For that reason, it was known in Middle English as gosesomer (goose summer), and in German as Gaensemonat (goose month). It's not difficult to imagine that someone might have described the filmy spiderwebs of autumn as "gosesomer webs." From there, the word might have evolved its current meanings, as the original one dropped away. Today's sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/product.htm BOOST your WORD POWER fast! It's easy with spoken pronunciations, screen savers, flash cards, quizzes, and much more. Learn the 1,000 words guaranteed to give you the verbal edge! ZDNet's Editors' Pick. Click Here: http://www.wordcommand.com/product.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 124,984 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: xylophagous
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 2, 1999 -- xylophagous [adj. zy-LOF-uh-gus] -- If a life form is xylophagous, then it either eats wood, or it is destructive to wood. Example: "A primary ocean pest is the xylophagous teredo or shipworm, a mollusc that bores into floating driftwood and the hulls of unprotected ships." The first part of the word is the prefix xylo-, from the Greek xulon (wood). It also shows up in these words: xylograph: a drawing engraved on wood xylotomy: preparation of wood slices for microscopic observation xylene: a chemical mixture distilled from wood xylem: water-conducting tissue of plants; woody tissue The second part, -phagous, is an adjective suffix from the Greek phagein (to eat), and also gives the prefix phago-. Here are more "eating" words: bacteriophage: a virus that "eats" bacteria phagocyte: a cell that engulfs other cells phytophagous: feeding on plants Today's Cool Fact is about a xylophagous creature: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/02.html Another Cool Word is xylophone: http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1999/03/29.html Today's Sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm BOOST your SAT, ACT, GRE, or TOEFL verbal scores FAST! It's easy with spoken pronunciations, screen savers, flash cards, quizzes, and much more. ZDNet's Editors' Pick. Click here for details: http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 124,454 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: solipsism
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 30, 1999 -- solipsism [n. SOL-ip-SIZ-um] -- The doctrine of solipsism says that all that is truly knowable is the self, and that anything that seems to be outside is a projection of the mind. In other words, only the self exists and all else is merely images. There is also a more recent meaning of solipsism, in which it describes a self-indulgent attitude. The word first appeared in English in the late 1800s. It came over from France, where the philosopher Rene Descartes developed the concept of solipsism as a inquiry into the nature of reality. The word is a combination of two Latin words: solus (alone) and ipse (self). The original source was probably a French satirist named Giulio Clemente Scotti, who wrote a play in 1652 called "La Monarchie des Solipses" (The Kingdom of Solipsists). Today's sponsor: ZineZone Greetings from ZineZone, the site that allows you to create your very own web zine. With ZineZone, you can get personal, custom publishing in your own magaZine. Tailor the web to your interests...your passions...your life. Become a ZineZone member now and start creating your personal piece of the web. http://ads.i33.com/redirect/0030/001391d/0002/AFK/A01/01 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 123,467 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: wit
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 29, 1999 -- wit [n. WIT] -- Wit can be simple intelligence, or it can be the ability to use intelligence in an ingeniously humorous way. The word also may appear in the plural as wits, where it refers to keenness of perception and ingenuity, or to soundness of mind. Finally, a person can be a wit if he or she possesses wit in one of the first two senses described above. All of these meanings have to do with intelligence, knowing, and sensing. The original meaning was sensory, from the ancient root weid- (to see). Our words visible and vision came from this root. In Old English, wit was mind, judgment, and sense, leading to the expressions "keep your wits about you" and scared out of my wits." There is also the nearly obsolete expression "to wit," which means "that is to say," or "in other words." In this phrase, wit is a contraction of witness, a verb that sprang from Old English witan, from the same ancient root. Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 123,254 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: vitriolic
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 28, 1999
--
vitriolic [adj. vit-ree-OL-ik]
--
In common use, this adjective applies to a person's manner. To be
vitriolic is to be bitterly critical, with strong emotion. Example:
"Phil was surprised by the intensity of Harry's vitriolic
accusations."
There is a more technical meaning of the word that led to its common
meaning. Vitriolic substances are sulfates like copper sulfate or
sulfuric acid, which is also known as oil of vitriol. Someone who is
being vitriolic is being emotionally caustic, like chemically caustic
sulfuric acid.
Why are sulfate chemicals called vitriols? Some of them can have a
glassy appearance in the crystalline form, so the Latin root vitrum
(glass) was modified to name them.
Here are more "glassy" words:
vitreous: glassy
vitrify: to make into glass, usually by melting and cooling
vitrescent: like glass, able to be vitrified
vitrine: glass paneled cabinet for displaying small items
Today's Cool Fact is about oil of vitriol:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/28.html
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Cool Word: cadre
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 27, 1999
--
cadre [n. KAHD-ree]
--
A cadre is a group of competent people who work together, usually at
the center of a larger organization. Example: "Among the many rescue
workers present in the aftermath of the bombing was a cadre of
paramedics, without whose aid many people would have died."
A cadre can also be a framework, and this sense is most closely
related to the word's origin. Just as a cadre of people can support
and stabilize an organization, so a connected group of squares can
support a framework. The root is the Latin quadrum (square), which
entered Italian as quadro, then migrated to French, where it took on
the current meaning.
More "square" words from Latin quadrum:
squad: a small group of workers; a team
square: four-sided regular polygon
quadrant: circular arc of 90 degrees; one quarter of a circle
quarrel: crossbow bolt; square hammer; diamond shaped window pane
quarry: open pit where stone is cut (often in rectangular blocks)
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Cool Word: nostrum
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 26, 1999 -- nostrum [n. NOS-trum] -- If a medicine contains secret ingredients, is highly recommended by the person who prepared it, and lacks scientific proof that it works, then it might be called a nostrum. A nostrum can also be a questionable scheme or remedy for some vexing problem. Example: "Senator Harvey's proposal for tax incentives was widely derided as an expensive nostrum." In the days of "patent medicine," there were traveling salesmen all over North America, selling various kinds of mostly ineffective nostrums. The word today implies quackery and fraud, but prior to the nineteenth century its meaning was much more honest. The word comes from a Latin phrase, "nostrum remedium" (our remedy), and its root meaning is simply "ours." Starting in the early 1600s, medicines were marked with the Latin phrase, to show that they were the unique product of the maker. Today's Sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm BOOST your SAT, ACT, GRE, or TOEFL verbal scores FAST! It's easy with spoken pronunciations, screen savers, flash cards, quizzes, and much more. ZDNet's Editors' Pick. Click here for details: http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 122,220 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: ampersand
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 23, 1999 -- ampersand [n. AM-pur-sand] -- An ampersand is the character which means "and." Although it is not usually used in formal text, it has become quite common in commercial writing, and is even part of some corporate names. The ampersand also has special meanings in various computer programming languages. The ampersand was invented in 63 BC by a Roman named Tiro as part of his Latin shorthand system. The symbol is a condensed form of the Greek word et (and). Depending on which font your computer is using to show this text, you might be able to see the crossed "t" at the lower right corner of the "and" symbol. The English name of the symbol comes from the way English school children used to say the alphabet. At the end, they would say "X, Y, Zed, and per se and." The last part refers to the "and" symbol, which is per se (by itself) the word "and." Over time, "and per se and" became "ampersand." Today's Cool Fact is about shorthand systems: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/23.html Today's Sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm BOOST your SAT, ACT, GRE, or TOEFL verbal scores FAST! It's easy with spoken pronunciations, screen savers, flash cards, quizzes, and much more. ZDNet's Editors' Pick. Click here for details: http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 121,170 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------ Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: analemma
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 22, 1999 -- analemma [n. an-uh-LEM-uh] -- If you record the exact position of the Sun in the sky at the same clock time every day for a year, the resulting collection of points is called the Sun's analemma. It's a figure-8 with the northern loop smaller than the southern loop. The shape is the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis and the shape of its orbit around the Sun. Because the Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular, the analemma is a loopy shape rather than a simple line. To properly calibrate a sundial, one must know the Sun's analemma and the local latitude. The word is Latin for sundial, from the Greek analambanein (to take up), from ana- (upward) and lambanein (to take). Also from that root is analeptic [adj., n. an-uh-LEP-tik] (restorative or stimulating, or a stimulating medication). More about the Sun's analemma: http://www.analemma.com/Pages/framesPage.html Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 120,970 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: crocodile
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 21, 1999 -- crocodile [n. KROK-uh-dyl] -- A crocodile is a large predatory reptile that lives in swamps, rivers, or lakes in tropical regions. Their skin is thick and armored, and their snout is long and heavily toothed. The original Greek krocodilos was a small lizard that lived in stone walls. The name is a compound of kroke (pebble, stone) and drilos (worm), so the lizard was literally a "stone worm." When the Greeks saw the much larger "water lizards" that swam in Egypt's Nile River, they gave them the same name. This word has been changed twice by "taboo deformation," in which syllables of a word for something fearsome are reversed or shifted. First, as it entered French from Latin, the "r" shifted and it became cocodril. Then it entered English as cokedrille, and the "r" shifted back, giving the modern form. Another taboo-deformed word is alligator: http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1998/10/19.html Today's Cool Fact is about crocodiles: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/07/21.html Today's sponsor: SmarterLiving http://www.SmarterLiving.com TRAVEL AUCTIONS, BARGAINS, LAST MINUTE GETAWAYS AND MORE! Smarter Living provides an excellent way of quickly finding the latest travel specials on airfare, vacation packages, cruises, hotels, car rentals, and more. Be sure to try one of our free newsletters, which are a great way to stay on top of the latest travel bargains: http://www.SmarterLiving.com -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 120,562 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: talion
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 20, 1999
--
talion [n. TAL-ee-un]
--
If the punishment for an offense is exactly the same as the offense,
then it is a talion, and it is talionic punishment. Example: "For
the crime of murder, the talion is death."
In Latin, talio was retaliation, which is another word from the same
root. The idea was that retaliation should be measured out to exactly
balance the offense, as in the expression "an eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth."
The ancient root was tele-, which had meanings related to lifting,
supporting, and weighing, with derivatives relating to measuring and
money.
>From the same ancient root, we also have these words:
toll: fee paid for passage or service; extent of loss or damage
tolerate: to allow; to endure
talent: marked innate ability, specific weight of gold or silver
tola: the weight of one silver Indian rupee
extoll: to praise highly ("lift up")
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Cool Word: fuddy duddy
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 19, 1999 -- fuddy duddy [n. FUD-ee DUD-ee] -- A fuddy duddy is an old-fashioned person with fussy, hyper-critical ways. Example: "Professor Higgins is such a fuddy duddy, he won't even let his boys play in the yard on Saturdays." The origin of this phrase is uncertain. It seems to have first gotten started around 1900 in Maine, a place and time of puritanical, straight-laced attitudes. Some dictionaries suggest that the phrase is related to "fuddled," an old word meaning "drunk or confused," but that theory seems unlikely because a fuddy duddy is not the kind of person who is likely to get drunk. A more intriguing theory is that it emerged from the letters sometimes found after the names of clergymen who were also professors, something fairly common in those days. Someone known as "James Witherspoon, Ph.D., D.D." might have been called "James Witherspoon, fuddy duddy" by those with little respect for his credentials. Today's sponsor: Free PHOTO greetings http://www.zing.com/z?e40c50z11 Share your special moments with family and friends. New PHOTO greetings at Zing.com! Send animated cards starring you or choose from thousands of photos. Tons of funny, cute, cool, and animated cards for you to customize. Zing.com - the hottest new place for online greetings! http://www.zing.com/z?e40c50z11 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 119,791 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: dead ringer
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 16, 1999 -- dead ringer -- This phrase usually appears with the word "for" as in this example: "That fellow over there is a dead ringer for my uncle Carl." It means there is such a strong resemblance that the two people might almost be twins. A ringer was originally a counterfeit gold coin. One could tell the fake by dropping it on a hard surface. If it rang like a bell, it was fake. Later, in horse racing, a ringer was a horse of a high class (high skill) that was secretly substituted for a similar-looking horse in a lower class race. The ringer could then be bet on by those who knew of the substitution. Today "ringer" is also applied to look-alike people. But why are these ringers dead? That word also appears in the phrases "dead on" (exactly correct) and "dead center" (exact center), where it adds a sense of precision and strengthens the whole phrase. The origin of this usage is unknown. Today's Sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm BOOST your SAT, ACT, GRE, or TOEFL verbal scores FAST! It's easy with spoken pronunciations, screen savers, flash cards, quizzes, and much more. ZDNet's Editors' Pick. Click here for details: http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 118,394 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: boreal
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 15, 1999 -- boreal [adj. BOR-ee-ul] -- [Note: Due to server problems -- now fixed -- we did not send out Cool Word of the Day yesterday. Our apologies!] If something is boreal, then it is in or from the north. A more specific sense of the word relates to the northern, coniferous forests of the world. Example: "The boreal forests of Canada extend all the way to the edge of the tundra." The Roman god of the north wind, Boreas, is the source of this word. His name in turn was derived from the Greek boreios (coming from the north). The opposite of boreal is austral, from the Latin auster (south). The Romans had a legend about the "Hyperboreoi," a race of people who were from "above the north," beyond the reach of Boreas. They lived in a land of perpetual sunshine. From their name, we have hyperborean [adj. HY-pur-BOR-ee-un], describing anything relating to the extreme north, especially people indigenous to these areas, such as Eskimos. We also have the aurora borealis (northern lights) which shimmer in the arctic sky, and their opposite, the aurora australis. Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 118,092 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: casino
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 13, 1999 -- casino [n. kuh-SEE-no] -- A casino is a public room or building for gambling and other entertainment. There is also a card game called casino, which took its name from the first sense of the word. A casino can also be an Italian country house. The oldest sense of the word is the third one, which is closest to its origin. A casino in Italian is a simple little casa (house). Italian casa was itself derived from Latin casa (cottage, hut, hovel). The Italian word shifted gradually from a country house to a place where people could gather socially. Eventually, it was applied mainly to public houses where people could dance, play games, and listen to music. Today, gambling is a big business, and casinos are usually far larger and grander than the country cottages from which they got their name. More FREE mailing lists from The Learning Kingdom! If you enjoy this feature, take a look at our other free mailings. You might be missing something! Visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ and enter your email address to see what we have for you. http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 117,083 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: feckless
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 12, 1999 -- feckless [adj. FEK-lis] -- Someone who is feckless is feeble or ineffective, lacking purpose and vitality, or careless and irresponsible. Example: "Although seemingly feckless, clumsy, and inept, Jar Jar Binks managed to save the day." The suffix -less can mean "not having" (hopeless, careless, witless), or it can mean "beyond the range of," (countless, numberless). The first meaning applies to our word, but what does a feckless person not have? Someone who is feckless is effectless, or having no effect. The original root was the Scottish feck, a contraction of effect and the source of the modern English efficacy. The original root was Latin efficere (to accomplish). Another interesting -less word is ruthless. In this case, what is lacking is ruth, a word that means "compassion or remorse." Someone who is ruthless does not have either of these qualities, so they are merciless and without remorse. Information for advertisers - Do you have a company, product, or website to promote? The Learning Kingom can help you reach over 100,000 readers in one day! Just place an ad with one of our daily mailings. Our rates are extremely competitive. Visit <http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/> or just send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and we'll help you get started. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 116,876 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: albedo
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 9, 1999 -- albedo [n. al-BEE-doh] -- An object's albedo is the fraction of electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from its surface. Usually, the word refers to visible light, and the object is a celestial body. Example: "The Earth's overall albedo is higher during winter in the northern hemisphere, when so much ground is covered with snow." In Late Latin, albedo was whiteness, from Latin albus (white). That root gave us many "whiteness" words, including these: albino: person or animal lacking pigment album: originally, an autograph book albite: white variety of the mineral feldspar albumen: the white of an egg albescent: becoming white or whitish aubade: music about the breaking of day auburn: reddish brown, from Old French aborne (blond) Today's Cool Fact is about the albedo of one of Saturn's moons: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/09.html Today's Sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm BOOST your SAT, ACT, GRE, or TOEFL verbal scores FAST! It's easy with spoken pronunciations, screen savers, flash cards, quizzes, and much more. ZDNet's Editors' Pick. Click here for details: http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 115,794 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: eleemosynary
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 8, 1999
--
eleemosynary [adj. EL-uh-MAH-sun-air-ee]
--
That which is eleemosynary is charitable, has to do with charity, or is
supported by charity. Example: "Doctor Benson regularly contributed to the
Pediatric Foundation and other eleemosynary organizations."
This word first appeared in English in the 1600s, derived from Medieval
Latin eleemosynarius (compassion, mercy), ultimately from Greek eleemosune
(pity, alms).
Along the way, the Vulgar Latin alimosina (alms) split off and led to words
in other languages with the same meaning, including French aumone, Italian
limosina, German almosen, and Dutch aalmoes. Old English received the word
as aelmesse, which became shortened to alms by the 1800s.
There is also almoner (medical social worker), which developed from aumoner
(administrator of alms) in the 1800s. Originally, the aumoner was someone
who worked at the aumonry (place of alms giving), receiving donations and
distributing them to those in need.
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Cool Word: creosote
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 7, 1999
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creosote [n. KREE-uh-sote]
--
If you've walked on railroad tracks in the hot sun, you may have smelled
the pungent aroma of creosote, a resinous liquid that is often used to
preserve railroad ties, telephone poles, and other wooden objects exposed
to weather. It's made by heating wood or coal tar and distilling the
vapors that are produced.
After it was discovered in the 1830s, the most common use for creosote was
as an antiseptic. The German kreosot was coined to describe the smelly
liquid. It's a compound: the first part is derived from the Greek kreas
(flesh), and the second is from Greek soter (savior, preserver). Other
words from kreas include pancreas, and its Indo-European root also gave us
crude, cruel, and raw.
There is also creosol, a compound that is a major component of creosote,
and the creosote bush, an aromatic, yellow-flowered plant from the American
southwest.
The beautiful, hardy desert creosote bush:
http://www.desertusa.com/creoste.html
Despite its early medical use, creosote is a toxic environmental hazard:
http://www.nsc.org/ehc/ew/chems/creosote.htm
http://bordeaux.uwaterloo.ca/biol447/assignment1/creosote.html
http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/txt/fairs/52860
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Cool Word: petroglyph
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 6, 1999
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petroglyph [n. PET-ruh-glif]
--
Throughout the American southwest there are art works carved by Native
Americans into the dark-colored "rock varnish" that forms on stone surfaces
in the desert. These are petroglyphs, images carved into the surfaces of
stones. (If an image was painted on a rock, then it is a pictograph [n.
PIK-tuh-graf].)
The word is a compound from the Latin petra (stone) and the Greek gluphe
(carving). Both of these are from roots that gave us many English words.
More "stony" words:
petroleum: oil (oleum, in Latin) that comes from rocks
petrify: turn to stone
saltpetre: potassium or sodium nitrate, "salt of the rock"
A great place to see some petroglyphs:
http://www.nps.gov/petr/
Another kind of glyph is a hieroglyph:
http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1998/08/13.html
Today's Cool Fact is about rock varnish:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/06.html
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Cool Word: hello
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 5, 1999 -- hello [interj. hu-LOW] -- This is one of the most commonly spoken words in English. It's the salutation that begins almost every phone conversation, and it can also be an expression of surprise, especially in British English. Example: "When he uncovered a perfect trilobite fossil, Professor Bains exclaimed 'Hello! What a find!'" As you might expect for such a common word, its origins are extremely ancient. In Chaucer's time, the word was hallow, and by the time of Shakespeare it was halloo. The root may have been a cry, holla (Stop!), which probably came from Old French hola (Ho there!), a compound of ho (ho!) and la (there). The word was not nearly as popular before the invention of the telephone. With telephones and the customary telephone greeting spread across the entire planet, it is possible that "hello" is now the most widely recognized word in any language. Information for advertisers - Do you have a company, product, or website to promote? The Learning Kingom can help you reach over 100,000 readers in one day! Just place an ad with one of our daily mailings. Our rates are extremely competitive. Visit <http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/> or just send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and we'll help you get started. -- -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 113,711 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: agnathan
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 2, 1999
--
agnathan [adj. AG-nuh-thun]
--
If a creature is agnathan, then it lacks a jaw. The word is usually
applied only to the primitive eel-like members of the class Agnatha, which
includes hagfish and lampreys, plus various extinct creatures. Their
relatives gave rise to all the other kinds of fish, including those that
developed actual jaws.
To make this word, the Greek gnathos (jaw) gets the Greek prefix a-
(without) and the suffix -an (of, relating to, or resembling). The same
root that led to gnathos also evolved into these "jaw" words:
gnathic: relating to the jaw
gnathite: jaw-like appendage of an arthropod
-gnathous (suffix): relating to the jaw
chin: lower jaw, from Germanic kinnuz
genial [ji-NY-ul]: relating to the chin
The seemingly jaw-related words gnash and gnaw stem from different roots.
Today's Cool Fact is about an agnathan creature:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/02.html
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Cool Word: shibboleth
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 1, 1999 -- shibboleth [n. SHIH-buh-leth] -- A shibboleth is a word or phrase that can be used to identify people from different cultures or classes, or it can be a "catchword" or phrase identified with one group. It can also be a practice or custom that shows one is an outsider to a particular group. All these meanings are about comparing the way people express themselves. This has nothing to do with the original meaning of the word, but reflects the way it was used as a "test word" in biblical times. In Hebrew, a shibbolet was a torrent or stream of water. According to the Book Of Judges (12:4-6), after the Gileadites defeated the Ephraimites, they used the soldier's pronunciation of "shibbolet" to identify Ephraimites posing as Gileadites. The impostors were unable to pronounce the initial "sh" of the word. Today, similar "test words" are still sometimes used by military forces to identify people from different ethnic or cultural backgrounds. Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 111,718 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: coin
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 30, 1999
--
coin [n., v. KOYN]
--
A coin is a small piece of metal, usually flat and round, that is
authorized by a government to be used as money. It can also be the
cornerstone of a building, and as a verb, to coin can be to stamp out coins
from a metal sheet or to invent a new word or phrase.
In Latin, a cuneus was a wedge, and from that word came the name of the
wedge-shaped script called cuneiform. The word passed into Old French as
coing, and the meaning broadened to include various wedge-shaped objects,
including the corner stone of a building.
One of the wedge-shaped objects was the die that was used to stamp out
money. Eventually, the pieces of money themselves became known as coins.
Meanwhile the verb sense evolved, and today inventing a new word is coining
it, in the sense that a word is the "currency of communication."
Today's Cool Fact is about coins:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/06/30.html
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Cool Word: ullage
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 29, 1999
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ullage [n. UL-ij]
--
When a cask or barrel is filled with liquid, it can only be filled as far
as the bung-hole. The amount of space that is left unfilled is the ullage.
It is also the space between the top of the liquid and the bottom of the
cork in a bottle of wine.
This word traces to the Latin word for the bung-hole, which was oculus
(metaphorically, an eye). The word passed into Old French as oeil, and
from that came the verb ouiller (to fill up a barrel to the bung-hole).
The ouillage was the remaining space. The word passed into Anglo-Norman,
and then into English.
Here are more "eye" words from oculus:
oculist: an eye doctor
ocular: relating to the eye
ocellus: a small simple eye (as on an insect); an eyelike marking
pinochle: card game in which "two-eyed" face cards have special meaning
monocle: a seeing lens for one eye
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Cool Word: zydeco
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 28, 1999 -- zydeco [n. ZY-duh-koe] -- In southern Louisiana, there is a musical style that combines French, Caribbean, and blues, called zydeco. It's foot-stompin' music that might include fiddles, accordions, and even a washboard or two. Until the 1950s, this musical style was known as "la la music." But then came a very popular tune called "Les Haricots Sont Pas Sale" (The Beans Are Not Salty), a snappy tune about how tough the times were when there was not even salt for the beans. The song was made popular by Clifton Chenier, the "King of Zydeco." How do beans relate to zydeco? The first two words "Les Haricots" (The Beans) when pronounced with a strong French Creole accent, sound quite a bit like "zydeco." So, from unsalted beans came a musical genre's name. More about zydeco music: http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/music/episode-4.html http://www.there1.com/zydeco.html http://members.xoom.com/ghayman/articles/a980526.htm - - - - - - FREE Cool Word of the Day gift subscriptions - - - - - - If you enjoy Cool Word of the Day, why not sign up a friend? It's free, and takes only about a minute. - - - - - - - - - http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ - - - - - - - - - -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 110,402 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: serendipity
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 25, 1999
--
serendipity [n. SER-un-DIP-uh-tee]
--
Serendipity is the ability to make fortunate discoveries by accident,
without expecting them. Example: "The uncovering of the ancient inscribed
stones was pure serendipity, since I was actually digging a hole for a
fencepost."
This word was coined in 1754 by a British author, Horace Walpole, who said
he based it on an old Persian fairy tale called "The Three Princes Of
Serendip." In this story, the three princes were always making happy,
unexpected discoveries.
In Old Persian, Sarandib was the name of the island we now call Sri Lanka.
The Persian name was a corruption of the Sanskrit Sinhaladvipa (island of
lions), which was also the source of the name of the Sri Lankan language,
Sinhalese.
An essay about serendipity in science:
http://www.scrippsfoundation.org/newscience/essay.html
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Cool Word: round robin
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 11, 1999
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round robin
--
A round robin is a sports tournament in which each contestant is
matched with every other contestant. It's also a petition in which
the signatures are arranged in a circle, like spokes of a wheel, in
order to conceal the order of signing.
A round robin has nothing to do with red-breasted birds. The name is
probably based on the French ruban (ribbon). In the seventeenth
century, French monarchs sometimes ordered the death of the first
person who signed a petition that displeased the Crown. In order to
disguise the order of signing, the names were written on an endless,
circular ribbon, and no one could be identified as the instigator of
the petition.
Later, sailors in the British Navy modified the round robin, using the
wheel spoke pattern to hide the order of signing. It was not until
the late 1800s that "round robin" was applied to sports tournaments.
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Cool Word: coquetry
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 10, 1999
--
coquetry [n. KOE-kih-tree]
--
To engage in coquetry is to be flirtatious in actions or attitude.
Example: "Jerry found Elaine's wit and elegance very appealing, and
her playful coquetry drew him ever closer." To engage in coquetry is
to coquet [v. koe-KET], and a woman who coquets is a coquette
[n. koe-KET].
Today, these words are applied to women and girls, but in France in
the 1600s the words more often described boldly flirtatious men. The
root was the French coquet (flirtatious man), diminutive of coq
(rooster), whose strutting and preening may have resembled the
attention-seeking behavior of young male suitors. Today, such people
might still be described as "cocky."
Once they were absorbed into English, these words lost the flavor of
arrogance and promiscuity, became associated more with light,
frivolous playfulness, and switched over to the female gender.
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Cool Word: vitiate
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 9, 1999
--
vitiate [v. VISH-ee-ayt]
--
To vitiate is to impair by making defective, ineffective, or faulty,
or to debase morally or aesthetically. Example: "Although the work
was done by skilled mechanics, the repair was vitiated by the poor
quality of the components."
The Latin root of this word is vitiare (to fault), from vitium
(defect, fault, offense). It's part of a family of words having to do
with fault or vice, including vituperate (scold, criticize harshly),
vicious (evil, immoral, depraved, spiteful, or malicious), and vice
(an evil, immoral or depraved act or habit).
Words that may seem related but are not include vicissitude
(constantly occurring change, especially in fortune or condition),
from Latin vicis (turn or change); and villain (wicked or evil
person), from Vulgar Latin villanus (feudal serf), from Latin villa
(country house).
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Cool Word: Dundrearies
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 8, 1999 -- Dundrearies [n. DUN-drir-eez] -- Dundrearies are long, flowing sideburns worn with a clean-shaven chin, similar to the shorter cut known as "mutton chops" or "burnsides." They were popular in England in the mid-1800's, where they were also known as "Picadilly weepers" or "Newgate knockers." The word is always plural, and it's often capitalized, since it originated as a proper name. The name for this particular style of facial hair was introduced in a play, "Our American Cousin" by Tom Taylor, featuring a bumbling but good-natured character named Lord Dundreary, who sported the long, flowing sideburns. That play is perhaps best known as the one being watched by Abraham Lincoln when he was assassinated. Some bearded fellows wearing mutton chops (and aspiring to Dundrearies): http://www.geocities.com/~texastache/sideburn.htm More about facial hair styles: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jec3/FacialHair.htm Today's sponsor: Oska http://www.oska.com/oska0108.htm IS WINDOWS TOO BORING? Bring it to life with Oska DeskMate. Oska is an interactive character that lives and plays on your Windows 95/98 desktop. !!FREE!! DOWNLOAD NOW !!FREE!! http://www.oska.com/oska0108.htm (: Go on. Have Some Fun. :) -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 101,914 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: pamphlet
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 7, 1999 -- pamphlet [n. PAM-flit] -- A pamphlet is a small publication, usually unbound and with a paper cover, and a pamphleteer [n. pam-fli-TEER] is someone who publishes or distributes pamphlets. Some etymologists have been stumped by this word. With its second syllable "-let" it seems to be a diminutive like "booklet," but the apparent root "pamph" does not make sense. Did our word come from the Spanish papeleta (slip, card)? Is there a link with the Egyptian papyrus (paper made from pressed rushes)? Actually, our word traces back to a very popular love poem from the twelfth century. It was called "Pamphilus, seu de Amore" (Pamphilus, or on love). The main character's name, Pamphilus, means "beloved by all," from pan- (all) and philos (beloved). The poem was widely reproduced, and its title entered common usage. By the 14th century, a pamphlet was any unbound text shorter than a book. Essay about the history and uses of pamphlets: http://www.sils.buffalo.edu/faculty/ellison/Syllabi/519Complete/scans/Pamphlets.html Today's sponsor: K-12 Learning Network http://homeschoolnetwork.com NEW LOW PRICE -- Take your home school to next level of excellence! K-12 classes for the serious Home Educator - Proven Curriculum - Taught to reinforce Christian values to your children - High School, Jr High, Elementary, K-5 in full-motion digital video. Helping you with the harder subjects - For the serious Home Educator. Free info: E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 1-888-406-4040 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 101,731 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: mohair
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 4, 1999
--
mohair [n. MO-hair]
--
Mohair is the long, silky hair of an angora goat, and it's both the
yarn and the fabric made from that hair. It is valued because it's
about three times as strong as wool, and mohair fabric is very
durable.
Is mohair the hair of a mo? No, this tricky word, which contains
"hair" and names a kind of hair, has its source in a word that is not
at all related to the English hair.
The original word in Arabic was mukhayyar (choice, select), which was
used to describe the very best yarn produced from angora goats, and
the finest fabric produced from that yarn. In Italian, it was
mocaiaro, and in Old English it was mocayere. Through "folk
etymology," in which words assume pronunciations or spellings that
seem to make more sense, the word became mohair.
More about mohair:
http://www.mohairusa.com//story.html
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Cool Word: mealy-mouthed
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 3, 1999 -- mealy-mouthed [adj. MEE-lee mouthd] -- To be mealy-mouthed is to speak in circles, to be unwilling to directly state facts or opinions. The phrase carries a strong sense of disapproval. Example: "Senator McBain's mealy-mouthed platitudes left us wondering if he had a point of view at all." Some etymologists have linked this phrase with the Latin mel (honey). The connection may seem appropriate, since a mealy-mouthed person might also be called "honey-tongued." The source of the phrase is actually more direct: a mealy-mouthed person is like someone whose mouth is full of meal (powdered grain), unable to speak clearly. There's a German expression, "Mehl im Maule behalten" (literally, to carry meal in one's mouth) that means "to speak indirectly." Our phrase most likely came from the German expression, or a similar one in another Germanic language. Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: <http://www.oddparts.com/ink> Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 100,689 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: jungle
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 2, 1999
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jungle [n. JUNG-gul]
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A jungle is an area of land that is densely overgrown with tropical
vegetation. More metaphorically, a jungle can also be something that
is confusing or densely tangled, as in this example: "After three
hours of study, Stew became frustrated by the dense jungle of tax
rules."
Although today we usually think of jungles as moist places, the
original jungles were dry. The oldest known root is Sanskrit jangalam
(a dry wasteland, or any kind of uncultivated area). In Hindi, a
jangal was still an area of wasteland, but with the additional sense
of being overgrown with scrub. When the word moved into Anglo-Indian,
it changed to almost its present meaning, referring to an area of
dense forest.
Since entering English, the word has developed many new variants. Now
there are concrete jungles (big cities), blackboard jungles (public
schools), corporate jungles (big companies), and of course the
globe-spanning digital jungle (the Internet).
The nearly pristine jungles of Borneo still offer adventure and
danger:
http://savvytraveler.com/Show/Features/10-24-98/borneo.html
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Cool Word: fritillary
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 1, 1999 -- fritillary [n. FRIT-ul-air-ee] -- A fritillary is either a kind of lily, or it is a butterfly. Both are quite showy, with orange, yellow, or brown checked or spotted patterns on the flowers or the wings, respectively. There are about a dozen kinds of fritillary butterflies in the US and Europe, in the family Nymphalidae. There are also several species of fritillary lilies. They are not called fritillaries because they flit about, or because they fritter away their lives in idle showiness. The name refers to the colorful patterns. The original word was the Latin fritillus (a dice box). Roman dice boxes often had checked patterns on them. The great spangled fritillary, a large butterfly from the US: http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/butter/grtspan.html The gulf fritillary, a beautiful butterfly found in Florida: http://www.butterflywings.com/s-gulffrit.html Article on wildflowers, with a picture of a scarlet fritillary lily: http://www.so-oregon.com/gardening/islands/garden.html Article about woodland flowers, including the unusual snakeshead fritillary: http://www.klis.com/fundy/ecg/Smtreasr.htm Today's sponsor: 50states.com http://www.50states.com 50states.com is pleased to announce a new addition to their website. The directory of Community pages: http://www.50states.com/city/ A complete listing of all the cities in the USA with hotlinks to over 3000 websites. A great place to take a virtual vacation. Is your city listed? -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 99,911 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: caltrop
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 28, 1999 -- caltrop [n. KAL-trup] -- There are several different kinds of plants called caltrop, all of which have fruits with sharp, projecting spikes. A a caltrop can also be a metal device with four sharp spikes arranged so that when it lands on the ground, one of the spikes always points straight up. The metal caltrops are nasty little military weapons, strewn behind fleeing troops to interfere with pursuing horses or vehicles. The spiny-fruited plants are almost equally nasty, including a star thistle and the water caltrop, a water chestnut. The military device was named after the plants. The word comes from Middle English calketrappe, from Medieval Latin calcatrippa (thistle; any plant that "catches the feet"). That word was a compound of calcare (to tread on) and trappa (trap), a word of Ancient Germanic origin that was also the root of Modern English trap. -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 98,478 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: symposium
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 27, 1999
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symposium [n. sim-POH-zee-um]
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A symposium is a party, social gathering, or formal meeting where
there is a free exchange of ideas, or it can be a collection of
opinions on a subject, especially one that is published. Example:
"Dr. Drake attended the physics symposium, where he spoke at length
about his new theories."
Today, a symposium is most often a formal gathering, with a scheduled
list of speakers and discussions. In ancient Greece, the first
symposia were more like drinking parties than intellectual meetings.
Their word was sumposion, from sumpinein, a compound of sum-
(together) and pinein (to drink).
Until the 18th century, a symposium was a Greek drinking party. The
more sober sense of the word appeared when British intellectuals began
meeting for drinks and conversation, bringing a sense of dignified,
English propriety to their symposia.
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Cool Word: farrago
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 26, 1999
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farrago [n. fuh-RAY-go, fuh-RAH-go]
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A farrago is a mixed medley, a varied assortment. It's a slightly
disparaging word that implies a haphazard, disorganized collection.
Example: "Edwin's thesis was little more than a random farrago of
hastily collected themes."
Our modern word is a direct descendent of the Latin farrago, which was
a kind of mixed cattle feed, or more generally, any kind of mixture.
The root was Latin far (spelt, a kind of hardy wheat), which also gave
us farina (a mealy sort of breakfast cereal) and farinaceous (starchy,
mealy, powdery).
When English adopted farrago the meaning broadened from a mixture of
fodder to include any kind of mixture, even a mixture of ideas, as in
"a farrago of nonsense," one of the most popular modern uses of the
word.
More distant relatives from the same root include the grain called
barley, and the place where it is stored, which is called the barn.
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Cool Word: dungeon
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 25, 1999
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dungeon [n. DUN-jun]
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A dungeon is a dark chamber, usually underground, where prisoners are
confined. Most dungeons are located underneath European castles.
The history of this word traces from the top of the castle to the
bottom. From the Latin root dominus (master), came Vulgar Latin
domnio (lord's tower), the most elevated part of the castle.
By the 14th century, in Old French a donjon could be the whole castle,
but it could also be the keep (a secure structure that was often below
the castle) as well as a prison cell in the keep. Today, the dungeon
is usually in the deepest part of the castle, far below the lord's
tower.
Here are more "masterful" words:
domain: controlled territory; area of activity or interest
dominion: control or exercise of control
demesne: manorial land retained by a lord
don: male title (Spanish); crime family leader
danger: exposure to harm or risk; power to harm (obsolete)
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Cool Word: belfry
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 24, 1999
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belfry [n. BEL-free]
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A belfry is a bell tower, or the part of a tower or steeple where
bells are hung. It might seem obvious that the word is related to
bells, but actually its origin had nothing to do with them.
The original belfries were large wooden structures that were wheeled
up to the walls of cities under attack. From the top of the
structure, torches, missiles, and other projectiles were hurled into
the city. In Old French these movable towers were called berfrei,
from an ancient germanic compound root whose two parts mean "to
protect" and "a place of safety."
The Old North French variant of this was belfrei. The meaning
eventually extended to watch towers, which often contained bells. The
word moved into English, and the original meaning was replaced because
of the obvious-seeming connection between belfries and bells.
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