August 2009
1 post
perfunctory
perfunctory
Derived from late Latin perfunctorius, meaning ‘careless’. Not thorough, or of something done with little effort or thought.
July 2009
3 posts
tacit
tacit
From the Latin tacitus and tacere, “to be silent”, and beginning usage in 1700s. Understood and implied without mention.
ardor
ardor
Originates from late Middle English and Old French from Latin word ardere, meaning “to burn”. A feeling of warmth, enthusiasm or passion.
prescient
prescient
From early 1600s from Latin praescient, “knowing beforehand”. Demonstrating or having knowledge of something before it happens. “Islands in the Sky… full of both prescient hits and blind misses.”
June 2009
2 posts
nix
nix
Deriving from informal 18th century German nichts, meaning “nothing”. Same meaning as a noun. In verb form, to put at an end, stop, or cancel.
moxie
moxie (or moxy)
Slang originating from late 19th century American soft drink Moxie, also sold as medicine at one point. Audacity or courage, including skill and spirit.
May 2009
1 post
smorgasbord
smorgasbord
From the Swedish smörgåsbord, literally translated as “open faced sandwich” and “table”, a Scandinavian buffet-style meal with a variety of different foods. Figuratively, any variety or wide range of selections.
April 2009
3 posts
paean
paean
Originates from Latin in 16th century for the name of Greek paian, a hymn towards Apollo. A song expressing triumph or praise, sometimes in chorus or sung individually.
pescetarianism
pescetarianism
Neologism formed as portmanteau of Italian pesce and English word vegetarian. Pesce further derives from Latin piscis, meaning “fish”. A name for vegetarians whom also consume fish and other seafood.
aglet
aglet
From Middle English, then from French aiguillette, meaning “small needle”. Name for the tube affixed to the end of strings, such as shoelaces. Typically made from plastic or metal.
March 2009
5 posts
oubliette
oubliette
Originates from 18th century French oublier for “forget”. Secret dungeon that can only be accessed through a trap door in the ceiling. “Imagine if you fall through the floor into an oubliette; that wouldn’t be a very good fall through.”
viz.
viz.
Abbreviation of “videlicet”; “z” originating as a symbol in Medieval Latin for the suffix “-et”. Adverb meaning “namely”, or “that is to say”. Typically pronounced “vɪz” or “ˈneɪmlɪ”.
mum
mum
In adjective sense means “silence”. Late Middle English from onomatopoeia for any sound made with lips closed. Found in phrases “mum’s the word” and “keep mum” meaning to stay silent as to not share a secret.
thermos
thermos
Name originates straight from Greek (θερμός) for “heat”. Used by German company Thermos GmbH in 1904 naming their flasks Thermos, a registered trademark remaining today. Now a generic name in the US for a vacuum flask that keeps a drink hot or cold using a layered wall to make a vacuum.
amoral
amoral
Derived from Latin moralis for “custom”. Anything amoral does not concern itself with what is considered right or wrong. Differs from immoral: something considered against what is right or not conforming to standards of what is considered moral.
February 2009
3 posts
emery
emery
From French émeri, which in Old French was esmeri, from Italian smeriglio, and based off Greek smuris or smiris for “polishing powder”. Emery is a mixture of corundum and magnetite used as an abrasive for polishing or grinding. Adjective form is used for things coated with emery, such as an emery board for the fingernails.
7 tags
röntgen
röntgen or roentgen
Named after German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen and abbreviated as R. A unit of measurement for ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays or x-rays. Until 2006, röntgens was an acceptable unit of measurement along the SI system. Its usage is now “strongly discouraged” by the National Institute of Standards & Technology.
6 tags
sleight
sleight
Word from Old Norse: slœgð. The use of dexterity or cunning. Often used in the phrase “sleight of hand” to indicate use with hands. More often frequently misspelled.
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