rubricate

Pronounced: ROO-brih-kate, verb

Notes: You may be able to guess at the meaning

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Yesterday’s word

The word exaptation means “the adaptation of a trait for a purpose other than for which is was evolved”

First usage

This word was created in the 1980s

Background / Comments

The word was coined by Stephen J Gould in 1981: it is a combination of ex- (out) and adaptation, which itself is made up of ad- (toward) and aptare (to fit). Personally, I find the meaning a bit silly, as who is really to say what “the purpose” of a trait really was. An example of ‘feathers’ was given. It is said that “purpose” of feathers was warmth and later they were used for flight. Perhaps God gave feathers to birds for the dual purpose of warmth and flight.