Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day
Words that I do not know
Pronounced: ay-LAHN
Notes: I’ve run across this word in reading, but I wasn’t sure of the meaning
The word xerophilous means “adapted to a very dry or desert environment”
Our word came into English in the mid-1800s
As I noted yesterday, I recognized part of the word — the suffix -philous (liking). The prefix is xero- (dry) — both of these came from the Greek language.
Pronounced: zee-ROF-uh-luhs, adj
Notes: Well, I recognized one part of this word, but it still didn’t help with the definition
The word tergiversation means
Our word came into English in the mid-1500s
Our word came from the Latin word tergiversari (to show reluctance), which is created from tergum (back) and versare (to turn). It would be fun to drop this word when dealing with someone who won’t give a straight answer.
Pronounced: ter-jih-ver-SAY-shun, noun
Notes: This is a word I could use, if I can remember to use it
The word teleology means
Our word came into English in the mid-1700s
As I noted, I ran across an adjectival form of our word; a memory stirred — I thought it was in a Lord Peter Wimsey story; possibly Clouds of Witness (by Dorothy Sayers) and was uttered by Peter’s policeman friend Charles. So, I retrieved the book from my library and looked for it; it turned out that I correctly remembered the book and the general location (which was gratifying to my ego). What Charles actually says is “There are many difficulties inherent in a teleological view of creation”. Charles enjoys evangelical theology and is known to relax by reading commentaries. Our word came from the Greek prefix tele- (far; end) and -logy (study).
Pronounced: tell-ee-AHL-uh-jee, noun
Notes: I didn’t recognize this word, but after I saw the definition, I’ve run across a form of it
The word balneology is “the science of the therapeutic use of baths”
Our word came into English in the late 1800s
As noted yesterday, I knew that the -ology ending meant “study” (but, as in our word, it can also mean “science”), but I didn’t know it had to do with baths. Our word came from the Latin word balneum (bath) and the -logy (science) ending.
Pronounced: bal-nee-AH-luh-jee, noun
Notes: With the “-ology” ending, it means the study or science of “something”
The word fissiparous means
Our word came into English in the mid-1800s
Rather a fun word to use instead of “fragile”, isn’t it? Our word came from the Latin word fissi- (cleft) and -parous (bearing; producing).
Pronounced: fih-SIP-uh-russ, adj
Notes: Interesting word that I didn’t know; I didn’t know the proper pronunciation
The word hie means
Our word came into English sometime before around 900
After I read the definition, I seem to remember the line something like “I guess I better hie me to <something>” — however, I might be getting it confused with the line from Hamlet: “get thee to a nunnery”. In any event, our word came from the Middle English word hien/hyen, which came from the Old English word hīgian (to strive), which is considered to be related to the Dutch word hijgen (to pant), the Greek word kíein (to go), and the Latin word ciēre (to cause to go).
Pronounced: HI, verb
Notes: I did recognized this word until after I read the definition
The word lief, as an adverb, means “willingly; gladly; readily”. As as adjective, it means
Our word came into English in the late 800s
Our word is one of the oldest words that have been posted. Our word came from the Old English word leof (dear).
Pronounced: LEEF, adv/adj
Notes: I have run across this word, but I could not properly define it
The word etiolate means
Our word first came into English in the late 1700s
Our word came from the French word étioler — it was originally used to depriving growing celery of light. The French word came from the Old French word for “straw”, which is related to the Latin word stipula (straw; stalk). In our times, the concept of growing vegetables as pale as straw is usually “blanch” — our word tends to be an undesirable deprivation of light so that they look sickly, pale and spindly. Not too long after our word appeared, the second (more figurative) usage showed up.
Pronounced: EE-tee-uh-late, verb
Notes: A new word to me; I don’t believe I’ve ever run across it
The word orgulous means “haughty”
Our word came into English in the late 1200s
I didn’t know our word existed; it would be fun to drop it into conversation when the word “haughty” is needed. Our word came from the Old French word orguill (pride).
Pronounced: OR-gyuh-luhs, adj
Notes: I (incorrectly) thought this word may be related to ogres
The word aerie is
Our word came into English in the late-1500s
I think the place where I found the word has an incorrect pronunciation; the Internet has “AIR-ee” or “EAR-ee”, whereas in yesterday’s post I had “ER-ee”. I am familiar with the first definition; the second was probably derived from the first. Our word came from Anglo-French, which came from Old French word airie, an alternate spelling of aire, which came from the Latin word ager (field) – thought to mean “nest” in Vulgar Latin.
Richard's Vocabulary Word-of-the-Day