ostracize · /ˈɒstrəsʌɪz/ · /OSS-trə-size/. verb. To exclude or banish someone from society or a group. In Ancient Greece, to punish someone through temporary exile. Latinized form of Greek ostrakizein (to banish), literally “to banish with potshards,” reflecting the ancient Athenian practice of holding a public vote, scratching names onto a potshard or piece of tile, on the fate of dangerous or embarrassing people. If a majority voted so, the person would be banished for 10 years. Ultimately, ostracize is derived from the PIE root ost- (bone), which is the root of words such as ossuary and oyster.
[Read more…]WORD(S)
A cornucopia—a logocopia!—of awesome words.
crapulent
crapulent · /ˈkræpjʊlənt/ · /KRAP-yoo-lənt/. adjective. Sickness from excessive drinking (or eating); the result of such excess. Intemperance. From Latin crāpula (intoxication). See also: crapulence, crapulous.
[Read more…]stridor
stridor · /ˈstrʌɪdər/ · /striy-dər/. noun. A harsh, grating sound. A whistling sound or vibrating when breathing. From Latin strīdēre (to creak).
[Read more…]anomie
anomie · /ˈanəmi/ · /AN-ə-mee/. noun. Hopelesness because of, or characterized by, a breakdown in the social or moral standards in an individual or society. Isolation and anxiety caused by a lack of social control or regulation. An absence of accepted social values. A borrowing, with French spelling, of anomy (lawlessness, violation of divine law), from Greek anomos (without law). Not to be confused with anomia, a kind of aphasia rendering one unable to recognize everyday objects.
[Read more…]foofaraw
foofaraw · /ˈfu:fəˌrɔ:/ · /FOO-fə-rah/. noun. Originally fussy, vain or tawdry. Now: frivolous trappings, trinkets, or a great fuss or excessive amount of attention. From two languages: French fanfaron (boastful), Spanish fanfarrón (vain, ostentations, braggart). See also: brouhaha, commotion, fracas, hubbub, furore.
[Read more…]funest
funest · /fju:ˈnɛst/ · /fyoo-NEST/. adjective. Causing or portending death or disaster. Catastrophic, calamitous, lamentable. From French funest, same meaning, from Latin fūnus (funeral, death). See also: funestal, funestous.
[Read more…]mizzle
mizzle · /ˈmɪz(ə)l/ · /miz-əl/. noun or verb. A fine rain or drizzle. To disappear suddenly, to vanish. To whine or whimper. The weather-related forms are from Middle English misellen (to drizzle), possibly from, but at least related to, Middle Dutch misel (fog, dew) and Dutch dialect miezelen (to rain gently). Origin of the others is unclear.
[Read more…]- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 37
- Next Page »