parergon · /pə-RƏR-gawn/ · /pəˈrə:gɒn/. noun. An ornamental accesssory; a byproduct; a piece of writing that is subsidiary to another work; work in addition to one’s primary employment. From Greek para (beside, beyond) + ergon (work). See also: opuscule.
[Read more…]WORD(S)
A cornucopia—a logocopia!—of awesome words.
chrestomathy
chrestomathy · /kreh-STAHM-ə-thee/ · /krɛsˈtɒməθɪ/. noun. A collection of choice literary passages, most often by a single author, and moste often to assist in learning a foreign language. From Greek khrēstos (useful) + mathein (to learn); from PIE root mendh- (to learn). See also: chrestomathic.
[Read more…]perfidy
perfidy /PER-fi-dee/ /ˈpə:fɪdi/. noun. A deliberate betrayal of trust or breach of faith, particularly professing friendship to deceive. More commonly seen in its adjective form perfidious (faithless, deceitful, treacherous). From Latin perfidia (falsehood, treachery), from the phrase per fidem decipere (to deceive through trustingness), from per- (forward, through) + fidem (faith).
[Read more…]teratology
teratology · /tayr-ə-TOL-ə-jee/ · /tɛrəˈtɒlədʒi/. noun. The study of physical abnormalities, gross defects, and the conditions that give rise to them. From Greek prefix *terato-* (of or pertaining to monsters), from Greek teras (monster or monstrosity). See also: teratoid, teratophobia, teratophilia, teratogenetic, teratoma, teratical.
[Read more…]Anchorite
anchorite /AYN-kər-iyt/ /ˈaŋkərʌɪt/. noun or adjective. Someone who has withdrawn or secluded themselves from the world, usually for religious reasons. A recluse; a person of solitary habits. From Greek anakhoretes (one who has retired), from anakhorein (to retreat, retire), from ana (back) + khorein (withdraw). See also: ascetic, hermit, loner, solitarian.
[Read more…]monophobia
monophobia · /mah-nuh-FOE-bee-uh/ · /mɒnəʊˈfəʊbɪə/. noun. A severe, even morbid fear of being alone. Also, a generic term for a single, simple or specific phobia. From Greek mono- (alone, single, sole, only) + -phobia (a fear of, or aversion to, something). See also: eremophobia, isolophobia.
[Read more…]banausic
banausic /bəˈnɔ:sɪk/ /bə-NAW-sik/. adjective. Ordinary; routine; run-of-the-mill; mundane; dull. Derogatory, obviously, banausic originated in Ancient Greek as a pejorative label for the laboring class, including artists and musicians. It’s possible that the Elizabethan use of “mechanical” was a translation from the Greek. From Greek banausos (handicraftsman).
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