capitonym /KAP-i-toh-NIM/. noun. A word that changes meaning (and sometimes pronunciation) when capitalized, such as August and august, Earth and earth, Polish and polish. A portmanteau of capital + -onym (word or name).
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canorous
canorous /cə-NOR-us/. adjective. Musical, melodious, richly resonant, tuneful. From canor (melody), from canere (to sing). From PIE root kan– (to sing) from which are derived accent, canto, chant and incentive. See also: euphonious, harmonious.
[Read more…]chiaroscuro
chiaroscuro /kee-ar-uh-SKYER-oh/. noun. Literally, the composition of light and shade or black and white in a painting or picture; figuratively to describe deep contrast.
contretemps
contretemps /KON-trə-ton/. noun. An awkward, embarrassing, difficult situation or disagreement. A minor disagreement. A clash. Originally a French fencing term contre-temps (an unfortunate accident, a mistimed motion), from Latin contra (against) + tempus (time). [Read more…]
corybantic
corybantic /KOR-ə-BAN-tik/. adjective. Wildly excited; frenzied. Derived from Corybant, a priest of Cybele, Greek (and Phrygia’s only known) Goddess of fertility and nature, whose worship included loud music and riotous dancing. Celebrants, then and now, literally and figuratively, are sometimes called corybants or corybantes.
catarrh
catarrh /kə-TAR/. noun. An inflammation of the nose or throat; the mucus formed from such an inflammation. From Greek katarrhein (to flow down), from kata- (down) + rhein (to flow). See also catarrhal, catarrhous, and the partially derived catarrhine, used to describe the narrow space between the nostrils of some primates, from kata- + rhinos (nose).
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cantillate
cantillate /KAN-tə-layt/. verb. To recite or chant musically, usually a religious text. From Latin antillāre (to sing softly), from cantāre (to sing). See also: cantor and cantata.
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