word 29

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

simulacrum

PRONUNCIATION:

(sim-yuh-LAY-krum)

MEANING:

noun:
1. An image or representation.
2. A vague resemblance to something.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin simulare (to simulate), from similis (like). Ultimately from the Indo-European root sem- (one) that is also the source of simultaneous, assemble, simple, Sanskrit sandhi (union), Russian samovar (a metal urn, literally, self-boiler), and Greek hamadryad (a wood nymph, who lives in a tree and dies when it dies).

USAGE:

"The game [Webkinz] also offers an outlet to exercise a simulacrum of control over aspects of their lives, an opportunity often not available in the day-to-day world."
Akin Ajayi; Every Kid Wants A Petting Zoo at Home; Jerusalem Post (Israel); Dec 3, 2009.
"Edward [the vampire] is stuck forever in the simulacrum of a devastatingly attractive 17-year-old boy."
Olivia Laing; The Mormon Queen of the Damned; New Zealand Herald (Auckland); Nov 21, 2009.
Explore "simulacrum" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. -Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and writer (121-180)

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word 28

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

avoirdupois

PRONUNCIATION:

(av-ur-duh-POIZ, -PWA)

MEANING:

noun: Heaviness or weight of a person.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Middle English avoir de pois (goods sold by weight), from Old French aveir de peis (goods of weight), originally referred to things sold in bulk.

USAGE:

"Both McKay and Welles are tall and carry a fair amount of avoirdupois."
Sam Allis; Getting Orson Welles Just Right; Boston Globe; Dec 6, 2009.
Explore "avoirdupois" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The vanquished know war. They see through the empty jingoism of those who use the abstract words of glory, honor, and patriotism to mask the cries of the wounded, the senseless killing, war profiteering, and chest-pounding grief. -Chris Hedges, journalist, author, and war correspondent (b. 1956)

word 27

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

pother

PRONUNCIATION:

(POTH-uhr)

MEANING:

noun: 1. A commotion or fuss. 2. Mental turmoil. 3. A smothering cloud of dust or smoke.
verb tr.: To confuse or worry someone.
verb intr.: To worry or fuss.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of unknown origin.

USAGE:

"Very little will change whether that appointee is Caroline Kennedy or someone else. So why all the pother?"
Ed Quillen; Expanded Non-story Season; Denver Post; Dec 28, 2008.
Explore "pother" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations. -Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)

word .. 26

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

dipsomania

PRONUNCIATION:

(dip-suh-MAY-nee-uh)

MEANING:

noun: An insatiable, periodic craving for alcohol.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek dipsa (thirst) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze).

USAGE:

"As the emperor Janangir began his decline in the old familiar grip of dipsomania (both his brothers had died early of drink), his wife Nur Jahan took complete charge as his proxy."
Sunil Sethi; Jahangir's Josephine; Outlook (New Delhi, India); Nov 27, 2000.
Explore "dipsomania" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)

word – 23rd December

PRONUNCIATION:

(as-truh-FO-bee-uh)

MEANING:

noun: An abnormal fear of lightning and thunder.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek astrape (lightning). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ster- (star) that is also the source of star, asterisk, asteroid, astrology, disaster, stellar, constellation, Persian sitareh (star), and the names Stella and Esther.

NOTES:

Also known as astrapophobia and brontophobia (from Greek bronte-, thunder, which also gave us brontosaurus).

USAGE:

"In the USA, it is estimated around 10 per cent of people suffer from astraphobia to some degree."
Don White; Weatherwatch; The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia); Dec 11, 2001.
Explore "astraphobia" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Any advertisement in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It's yours to take, re-arrange, and re-use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head. -Banksy, street artist (b. 1974)

word 24

This week's theme
Miscellaneous words
This week's words
anomie
simulacrum
avoirdupois
arrogate

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arrogate

PRONUNCIATION:

(AIR-uh-gayt)

MEANING:

verb tr.:
1. To claim as a right for oneself presumptuously.
2. To claim on behalf of another: to attribute or assign.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin arrogatus (appropriated), past participle of arrogare, from rogare (to ask). Ultimately from the Indo-European reg- (to move in a straight line, to lead or rule) that is also the source of arrogant, regent, regime, direct, rectangle, erect, rectum, alert, source, surge, supererogatory, abrogate, and prorogue.

USAGE:

"Youth fills you with optimistic thoughts, bursts with energy, and brims with confidence. It is the stage where you feel that your calling in life is to change the existing order for betterment arrogating the role of the social arbiter."
Philip Fernando; Understanding the JVP; Daily News (Colombo, Sri Lanka); Dec 8, 2009.
Explore "arrogate" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Many demolitions are actually renovations. -Jalaluddin Rumi, poet and mystic (1207-1273)

word…23

A.Word.A.Day--rapporteur

...

Mon, 30 November, 2009 11:18:26 AM

From:

Wordsmith <wsmith@wordsmith.org>

...

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kala_gpk@yahoo.co.in

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The Magic of Words

This week's theme
French terms
This week's words
rapporteur
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A common misconception is that in the past when an immigrant to the US arrived on Ellis Island, the clerk at the registration office often changed a name, from Kwiatkovski to Kay, for example. While stories of renaming at the port of entry are mostly myths, many names were later anglicized, such as Pedersen becoming Peterson.
Something similar happens with the language. What do the words puny, petty, mayday have in common? Each is a French word that has been adopted into English with a phonetic respelling, from puisné, petit, and m'aidez (literally, Help me).
This week we've picked five French terms that are used in English with little change. They have the same spellings and meanings, though English pronunciations are a little different from their original French.

rapporteur

PRONUNCIATION:

(rap-or-TUHR)

MEANING:

noun:
1. Someone appointed by an organization, group, or committee to investigate or monitor an issue, and compile and present the findings.
2. One who is designated to record the deliberations of a meeting.

ETYMOLOGY:

From French raportour (reporter), from rapporter (to bring back, report), from apporter (to bring), from Latin portare (carry). Ultimately from the Indo-European root per- (to lead, pass over) that also gave us support, comport, petroleum, sport, passport, colporteur (a peddler of religious books), Swedish fartlek (a training technique), Norwegian fjord (bay), and Sanskrit parvat (mountain).
The word rapporteur in French has various other meanings besides a reporter, such as an informer or a tattletale, and a protractor.

USAGE:

"The United Nations special rapporteur, Raquel Rolnik, listened to it all patiently, occasionally taking notes, nodding encouragement."
Chris McGreal; UN Meets Homeless Victims of American Property Dream; The Guardian (London, UK); Nov 12, 2009.
Explore "rapporteur" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Reading a book is like rewriting it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms. -Angela Carter, novelist and journalist (1940-1992)