Xeric Zir-ick Adjective Characterized by or relating to only needing a small amount of moisture. Most so-called air plants can be categorized as xeric. While eventually tracing back to the Greek word xeros (meaning dry), this one only came to existence in 1926 when a bunch of botantists decided they needed a spiffy new word…
Word of the Week
My Word! – April 15
by Betsey Ellis •
Wanchancy Wan-chancy Adjective A Scottish term for something that is unlucky. W’s are getting harder to come by, is anyone (other than a designer of a crossword puzzle) ever going to use this one?
Word of the Week
My Word! – April 8
by Betsey Ellis •
Vociferate Vo-cif-er-ate Verb To utter loudly, to shout, to bawl Too many politicians can’t seem to help but vociferate their message. Also from Latin and first seen in English in 1599, probably referring to someone in the House of Commons.
Word of the Week
My Word! – April 1
by Betsey Ellis •
Ultraquist Ultra-quist Noun A person who speaks two or more languages Many people in Quebec are ultraquists and speak both English and French. It comes from Latin, enough said.
Word of the Week
My Word!
by Betsey Ellis •
TriphthongTrif-thongNouna phonological unit consisting of three successive vocalic sounds in one syllable; three vowel sounds pronounced as oneTechnically, the word hour contains a triphthong.First used in English in 1559, but no one recalls (or cares) why.
Word of the Week
My Word! March 11
by Betsey Ellis •
Scotoma Sco-to-ma Noun A spot in the visual field where vision is absent or impaired The presence of a scotoma may be a symptom of glaucoma. This one was first found in English in 1822, but of course came from Latin, and they stole it from the Greek verb skotoun, meaning to darken.
Word of the Week
My Word! March 4
by Betsey Ellis •
Raad Ra-ad Noun An electric catfish Ralph was shocked when it turned out he had caught a raad. I am not quite sure where raad are found, but the name comes from the Arabic word ra”ad, meaning threatener or striker, which still strikes me as an odd term for a fish.
Word of the Week
My Word! February 26
by Betsey Ellis •
Quoll Kwal Noun A small spotted marsupial found in Australia and New Guinea It is amazing that this species survives since the northern male quoll dies after mating a single time. This dates back to 1770 and comes from the Australian aboriginal language Guugu Yimidhirr word je-quoll for the little critters.
Word of the Week
My Word! February 19
by Betsey Ellis •
Pretermit pre·ter·mit A transitive verb To leave undone or neglect; To let pass without notice or to omit; To suspend indefinitely Shirley would never pretermit cleaning the litter boxes. This one goes back to the 15th Century!
Word of the Week
My Word! February 12
by Betsey Ellis •
Orthographer Or-thog-ra-fer Noun A person that is skilled in orthography; an expert speller Barbara once again proved she was an orthographer when she won the Spelling Bee for the third year in a row. It comes from late Latin, of course.