Word of the Day 20-29-12

Quadrennial:

1. Occurring every four years.

2. Of or lasting for four years.

noun:

1. An event occurring every four years, as an anniversary or its celebration.

 

Origin: Clearly, quadrennial  comes from the Latin words quadri-  meaning four and annus  meaning years, with the suffix -ial  meaning pertaining to.

Word of the Day 2-28-12

Pettifog:

1. To bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters.

2. To carry on a petty, shifty, or unethical law business.

3. To practice chicanery of any sort.

 

Origin: Pettifog  comes from the Middle Dutch word voeger  meaning one who arranges things and the word petty  meaning insignificant.

CNN Student News 2-27-12

In today's student news, there was a whole lot more talk about the violence that is continuing in Syria. There is an election of sorts taking place in Syria, but I think that it is just for show and to appease the public. The government wants to give Syrians a false sense in that they have a say in what transpires politically. I think that the UN needs to become more active in this very unstable country.

Word of the Day 2-27-12

Flexuous:

1. Full of bends or curves; sinuous.

 

Origin: Flexuous  is derived from the Latin word flexuōsus  which meant full of turns or crooked. This is an interesting example where the suffix changes the implication of the word. Unlike the more common word flexible,  which means "capable of being bent" because of the suffix -ible , flexuous  has the suffix, -ous  meaning "full of."

CNN Student News 2-24-12

In today's student news, they talked about rising gas prices and how they are affecting Americans. The wallets of all Americans are becoming a whole lot tighter as they havw witnessed an increase in gasoline prices. There are a lot of ways to drive gas prices back down, and I think that pursuing alternative energy sources is a perfect way to solve the rising prices of energy, particularly gasoline.

Word of the Dat 2-24-12

Adamantine:

1. Utterly unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion.

2. Too hard to cut, break, or pierce.

3. Like a diamond in luster.

 

Origin: Related to adamant , adamantine  comes from the Greek word adamántinos , a combination of the word adamant  and the suffix -ine  which means "of or pertaining to."

Word of the Day 2-23-12

Plenum:

1. A full assembly, as a joint legislative assembly.

2. The state or a space in which a gas, usually air, is contained at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

3. A space, usually above a ceiling or below a floor, that can serve as a receiving chamber for air that has been heated or cooled to be distributed to inhabited areas.

4. The whole of space regarded as being filled with matter (opposed to vacuum).

 

Origin:

Plenum  is literally the opposite of a vacuum . It came to be used in the sense of a full meeting of legislators in 1772 in Sweden.

Word of the Day 2-22-12

ad rem:

1. Without digressing; in a straightforward manner.

adjective:

1. Relevant; pertinent.

Origin: Ad rem  is a useful Latin phrase that literally means "at thing" from the roots ad  and rēs .

Word of the Day 2-21-12

Bespeak:

1. To show; indicate.

2. To ask for in advance.

3. To reserve beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for.

4. Literary.  To speak to; address.

5. Obsolete.  To foretell; forebode.

 

Origin:

Bespeak  is derived from the Old English word besprecan . It developed a wide range of meanings, such as request, discuss, or arrange.

Word of the Day 2-16-2012

Mammonism:

1. The greedy pursuit of riches.

 

Origin: Mammonism  is an odd combination of Aramaic and Greek. The word mammon  meant wealth in Aramaic, and the suffix -ism  forms a noun from a verb, as in criticism and plagiarism.

CNN Student News 2-15-2012

In today's student news, they talked about US relations with China. Although our two nations have been friends in the past, I think the future is not very bright. China controls a lot of the US economy and the US needs them to invest in our debt. By decreasing the budget deficit and therefore our debt, we will be able to maintain a healthy relationship with China.

Word of the Day 2-15-2012

Vilipend:

1. To regard or treat as of little value or account.

2. To vilify; depreciate.

 

Origin: Vilipend  is derived from the Old French roots vīli  meaning vile and pendere  meaning to consider, also the root of pensive.

Word of the Day 2-14-2012

Cordate:

1. Heart-shaped.

2. (Of leaves) heart-shaped, with the attachment at the notched end.

 

Origin: Related to core , cordate  comes from the Latin word for heart, cor , and the suffix -ate  which forms an adjective from a noun.

CNN Student News 2-13-2012

In today's student news, they talked more about the violence in Syria. The Arab league has threatened the Syrian government with sanctions. I think that more countries need to step up and intervene for the people of Syria.

Word of the Day 2-13-2012

Exoteric:

1. Suitable for or communicated to the general public.

2. Not belonging, limited, or pertaining to the inner or select circle, as of disciples or intimates.

3. Popular; simple; commonplace.

4. Pertaining to the outside; exterior; external.

 

Origin: Like its opposite esoteric, exoteric  is from the Greek root -teros . Exōterikós  generally referred to anything outside.

CNN Student News 2-10-2012

In today's student news they talked about the possibility of letting women serve closer to the front lines in combat. As of now they aren't allowed to but it seems that they will be able to very soon. I think that they should allow women to serve however they choose to if they can do the same jobs with equal quality/ efficiency.

Word of the Day 2-10-2012

Depone:

1. To testify under oath; depose.

Origin: In Latin, dēpōnere  meant "to put aside." In Medieval Latin it came to mean "to testify" and came directly into English.

Word of the Day 2-09-2012

Screed:

1. A long discourse or essay, especially a diatribe.

2. An informal letter, account, or other piece of writing.

3. Building Trades.  A. A strip of plaster or wood applied to a surface to be plastered to serve as a guide for making a true surface. B. A wooden strip serving as a guide for making a true level surface on a concrete pavement or the like. C. A board or metal strip dragged across a freshly poured concrete slab to give it its proper level.

4. British Dialect.  A fragment or shred, as of cloth.

5. Scot.  A. A tear or rip, especially in cloth. B. A drinking bout.

verb:

1. Scot.  To tear, rip, or shred, as cloth.

 

Origin: Screed  is related to the Old English word for shred. Its alternate sense of a long speech was first recorded in 1789 and may be related to the sense of the word meaning a long lists of names.

CNN Student News 2-08-2012

In today's student news they talked about the violence in Syria. They shared the recording of a Syrian protestor and it was very revealing. I think that nations around the world should send help and also help settle the unrest politically.

Word of the Day 2-08-2012

Picacular:

1. Expiatory; atoning; reparatory.

2. Requiring expiation; sinful or wicked.

 

Origin: Piacular  is derived from two Latin roots: pia , which is related to the word pious, and a variation of the suffix -cule  which denotes a diminutive nouns, like particle.