Word of the Day 3-29-12

Eudemonia: noun;

1. Happiness; well-being.

2. Aristotelianism. Happiness as the result of an active life governed by reason.

 

Origin:

From Aristotle, eudemonia  comes from the Greek word eudaímōn  which meant "a good or benevolent spirit."

Word of the Day 3-28-12

Luxate: verb;

1. To put out of joint; dislocate.

 

Origin:

Luxate  is not related to any word for "light." Rather, it is from the Greek word for "oblique," which was loxós .

CNN Student News 3-28-12

In today's student news they talked about the risks and dangers of texting while driving. I think that it should be a felony for anyone teenager or not to text while driving. Texting while driving has been proven to be deadly and should prevented

Word of the Day 3-27-12

adjective;

1. Belonging or pertaining to the order Chelonia, comprising the turtles.

noun:

1. A turtle.

 

Origin:

Chelonian  comes from the Greek word for turtle, chelṓn .

CNN Student News 3-26-12

In today's student news they talked about the unrest between south and north Korea. The United States needs to stay out of the politics over there because we have already fought a war in Korea and another one is not what the US needs right now.

Word of the Day 3-26-12

Catechize:

1. To question closely.

2. To instruct orally by means of questions and answers, especially in Christian doctrine.

3. To question with reference to belief.

 

Origin:

Catechize  stems from the Greek word katēchízein  meaning "to teach orally." It was first used in the sense of "to question" by Shakespeare in Othello .

CNN Student News 3-24-12

In today's student news they talked about the amount of drinkable water in the world. I think there needs to be a bigger effort to allocate water more efficiently throughout third world countries.

2-24-12

Ruck:

1. A large number or quantity; mass.

2. The great mass of undistinguished or inferior persons or things.

 

Origin: Ruck  comes from an early Icelandic word ruka  or ruke  which meant "a heap or a stack."

Word of the Day 3-20-12

Vernal:

1. Appearing or occurring in spring.

2. Of or pertaining to spring.

3. Appropriate to or suggesting spring; springlike.

4. Belonging to or characteristic of youth.

 

Origin: Vernal  stems from the Latin word vernus  meaning "pertaining to spring." It is related to the word "verdant."

CNN Student News 3-19-12

In todays student news they talked about the Afghan government deciding about how they will relate to the United States. The war effort in Afghanistan is being withdrawn by the US so I think that things are looking up in regard to the foreign policy between the United States and Afghanistan.

CNN Student News 3-12-12

In today's student news they talked about the recovery effort in Japan from the earthquake they experienced last year. I think that other nations should continue to insist on providing aid to the Japanese. Wouldnt we want them to do the same for us?

CNN Student News 3-19-12

In today's student news

Word of the Day 3-19-12

Carp:

1. To find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably.

noun:

1. A peevish complaint.

Origin: Carp  comes from the Old Norse word karpa  which meant "to brag or haggle."

CNN Student News 3-16-12

In today's student news they talked about the continued violence in Syria. I think that the UN and other organizations need to step in and take charge. Innocent people are dying because of the corruption that exists throughout the Syrian government.

Word of the Day 3-16-12

Gasser:

1. Something that is extraordinarily pleasing or successful, especially a very funny joke.

2. A person or thing that gasses.

Origin: Gasser  is an Americanism that arose in the late 1800s.

Word of the Day 3-15-12

Iniquitous:

1. Characterized by injustice or wickedness; wicked; sinful.

 

Origin: Iniquitous  literally meant "unfair" in Latin, as its clear roots betray.

CNN Student News 3-14-12

In today's student news they talked about how China is hoarding rare earth materials. I think that the UN should step in and distribute the materials to all the other countries in the world

Word of the Day 3-14-12

Dowager:

1. An elderly woman of stately dignity, especially one of elevated social position.

2. A woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, especially the widow of a king, duke, etc.

adjective:

1. Noting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a dowager:

Origin: Dowager  stems from the Latin word dotare  meaning "to endow." In the middle French, it came to mean "pertaining to a dower," or the gift/payment that a wife's family gives her husband when they are married.

Word of the Day 3-13-12

Astringent:

1. Sharply incisive; pungent.

2. Medicine/Medical.  Contracting; constrictive; styptic.

3. Harshly biting; caustic: his astringent criticism.

4. Stern or severe; austerenoun:

1. Medicine/Medical.  A substance that contracts the tissues or canals of the body, thereby diminishing discharges, as of mucus or blood.

2. A cosmetic that cleans the skin and constricts the pores.

Origin:

Related to the words strain  and string , astringent  comes from the Latin root stringere  which meant "to draw tight."

Word of the Day 3-12-12

Remit:

1. To slacken or relax.

2. To transmit money, a check, etc., as in payment.

3. To abate for a time or at intervals, as a fever.

4. To refrain from exacting, as a payment or service.

5. To pardon or forgive a sin, offense, etc.

Origin: Remit  is derived from the Latin roots re-  meaning "back" and mit  meaning "send," so it literally meant "to send back."

CNN Student News 3-09-12

In today's student news, they talked about the possibility of Iran being in possession of nuclear weapons. If they really are capable of making these weapons then the rest of the world are at risk. I think that foreign governments need to continue to be proactive in the preventative process in regard to the progress of Iran attaining nuclear capabilities.

Word of the Day 3-09-12

Furcate:

1. To form a fork; branch.

adjective:

1. Forked; branching.

Origin: Furcate  is from the Medieval Latin word furcātus  which meant "cloven."

CNN Student News 3-07-12

In today's student news they talked about Super Tuesday. The primaries that took place today yesterday were huge because we can now see who is the probable nominee for the Republicans. Mitt Romney seems to be the most likely winner, and Newt Gingrich won our state of Georgia.

Word of the Day 3-07-12

Rutilant: Glowing or glittering with ruddy or golden light.

Origin: Rutilant is from the Latin word rutilāns, meaning "having a reddish color or glow."

Word of the Day 3-08-12

Prococurante:

1. Caring little; indifferent; nonchalant.

adjective:

1. A careless or indifferent person.

Origin: Pococurante  came directly from Italian into English in the 1750s. It literally meant "caring little."

Word of the Day 3-5-12

In today's student news, they talked about the settlement that commercial businesses and the oil company BP came to late last night. I think that BP is taking a crucial step toward repairing their image among consumers. A financial settlement is exactly what BP needed.

Word of the Day 3-5-12

Profluent:

1. Flowing smoothly or abundantly forth.

Origin: Profluent  is derived from the Latin word prōfluere , which meant "to flow forth."

CNN Student News 3-2-12

In today's student news, they talked about the tornadoes that devastated the small town in Illinois. I think that the citizens need to rally for a better warning system or even install a shelter of sorts in their small community so that they will be prepared for future tornadoes.

Word of the Day 3-2-12

Cant:

1. To talk hypocritically.

2. To speak in the whining or singsong tone of a beggar; beg.

noun:

1. Insincere, especially conventional expressions of enthusiasm for high ideals, goodness, or piety.

2. The private language of the underworld.

3. The phraseology peculiar to a particular class, party, profession, etc.

4. Whining or singsong speech, especially of beggars.

 

Origin:

Cant  comes from the same Latin word as chant , the Latin word for song, cantus . The sense of "insincere talk" arose in the early 1700s.

Word of the Day 3-1-12

Alembic:

1. Anything that transforms, purifies, or refines.

2. A vessel with a beaked cap or head, formerly used in distilling.

 

Origin: Alembic  is derived from the Arabic word al-anbiq , which means "a distilling cup." It developed its broader meaning in the 1300s.