POLLYANNA: a person characterized by irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything
In her 1913 novel Pollyanna, American author Eleanor Hodgman Porter introduced an orphan whose father had taught her "to find something about everything to be glad about." Pollyanna called her goodness quests the "just being glad game," and she played it to the hilt. The characters in the book admired Pollyanna's ability to look on the bright side, but in the real world people often find such excessive optimism a bit nauseating. That more cynical attitude toward extreme cheerfulness prompted people to start using the character's name as a term for anyone given to blind optimism and what some writers called "sentimental rot."
Showing posts with label Word A Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word A Day. Show all posts
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
WORD A DAY
CALUMNY: false and malicious accusation
"Calumny" comes from the Middle French word calmonie, which traced to the Latin word calumnia, meaning "false claim," or "trickery." The original Latin base was calvi, meaning "to deceive."
"Calumny" comes from the Middle French word calmonie, which traced to the Latin word calumnia, meaning "false claim," or "trickery." The original Latin base was calvi, meaning "to deceive."
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
WORD A DAY
VOUCHSAFE: 1a: to grant or furnish often in a gracious or condescending way b: to give by way of reply 2: to grant as a privilege or special favor
Monday, November 26, 2007
WORD A DAY
RATHSKELLER: a usually basement tavern or restaurant
"Rathskeller" derives from two German nouns: Rat (also spelled Rath in early Modern German), meaning "council," and Keller, which means "cellar." The etymology reflects the fact that at one time many rathskellers were located in the basements of council houses, which were equivalent to town halls. (The oldest rathskeller found in Germany today is said to date from the first half of he 13th century.) The earliest known use of "rathskeller" in English dates from 1766, but the word wasn't commonly used until the 1900s. Although the German word is now spelled Ratskeller, English writers have always preferred the spelling with the "h" - most likely to avoid any association with the word "rat."
"Rathskeller" derives from two German nouns: Rat (also spelled Rath in early Modern German), meaning "council," and Keller, which means "cellar." The etymology reflects the fact that at one time many rathskellers were located in the basements of council houses, which were equivalent to town halls. (The oldest rathskeller found in Germany today is said to date from the first half of he 13th century.) The earliest known use of "rathskeller" in English dates from 1766, but the word wasn't commonly used until the 1900s. Although the German word is now spelled Ratskeller, English writers have always preferred the spelling with the "h" - most likely to avoid any association with the word "rat."
Sunday, November 25, 2007
WORD A DAY
SEQUACIOUS: intellectually servile
"Sequacious" traces back to the Latin sequac - (or sequax), which means "inclined to follow" and comes from sequi, "to follow." The original and now archaic meaning of "sequacious" was "inclined to follow" or "subservient, tractable." Although that meaning might as easily describe someone who willingly dropped into line behind a war leader, or who was unusually compliant or obedeient in any sense, the concept gradually narrowed into the image of someone who blindly adopts another's ideas without much thought. Labeling a person "sequacious" is not very complimentary, implying a slavish willingness to adopt a thought or opinion. It is also possible to accuse someone of "sequacity," but that would be equally unkind.
"Sequacious" traces back to the Latin sequac - (or sequax), which means "inclined to follow" and comes from sequi, "to follow." The original and now archaic meaning of "sequacious" was "inclined to follow" or "subservient, tractable." Although that meaning might as easily describe someone who willingly dropped into line behind a war leader, or who was unusually compliant or obedeient in any sense, the concept gradually narrowed into the image of someone who blindly adopts another's ideas without much thought. Labeling a person "sequacious" is not very complimentary, implying a slavish willingness to adopt a thought or opinion. It is also possible to accuse someone of "sequacity," but that would be equally unkind.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
WORD A DAY
APHELION: the point in the path of a celestial body (as a planet) that is farthest from the sun
"Aphelion" and "perihelion" are troublesome terms. Which one means "nearest the sun" and which one means "farthest away"? An etymology lesson may help here. The "ap" of "aphelion" derives from a New Latin prefix that means "away from" (just remember "a" for "away"); "peri-," on the other hand, means "near." And how are "aphelion" and "perihelion" related to the similar-looking astronomical pair "apogee" and "perigee"? Etymology explains again. "Aphelion" and "perihelion" are based on the Greek word helios, meaning sun, while "apogee" and "perigee" are based on gaia, meaning "earth." The first pair refers to distance in relation to the sun; the second pair refers to distance in relation to the earth.
"Aphelion" and "perihelion" are troublesome terms. Which one means "nearest the sun" and which one means "farthest away"? An etymology lesson may help here. The "ap" of "aphelion" derives from a New Latin prefix that means "away from" (just remember "a" for "away"); "peri-," on the other hand, means "near." And how are "aphelion" and "perihelion" related to the similar-looking astronomical pair "apogee" and "perigee"? Etymology explains again. "Aphelion" and "perihelion" are based on the Greek word helios, meaning sun, while "apogee" and "perigee" are based on gaia, meaning "earth." The first pair refers to distance in relation to the sun; the second pair refers to distance in relation to the earth.
Friday, November 23, 2007
BOOK FUN
What title for Peter Matthiessen's 1978 account of his Himalayan journey was inspired by an elusive Nepalese cat?
Yesterday's answer: Cousin Bette
Yesterday's answer: Cousin Bette
WORD A DAY
ELDRITCH: weird,eerie
"Curse," "cobweb," "witch," "ghost" - all of these potentially spooky words have roots in Old English. "Eldritch" also comes from a time when otherworldly beings were thought to inhabit the earth. The word is about 500 years old and is believed to have come from the Middle English oelfrice, from the Old English oelf and rice (words that meant, literally, "elf kingdom").
"Curse," "cobweb," "witch," "ghost" - all of these potentially spooky words have roots in Old English. "Eldritch" also comes from a time when otherworldly beings were thought to inhabit the earth. The word is about 500 years old and is believed to have come from the Middle English oelfrice, from the Old English oelf and rice (words that meant, literally, "elf kingdom").
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
WORD A DAY
SPIEL: a voluble line of often extravagant talk: pitch
There's more than one "spiel." Today's featured noun sense is well known, and most people realize that "spiel" can be used as a verb for the act of talking extravagantly. The verb can also mean "to play music"; in fact, that was its original English sense, one it shares with its German root, spielen. In Scottish English, "spiel" is also sometimes uses as a shortened form of "bonspiel," a name for a match or tournament of the icy game of curling.
There's more than one "spiel." Today's featured noun sense is well known, and most people realize that "spiel" can be used as a verb for the act of talking extravagantly. The verb can also mean "to play music"; in fact, that was its original English sense, one it shares with its German root, spielen. In Scottish English, "spiel" is also sometimes uses as a shortened form of "bonspiel," a name for a match or tournament of the icy game of curling.
Monday, November 19, 2007
WORD A DAY
DRACONIAN: often capitalized 1: of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws associated with him 2: cruel; also: severe
"Draconian" comes from Draco, the name of a seventh-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Draco's code was intended to clarify preexistent unwritten laws, but their severity has long been associated with the Athenian's name. In Draco's code, even minor offenses were punishable by death, and failure to pay one's debts could result in slavery. "Draconian," as a result, became associated with things cruel or harsh, but not necessarily as dire as Draco's laws. Today the word is used in a wide variety of ways and often refers to measures (steep parking fines, for example) that are relatively minor when compared with death and slavery.
"Draconian" comes from Draco, the name of a seventh-century B.C. Athenian legislator who created a written code of law. Draco's code was intended to clarify preexistent unwritten laws, but their severity has long been associated with the Athenian's name. In Draco's code, even minor offenses were punishable by death, and failure to pay one's debts could result in slavery. "Draconian," as a result, became associated with things cruel or harsh, but not necessarily as dire as Draco's laws. Today the word is used in a wide variety of ways and often refers to measures (steep parking fines, for example) that are relatively minor when compared with death and slavery.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
WORD A DAY
HALLOWED: 1: holy, consecrated 2: sacred, revered
The adjective "hallowed" probably doesn't give you the shivers - or does it? "Hallowed" is the past participle of the verb "hallow," a term that descends from the Middle English halowen. That word can in trun be traced back to halig, Old English for "holy." During the Middle Ages, "All Hallows' Day" was the name for what Christians now call All Saint's Day, and the evening that preceded All Hallows' Day was "All Hallow Even" - or, as we know it today, Halloween.
The adjective "hallowed" probably doesn't give you the shivers - or does it? "Hallowed" is the past participle of the verb "hallow," a term that descends from the Middle English halowen. That word can in trun be traced back to halig, Old English for "holy." During the Middle Ages, "All Hallows' Day" was the name for what Christians now call All Saint's Day, and the evening that preceded All Hallows' Day was "All Hallow Even" - or, as we know it today, Halloween.
Friday, November 16, 2007
WORD A DAY
PUTSCH: a secretly plotted and suddenly executed attempt to overthrow a government
In its native Swiss German, Putsch originally meant "knock" or "thrust," but these days it's used in both German and English to refer to the kind of government overthrow also known as a coup d'etat. "Putsch" debuted in English in June of 1920, just three months after the tumultuous Kapp Putsch, in which Wolfgang Kapp and his right-wing supporteres attempted to overthrow the German Weimar government. Putsch attempts were common in Weimar Germany, so the word appeard often in the stories of the English journalists who described the insurrections. In 1923, Adolf Hitler himself attempted a putsch (known as the Beer Hall Putsch), but he ultimately gained control of the German government via other means.
In its native Swiss German, Putsch originally meant "knock" or "thrust," but these days it's used in both German and English to refer to the kind of government overthrow also known as a coup d'etat. "Putsch" debuted in English in June of 1920, just three months after the tumultuous Kapp Putsch, in which Wolfgang Kapp and his right-wing supporteres attempted to overthrow the German Weimar government. Putsch attempts were common in Weimar Germany, so the word appeard often in the stories of the English journalists who described the insurrections. In 1923, Adolf Hitler himself attempted a putsch (known as the Beer Hall Putsch), but he ultimately gained control of the German government via other means.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
WORD A DAY
IDEE FIXE: an idea that dominates one's mind especially for a prolonged period: obsession
According to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the term idee fixe was coined by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830, who used it to describe the principal theme of his magnum opus, the Symphonie fantastique. That reference goes on to say that at about the same time the French novelist Honore de Balzac used idee fixe in Gobseck to describe an obsessive idea. By 1836, Balzac's more generalized use of the term had carried over into English, where "idee fixe" was embraced as a clinical and literary term for a persistent preoccupation or delusional idea that dominates a person's mind. Although it is still used in both sychology and music, nowadays "idee fixe" is also applied to milder and more pedestrain obsessions.
According to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the term idee fixe was coined by French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830, who used it to describe the principal theme of his magnum opus, the Symphonie fantastique. That reference goes on to say that at about the same time the French novelist Honore de Balzac used idee fixe in Gobseck to describe an obsessive idea. By 1836, Balzac's more generalized use of the term had carried over into English, where "idee fixe" was embraced as a clinical and literary term for a persistent preoccupation or delusional idea that dominates a person's mind. Although it is still used in both sychology and music, nowadays "idee fixe" is also applied to milder and more pedestrain obsessions.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
WORD A DAY
VACUOUS: 1: emptied of or lacking content 2: marked by lack of ideas or intelligence: stupid, inane 3: devoid of serious occupation: idle
As you might have guessed, "vacuous" has the same root as "vacuum": the Latin adjective vacuus, meaning "empty." This root also gave us the noun "vacuity" (the oldest meaning of which is "an empty space") as well as the verb "evacuate" (originally "to remove the contents of: empty"). Its predecessor, the verb vacare, is an ancestor of the words "vacation" and "vacancy," as well as "void." All these words suggest an emptiness of space, or else a fleeing of people or things from one place to another. "Vacuous" first appeard in English in the middle of the 17th century, literally describing something that was empty. It acquired its figurative usage, describing one who is lacking any substance of the mind, in the mid-1800s.
As you might have guessed, "vacuous" has the same root as "vacuum": the Latin adjective vacuus, meaning "empty." This root also gave us the noun "vacuity" (the oldest meaning of which is "an empty space") as well as the verb "evacuate" (originally "to remove the contents of: empty"). Its predecessor, the verb vacare, is an ancestor of the words "vacation" and "vacancy," as well as "void." All these words suggest an emptiness of space, or else a fleeing of people or things from one place to another. "Vacuous" first appeard in English in the middle of the 17th century, literally describing something that was empty. It acquired its figurative usage, describing one who is lacking any substance of the mind, in the mid-1800s.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
WORD A DAY
DEEM: 1: to come to think or judge: consider 2: to have an opinion: believe
In the Middle Ages, "demen" was a fateful word. Closely related to "doom," this precursor of "deem" meant "to act as a judge" or "to sentence, condemn, or decree." These meanings passed to "deem" itself, but we haven't used it that way since the early 17th century. Though it's still frequently used in legal contexts, today "deem" means "to judge" only in a broader sense, as in "the act was deemed unlawful" or "the defendant is deemed to have agree to the contract." Outside the law, "deem" usually means simply "to consider." Some usage commentators view "deem" as pretentious, but it's well established in both literary and journalistic contexts.
In the Middle Ages, "demen" was a fateful word. Closely related to "doom," this precursor of "deem" meant "to act as a judge" or "to sentence, condemn, or decree." These meanings passed to "deem" itself, but we haven't used it that way since the early 17th century. Though it's still frequently used in legal contexts, today "deem" means "to judge" only in a broader sense, as in "the act was deemed unlawful" or "the defendant is deemed to have agree to the contract." Outside the law, "deem" usually means simply "to consider." Some usage commentators view "deem" as pretentious, but it's well established in both literary and journalistic contexts.
Monday, November 12, 2007
WORD A DAY
PURPORT: to convey or profess outwardly as the meaning or intention: claim
The verb "purport" may be more familiar nowadays, but the noun "purport" (a synonym of "gist," as in "gave the purport of her speech in a few words") is a bit older. The noun passed into English from Anglo-French in the mid 1400s. Anglo-French also had the verb purporter (meaning both "to carry" and "to mean"), which itself combined the prefix pur- ("throroughly") and the verb porter ("to carry"). But English-speakers apparently waited another six decades to employ the verb. The first recorded use of "purport" as a verb doen'st appear until 1528.
The verb "purport" may be more familiar nowadays, but the noun "purport" (a synonym of "gist," as in "gave the purport of her speech in a few words") is a bit older. The noun passed into English from Anglo-French in the mid 1400s. Anglo-French also had the verb purporter (meaning both "to carry" and "to mean"), which itself combined the prefix pur- ("throroughly") and the verb porter ("to carry"). But English-speakers apparently waited another six decades to employ the verb. The first recorded use of "purport" as a verb doen'st appear until 1528.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
WORD A DAY
INVEIGH: to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently: rail
You might complain or grumble about some wrong you see, or, for a stronger effect, you can "inveigh" against it. "Inveigh" comes from the Latin verb invehere, which joins the prefeix in- with the verb vehere, meaning "to carry." Invehere literally means "to carry in," but extended meanings include "to force one's way into," "attack," and "assualt." Eventually "attack with words" was added to the word's list of meanings, hence the current meaning "to protest bitterly." A closely related word is "invective," which means "insulting or abusive language."
You might complain or grumble about some wrong you see, or, for a stronger effect, you can "inveigh" against it. "Inveigh" comes from the Latin verb invehere, which joins the prefeix in- with the verb vehere, meaning "to carry." Invehere literally means "to carry in," but extended meanings include "to force one's way into," "attack," and "assualt." Eventually "attack with words" was added to the word's list of meanings, hence the current meaning "to protest bitterly." A closely related word is "invective," which means "insulting or abusive language."
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
WORD A DAY
XENOPHOBIA: fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners of of anything that is strange or foreign
If you look back to the ancient Greek terms that underline the word "xenophobia," you'll discover that xenophobic individuals are literally "stranger-fearing." Today's elegant-sounding word untimately derives from two Greek terms: xenos, which can be translated as either "stranger" or "guest," and phobos, which means either "fear" or "flight." Phobos is the ultimate source of all English "-phobia" terms, but many of those were actually coined in English or New Latin using the combining form "-phobia" (which traces back to phobos). "Xenophobia" itself came to us by way of New Latin and first appeared in print in English in 1903.
If you look back to the ancient Greek terms that underline the word "xenophobia," you'll discover that xenophobic individuals are literally "stranger-fearing." Today's elegant-sounding word untimately derives from two Greek terms: xenos, which can be translated as either "stranger" or "guest," and phobos, which means either "fear" or "flight." Phobos is the ultimate source of all English "-phobia" terms, but many of those were actually coined in English or New Latin using the combining form "-phobia" (which traces back to phobos). "Xenophobia" itself came to us by way of New Latin and first appeared in print in English in 1903.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
BOOK FUN
What tuneful title did Larry Kane pick for his book on being the only U.S. journalist on the Beatles' historic 1964 tour?
Yesterday's answer: "Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum"
Yesterday's answer: "Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum"
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