Word For The Day, Thursday, November 4, 2010 - psephology

dictionaries ad nauseum, internet | 4 November 2010 | Thursday's sub

[secret garden]

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In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".

psephology \see-FAH-luh-jee\ noun
the scientific study of elections

Example sentence:
"To help voters make up their minds, this issue contains a 20-page briefing on personality, policy and psephology."
--- The Economist, April 10, 2010

Etymology:
"Psephology" is from the Greek word "psēphos," meaning "pebble." (One relative of "psephology" is "psephomancy," meaning "divination by pebbles.") "Psephology" merited election as the name for the work of analysts of elections, or psephologists, because pebbles were used by the ancient Greeks in voting. Similarly, the word "ballot" was an excellent choice for a means of voting since it is derived from "balla," the Italian word for "ball," and Italians placed balls in a container to cast votes.

Word Trivia: What word meaning "to banish" or "to exclude from a group" comes from an ancient Greek method of voting by writing a name down on a pottery fragment?

The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....

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Review Threads:

Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate

WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!

[TheGrimReaper]

It is a curse to be sure.
My campaign begins shortly to have Queen Sheila's district re-drawn by the TX legislature...with the goal of getting ME the hell out of it!

[secret garden]

A+ for you!

[NeoCaveman]

buy cotton.

Load up on jeans.

The Bernanke tax is in full effect, aka cost-push inflation.

[secret garden]

OTOH, he spends less when he is out of the country. A+ for you.

[tioga]

good luck with that. I wish I could ditch my congress critter.......maury THE RAT hinchey.

[secret garden]

Well, with Perry in charge and repubs in the state house, it should have been done already. What are they waiting for?

[secret garden]

Good idea. Time to load up on them for Christmas gifts.

[tioga]

MO doesn’t even manage to spend that much when she travels....at this rate we can’t afford another two years. can the House cut the purse strings?

[NeoCaveman]

Obama has a short attention span, the psephology of this recent election does not interest him......he is spending $200 mill a day of our money to travel to India to soothe his wounded pride.

I've come to the conclusion that he's just in it for the perks/vacations.

[Roccus]

Brushes often...

True, but now I take 'em out first. lol

[theDentist]

I'll have theNurse make a note in your chart...
and will inform the AMA of your being 'difficult'. Oh, the cost of your exam has just increased by 12%. Blame it on ObamaCare.

[Robert A Cook PE]

We need to look into voter fraud more seriously: Too many “experts” seenology in democrats cheating.

[secret garden]

Phil Valentine was all over this yesterday, about the Reid election. He is convinced it was bogus.

[Robert A Cook PE]

8<)

[MortMan]

If a psephologist falls in Nevada, did he still vote for Harry Reid?

[secret garden]

He did if he’s union. A for you.

[TheGrimReaper]

An excellent question. Republicans gained 20 seats in the TX legislature on Tuesday...no excuse at all for keeping the Queen on her throne any longer.

[mikrofon]

Yeah, hockey IS depressing so far ... Buffalo lost big to the rival Bruins at home last night, and hasn’t even won yet here this year (0-5-1).

[bonnieblue4me]

Psephology = see fallacy

[secret garden]

Welcome to WFTD!