Posted on 07/20/2006 6:00:10 AM PDT by secret garden
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".
en·nui Pronunciation Key (n-w, nw) noun
1. Listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest
2. Boredom
Example sentence:
The servants relieved their ennui with gambling and gossip about their masters .
-- John Barth
Etymology: French, from Old French enui, from ennuyer, to annoy, bore.
Word History: Were they alive today, users of Classical Latin might be surprised to find that centuries later a phrase of theirs still survives, although as a single word. The phrase mihi in odi est (literally translated as to me in a condition of dislike or hatred is), meaning I hate or dislike, gave rise to the Vulgar Latin verb *inodire, to make odious, the source of the Old French verb ennuyer or anoier, to annoy, bore. This was borrowed into English by around 1275 as anoien, our annoy. From the Old French verb a noun meaning worry, boredom was derived, which became ennui in modern French. This noun, with the sense boredom, was borrowed into English in the 18th century, perhaps filling a need in polite, cultivated society.
Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
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....
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!
Not that there's anything wrong with it...
Well done. A+ for you!
Kofi and co. would fit right in either way.
Thank you, I didn't know this. My gigantic Oxford lists only flack-sid, and my 3 volume Webster's lists flack-sid before flas-id. Unfortunately, popular usage is likely to make flack-sid go the way of the dodo.
Thank you!
A few years ago flaksid was the only pronounciation listed.
Of course a few years ago nobody thought much about that word.
Things change!
that was before Viagra, Cialis etc. i guess!
Pronunciation is the key to success!
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