Free Republic

Word For The Day, Wednesday, December 17, 2014-- higgledy-piggledy ; 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". [hig-uh l-dee-pig-uh l-dee]hear it pronounced adverb in a jumbled, confused, or disorderly manner; helter-skelter. adjective confused; jumbled, chaotic, messy Origin: "confusedly, hurriedly," 1590s, a "vocal gesture" [OED] probably formed from pig and the animal's suggestions of mess and disorder. Reduplications in the h-/p- pattern are common (e.g. hanky-panky, hocus-pocus, hinch(y)-pinch(y), an obsolete children's game, attested from c.1600). Rules: Everyone must leave a post using...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, December 10, 2014-- vexillology ; 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". vexillology [vek-suh-lol-uh-jee]hear it pronounced noun 1. the study and collection of information about flags Origin: 1959, from Latin vexillum "flag" + -ology. -ology: word-forming element indicating "branch of knowledge, science," now the usual form of -logy. Originally used c.1800 in nonce formations (commonsensology, etc.), it gained legitimacy by influence of the proper formation in geology, mythology, etc., where the -o- is a stem vowel...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, December 3, 2014-- metathesis ; 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". metathesis [muh-tath-uh-sis]hear it pronounced noun, plural: metatheses 1. the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation [kuhmf-ter-buh l] for comfortable or [aks] for ask. 2. Chemistry, double decomposition: a reaction whose result is the interchange of two parts of two substances to form two new substances, as AgNO 3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO 3 Origin: 1600-10;...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, November 26, 2014-- filial ; 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". filial [fil-ee-uh l]hear it pronounced adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or befitting a son or daughter: filial obedience. 2. noting or having the relation of a child to a parent. 3. Genetics. pertaining to the sequence of generations following the parental generation, each generation being designated by an F followed by a subscript number indicating its place in the sequence. Origin: 1350-1400; Middle English...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, November 19, 2014-- iatrogenic ; 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". iatrogenic [ahy-a-truh-jen-ik, ee-a-]hear it pronounced adjective 1. (of a medical disorder) caused by the diagnosis, manner, or treatment of a physician. 2. (medical) (of an illness or symptoms) induced in a patient as the result of a physician's words or actions, especially as a consequence of taking a drug prescribed by the physician. 3. (social welfare) (of a problem) induced by the means of...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, November 12, 2014-- scrutate ; 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". scrutate [SKRU-tayt] verb, transitive To investigate. Origin: From Latin scrutari (to examine). Earliest documented use: 1882. USAGE: "Philosophers have too often thought that they can learn more about human nature by scrutating the murky depths of substance and faculties than by interpreting the obvious evidence." John Lachs; The Relevance of Philosophy to Life; Vanderbilt University Press; 1995. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, November 5, 2014-- vindication ; 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". vindication [vin-di-key-shuh n]hear it pronounced noun 1. the act of vindicating. 2. the state of being vindicated. 3. defense; excuse; justification: Poverty was a vindication for his thievery. 4. something that vindicates: Subsequent events were her vindication. vindicate [vin-di-keyt] verb (used with object), vindicated, vindicating. 1. to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to vindicate someone's honor. 2. to afford...

Word For The Day, Monday, November 3, 2014-- expiate ; 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". expiate [ek-spee-eyt]hear it pronounced verb, transitive (used with object), expiated, expiating 1. to atone for; make amends or reparation for: to expiate one's crimes. Origin: 1585-95; < Latin expiātus (past participle of expiāre to atone for, make good), equivalent to ex- ex-1 + piā(re) to propitiate (see pious) + -tus past participle suffix Related forms expiation, noun expiator, noun unexpiated, adjective Rules: Everyone must...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, October 29, 2014-- kinesics ; 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". kinesics [ki-nee-siks, -ziks]hear it pronounced noun, (used with a singular verb) 1. the study of body movements, gestures, facial expressions, etc., as a means of communication. Origin: 1950-55; < Greek kī́nēs(is) (see kinesis) + -ics Related formskinesic, adjective kinesically, adverb Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, October 22, 2014-- pecuniary ; 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". pecuniary [pi-kyoo-nee-er-ee]hear it pronounced adjective 1. of or pertaining to money: pecuniary difficulties. 2. consisting of or given or exacted in money or monetary payments: pecuniary tributes. 3. (of a crime, violation, etc.) involving a money penalty or fine. Origin: c.1500, from Latin pecuniarius "pertaining to money," from pecunia "money, property, wealth," from pecu "cattle, flock," from PIE root *peku- "wealth, movable property, livestock"...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, October 15, 2014-- maieutic ; 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". maieutic [mey-yoo-tik]hear it pronounced adjective 1. of or pertaining to the method used by Socrates of eliciting knowledge in the mind of a person by interrogation and insistence on close and logical reasoning. Origin: 1645-55; < Greek maieutikós of, pertaining to midwifery, equivalent to maieú(esthai) to serve as a midwife (akin to maîa midwife) + -tikos -tic Related forms maieutics, noun Rules: Everyone must...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, October 8, 2014-- Pavlovian ; 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". Pavlovian [pav-loh-vee-uh n]hear it pronounced adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Pavlov or his work, especially of experiments in which he elicited predictable responses from laboratory animals. 2. (of a reaction or response) automatic; involuntary Origin: 1931, from the theories, experiments, and methods of Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936), especially in connection with the salivary reflexes of dogs in response to...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, October 1, 2014-- lapidary ; 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". lapidary [lap-i-der-ee]hear it pronounced noun, plural lapidaries. 1. Also, lapidist [lap-i-dist] a worker who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones. 2. Also, lapidarist [luh-pid-er-ist] an expert in precious stones and the art or techniques used in cutting and engraving them. 3. the art of cutting, polishing, and engraving precious stones. 4. an old book on the lore of gems. adjective, Also, lapidarian [lap-i-dair-ee-uh n]...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, September 24, 2014-- impalpable ; 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". impalpable [im-pal-puh-buh l]hear it pronounced adjective 1. not palpable; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch; intangible. 2. abstruse, difficult for the mind to grasp readily or easily: impalpable distinctions. 3. (of powder) so fine that when rubbed between the fingers no grit is felt. Origin: c.1500, from French impalpable, from Medieval Latin impalpabilis, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of"...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, September 17, 2014-- toff ; 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". toff [tof]hear it pronounced noun, British Informal. A stylishly dressed, fashionable person, especially one who is or wants to be considered a member of the upper class. Origin: 1850-55 perhaps variant of tuft, nickname for a titled student at Oxford University, wearing a cap with a gold tasselWord Origin and History for toff lower-class British slang for "stylish dresser, member of the smart set,"...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, September 10, 2014-- ne plus ultra ; 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". ne plus ultra [ne ploo s oo l-trah]hear it pronounced noun Latin 1. the highest point; acme. 2. the most intense degree of a quality or state. 3. the extreme or perfect point or state Origin: literally: not more beyond (that is, go no further), allegedly a warning to sailors inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar Rules: Everyone must leave...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, September 3, 2014-- patina ; 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". patina [pat-n-uh, puh-tee-nuh]hear it pronounced noun 1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value. 2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance. 3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age. Origin: Patina is adopted from Italian, from Latin patina, a dish (from...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, August 27, 2014-- bum-rush ; 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". bum-rush [buhm-ruhsh] verb, transitive to force one's way into; crash: to bum-rush a rap concert.From the Urban Dictionary: 1. To run full speed into somebody and body slam them into a brick wall, chain link fence, or similar immovable object. "Dude, I just got bum rushed on the corner of E.9th and Euclid Avenue." 2. The act of attacking someone or something (usually by...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, August 20, 2014-- amphigory ; 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". amphigory [am-fi-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee]hear it pronounced noun 1. a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing, especially one intended as a parody. 2. a piece of nonsensical writing in verse or, less commonly, prose. Origin: Related forms amphigories, pluralAlso, amphigouri. amphigoric [am-fuh-gawr-ik, -gor-] Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to...

Word For The Day, Wednesday, August 13, 2014-- peshmerga ; 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". peshmerga [peSHˈmərgə] (the “g” is hard, as in “give”)hear it pronounced noun A member of a Kurdish nationalist guerrilla organization. Origin: from Kurdish pêshmerge, from pêsh 'before' + merg 'death'. From Wikipedia: Peshmerga or Peshmerge (Kurdish pronunciation [pɛʃmærˈɡæ]; Kurdish: پێشمەرگە Pêşmerge}, literally "those who confront death") is the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters. The Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan have...