June 19, 2019
by Neelima
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A spelunker is a Latin sounding term for caver. According to Merriam Webster, the word came into adventure sport lingo because of the author and outdoorsman Clair Willard Perry. The word seems to be used a great deal in literature: “I … Continue reading
June 12, 2019
by Neelima
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Matutolypea is the scientific equivalent of getting up from the wrong side of bed. It’s the grumpy cat syndrome that happens when you wake up. The word hasn’t yet entered mainstream dictionaries but it’s one of those obscure words that … Continue reading
June 5, 2019
by Neelima
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When you search for the meaning of the word chthonic, you come across Chthonic, a Taiwanese heavy metal band. However, the word has older roots. Chthonic refers to what lies beneath so there are chthonic deities or figures like Hades and Persephone … Continue reading
May 29, 2019
by Neelima
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Abseil is a mountaineering term and refers to a technique used by climbers, mountaineers, cavers, canyoners, search and rescue and rope access technicians to descend cliffs or slopes when they are too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection. In the US, rappelling is the term used. Here … Continue reading
May 22, 2019
by Neelima
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The word Ephebiphobia or the fear of youth is attributed to a 1994 article by Kirk Astroth published in Phi Delta Kappan. In the UK, this reverse ageism is also called paedophobia. The fear of young people has been a fixture … Continue reading
May 15, 2019
by Neelima
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The adjective peremptory originates from Latin perimere, which means “to take entirely” and is autocratic in its connotation. The term also has legal connotation and is applied to writs, juror challenges or a date set for hearing. It is often confused … Continue reading
May 8, 2019
by Neelima
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The most famous amanuensis in Indian mythology is Lord Ganesh, the scribe who wrote the Ramayana to Vyasa’s dictation. The word originally comes from the Latin word for slave or within arm’s reach. Tertius was the scribe who composed the … Continue reading
May 1, 2019
by Neelima
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Have you ever thought about why fast means quick and at the same time means to immobilize? When a word or phrase means its opposite as well, it is called a contronym. Slang employs this kind of inversion of meaning, take … Continue reading
April 24, 2019
by Neelima
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Parsimonious refers to frugality and it also means making a minimum number of assumptions. The sports reference is to not conceding goals. Here are some mentions of the word in literature. “Earthly nature may be parsimonious, but the human mind … Continue reading
April 17, 2019
by Neelima
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This word is relatively new, used in 1993 and is a term journalists use to talk about the reporters who comment on the news. Mostly commentariat is used in reference to commentators on American political affairs. The word is a … Continue reading