GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

syndrome

/ˈsɪndrəʊm/
noun
1 A group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.
1.1 A characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behaviour.

Origin
Mid 16th century: modern Latin, from Greek sundromē, from sun- ‘together’ + dramein ‘to run’.

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I'm sick of syndrome sicknesses. They have proliferated for pharma profits. That is all.

[Algot Runeman]

infinitive

/ɪnˈfɪnɪtɪv/
noun
The basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense (e.g. see in we came to see, let him see).
adjective
Having or involving the basic form of a verb.

Origin
Late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin infinitivus, from infinitus (see infinite). The noun dates from the mid 16th century.

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With infinite care, Bob assessed the infinitive of "be". It was not, however, an existential examination.

[Algot Runeman]

ordonnance

/ˈɔːdənəns/
noun
mass noun
The systematic or orderly arrangement of parts, especially in art and architecture.

Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, alteration of Old French ordenance (see ordinance).

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Oscar and Sarah went to visit the priest and admired the building's ordonnance on the way to the office.

[Algot Runeman]

elevated

/ˈɛlɪveɪtɪd/
adjective
1 Situated or placed higher than the surrounding area.
1.1 (of a level or amount) higher or greater than normal.
1.2 Of a high intellectual or moral level.
1.3 Having a high rank or social standing.

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After a life working in the trenches, Josh wanted elevated status, so he went to the nearest skyscraper where he still had to wait a bit longer.

[Algot Runeman]

janky
(also jank)

/ˈdʒaŋki/
adjective
North American
informal
Of extremely poor or unreliable quality.

Origin
1990s: origin unknown.

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Hal was proud to demonstrate that the foamboard hexayurt was far from the janky structure they had expected. It was more insulated than than a tent and would add to the resources of the refugee community when he moved on. He would, of course, leave a complete set of build instructions behind.

[Algot Runeman]

economics

/ɛkəˈnɒmɪks//iːkəˈnɒmɪks/
plural noun
1 often treated as singular The branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.
2 often treated as singular The condition of a region or group as regards material prosperity.

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Back at the dawn of civilization, economics was simple. Wealth was what you could take with you, on your back, on a travois, on a beast (itself part of your wealth).

[Algot Runeman]

soutache

/suːˈtaʃ/
noun
A narrow, flat ornamental braid used to trim garments.

Origin
Mid 19th century: from French, from Hungarian sujtás.

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Mark was proud to wear the jacket his mother enhanced with soutache at the cuff.

[Algot Runeman]

andragogy

/ˈandrəɡɒɡi//ˈandrəɡɒdʒi/
noun
mass noun
The method and practice of teaching adult learners; adult education.

Origin
1920s: blend of andro- and pedagogy.

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Academics and other assorted wonks love to have fancy terms to describe their special passions. When "Adult Education" was discussed, somebody said, "Hey, let's call that 'andragogy' so it sounds like that other fancy word 'pedagogy' and we sound cool."

What are the buzzwords of your specialty?

[Does it say something about academia that there is apparently no rush to have the term "gynagogy" to describe education of women?]

[Algot Runeman]

cacciatore
(also cacciatora)

/ˌkatʃəˈtɔːri//ˌkatʃəˈtɔːreɪ/
adjective postpositive
Prepared in a spicy tomato sauce with mushrooms and herbs.

Origin
Italian, literally ‘hunter’ (because of the use of ingredients that a hunter might have to hand).

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Charlie cut all the ingredients himself and served chicken cacciatore for dinner. Next time, he'll also remember to cook it.

[Algot Runeman]

ochlocracy

/ɒkˈlɒkrəsi/
noun
mass noun
Government by the populace; mob rule.

Origin
Late 16th century: via French from Greek okhlokratia, from okhlos ‘mob’ + -kratia ‘power’.

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The phrase from the Gettysburg Address; "of the people, by the people, for the people" sure sounds like ochlocracy to me.

[Algot Runeman]

dismissive

/dɪsˈmɪsɪv/
adjective
Feeling or showing that something is unworthy of consideration.

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Dismiss your concerns. His dismissive attitude and weak performance will lead to dismission from the job.

[Algot Runeman]

previse

/prɪˈvʌɪz/
verb
[with object]literary
Foresee or predict (an event)

Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin praevis- ‘foreseen, anticipated’, from the verb praevidere, from prae ‘before’ + videre ‘to see’.

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Before we can revise, we need to write. Before we can write, we must experience. To experience, we must act. There is no way to fully previse what will happen. We must jump in and then deal with what occurs.

[Algot Runeman]

directrix

/dɪˈrɛktrɪks//dʌɪˈrɛktrɪks/
noun
Geometry
A fixed line used in describing a curve or surface.

Origin
Early 18th century: from medieval Latin, literally ‘directress’, based on Latin dirigere ‘to guide’.

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Donna directed Derek to do a diagram to illustrate a directrix. Derek doubled down to draw a conic section with two directrices, not to mention two focus points!


(designed after illustration in Wikipedia article.)

[Algot Runeman]

romaji

/ˈrəʊmədʒi/
noun
mass noun

A system of romanized spelling used to transliterate Japanese.

Origin

Early 20th century: from Japanese, from rōma ‘Roman’ + ji ‘letter(s)’.

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Since I do not read Kanji or the ideographic representation of spoken Japanese, I rely on romaji to help me to occasionally attempt to pronounce Japanese. It is usually with the help of Google Translate.
Good morning = おはようございます - Ohayōgozaimasu

[Algot Runeman]

kibbutz

/kɪˈbʊts/
noun
A communal settlement in Israel, typically a farm.

Origin
1930s: from modern Hebrew qibbūṣ ‘gathering’.

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Elisa stayed and worked in a rural kibbutz during her trip to Israel.

[Algot Runeman]

sashimi

/ˈsaʃɪmi/
noun
mass noun
A Japanese dish of bite-sized pieces of raw fish eaten with soy sauce and wasabi paste.

Origin
Japanese.

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Sally sampled the slices of sashimi, dipping each chunk into one of the sauces provided.



[Officially, this was the word for the 26th, but I forgot to click the submit button! Well, that's not so bad. I was at a conference on the 25th and didn't get to do a word at all.]

[Algot Runeman]

huarache

/waˈrɑːtʃi/
(also guarache)
noun
A leather-thonged sandal, originally worn by Mexican Indians.

Origin
Late 19th century: Mexican Spanish.

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As a long term hippie, Charlie wore tire tread huaraches every weekend, even though it was wingtips at the office the rest of the week.

[Algot Runeman]

do-si-do
(also do-se-do)

/ˌdəʊzɪˈdəʊ//ˌdəʊsɪˈdəʊ/
noun
(in square dancing, and other country dancing) a figure in which two dancers pass round each other back to back and return to their original positions.
verb
[no object]
Dance a do-si-do.

Origin
1920s (originally US): alteration of dos-à-dos.

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Danny and Donna danced with precision at the Saturday night square dance. They and three other couples in their square followed the call. "Allemande left, Do-si-do with your partner, now promenade, all the way around then bow to your partner and then we rest."

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

do-si-do

I'm not much of a dancer any more. So a do-si-do call would be wasted on me.

But if the party would sing do-re-mi, I would gladly join in.

♫ Do, a deer, a female deer, ♫
♫ Re, a drop of ... etc. ... ♫

(No, this is not from the movie, though quite good, I think)

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

vespiary

/ˈvɛspɪəri/
noun
rare
A wasps' nest.

Origin
Early 19th century: formed irregularly from Latin vespa ‘wasp’, on the pattern of apiary.

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Larry was wisely wary
As he walked close by the vespiary.
He didn't rush, but he didn't tarry.
No attack, no sting.
He made it safely by the thing.

[Algot Runeman]

anthelion

/anˈθiːlɪən//antˈhiːlɪən/
noun
1A luminous halo round a shadow projected by the sun on to a cloud or fog bank.
1.1 A parhelion seen opposite the sun in the sky.

Origin
Late 17th century: from Greek anthēlion, neuter of anthēlios ‘opposite to the sun’, from anth- (variant of anti- ‘against’) + hēlios ‘sun’.

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The ant's shadow was spectacular against the fog bank. The anthelion made it look like the Batman beacon.

[Algot Runeman]

isopod

/ˈʌɪsəpɒd/
noun
Zoology
A crustacean of the order Isopoda, such as a woodlouse.

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The little pill bug rolled itself into a safe ball when Johnny picked it up off the fall leaf. He didn't know it was an isopod until he studied invertebrates in college.

[Algot Runeman]

exsanguination

/ɪkˌsaŋɡwɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n//ɛkˌsaŋɡwɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
mass noun - Medicine
1 The action of draining a person, animal, or organ of blood.
1.1 Severe loss of blood.

Origin
Early 20th century: from Latin exsanguinatus ‘drained of blood’ (from ex- ‘out’ + sanguis, sanguin- ‘blood’) + -ion.

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The former leader exsanguinated as a result of his injuries, but otherwise it was considered a bloodless coup. The members of the bridge club didn't pause their play when Marge came in with the news.

[Algot Runeman]

tonic

/ˈtɒnɪk/
noun
1 A medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigour or well-being.
1.1 Something with an invigorating effect.
2 short for tonic water
3 Music - The first note in a scale which, in conventional harmony, provides the keynote of a piece of music.

adjective
1 Giving a feeling of vigour or well-being; invigorating.
2 Music - Relating to or denoting the first degree of a scale.
3 Phonetics - Denoting or relating to the syllable within a tone group that has greatest prominence, because it carries the main change of pitch.
4 Relating to or restoring normal tone to muscles or other organs.
4.1 Physiology Relating to, denoting, or producing continuous muscular contraction.

Origin
Mid 17th century: from French tonique, from Greek tonikos ‘of or for stretching’, from tonos (see tone).

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Louie was laconic
After Halloween demonic.
To raise up his and other spirits
He decided to take a tonic.

[Algot Runeman]

squirl

/skwəːl/
noun
informal
An ornamental flourish or curve, especially in handwriting.

Origin
Mid 19th century: perhaps a blend of squiggle and twirl or whirl.

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Cal composed a card to his friend Robert. His copperplate script skills were mediocre and the squirls of his lettering were sloppy. Robert was still impressed when he got the Victorian Cosplay invitation.