Thread by @AnishaFaruk, I love words and their etymologies so in secondary I would find [...]

I love words and their etymologies so in secondary I would find a new word to be ‘word of the day’ and post it in the group chat with my friends (and get them to construct sentences using the word lol) so in the interests of ~ expanding our knowledge ~

I’m going to be doing that here every day during the quarantine (might forget some days) and will be taking definitions/etymologies/other info from various online dictionaries/websites etc and will check multiple sources to keep info correct. Will use UK English for spellings

I’ll also try to say where I found the word from so hopefully making this thread will encourage me to read more widely as I search for new words. Also, this is not an April Fools as lame as it might seem lol I just like this kinda shit (don’t judge me pls)

Words are fun!!

WOTD: Cacoethes [kak-oh-ee-theez] (noun)

An irresistible urge; mania.

From mid-16th c., derived from Latin < Greek ‘kakoēthes’ (wickedness)
< Greek ‘kakos’ (bad) and ‘ēthos’ (disposition)

Found this word doing a quiz (linked) on the Dictionary website https://www.dictionary.com/games/quizzes/

How Hip Is Your Lingo? Take Our Slang Quiz!

If you aren’t already skilled in slang, then this quiz can get you up to speed in no time!

https://www.dictionary.com/games/quizzes/

WOTD: Hypnagogic [hip-nuh-goj-ik] (adj.)

Relating to the period of drowsiness immediately before sleep.

Late 19th c., from French ‘hypnagogique’ < Greek ‘hupnos’ (sleep) + ‘agōgos’ (leading, inducing) < Greek ‘agein’ (to lead)

Found in @rezaaslan’s book I’m reading

(1/3)

‘God: A Human History of Religion’. Aslan uses the adj. to describe a cave image (from 18-16,000 BCE) first studied by archaeologist Henri Breuil called ‘The Sorcerer’. Breuil initially believed the image was of a shaman but later concluded it was the first image of God.

(2/3)

This Image is a sketch of Breuil’s drawing - thought I might add because it looks pretty cool... hypnagogic even

(3/3)

This Image is a sketch of Breuil’s drawing - thought I might add because it looks pretty cool... hypnagogic even (3/3)

WOTD: Henotheism [hen-oh-thee-iz-uhm] (noun)

Adherence to one particular god out of several, esp by a family, tribe, or other group

Mid 19th c., from Greek ‘heis’ ‘henos’ (one) + ‘theos’ (god) + English ‘+ism’

Found in @rezaaslan’s ‘God: A Human History of Religion’ (1/2)

where he discusses how monotheism was rejected by ancient civilisations and henotheism was the common form of spiritual expression (2/2)

WOTD: Panglossian [pan-glos-ee-uhn] (adj.)

Characterised by or given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity

Early 19th c., after Pangloss, an optimistic character in Voltaire’s Candide, from Greek ‘pan’ (all) + ‘glossa’ (tongue) (1/2)

I found this word in this NYT article (linked) from 4 weeks ago used to discuss how Trump’s optimistic comments regarding coronavirus have sometimes pushed the boundary into dismissing the virus as a problem (2/2) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/us/politics/trump-coronavirus.html

For Trump, Coronavirus Proves to Be an Enemy He Can’t Tweet Away

A president who is at his strongest politically when he has a human target to attack has found it harder to confront a growing outbreak that has rattled the country.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/08/us/politics/trump-coronavirus.html

WOTD: Forensic [fuh-ten-sik] adj.

1. relating to the application of scientific methods to the investigation of crime
2. relating to courts of law

mid 17th c., from Latin forensis (in open court, public < forum (what is out of doors)

Since y’all are talking about it so much

I haven’t done a word of the day in ages lmao feel bad I totally forgot about this thread rip but here’s the excuse I needed to bring it back

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