WORDS
Re: WORDS
FARTLEK
This is an activity runners do when they change between sprinting and jogging.
ORIGIN
The term fartlek comes from Swedish, meaning "speed play". It was originally written in upper case, although it now generally appears in lower case. It otherwise known as the Swedish natural method or simply the Swedish method
This is an activity runners do when they change between sprinting and jogging.
ORIGIN
The term fartlek comes from Swedish, meaning "speed play". It was originally written in upper case, although it now generally appears in lower case. It otherwise known as the Swedish natural method or simply the Swedish method
Re: WORDS
OROTUND
Orotund is a formal word used as a synonym of sonorous to describe something—usually a voice—marked by fullness, strength, and clarity of sound. It can also be used disapprovingly to mean "pompous" or "bombastic."
Examples:
As a child, she loved listening to her grandfather’s rich, orotund baritone as he told stories of his childhood growing up overseas.
Every year the mayor gives a version of the same overblown, orotund speech, full of fancy promises they never seem to keep.
An experiment: first breathe in deeply, then try to sing the strongest, lowest note that you can, at the utmost floor of your register. How lovely. Now, what vowel did you sing for your one-syllable song? We’ll bet you a skillet full of bacon it was o. Why? Shaping one’s mouth into an o-shape is pretty much a surefire way to produce an orotund or resonant sound, that is, one that is full, strong, and loud. Try the same exercise with a long e sound, as in sleep, and see (or hear) what we mean. Orotund comes from the Latin phrase ore rotundo, literally meaning "with round mouth." It was adopted into English in the late 18th century to describe the strength of one’s vocal delivery but has since picked up an additional sense of "pompous" or "bombastic" to describe inflated speech that may be full of sound and fury, yet signifies nothing.
Orotund is a formal word used as a synonym of sonorous to describe something—usually a voice—marked by fullness, strength, and clarity of sound. It can also be used disapprovingly to mean "pompous" or "bombastic."
Examples:
As a child, she loved listening to her grandfather’s rich, orotund baritone as he told stories of his childhood growing up overseas.
Every year the mayor gives a version of the same overblown, orotund speech, full of fancy promises they never seem to keep.
An experiment: first breathe in deeply, then try to sing the strongest, lowest note that you can, at the utmost floor of your register. How lovely. Now, what vowel did you sing for your one-syllable song? We’ll bet you a skillet full of bacon it was o. Why? Shaping one’s mouth into an o-shape is pretty much a surefire way to produce an orotund or resonant sound, that is, one that is full, strong, and loud. Try the same exercise with a long e sound, as in sleep, and see (or hear) what we mean. Orotund comes from the Latin phrase ore rotundo, literally meaning "with round mouth." It was adopted into English in the late 18th century to describe the strength of one’s vocal delivery but has since picked up an additional sense of "pompous" or "bombastic" to describe inflated speech that may be full of sound and fury, yet signifies nothing.
if they were exceptionally rotund we might drop, "why walk when you can roll...'Re: WORDS
Cacodemonomania: the pathological belief that one is inhabited by an evil spirit
In psychology, cacodemonia (or cacodemonomania) is a form of insanity in which the patient believes that they are possessed by an evil spirit. The first known occurrence of the word cacodemon dates to 1593.
In psychology, cacodemonia (or cacodemonomania) is a form of insanity in which the patient believes that they are possessed by an evil spirit. The first known occurrence of the word cacodemon dates to 1593.
Re: WORDS
Pha·lanx
/ˈfāˌlaNGks/
noun
1.
a body of troops or police officers standing or moving in close formation:
"six hundred marchers set off, led by a phalanx of police"
2.
a bone of the finger or toe.
ORIGIN
Where did the word phalanx come from?
The word phalanx comes from the Greeks, though they were not the only ones who used this formation. The Greek term literally means "log" and was used for both this line of battle and for a bone in a finger or toe. The word and its senses passed into Latin and then were adopted into English in the 16th century.
/ˈfāˌlaNGks/
noun
1.
a body of troops or police officers standing or moving in close formation:
"six hundred marchers set off, led by a phalanx of police"
2.
a bone of the finger or toe.
ORIGIN
Where did the word phalanx come from?
The word phalanx comes from the Greeks, though they were not the only ones who used this formation. The Greek term literally means "log" and was used for both this line of battle and for a bone in a finger or toe. The word and its senses passed into Latin and then were adopted into English in the 16th century.
Re: WORDS
flea-flick·er ˈ
: any of various offensive plays in football involving a combination of handoffs and forward or lateral passes
Who invented the flea flicker?
Illinois coach Bob Zuppke is credited with the play's invention: the flea flicker made its debut in Illinois' 1925 game against Penn as a fake field goal with Earl Britton, Red Grange, and Chuck Kassel . On the play, Britton lined up as a kicker, with Grange as holder.
: any of various offensive plays in football involving a combination of handoffs and forward or lateral passes
Who invented the flea flicker?
Illinois coach Bob Zuppke is credited with the play's invention: the flea flicker made its debut in Illinois' 1925 game against Penn as a fake field goal with Earl Britton, Red Grange, and Chuck Kassel . On the play, Britton lined up as a kicker, with Grange as holder.
Re: WORDS
Accismus (noun)
Accismus is a useful term for pretending to be disinterested in something when you actually want it. Pull this word out when you see someone acting like he doesn’t want the last donut.
Example: "I know you want that donut. You're just displaying accismus by pretending you don't."
Accismus is a useful term for pretending to be disinterested in something when you actually want it. Pull this word out when you see someone acting like he doesn’t want the last donut.
Example: "I know you want that donut. You're just displaying accismus by pretending you don't."
Re: WORDS
Xiphoid:
sword-shaped
ORIGIN
The term xiphoid originates from the Greek word xiphos, which means 'straight sword', bearing a resemblance to the process's tip. The Latin equivalent, processus xiphoides , translates to the xiphoid process.
sword-shaped
ORIGIN
The term xiphoid originates from the Greek word xiphos, which means 'straight sword', bearing a resemblance to the process's tip. The Latin equivalent, processus xiphoides , translates to the xiphoid process.
Re: WORDS
Finifugal:
afraid of finishing anything
ORIGIN
We first see the word finifugal in the 18th-century Tollemache Journals of Education. After it was published in the journal, the word was used in 1883 to describe people afraid of finishing things.
Finifugal is a Latin word formed from combining the words fini-s (meaning end), fug-a (flight) and -al. We still use the word with its original meaning
afraid of finishing anything
ORIGIN
We first see the word finifugal in the 18th-century Tollemache Journals of Education. After it was published in the journal, the word was used in 1883 to describe people afraid of finishing things.
Finifugal is a Latin word formed from combining the words fini-s (meaning end), fug-a (flight) and -al. We still use the word with its original meaning
Re: WORDS
Some great obscure words Doodoo, enjoying this thread now.
By way of contribution, modern slang is as rich as ancient Greek and Latin. A few from my adopted country.
Cove - a man. Often derogatory. This cove hasn't a clue. First appeared in 16th Century Scotland from Romany Gypsy language, covo (that man)
Noah - a Shark. Rhyming slang Noah's Ark
Pommie - an English person, origin is disputed but often claimed it was from transportation days, POHM prisoner of his Majesty
Drongo - a dimwitted person, named after a bird of that name that was regarded as not very smart.
Dapto - a person of Mediterranean origin. Rhyming slang from a greyhound racing track in the town of Dapto. Dapto dogs rhymes with Wogs.
By way of contribution, modern slang is as rich as ancient Greek and Latin. A few from my adopted country.
Cove - a man. Often derogatory. This cove hasn't a clue. First appeared in 16th Century Scotland from Romany Gypsy language, covo (that man)
Noah - a Shark. Rhyming slang Noah's Ark
Pommie - an English person, origin is disputed but often claimed it was from transportation days, POHM prisoner of his Majesty
Drongo - a dimwitted person, named after a bird of that name that was regarded as not very smart.
Dapto - a person of Mediterranean origin. Rhyming slang from a greyhound racing track in the town of Dapto. Dapto dogs rhymes with Wogs.
Best being part of this forum by placing the intellectual challenged on foes list. A lot less post to read and a great time saver.
Re: WORDS
Argle-bargle:
copious but meaningless talk or writing
argle (v.)
1580s "to argue obstinately, wrangle," "prob. a popular perversion of argue, or confusion of that word with haggle" [OED]. Reduplicated form argle-bargle is from 1822 (sometimes argy-bargy, 1857); As a noun, "wrangling" from 1861.
also from 1580s
copious but meaningless talk or writing
argle (v.)
1580s "to argue obstinately, wrangle," "prob. a popular perversion of argue, or confusion of that word with haggle" [OED]. Reduplicated form argle-bargle is from 1822 (sometimes argy-bargy, 1857); As a noun, "wrangling" from 1861.
also from 1580s
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jackspratt
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