A favorite word?

[Zac495]

I have a new position next year at school - no longer a second grade teacher, but something I have wanted for years - I am going to be the gifted teacher. I will be teaching a pull out program with youngsters who are considered academically gifted (IQ of 130 or above).

Anyway, I LOVE words and will teach etymology. We're going to look at words like television and learn that tele means far, and vision means to see - from Greek and Latin. Words are so interesting.

What's a word that you love? It could be based on Greek and Latin. It could have an obscure meaning. It could be anything.

I'll start. Capitulate.
Capit (head from the Greek)
It is also used from ancient times to mean a HEADing of a part of a text - hence a CHAPTer.

Now "capitulate" doesn't just mean "surrender," it means "surrender with conditions..." all of the conditions being laid out in a document with parts (or chapters) stating each condition. (e.g., a conditin might be: you agree to surrender your arms but your soldiers will be released and no longer imprisoned)

 

[glypnirsgirl]

it isn't a fancy word, but I like how it sounds

serpentine >adjective 1 of or like a serpent or snake, especially in being winding or twisting. 2 complex, cunning, or treacherous. >noun a dark green mineral consisting of a silicate of magnesium, sometimes mottled or spotted like a snake's skin.

 

[caribbeansun]

Also from Caddyshack

serpentine >adjective 1 of or like a serpent or snake, especially in being winding or twisting. 2 complex, cunning, or treacherous. >noun a dark green mineral consisting of a silicate of magnesium, sometimes mottled or spotted like a snake's skin.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

My DH's word choice for the day - pejorative - I bet the etymology is interesting on that one.

pejorative >adjective expressing contempt or disapproval.
-DERIVATIVES pejoratively >adverb.
-ORIGIN French péjoratif, from Latin pejorare 'make worse'.

 

[pjrose]

Oxymoron is a good one......unless the kids are young enough that they'll make moron jokes.

You could do a word a day calendar.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

I love words

And I think it would be interesting to contrast DECAPITATE with your favorite word because of the elements that they have in common.

 

[AwayWeGo]

It Always Bugs Me When I Don't Know The Entomology Of A Word.

I bet the etymology is interesting on that one.

Lately I've been working execrable into the conversation at any apt opportunity.

Etymology: Latin exsecratus, past participle of exsecrari to put under a curse, from ex + sacr-, sacer sacred
Date: 1531

Full Disclosure: The title of this entry is a blatant rip-off from Schickele Mix. So sue me.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[glypnirsgirl]

i also like the juxtaposition of these words:

omniscient
science
prescient

(and juxtaposition is pretty good, too)

 

[glypnirsgirl]

And the juxtaposition of these

exhort
exhortation
inexorable

exhort >verb strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.
-DERIVATIVES exhortation >noun.
-ORIGIN Latin exhortari, from hortari 'encourage'.


inexorable >adjective 1 impossible to stop or prevent. 2 impossible to persuade by request or entreaty.
-DERIVATIVES inexorability >noun inexorably >adverb.
-ORIGIN Latin inexorabilis, from in- 'not' + exorare 'entreat'.

I am having too much fun. I think I should let someone else play, too!
elaine

 

[Zac495]

And I think it would be interesting to contrast DECAPITATE with your favorite word because of the elements that they have in common.

Absolutely - it's always a favorite for kids to illustrate!

Loving your answers so far, folks! Keep them coming! Know I will save every post.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

A plethora of juxtapositions!

monopoly >noun (pl. monopolies) 1 the exclusive possession or control of the supply of a commodity or service. 2 an organization having a monopoly, or a commodity or service controlled by one. 3 exclusive possession or control of something.
-ORIGIN Greek monopMlion, from monos 'single' + pMlein 'sell'.

monolith >noun 1 a large single upright block of stone, especially a pillar or monument. 2 a massive and indivisible organization or institution.
-ORIGIN from Greek monos 'single' + lithos 'stone'.

monopolize (also monopolise) >verb take exclusive control or use of.
-DERIVATIVES monopolization >noun.

police >noun [treated as pl.] 1 a civil force responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order. 2 members of such a force. >verb 1 maintain law and order in (an area), with or as with a police force. 2 regulate, administer, or control.
-ORIGIN originally in the sense 'public order': from Latin politia 'policy, government'.

policy1 >noun (pl. policies) 1 a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual. 2 archaic prudent or expedient conduct or action.
-ORIGIN Greek politeia 'citizenship', from polis 'city'.

metropolis >noun the principal city of a country or region.
-ORIGIN Greek, from m t r 'mother' + polis 'city'.

monomania >noun obsessive preoccupation with one thing.
-DERIVATIVES monomaniac >noun.

egomania >noun obsessive egotism.
-DERIVATIVES egomaniac >noun egomaniacal >adjective.

monologue >noun 1 a long speech by one actor in a play or film. 2 a long, tedious speech by one person during a conversation.
-ORIGIN from Greek monologos 'speaking alone'.

I love to see the bits and pieces of words.

 

[Fletcher921]

Crotch

I was so entertained when I met the mother of a dear friend of mine for the first time. She was in her 80's, tall thin, very soft spoken with the customary gray short curly hair-do. She said, Oh Hi, it is so nice to meet you. What is your favorite word? Mine is crotch. Yes, crotch, I just laugh when I say it. Crotch, crotch, crotch. I think it sounds so funny. I really like that word. How about you?

She is sharp as a tack, goes to mass daily and is as sweet as pie! Just has the funniest sense of humor ever

 

[Teresa]

I like endeavor

'Good luck in all your endeavors!'

 

[Fletcher921]

Crotch

I was so entertained when I met the mother of a dear friend of mine for the first time. She was in her 80's, tall thin, very soft spoken with the customary gray short curly hair-do. She said, Oh Hi, it is so nice to meet you. What is your favorite word? Mine is crotch. Yes, crotch, I just laugh when I say it. Crotch, crotch, crotch. I think it sounds so funny. I really like that word. How about you?

She is sharp as a tack, goes to mass daily and is as sweet as pie! Just has the funniest sense of humor ever

 

[glypnirsgirl]

Yay! My turn again (I know, I'm a nerd)



THEN THERE ARE THE ‘LOVE’ WORDS compared with the people words

philosophy >noun (pl. philosophies) 1 the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. 2 the theories of a particular philosopher. 3 a theory or attitude that guides one's behavior. 4 the study of the theoretical basis of a branch of knowledge or experience.
-ORIGIN Greek philosophia 'love of wisdom'.

philology >noun 1 the study of the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages. 2 chiefly N. Amer. literary or classical scholarship.
-DERIVATIVES philological >adjective philologist >noun.
-ORIGIN originally in the sense 'love of learning': from Greek philologia.

philately >noun the collection and study of postage stamps.
-DERIVATIVES philatelic >adjective philatelist >noun.
-ORIGIN from Greek philo- 'loving' + ateleia 'exemption from payment', used to mean a franking mark or postage stamp exempting the recipient from payment

also the words ending with -phil or phile

pedophile (Brit. paedophile) >noun a person who is sexually attracted to children.
-DERIVATIVES pedophilia >noun pedophiliac >adjective & >noun.
-ORIGIN from Greek pais 'child'.

bibliophile >noun a person who collects or has a great love of books.
-DERIVATIVES bibliophilic >adjective bibliophily >noun.

Philanthropist (My dictionary did not have a good etymology of this word)

and contrast with
sophisticate >verb 1 make more discerning and aware of complex issues through education or experience. 2 make more complex or refined. >noun a sophisticated person.
-DERIVATIVES sophistication >noun.
-ORIGIN Latin sophisticare 'tamper with', from sophisticus 'sophistic'.

sophistry >noun (pl. sophistries) 1 the use of false arguments, especially to deceive. 2 a false argument.

anthropology >noun the study of humankind, especially the study of societies and cultures and human origins.
-DERIVATIVES anthropological >adjective anthropologist >noun.
-ORIGIN from Greek anthrMpos 'human being'.

 

[Keitht]

Not my favourite word, but a woman at work uses 'Obviously' almost as punctuation in her conversations. We actually have an informal competition at work to see who can hear her use the word most often in a single conversation.

 

[DaveNV]

Not my favourite word, but a woman at work uses 'Obviously' almost as punctuation in her conversations. We actually have an informal competition at work to see who can hear her use the word most often in a single conversation.

I know people who use "literally" the same way. So it's literally absurd. Obviously.

Also I've never understood why singular and plural of some words is different, and doesn't follow the same rules:

If you can have two geese and one goose, why not one moose and two meese? Or two sheep and one shoop? Two slices of cheese, why not one slice of choose?

And if the plural of mouse is mice, why isn't the plural of house then hice?

Good thing I grew up speaking English. I'd never figure it out if I was trying as an adult.

Dave

 

[MichaelColey]

Politics - From the Greek word "poly" meaning many and "ticks" are blood-sucking parasites.

 

[nonutrix]

A word I like:

cru·ci·ver·bal·ist (krs-vûrb-lst)
n.
1. A constructor of crosswords.
2. An enthusiast of word games, especially of crosswords.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[From Latin crux, cruc-, cross + Latin verbum, word (translation of English crossword).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

[scrapngen]

I was so entertained when I met the mother of a dear friend of mine for the first time. She was in her 80's, tall thin, very soft spoken with the customary gray short curly hair-do. She said, Oh Hi, it is so nice to meet you. What is your favorite word? Mine is crotch. Yes, crotch, I just laugh when I say it. Crotch, crotch, crotch. I think it sounds so funny. I really like that word. How about you?

She is sharp as a tack, goes to mass daily and is as sweet as pie! Just has the funniest sense of humor ever

You could talk about the "crotchety" old lady who likes the word "crotch."

 

[MULTIZ321]

Xeric - something very dry - from the Greek
Xeros, dry (also the source of Xerox, the business based on a method of dry copying called xerography).

See this link for an interesting discussion on the words Xeric, Hydric, and Mesic

Ellen, check out http://www.worldwidewords.org/ if you're not already familiar with that site.

Also check out http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/resources/

and

http://www.etymonline.com/

and
http://www.heroturko.org/magazine/2...-english-etymology-sources-and-word-list.html

Richard

 

[Garry]

Penultimate - latin

As an adjective - next to the last

As a noun - anything that is next to the last, esp a penult

[from Latin paene almost + ultimate, on the model of Latin paenultimus]

 

[NWL]

THEN THERE ARE THE ‘LOVE’ WORDS compared with the people words

"Twitterpated". I know, not in the dictionary and not a "real" word", but still one of the best love words ever!

Cheers!

 

[pgnewarkboy]

Crepuscule

crepuscule. One of my favorite words. A famous song by Thelonius Monk "Crepuscule with Nellie".

 

[Passepartout]

Good Honk!, I tend to make up my own, unless I can steal them from someone far more clever. Like at the store, when asked "Paper or plastic?", I answer, "Either, I'm bi-sacksual." It tends to bring the place down.

I won't dredge up more of my creations unless prodded.

I recommend highly the books by Richard Lederer: Anguished English, Comma Sense, Get Thee to a Punnery, and Sleeping Dogs don't Lay. There are other romps through our beloved English Language just having fun. Here's a link to Amazon's compendium: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_ath...arch-alias=books&field-author=Richard Lederer

Happy word play...

Jim Ricks