Cool Word: ligature
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for April 15, 1999
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ligature [n. LIG-uh-chur]
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Ligature is the act of tying or binding, and a ligature is something
that binds or ties, like a cord or bandage. It can also be a
united pair of letters such as "a" with "e" (which we can't show you
here, because the character is not in the standard set). In music a
ligature is a slurred connection between two adjacent notes.
In the case of combined letters, ligatures were first used by scribes
in medieval times to increase writing speed and to save space. Today
they are used to improve readability, and some computer fonts include
them. They may include such combinations as ff, fi, fl, ffi, ffl, Rp,
ct, st, Sh, Si, Sl, SS, and St.
The word came through Old French, from Late Latin ligatura, from
ligare (to bind). It's part of a family of "binding and connecting"
words, that also includes these words:
ligate: to tie or bind with a ligature
ligase: a biological molecule that links together two other molecules
ligament: (anatomy) a sheet or band of connective tissue
lien: a document that binds a person to pay a debt
oblige: to make someone indebted (bound) or grateful
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Cool Word: furbelow
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for April 19, 1999 -- furbelow [n. FUR-buh-low] -- Usually this word appears in the plural form, as part of a phrase: "Those extra trimmings are nothing but frills and furbelows!" A furbelow is a frilly decoration or trim on a woman's dress, like the lacy edge of a petticoat, or a pleated border. The word is seldom used today, but when it is it almost always carries an implication of unnecessary trimmings or decorations, or something that is excessively ostentatious and showy. There's no connection with fur here. The word is from the Provencal farbella (fringe), from Italian faldella (little pleat). That's the diminutive of falda (flap, loose end), which is from an ancient Germanic root that also gave us fold, as well as the -fold suffix (twofold, threefold, etc). A somewhat more distant connection from the same ancient root led to the -uple series, including triple, octuple, decuple, multiple, and the other numeric -uples. Today's sponsor: BulletMail http://www.bulletmail.com/signup.cgi?kw Get Free Email on your favorite topics PLUS GET 10 FREE GIFTS! Sign up now for free at http://www.bulletmail.com/signup.cgi?kw -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 82,459 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: kangaroo court
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for April 26, 1999
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kangaroo court [n. KANG-guh-ROO KORT]
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A kangaroo court is a mock or illegal court that is set up in
violation of established legal procedure, or it is one that is
characterized by dishonesty or incompetence. Example: "The impromptu
civil trials of the Gold Rush days were little more than kangaroo
courts."
You might expect that this term originated in Australia, the land of
kangaroos, but it seems to be of American origin. It first appeared
in the early 1850s in the far western US. It may have originated
during the California Gold Rush, possibly in connection with
Australian prospectors, many of whom arrived during that time.
It is not known how this meaning evolved. One theory is that a
"kangaroo court" was a court in which legal procedures were largely a
sham, and the action "jumped" quickly from accusation to sentencing
without due process. Another idea is that "kangaroo" was a reference
to Australian "claim jumpers," prospectors who illegally mined
someone else's claim.
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Cool Word: the whole nine yards
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for April 27, 1999 -- the whole nine yards -- To go the whole nine yards is to carry some act to full completion, with a sense that it is accomplished without stopping and at full speed. "When Desmond built his boat, he went the whole nine yards, from cutting and shaping the timber to applying the final touches of brass trim." It may seem like the phrase has something to do with team sports. Do the nine yards represent distance won or lost on a football field? Although the expression is popular among sports fans, the origin lies elsewhere. One theory says the expression came from the cement delivery industry, where a rotating mixer truck carries nine cubic yards of cement. To discharge the whole nine yards would be to fully complete the task. Another theory describes the space between the inner and outer walls of a prison, which was nine yards wide. To go the whole nine yards was to escape entirely. The most popular theory refers to World War II war planes, which carried machine gun ammunition belts 27 feet (nine yards) long. To discharge the whole nine yards was to fully empty the belt. Today's sponsor: Flying Noodlehttp://www.flyingnoodle.com/cool - This MOTHER'S DAY - Send a Gift of Gourmet PASTA - 20% discount on all orders for Cool Word of The Day Subscribers until May 1, 1999. Includes all Combo Packs (perfect for Mother's Day), Pasta of The Month Club orders and individual items. Multi-award winning whimsical site. Lots of info and great pasta! -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 86,016 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: cytokine
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for April 30, 1999
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cytokine [n. SY-toe-kyn]
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A cytokine is a substance that causes living cells to grow and divide.
Some cytokines are hormones that circulate in the blood, and others
are released from individual cells, causing their neighbors to grow.
If cytokines get out of control for some reason, they can contribute
to conditions like cancer, in which cells grow without limit.
Like many scientific words, "cytokine" is a compound of Greek or Latin
roots. "Cyto-" is a scientific prefix that means "of a cell," from
the Greek kutos (hollow vessel). The second part, "-kine," is from
the Greek kinein (to move). Another word that uses the same two roots
is cytokinesis (the splitting of a cell during reproduction).
More "cellular" words:
cytology: the study of cells
cytoplasm: the living fluid that fills cells
cytolysis: the destruction of a cell
cytoskeleton: the internal protein framework of a cell
erythrocyte: a red blood cell
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Cool Word: periculant
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 3, 1999
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periculant [adj. per-IK-you-lunt]
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To be periculant is to be exposed to danger under difficult
conditions. "The periculant survivors of the shipwreck crawled ashore
on the cold, windswept island."
This seldom-used word is a direct offspring of the Latin periculum
(trial, danger), and a close relative of peril (danger). It comes
ultimately from the ancient root per-, which had a meaning something
like "to lead over" or "to press forward," with a sense of trial or
risk.
More words from the same ancient root:
fear: emotion that implies danger is near
pirate: one who emperils (endangers) others in order to gain wealth
experiment: to learn by deliberate trials
experience: apprehension of sensory information
expert: one who knows much about a particular field
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Cool Word: sesquipedalian
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 6, 1999
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sesquipedalian [n., adj. SES-kwi-puh-DAYL-yun]
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This is a word that both names and describes itself. A sesquipedalian
is a long word, and such a word (as well as someone who uses such
words) is sesquipedalian. The implied sense is that such a long word
is needlessly pompous when shorter words would do.
This word's use in English came from the Roman poet Horace's phrase
"sesquipedalia verba" (words a foot and a half long), which carried
the same implication of needless pomposity.
The prefix sesqui- (one and a half) also appears in sesquicentennial
(an anniversary at 150 years) and is a derivative of semi- (half).
The suffix -pedalian is from the Latin pes (foot), which gave us many
"foot" words including these:
foot: walking and standing appendage at the end of the leg
pedal: a pad on which the foot presses to control something
impede: to retard or obstruct (originally, in a snare or trap)
pedestrian: person walking on the street
centipede: "hundred footed" creature
millipede: "thousand footed" creature
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Cool Word: jury-rig
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 10, 1999 -- jury-rig [n. v. JOO-ree rig] -- A jury-rig is a makeshift assembly that's just temporary, an emergency measure improvised out of available materials, and to make one is to jury-rig. Example: "The injured hiker jury-rigged a splint out of sticks and twine." The most likely origin is from the Old French ajuri (help), from the Latin adiutare (aid). In this context, the word "jury" was originally a nautical term meaning "temporary," as in a "jury sail." This is distinct from the other meaning of "jury" (a group of persons sworn to judge and give a verdict), which comes from Latin iurare (to swear), from ius (law). There is also a related expression, "jerry built" (built in a slipshod, haphazard way), which probably split off from "jury-rig" as it migrated into English, although some theories suggest it originated independently. One story relates "jerry built" to the Biblical story of the Prophet Jeremiah, whose lamentations might resemble the complaints of someone in a jerry-built house. Another mentions the city of Jericho, whose walls crumbled at the sound of a trumpet. -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 91,832 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ ---------- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: pusillanimous
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 11, 1999 -- pusillanimous [adj. PYOO-suh-LAN-ih-mus] -- Someone who is pusillanimous is timid or cowardly, lacking conviction of mind, unable to muster the courage to take a stand. Etymologically, such a person is "weak-spirited." In Latin the animus was the reasoning mind or the spirit that enlivens, and pusillus (weak) was the diminutive of pullus (a young animal). Together, they formed Late Latin pusillanimis (weak- spirited; weak-minded). Through various paths, other words related to youth have emerged from the same ancient root that led to pullus: pullet: a young hen pony: a small horse pool: stakes, booty, or funds, from French poule (hen, stakes, booty) puerile: childish, juvenile, immature -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 91,920 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: quash
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 12, 1999
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quash [v. KWASH]
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To quash is to annul or set aside by a judicial act, or it is to
completely suppress by force. Example: "The General's army quashed
the rebellion without difficulty."
The two meanings of this word came into English through slightly
different paths, both through Old French from Medieval Latin quassare
(to shatter or shake to pieces). The sense "quash by annulment" was
influenced by Latin cassare (to empty), from cassus (empty, void). A
judicial quash renders its subject empty and void.
The other meaning, "quash through overwhelming force," came through
the same path, but more strongly influenced by the source of
"quassare," which was quatere (to shake, to strike). The related word
"squash" also came from the same root, through a Vulgar Latin
derivative, exquassare (to shatter or shake extremely).
Other words in the same family include these:
concussion: a violent jarring or shock (a striking together)
percussion: a striking together
rescue: to save or set free (by shaking off or driving away enemies)
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Cool Word: spoil
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 20, 1999 -- spoil [n., v. SPOYL] -- To spoil something is to render it unfit for use, or to seriously impair its quality or beauty. To spoil can also be to harm someone's character (especially a child) through excessive praise or overindulgence. There is also the noun form (usually plural): goods or property seized from a victim after a conflict. Originally, Latin spolium was the hide stripped from a killed animal. The ancient root of this was spel- (split, burst), which also led to German spalten (to split) and Modern English spill and split. The meaning drifted over the centuries to "weapons taken from a slain enemy" and eventually any sort of booty or plunder. Thus we have the modern expression "the spoils of war." Meanwhile, the verb form evolved from the original meaning of the word, in recognition that a dead animal that has been spoiled (stripped of its skin) is essentially worthless. The most recent meaning, to harm someone's character through overindulgence, arose in the 17th century. Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks http://www.oddparts.com/ink WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: http://www.oddparts.com/ink Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 95,935 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: caltrop
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for May 28, 1999 -- caltrop [n. KAL-trup] -- There are several different kinds of plants called caltrop, all of which have fruits with sharp, projecting spikes. A a caltrop can also be a metal device with four sharp spikes arranged so that when it lands on the ground, one of the spikes always points straight up. The metal caltrops are nasty little military weapons, strewn behind fleeing troops to interfere with pursuing horses or vehicles. The spiny-fruited plants are almost equally nasty, including a star thistle and the water caltrop, a water chestnut. The military device was named after the plants. The word comes from Middle English calketrappe, from Medieval Latin calcatrippa (thistle; any plant that "catches the feet"). That word was a compound of calcare (to tread on) and trappa (trap), a word of Ancient Germanic origin that was also the root of Modern English trap. -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 98,478 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: jungle
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 2, 1999 -- jungle [n. JUNG-gul] -- A jungle is an area of land that is densely overgrown with tropical vegetation. More metaphorically, a jungle can also be something that is confusing or densely tangled, as in this example: "After three hours of study, Stew became frustrated by the dense jungle of tax rules." Although today we usually think of jungles as moist places, the original jungles were dry. The oldest known root is Sanskrit jangalam (a dry wasteland, or any kind of uncultivated area). In Hindi, a jangal was still an area of wasteland, but with the additional sense of being overgrown with scrub. When the word moved into Anglo-Indian, it changed to almost its present meaning, referring to an area of dense forest. Since entering English, the word has developed many new variants. Now there are concrete jungles (big cities), blackboard jungles (public schools), corporate jungles (big companies), and of course the globe-spanning digital jungle (the Internet). The nearly pristine jungles of Borneo still offer adventure and danger: http://savvytraveler.com/Show/Features/10-24-98/borneo.html Today's sponsor: J and M House of Gifts http://www.jandmhg.com It's our anniversary, come join the fun! The easy way to shop online. New items added weekly. Visit our Crafts, Kids, and Animal pages. Sign up for our FREE newsletter. See our Specials! Play our Name Game! -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 100,305 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: mealy-mouthed
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 3, 1999
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mealy-mouthed [adj. MEE-lee mouthd]
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To be mealy-mouthed is to speak in circles, to be unwilling to
directly state facts or opinions. The phrase carries a strong sense
of disapproval. Example: "Senator McBain's mealy-mouthed platitudes
left us wondering if he had a point of view at all."
Some etymologists have linked this phrase with the Latin mel (honey).
The connection may seem appropriate, since a mealy-mouthed person
might also be called "honey-tongued."
The source of the phrase is actually more direct: a mealy-mouthed
person is like someone whose mouth is full of meal (powdered grain),
unable to speak clearly. There's a German expression, "Mehl im Maule
behalten" (literally, to carry meal in one's mouth) that means "to
speak indirectly." Our phrase most likely came from the German
expression, or a similar one in another Germanic language.
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Cool Word: vitiate
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 9, 1999 -- vitiate [v. VISH-ee-ayt] -- To vitiate is to impair by making defective, ineffective, or faulty, or to debase morally or aesthetically. Example: "Although the work was done by skilled mechanics, the repair was vitiated by the poor quality of the components." The Latin root of this word is vitiare (to fault), from vitium (defect, fault, offense). It's part of a family of words having to do with fault or vice, including vituperate (scold, criticize harshly), vicious (evil, immoral, depraved, spiteful, or malicious), and vice (an evil, immoral or depraved act or habit). Words that may seem related but are not include vicissitude (constantly occurring change, especially in fortune or condition), from Latin vicis (turn or change); and villain (wicked or evil person), from Vulgar Latin villanus (feudal serf), from Latin villa (country house). Today's sponsor: K-12 Learning Network http://homeschoolnetwork.com NEW LOW PRICE -- Take your home school to next level of excellence! K-12 classes for the serious Home Educator - Proven Curriculum - Taught to reinforce Christian values to your children - High School, Jr High, Elementary, K-5 in full-motion digital video. Helping you with the harder subjects - For the serious Home Educator. Free info: E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 1-888-406-4040 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 102,395 -- To subscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To unsubscribe, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To become a sponsor, visit http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: serendipity
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 25, 1999 -- serendipity [n. SER-un-DIP-uh-tee] -- Serendipity is the ability to make fortunate discoveries by accident, without expecting them. Example: "The uncovering of the ancient inscribed stones was pure serendipity, since I was actually digging a hole for a fencepost." This word was coined in 1754 by a British author, Horace Walpole, who said he based it on an old Persian fairy tale called "The Three Princes Of Serendip." In this story, the three princes were always making happy, unexpected discoveries. In Old Persian, Sarandib was the name of the island we now call Sri Lanka. The Persian name was a corruption of the Sanskrit Sinhaladvipa (island of lions), which was also the source of the name of the Sri Lankan language, Sinhalese. An essay about serendipity in science: http://www.scrippsfoundation.org/newscience/essay.html Today's sponsor: MyPoints http://www.mypoints.com/offer/DVGZ Win a 1999 Ford Explorer from MyPoints.com! Join MyPoints and get FREE valuable rewards from Blockbuster, Eddie Bauer, Target and more. Plus, MyPoints is FREE! You earn Points to spend by visiting web sites, responding to email and filling out surveys. PLUS, you could win a Ford Explorer. Join NOW: http://www.mypoints.com/offer/DVGZ -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 109,430 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: petroglyph
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 6, 1999
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petroglyph [n. PET-ruh-glif]
--
Throughout the American southwest there are art works carved by Native
Americans into the dark-colored "rock varnish" that forms on stone surfaces
in the desert. These are petroglyphs, images carved into the surfaces of
stones. (If an image was painted on a rock, then it is a pictograph [n.
PIK-tuh-graf].)
The word is a compound from the Latin petra (stone) and the Greek gluphe
(carving). Both of these are from roots that gave us many English words.
More "stony" words:
petroleum: oil (oleum, in Latin) that comes from rocks
petrify: turn to stone
saltpetre: potassium or sodium nitrate, "salt of the rock"
A great place to see some petroglyphs:
http://www.nps.gov/petr/
Another kind of glyph is a hieroglyph:
http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1998/08/13.html
Today's Cool Fact is about rock varnish:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/06.html
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Cool Word: fuddy duddy
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 19, 1999
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fuddy duddy [n. FUD-ee DUD-ee]
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A fuddy duddy is an old-fashioned person with fussy, hyper-critical
ways. Example: "Professor Higgins is such a fuddy duddy, he won't
even let his boys play in the yard on Saturdays."
The origin of this phrase is uncertain. It seems to have first
gotten started around 1900 in Maine, a place and time of puritanical,
straight-laced attitudes. Some dictionaries suggest that the phrase
is related to "fuddled," an old word meaning "drunk or confused," but
that theory seems unlikely because a fuddy duddy is not the kind of
person who is likely to get drunk.
A more intriguing theory is that it emerged from the letters sometimes
found after the names of clergymen who were also professors, something
fairly common in those days. Someone known as "James Witherspoon,
Ph.D., D.D." might have been called "James Witherspoon, fuddy duddy"
by those with little respect for his credentials.
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Cool Word: analemma
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 22, 1999 -- analemma [n. an-uh-LEM-uh] -- If you record the exact position of the Sun in the sky at the same clock time every day for a year, the resulting collection of points is called the Sun's analemma. It's a figure-8 with the northern loop smaller than the southern loop. The shape is the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis and the shape of its orbit around the Sun. Because the Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular, the analemma is a loopy shape rather than a simple line. To properly calibrate a sundial, one must know the Sun's analemma and the local latitude. The word is Latin for sundial, from the Greek analambanein (to take up), from ana- (upward) and lambanein (to take). Also from that root is analeptic [adj., n. an-uh-LEP-tik] (restorative or stimulating, or a stimulating medication). More about the Sun's analemma: http://www.analemma.com/Pages/framesPage.html Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks http://www.oddparts.com/ink WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: http://www.oddparts.com/ink Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 120,970 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: nostrum
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 26, 1999
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nostrum [n. NOS-trum]
--
If a medicine contains secret ingredients, is highly recommended by
the person who prepared it, and lacks scientific proof that it works,
then it might be called a nostrum. A nostrum can also be a
questionable scheme or remedy for some vexing problem. Example:
"Senator Harvey's proposal for tax incentives was widely derided as
an expensive nostrum."
In the days of "patent medicine," there were traveling salesmen all
over North America, selling various kinds of mostly ineffective
nostrums. The word today implies quackery and fraud, but prior to
the nineteenth century its meaning was much more honest.
The word comes from a Latin phrase, "nostrum remedium" (our remedy),
and its root meaning is simply "ours." Starting in the early 1600s,
medicines were marked with the Latin phrase, to show that they were
the unique product of the maker.
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Cool Word: cadre
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 27, 1999 -- cadre [n. KAHD-ree] -- A cadre is a group of competent people who work together, usually at the center of a larger organization. Example: "Among the many rescue workers present in the aftermath of the bombing was a cadre of paramedics, without whose aid many people would have died." A cadre can also be a framework, and this sense is most closely related to the word's origin. Just as a cadre of people can support and stabilize an organization, so a connected group of squares can support a framework. The root is the Latin quadrum (square), which entered Italian as quadro, then migrated to French, where it took on the current meaning. More "square" words from Latin quadrum: squad: a small group of workers; a team square: four-sided regular polygon quadrant: circular arc of 90 degrees; one quarter of a circle quarrel: crossbow bolt; square hammer; diamond shaped window pane quarry: open pit where stone is cut (often in rectangular blocks) Today's sponsor: iPrint http://www.zmedia.com/s/iprint.html You've got personality... so express it at iPrint.com with 10 pads of personalized Post-it(r)Notes for just $9.99--that's more than 50% off the regular price! Have some fun! Create your message online in just minutes and have it printed your way. Click here to begin: http://www.zmedia.com/s/iprint.html -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 122,569 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: vitriolic
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for July 28, 1999 -- vitriolic [adj. vit-ree-OL-ik] -- In common use, this adjective applies to a person's manner. To be vitriolic is to be bitterly critical, with strong emotion. Example: "Phil was surprised by the intensity of Harry's vitriolic accusations." There is a more technical meaning of the word that led to its common meaning. Vitriolic substances are sulfates like copper sulfate or sulfuric acid, which is also known as oil of vitriol. Someone who is being vitriolic is being emotionally caustic, like chemically caustic sulfuric acid. Why are sulfate chemicals called vitriols? Some of them can have a glassy appearance in the crystalline form, so the Latin root vitrum (glass) was modified to name them. Here are more "glassy" words: vitreous: glassy vitrify: to make into glass, usually by melting and cooling vitrescent: like glass, able to be vitrified vitrine: glass paneled cabinet for displaying small items Today's Cool Fact is about oil of vitriol: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/07/28.html Today's sponsor:Net Atlantichttp://www.netatlantic.com AT LAST! Web site hosting made EASY and AFFORDABLE! ~ www.yourdomain.com $24 / month ~ www.yournon-profit.org $20 / month ~ secure commerce directory $15 / month Plus new FRONT PAGE 2000 hosting no extra charge! http://www.netatlantic.com or mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 122,919 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: feldspar
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 5, 1999 -- feldspar [FELD-spar] -- One of the most common minerals in the Earth's crust is feldspar, any of several varieties of aluminum silicate with various other elements mixed in. Feldspar is usually light colored, with flat surfaces where it has broken (cleaved) along crystal planes. German farmers plowing their fields used to turn up this light colored mineral, often broken by the plow into flat-edged fragments. They called this mineral feldspath, from feld- (field) and spath (spar, a stone that cleaves). There are also other kinds of spar, including "iceland spar" (a clear variety of calcite). Today, the Old High German name for the mineral survives as a technical adjective, feldspathic (relating to or containing feldspar). Today's Cool Fact is about feldspar: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/08/05.html Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks http://www.oddparts.com/ink WHY pay $30 for a new inkjet cartridge, when you can refill your current one 10 times for $21.95 with our 450 ml pint bottles. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: http://www.oddparts.com/ink Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 126,053 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: abnegate
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 6, 1999
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abnegate [v. AB-nih-gayt]
--
To abnegate something is to give it up, renounce it, deny it to
yourself, or to surrender or relinquish it. To do so is the act of
abnegation [n. ab-nih-GAY-shun]. Example: "As part of his spiritual
purification, Jim chose to abnegate all forms of liquor."
The immediate ancestor of these words was the Latin abnegare (to
refuse), a compound of ab- (away) and negare (to deny). Thus, to
abnegate something is literally to "deny it away."
Here are more "denial" words from negare:
negate: nullify; neutralize; rule out; deny
deny: declare untrue; disavow; contradict; refuse
renegade: one who rejects; outlaw; deserter
renege: fail to keep a contract; renounce; disown
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Cool Word: hoary
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for August 18, 1999 -- hoary [adj. HOR-ee] -- Something that is hoary is colored gray or white because of old age, or it is covered with gray or white hairs, or it is something that is extremely ancient, inspiring veneration. Example: "The hoary leaves of dusty miller bear thousands of tiny hairs to conserve water." Today the word carries two primary senses: color and age. The original sense was the color, in the ancient Indo-European root koi-. From that root came the German color-related heiter (bright) and age-related herr (mister), as well as the Dutch mijnheer (sir, mister). The source in English was Old English har, which led to hoar. That word is part of hoarfrost (ice crystals condensed from the air that form a white coating). The -y ending was added about five hundred years ago, but both forms of the word are still correct. Today's sponsor: OSKA !! FREE !! ANIMATIONS !! FREE !! Interactive cartoon character for Windows. a href=" http://www.oska.com/oska0107.htm " click/a -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 132,569 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: fresco
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 16, 1999 -- fresco [n. FRES-koh] -- Although most frescoes are murals, not all murals are frescoes. A fresco is a painting that was created by applying water-based pigments to freshly spread lime plaster, while a mural is a large painting made directly on a wall or ceiling. Fresco is also the art of creating frescoes. It's a very ancient art, the second oldest form of painting known (only cave painting is older). Michelangelo's beautiful paintings in the Sistine Chapel are frescoes. In Italian, fresco means fresh, like the plaster to which the paint is applied. If the plaster is on the dry side when it is painted, then the method is called "fresco secco" (dry fresco). If the plaster is brand new and still quite wet, then it's "buon fresco" (true fresco). The art of fresco is experiencing a modern revival: http://www.pbs.org/fresco/ Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks http://www.oddparts.com/ink Refill your existing inkjet or toner cartridge with our bulk inks and toners. Save 75% to 90%. Get 1 pint of ink for $21.95. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: http://www.oddparts.com/ink Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 144,087 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: marble
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 23, 1999 -- marble [n. MAR-bul] -- Marble is a kind of mottled, banded rock, and a marble can also be a small sphere, usually made out of glass. Children play games all around the world using these hard, shiny spheres, and there are special names like onionskin, popeye, and clambroth for various kinds of marbles. Two root words combined to form our modern word. The older root was Greek marmaros (hard stone). A similar-sounding word was marmairein (to shine), and through association the two words became combined, passing into Latin as marmor, then into French as marbre (marble stone). Passing into English, the word changed to marble. In the 17th century small, polished spheres for children's games were made at first out of colorful marble stone. The new toys called marbles soon included glass spheres, as well as other stones. Today's Cool Fact is about making marbles: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/09/23.html Today's sponsor: ACSI Bulk Inks http://www.oddparts.com/ink Refill your existing inkjet or toner cartridge with our bulk inks and toners. Save 75% to 90%. Get 1 pint of ink for $21.95. Free, easy on-line instructions. Color and photo inks too. Call us now Toll Free: 1-888-728-2465 VISA/MC/AMEX ACSI Bulk Inks: http://www.oddparts.com/ink Mention Cool-Word and save $5 on shipping/handling -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 146,413 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: mofette
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for September 24, 1999 -- mofette [n. moh-FET] -- A hole in the ground from which gases emerge is a mofette. Usually, the word refers to holes that release carbon dioxide, possibly combined with smelly gases like hydrogen sulfide. The gas that emerges from the hole is also called mofette. Mofettes typically form in the last stages of volcanic action. Most mofettes have a musty, dank, moldy smell. In Italian, there is muffa (mold) and its diminutive, moffetta, which migrated into French and then English to describe smelly gaseous exhalations. More recently, the word was applied to the geological source of such gases. The gases that emerge from a mofette might be described as mephitic [adj. muh-FIT-ik] (poisonous; foul-smelling). Strangely, this similar-sounding word is unrelated. It comes from the Latin mephitis (poisonous gas emitted from the earth). Today's Cool Fact is about volcanic gases: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/09/24.html Today's sponsor: FREE Photo Greetings! http://www.zing.com/z?e40c61z11 Share your special moments with family friends. New PHOTO greetings at Zing.com! Send animated cards starring you or choose from thousands of photos. Tons of funny, cute, cool animated cards to customize. Zing.com - the hottest new place for online greetings! http://www.zing.com/z?e40c61z11 AOL Users:a href="http://www.zing.com/z?e40c61z11"Click Here/a -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 146,662 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: alacrity
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 4, 1999 -- alacrity [n. uh-LAK-rih-tee] -- This word usually appears in the phrase "with alacrity." If you act with alacrity, then you are responding promptly and cheerfully. Alacrity can also be readiness, willingness or eagerness. Example: "When the prize committee sent me a mysterious note, I replied with alacrity." Someone who acts with alacrity is alacritous [adj. uh-LAK-rih-tus]. Since the 15th century, alacrity has been cheerful responsiveness, either physically or emotionally. It always carries a positive, upbeat quality. The word is based on Latin alacritas (liveliness), from alacer (lively). A near-synonym is celerity [n. suh-LAIR-ih-tee], which carries the sense of acting quickly but without the overtone of cheerfulness. It's from Latin celer (swift). Other near-synonyms include dispatch, expedition, hurry, and haste. Today's sponsor: WORDCOMMAND http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm BOOST your SAT, ACT, GRE, or TOEFL verbal scores FAST! WordCommand's patented learning system includes spoken pronunciations, quizzes, screen savers, flash cards, customizable word lists, and much more! ZDNet's Editor's Pick. Click below to see how easy it can be. CLICK HERE: http://www.wordcommand.com/SAT-GRE.htm -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 149,896 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: pun
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 6, 1999 -- pun [n. PUN] -- A pun is a witty play on words. Sometimes it is a story or sentence including a word that has two meanings, but most often a word is substituted for one that sounds similar, giving a funny or ironic twist to a sentence. In the 17th and 18th centuries in England, it was fashionable to create short one-syllable words from longer ones. One such word was mob, which was short for mobile. Another may have been pun, from pundigrion, a fancy name for a witty play on words. Pundigrion was probably inherited from Italian puntiglio (nice point; quibble), which also gave us punctilious [adj. pungk-TIL-ee-us] (meticulous; precisely proper). More recently, these new words have emerged from pun: punster: one who writes or utters puns punnology: the study of wordplay involving puns punnigram: a short witty poem or statement including a pun We resisted the temptation to include a pun. But if you must have them, here are more than you may ever want: http://www.punpunpun.com/ Today's sponsor: Zmedia http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk Simple... free... fun. Get daily emails on your favorite subjects, from horoscopes to humor, money to motivation. Visit: http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 150,911 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: cattalo
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 11, 1999 -- cattalo [n. KAT-ul-oh] -- A cattalo (sometimes spelled catalo) is an animal produced by cross-breeding the American bison (buffalo) and beef cattle. It's also known as a beefalo. Most cattaloes are 3/8 bison and 5/8 cattle. The meat of a cattalo is usually leaner than that of a cow and lower in cholesterol. Like the animal it names, the word is a compound of cattle and buffalo. There are many other interesting "cross-breed" words, including liger (lion and tiger), pluot (plum and apricot), and jackelope (a fictional cross between an antelope and a jackrabbit). The first attempt at breeding cattalo was not very successful. In the 1880s, Charles "Buffalo" Jones produced an ill-tempered animal that seemed to combine the worst features of both species. The first cattalo were not very nice: http://www.jaceynet.com/washboard/strange.htm Today's sponsor: Zmedia http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk Simple... free... fun. Get daily emails on your favorite subjects, from horoscopes to humor, money to motivation. Visit: http://www.zmedia.com/?ref=tlk -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 153,142 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
Cool Word: liberty
--
The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 25, 1999
--
liberty [n. LIB-ur-tee]
--
Liberty is the condition of being free from restriction or control.
It is the power and right to act as one wishes, without constraint,
and without servitude or confinement. Example: "Upon arriving at the
island, we were at liberty to explore any part of it, or relax at the
main house."
The Middle English liberte came through Old French from Latin
libertas, from liber (free). The ancient root was leudh (to mount
up, to grow), a word whose evolution into Latin liber is not well
understood.
From liber came a number of "free" words, including these:
liberate: to set free
liberal: not limited by tradition or dogma; generous in portion
libertine: one who acts without moral restraint; a freethinker
deliver: to bring to a proper destination; to set free
livery: uniform worn by male servants or delivery persons
A Cool Fact about the Statue of Liberty:
http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/1999/10/18.html
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Cool Word: ragtime
-- The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for October 26, 1999 -- ragtime [adj., n. RAG-tym] -- In the early years of the 20th century, a new form of music emerged in the southern U.S. Ragtime was a happy combination of folk tunes with African and Creole elements. Typically, there was a complex main melody and a steady, accented accompaniment. One of ragtime's most obvious features is the complex, syncopated rhythms of the main melodies. The name of the musical style was probably a reduction of "ragged time," a description of the unconventional rhythm. A further reduction led to the noun for one song: a rag. Ragtime was a popular style before jazz music swept it into obscurity. In the 1970s, it enjoyed a popular revival, spurred in part by the use of Scott Joplin's piano rags in the movie "The Sting." Today ragtime music has legions of devoted fans: http://www.ragtimers.org/~ragtimers/ Today's sponsor: iPrint.com Make this holiday season memorable by sending personalized greeting cards to family and friends. Over 100 cards to choose from at iPrint.com - your leading online print shop! Looking for an affordable gift? Place your favorite photo on an ornament they'll use year after year! Click here to get started: http://www.iprint.com/cgi-shl/index.cgi?shop=2700 -- Cool Word of the Day list membership: 159,073 -- To send a free gift subscription: http://www.tlk-lists.com/giftsub/ Subscribing, unsubscribing, address changes: Existing subscribers: http://www.tlk-lists.com/change/ To join as a new subscriber: http://www.tlk-lists.com/join/ To become a sponsor: http://www.tlk-lists.com/sponsor/ Feedback: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Copyright (c) 1999, The Learning Kingdom, Inc. http://www.LearningKingdom.com --
