Words of the Day List

Week 1

apatronym -- a person's name that is peculiarly appropriate to his/her occupation or character traits.  

Week 2

forsooth -- fr. Ole English, sooth, truth -- truly, verily (a comment or response)

morion -- fr. Old French & Spanish morro, round -- an open helmet from 16th/17th century

nettle -- fr.Old English, netele, stinging plant -- to irritate or provoke

Week 3

Blatherskite -- fr. mid-17th century English -- a person who talks at great length without making much sense

Biddable -- fr. Old English; biddan, to beg or ask -- meekly ready to accept and follow instructions; docile and obedient

Lackaday-- fr.late 17th century expression, "a lack a day"  -- an expression of regret, sorrow, dismay

Week 4

frenzy -- fr. Middle English -- a state or period of uncontrollable excitement or behavior

hauberks -- fr. Middle English/Old French/Frankish -- a long defensive shirt extending to the knees

smote -- fr. Middle English/ Old English -- to strike or hit with hands or a weapon

Week 5

prophylactic-- fr. Greek -- adj.  describing something used to protect from disease

immutable—fr. Latin,  immutabile (unchanging) -- unchanging, unchangeable over time

profane-- fr. profanus (outside the temple) -- characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.

Week 6

abbott -- fr. Middle English -- a man who is the superior in a church

rheumatism-- fr. Latin, fr. Greek -- any disorder of the extremities, especially back and legs

mere -- fr. Middle English -- to be nothing more, nor better than.

Week 7

prevail --fr. Latin, praevelere, to have greater power -- to prove more powerful than opposing forces; to be victorious

privations -- fr. Latin, privat, deprived; fr.M.E. -- a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking

Week 8 -- No Words

Week 9

noisome -- fr. Middle English noy (a variant of annoy) -- offensive or disgusting, as an odor  

gaudiest -- fr. Latin, gaudere, "to rejoice" -- brilliant or excessively showy

sapient -- fr. Latin, sapiens, "wise"  -- having or showing great wisdom

Week 10

res publica -- Latin, res, "thing," and publica, "of the public" -- a public affair, of or belonging to the state or commonwealth

res non verba -- Latin, res, "thing," non, "not," verba, "words" --  deeds, not words

restaurateur -- French restaurater fr. Latin restaurator, "restorer" -- the owner or manager or a restaurant

Week 11 -- No Words

Week 12 -- No words

Week 13

calliope-- fr. Greek, combining kallos "beauty" and opos "voice"  -- a steam-powered pipe organ

camarilla--fr, Spanish, camarilla, "a small room" -- a clique, a group of scheming advisors

canape -- fr. Latin, canapeum, "mosquito net;" fr. French, canape "a sofa" -- a thin piece of bread or toast or a cracker spread with cheese