Word of the Day -- Cornucopia

It's fall in the US and we are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of the year.  In fact, it might be the only holiday I actually like.  I love food, I love cooking, and I love the amount of food that usually accompanies the day. We cook and eat like there is no tomorrow.  It seems indulgent but that's why it is only once a year.  And of course with Thanksgiving, we also get:

Cornucopia -- an inexhaustible store : abundance; also a curved, hollow goat's horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing especially with fruit and vegetables (such as gourds, ears of corn, apples, and grapes) and that is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance.

Cornucopia comes from the Latin cornu copiae, which translates literally as "horn of plenty." A traditional staple of feasts, the cornucopia is believed to represent the horn of a goat from Greek mythology. According to legend, it was from this horn that the god Zeus was fed as an infant. Later, the horn was filled with flowers and fruits, and given as a present to Zeus. The filled horn (or a receptacle resembling it) has long served as a traditional symbol in art and decoration to suggest a store of abundance. The word first appeared in English in the early 16th century; a century later, it developed the figurative sense of an overflowing supply.

Excerpts from Merriam - Webster 

 

 

 

Word of the Day -- Minatory

Wouldn't you know it?  A perfect word for the Trolls...

Minatory -- having a menacing quality

Just kidding of course, we Trolls are a fun loving bunch, not a menacing bone in our bodies.  Well not anymore anyway.  And not even back in the early days.  We were always the easygoing laid back gamers.  Not that we didn't like to knock back a few (now we chase it with pepto-bismol) but in general we weren't very menacing.   

Knowing that minatory means "threatening," can you take a guess at a related word? If you're familiar with mythology, perhaps you guessed Minotaur, the name of the bull-headed, people-eating monster of Crete. Minotaur is a good guess, but as terrifying as the monster sounds, its name isn't related to minatory. The relative we're searching for is actually menace. Minatory and menace both come from derivatives of the Latin verb minari, which means "to threaten." Minatory was borrowed directly from Late Latin minatorius. Menace came to English via Anglo-French manace, menace, which came from Latin minac-, minax, meaning "threatening."

 

Word of the Day -- Encumber

This is the root of a word known to all RPG enthusiasts, especially if you sit at one of Steve's tables... 

Encumber -- weigh down, burden; to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder

In Old French, the noun combre meant a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy. Later, in Middle French, combre referred to a barrier, similar to a dam or weir, constructed in the bed of a river to hold back fish or protect the banks. That notion of holding back is what informs our verb encumber. One can be physically encumbered (as by a heavy load or severe weather) or figuratively (as by bureaucratic restrictions). Combre also gives us the adjectives cumbersome and cumbrous, both meaning "awkward or difficult to handle." (from Merriam-Webster)

Steve loves encumbrance, as he has said many times in games and on Twitch.  He thinks it makes the game better, makes people more focused on their gear and what is worth keeping with you.  And I can't argue that, I believe a little reality never hurt anyone.  Except when it's on your back! :-)

Have a great day folks...

 

Word of the Day -- Luthier

This is a word I'm not sure I have heard before.  I was looking up a person Mary and I follow on YouTube.  She is makes whole foods, her own cleaning products, etc. etc.  We originally found her while searching out sourdough pancake recipes.  Living out in the boonies the past few years (more on that at another point, suffice it to say it's pretty remote) we've taken to making a lot of our own food -- not only for health reasons, but also for something to do.  Her channel is Bumblebee Apothecary, check it out! 

But I digress... I was looking her up just to find out more about her and her family and I saw that she had at one time been a:

Luthier -- one who makes stringed musical instruments (such as violins or guitars) (source: merriam-webster)

I was struck by how cool that is.  I just picked up the guitar again after my brother gave it to me over 2 years ago.  It is a beautifully made Mitchell six string acoustic.   The design is gorgeous, sleek curves and lines and different tones of wood.  

The word comes from French in the late 19th century, so not that old really.  Derivation is luth, meaning lute, so I guess the first person to be called a luthier was working on lutes.  

To the left is my less than stellar job of showing the front and back of the guitar that my brother gave me.  I really need to work on my Photoshop skills.

Word of the Day -- Reprobate

This was a word that was often hurled around in my family, brother to brother, mother to son, brother to father, etc. etc... Not in the strictest meaning of it, mind you, we were joking.  I think.  I hope.  Not sure anymore, might have to call my brother, that:

Reprobate -- a morally corrupt or depraved person

Reprobate comes from the Latin reprobare, meaning "to disapprove" or "to condemn." It came about in the late 16th century.  It's also a pretty good word to call your brother when he once again takes your book without asking.

Also, these guys...

Word of the Day -- Perspicacious

This is a $5 word for sure.  That's what my thesis advisor would accuse me of using on occasion. He would quote Twain: "Never use a $5 word when a 50 cent one will do.  

I sometimes struggle with words, trying to find just the right word, or an obscure one that I can dredge up out of my brain.  I don't know what I do this, probably because I just love words.  Funnily enough, I don't really love language.  I mean, I love books, I love poetry, but to say I love language more than words, that's just not the case.  I like the sound of a word all by itself.  Such as in today's word:

Perspicacious -- of acute mental vision or discernment; keen, clever

The first time I read that word I butchered the pronunciation.  Here's how it should sound:
ˌpər-spə-ˈkā-shəs but I think the first time I tried it sounded like I had a bunch of marbles in my mouth.

The word has been around a long time, mid 17th century I think.  And like a lot of really awesome words, it comes from Latin.  Go try it out for your self and see how perspicacious people think you are! :-)

Have a great Monday, folks.  

Definition and pronunciation from Merriam-Webster.  

Book can be found here.