Don’t try this…

by | Aug 22, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary

Abstain: to withhold oneself; to refrain from voluntarily; to refrain from indulgence. I attempted to abstain from chocolate and coffee once.  Ah… to be young and foolish again. Abstain comes from Latin ab (away) and tenere (to hold).

Aorta

by | Aug 21, 2014 | English, Greek, Vocabulary

Aorta: The great artery, or trunk of the arterial system. It proceeds from the left ventricle of the heart, giving origin to all the arteries, except the pulmonary arteries. It first rises, when it is called the ascending aorta; then makes a great curve, when it gives...

Absent

by | Aug 21, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary

Absent: gone, not there, not present physically, or not present mentally.  Absent derives from Latin absunt, which means, they are not here. Absunt itself derives from Latin ab (away) and the infinitve esse (to be). With the condition of American schools these days,...

Aegis

by | Aug 20, 2014 | Education, English, Greek

Aegis: a shield, or protective armor; protective influence or power. Aegis comes from the Greek word Αιγίς.  The Aegis was the shield of Zeus in Greek mythology.  Though made of goatskin, it was extremely strong. These days, if you are under the aegis of someone, you...

Abrasion

by | Aug 20, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary

Abrasion: A scrape.  Fall off of a bicycle and you may end up with an abrasion.  Abrasion can also be the act of wearing or rubbing off.  For example: The constant abrasion of chairs left scratches on the hardwood floors.  Abrasion come from the Latin word abradere,...