Word of the Day #86: Anomaly

Anomaly Something differing from the usual pattern.  A peculiarity, an abnormality.  A deviation from the normal.  An outlier. Synonyms include aberration, deviation, oddity, and rarity. Anomaly comes from the Greek words ἀν (an), meaning “not” and ὁμός (homos)...

Word of the Day #85: Atavistic

Atavistic An atavistic trait is a trait you picked up from your ancestors.  It skipped a generation, or two, though.  Your parents did not have this trait.  Atavistic traits disappear for a time only to show up later.  For example, “He has an atavistic temper.  It...

Word of the Day #84: Arachnoleptic fit

Arachnoleptic fit: The wild fit you throw right after you walk through a spider web. Arachnoleptic fit is a made-up word. My mom sent it to me. It’s a useful made-up word though. I nearly wiped out once after biking through a spider web. I threw an arachnoleptic fit...

Word of the Day #83: Saturnalian

Yesterday, I posted the word Saturnine, meaning gloomy. Oddly enough, today’s word has the exact opposite meaning. Saturnalian: Riotously merry, overindulgent   How did these two similar words end up with opposite definitions?  Saturnine meaning gloomy, derives...

Word of the Day #82: Saturnine

Saturnine Gloomy, grave, scowling.  In the Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, Nikabrik refuses to join in the celebration.  He stands off to the side with a sullen, saturnine look.  From the Roman name for the god of time, Saturn.  Yes, the planet is named after...

Word of the Day #81: Normandy

While in France, my students and I visited the Normandy beaches, site of the D-Day landings.  We left Paris and crossed into Normandy not long after.   Several students kept asking when we would reach Normandy.   I realized they thought the beaches were Normandy. ...