by Dwane | Jan 28, 2015 | Ebook, Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Porter: the doorkeeper, or gate keeper. This word comes from Latin porta (door). When the doorkeeper helps you carry the luggage, he becomes another kind of porter. He becomes a carrier of burdens. The second usage of the word comes from the Latin verb portare...
by Dwane | Jan 28, 2015 | Ebook, Education, English, Greek, Vocabulary
Amphora: Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the bottom, used for holding wine, or oil. Sometimes amphorae, filled with oil, were awarded to victorious athletes in the games… which is why, even today, trophies take on an amphoral shape. Amphora...
by Dwane | Jan 24, 2015 | Education, English, Greek, Italian, Latin, Vocabulary
The verb porto, in Latin means, to carry or, to bring. In all its glory, the verb is: porto, portare, portavi, portatum. English pulls quite a few words out of this particular Latin hat. Before we get to that, however, let’s take a look at the way Romance...
by Dwane | Jan 20, 2015 | Education, English, Greek, Vocabulary
Nostalgia: a longing for home; a longing for better days. From Greek νοσταλγία (nostalgia), which further derives from νόστος (a return home), and ἄλγος (pain, suffering).
by Dwane | Jan 20, 2015 | Education, English, Vocabulary
Adult: a person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle. From Latin adultus (mature, ripe, fully grown).
by Dwane | Jan 19, 2015 | Education, English, Greek, Vocabulary
abyss: a bottomless pit; an unfathomable depth; or even, a hopeless situation. From Greek ἄβυσσος (bottomless). This word breaks down into ἀ (not) and βυθός (deep place). I’ve never seen this abyss, though I hope to while traveling “out West” this...
