by Dwane | Dec 20, 2014 | English, Latin, Vocabulary
My family and I are in East Tennessee this weekend. For the last fifteen years or so, we have spent at least some of our Christmas vacation out here. Teaching can be a tough way to make a living, but, there are some perks to the job. Teachers get much more time...
by Dwane | Dec 18, 2014 | Education, English, Vocabulary
A few days ago, I blogged about the word influenza. The annual malady continues to wreak havoc on my sad household. This morning, though, reading an article from Early to Rise, I discovered what could be a worse malady. This one has wreaked havoc on many households...
by Dwane | Dec 16, 2014 | Education, English, Greek, Latin, Vocabulary
Influenza: an epidemic catarrh. Naturally, you know what a catarrh is. Neither did I. A catarrh is an inflammation of the nose and throat. It is from the Greek κατάρροος, which is basically a “head cold”. Kατάρροος means, “I flow down.” Just use your imagination....
by Dwane | Dec 12, 2014 | English, Greek, Vocabulary
Amphoric sound – a sound made by blowing across the mouth of a bottle or jug. In medical terminology, amphoric sound is an abnormal, resonant, hollow, blowing sound heard with a stethoscope over the thorax. It indicates a cavity opening into a bronchus or a...
by Dwane | Dec 12, 2014 | English, Latin, Vocabulary
Adage – a wise saying. For example: Eagles soar, but weasels do not get sucked into jet engines. From Latin ad (to, toward) and agere (to do, to drive). Here are a few more of my favorite adages: Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald....
by Dwane | Dec 11, 2014 | English, Latin, Vocabulary
I was wondering this morning… Why in the world is a butterfly called a butterfly? Found out more than I ever wanted to know. Personally, I like the German theory. These insects are actually milk-stealing undercover witches. In Middle English, Butterfly was...
