by Dwane | Sep 1, 2014 | English, Greek, Vocabulary
Otalgia: a pain in the ear. From Greek ώτο (ear), and ἄλγος (pain, suffering). This is a medical term. Unfortunately, you cannot use the word to describe popular teenage boy bands.
by Dwane | Sep 1, 2014 | English, Vocabulary
September: the ninth month of the year. September follows August, and precedes October. September was the seventh month of the Roman year. Under the old Roman calendar, the year began in March. Now, instead of celebrating the new year in March (which is quite...
by Dwane | Aug 30, 2014 | Education, English, Greek, Uncategorized
Nostalgia: a longing for home; a longing for better days. From νοσταλγία (nostalgia), which further derives from νόστος (a return home), and ἄλγος (pain, suffering).
by Dwane | Aug 30, 2014 | Education, English, Italian, Spanish, Vocabulary
A cheval: by horse; on horseback. In mountaineering, à cheval is a climbing method. The climber straddles the ridge, placing hands on the crest of the ridge. From the French phrase à cheval (on horseback). The French phrase derives from the Latin caballus (horse,...
by Dwane | Aug 29, 2014 | Education, English, Greek, Vocabulary
Onager: the wild donkey of Asia. From Greek όνος (donkey, ass) and άγριος (wild). Άγριος derives from ἀγρός (field). Onager is also the name for a Roman siege weapon, a type of ballista, which threw stones from a bag or wooden bucket. Evidently, this weapon had...