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...
by Dwane | Aug 29, 2014 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Ab ovo: From the beginning; complete; thorough. The literal translation of this Latin phrase is “from the egg”. The Romans used a phrase, “ab ovum usque ad malum” to describe a complete process. The phrase means, “from the egg to the apple”. It describes a complete...
by Dwane | Aug 28, 2014 | English, Greek, Vocabulary
Agriology: the study of wild, primitive tribes. From Greek άγριος (wild, living in the field). Άγριος derives from ἀγρός (field). The suffix of the word agriology derives from Greek λογός (word, the study of).