by Dwane | May 11, 2015 | Education, English, Greek, Latin, Vocabulary
I’ve been silent for a few days. Have not posted the word of the day. There is a reason. It’s a good one. I’ve been hiding out. I was nervous. My anatidaephobia had flared up again. Anatidaephobia derives from the Latin word for duck, anas and the...
by Dwane | May 6, 2015 | Education, English, Greek
Prognosis: In medicine, the art of foretelling a disease; knowing beforehand the cause of a disease. We can also use the word prognosis to forecast. When it comes to the weather, for example, it is difficult to make an accurate prognosis. Prognosis is “pre-knowledge.”...
by Dwane | May 6, 2015 | Education, English, Latin
Acquaint: to make known; to make familiar Isaiah, prophesying the coming Christ, called him a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Acquaint comes from the Latin preposition ad (to, toward) and the verb cognosco (I know).
by Dwane | May 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
The ancient Greek word γιγνώσκω (gignosko) means I know. From this word, English derives all kinds of brainy words. Gnostic, agnostic, prognosis, and diagnosis derive from γιγνώσκω. To say, “I know,” the Romans would use the Latin word cognosco. From...
by Dwane | May 1, 2015 | Education, English, Latin, Vocabulary
Circumlocution: indirect speaking; a roundabout or indirect expression; use of superfluous words to express an idea. If you are not willing to get right to the point, or if, for some reason, you need to soften the force of direct speech, you might use circumlocution....
