No smoking, please.

Acapnotic: a non smoker.   From Greek ά (not, without) and καπνός (smoke). Want to tell your friends “No, thanks!” without being rude?  Tell them you are acapnotic.  They will think you have a medical condition.  And, you will smile at your...

Acrimony

Acrimony: harsh, or biting sharpness; bitterness, ill will; severity  From Latin acer, acris (bitter, pungent, sharp, sour) and the suffix monium (state, or condition).  Acrimony, then, is the “condition of being sour.” Example: In his official letters he expressed,...

Yarrow

 Achillea millefolium: yarrow; the milfoil. From Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Achilles) and Latin mille (1,000) and folium (leaf). Literal translation… the plant of one thousand leaves. According to legend, Achilles and his men used this plant to staunch the flow of blood...

Sconce

Sconce: An ornamental bracket for holding candles or lights.  A candlestick with a screen.  From Latin abscondere (to hide; to conceal). Here’s a nice one:

Acedia

Acedia: apathy; boredom; spiritual or mental sloth; not caring about one’s position in the world.  From Greek ά (not, without) and κῆδος (care).  Acedia, then, literally means: to not care.