Quiz: Greek Myth

Native American Words

Aloha Friends,

Here we go with the next series of posts. Hoping to be more regular than last time. Ok … ok I can almost sense a whole lot of you smirking at that statement but this time I mean to keep the resolution. Hopefully. ;-)

Wigwam

An American Indian dwelling, usually of rounded or oval shape, formed of poles overlaid with bark, mats, or skins.

Etymology: Wigwam comes from the Native American language Algonquian. The root is wik "to dwell," to which suffixes are added. Wigwam means "their dwelling".

Totem

A natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.

Anything serving as a distinctive, often venerated, emblem or symbol.

Etymology: From the word odoodeman in the Native American language Algonquian. Odoodeman means "his sibling kin, his group or family," hence, "his family mark"

Barbecue

An outdoor meal, usually a form of social entertainment, at which meats, fish, or fowl, along with vegetables, are roasted over a wood or charcoal fire.

Etymology: The word "barbecue" came into English via the Spanish, who adopted the term from the Arawak Indians of the Caribbean, to whom the barbacoa was a grating of green wood upon which strips of meat were placed to cook or to dry over a slow fire.

Hammock

A hanging, easily swung length of canvas or heavy netting suspended between two trees or other supports and used as a seat or bed.

Etymology: From the Spanish word hamaca which itself was taken from the Arawakan. The word apparently meaning "fish nets".

Skookum

Large; powerful; impressive. Excellent; first-rate.

Etymology: The word originates from skwekwem which meant ghost, spirit, monster and hence “fearsome” and “powerful”.

Until tomorrow,

Ciao

Vocab: Bad Words

In one of the sessions last week I was talking about the root word "cac" which means bad. As usual I set about troubling people by asking for words that originate from "cac"and one of the words that was suggested was cactus. That actually set me thinking 'cause I was not sure whether it did or not. Could it be? It sure seemed that way. Anyway I said I would cross-check. I did. It does not. Cactus originates from the Greek Kaktos which means cardoon (a kind of an artichoke, cultivated for its edible leafstalks and roots)

But then I thought this is a perfect root word to look at. So here are a few "Bad" words... I am sure you will enjoy them.... :-)

Cacodoxy

Erroneous doctrine; heresy; heterodoxy.

Etymology: cac(o) + doxa = bad + opinion

Cacography

Bad handwriting; poor penmanship.

Incorrect spelling.

Etymology: cac(o) + graphos = bad + (something) drawn or written, one who draws or writes

Cacoëthes

An irresistible urge; mania.

Etymology: cac(o) + ethos = bad + character

In other words: of bad character

Cacology

Defectively produced speech; socially unacceptable diction.

Etymology: cac(o) + -logy = bad + word, speech

Caconym

A name, esp. a taxonomic name, that is considered linguistically undesirable.

Etymology: cac(o) + -onym = bad + name

And on that note the Bad Man says,

Ciao

Word Power Quiz

1. Who is a "whipping boy"?
A boy who was to be whipped in place of a prince who was to be punished.

2. This ancient city in the land of Shinar, in which the construction of a tower intended to reach heaven was begun, has given a word to us. What is that word?
Babel. In the Bible, a city (now thought to be Babylon) in Shinar where God confounded a presumptuous attempt to build a tower into heaven by confusing the language of its builders into many mutually incomprehensible languages.

3. What is a "cat's paw"?
Someone used as a tool by another

4. What are the "locust years"?
A period of economic hardship. This word was coined by Winston Churchill (on the basis of the Bible verse Joel 2:25) to describe the years 1931–35 in Britain.


5. Who are the "hoi polloi"?
The common people. Hoi polloi is a borrowing of the Greek phrase hoi polloi, consisting of hoi, meaning "the" and polloi, the plural of polus, "many." Hoi polloi is sometimes incorrectly used to mean "the elite," possibly because it is reminiscent of high and mighty or because it sounds like hoity-toity.

Three of you got all the answers correct. The list:
1. Ankita
2. Swati Sinha
3. Sameer

Kudos to you folks. Hoping to get a better response for the next quiz.

Until then,

Ciao

Vocab: Latin

Hi Everybody,

I intend to run through all the European languages that have contributed to English and cherry pick some interesting words. I will start off with Latin.

As you know Latin is a source language for many words in English. Some of these words have mutated when they have entered English but a lot of words are used in English the way they were in original Latin. A look at a few of them,

ab origine

From the very beginning; from the source or origin.

This is the source word for aboriginal/aborigine.

caveat emptor

Let the buyer beware

It is the principle that the seller of a product cannot be held responsible for its quality unless it is guaranteed in a warranty.

in camera:

In secret; privately

lapsus linguae

A slip of the tongue

fac simile

an exact copy, as of a book, painting, or manuscript. It means “make the like”

This is the source word for fax.

Till tomorrow,

Ciao

Vocab: Yiddish

Gutn ovnt Folks,

Yiddish is the language of Jews of eastern and central Europe and their descendants. It is conventionally written in the Hebrew alphabet. I know it is not relevant but still; among my favourite words is the word Chutzpah which has a Yiddish origin. For some reason, I feel that it depicts what it means in a wonderful manner.

Here are a few words from Yiddish.

Chutzpah (khoot-spuh)

Audacity; nerve

Etymology: Khutspa = to be insolent

Glitch

A defect or malfunction in a machine or plan.

Etymology: Glitsh = Slip, skate or nosedive; slippery area.

Klutz

Clumsy or awkward person

Etymology: Klots = A block of wood

Schmooze

Chat, make small talk, converse about nothing in particular.

Etymology: Schmues = reports, gossip

Maven

an expert or connoisseur.

Etymology: Meyvn = Connoisseur

On that expert note,

Ciao

Vocab: Mixed Bag

Hi Folks,

This is just a set of words that I felt you might find interesting. No particular theme as such. Unless of course you take a look at the last three words and feel they mean something when they actually mean something else.

Hypnopompic:

Pertaining to the semiconscious state prior to complete wakefulness.

Parapraxis:

A slip of the tongue (or pen) that reveals the unconscious mind.

Obambulate:

To walk about.

Vomitorium:

A passageway to the rows of seats in a theatre.

Etymology: Vomitoria (the plural form) in ancient amphitheaters helped the audience to reach their seats quickly and then leave just as quickly. At the end of the performance, of course. The erroneous meaning "place where ancient Romans (allegedly) deliberately vomited during feasts" is attested from 1923.

Incommode:

To inconvenience or discomfort; disturb; trouble.

To impede; hinder.

On that inconvenient note,

Ciao

Vocab: Words from German

Hi Folks,

Been a long time, as usual various reasons for the tardiness, primarily because of problems with my laptop. Not that it should be reason enough for such a long gap, but still..........

Words from German populate the English language but surprisingly tend to get overshadowed by words from French, Spanish, Latin etc. But as the list below shows German loanwords are quite interesting. Check out the last one. ;-)

Leitmotif (lahyt-moh-teef)

A theme associated throughout a music drama with a particular person, situation, or idea.

Etymology: Leiten = to lead + Motive

Putsch (pooch)

A secretly plotted, sudden attempt to overthrow a government.

Etymology: Putsch = thrust, blow

Ersatz (ER-zahts, er-ZATS)

Being an imitation or a substitute, usually an inferior one; artificial.

Etymology: Ersetzen = to replace

Zeitgeist (tsahyt-gahyst)

The spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time.

Etymology: Zeit = time + Geist = spirit

Schadenfreude (shahd-n-froi-duh)

Delight at the misfortune of others

Etymology: Schaden = harm + Freude = joy

On that joyful note.

Ciao

Vocab: Idiomatic uses of Verbs

Hi Everyone,

I have been asked on a number of occasions to post idioms, well today let’s take look at the idiomatic use of some verbs.

Back
Back out: Withdraw from an understanding; to fail to keep an engagement or promise.
Back up: Supports one’s claim; to bring (a stream of traffic) to a standstill; to reinforce.
Back down: Abandon claims.

Bear
Bear away: Win a prize.
Bear with: To be patient or forbearing with a person.
Bear up: To keep spirits up.
Bear out: Substantiate a charge.

Bring
Bring forth: Produce fruit or young; to give rise to.
Bring forward: Show; produce arguments.
Bring in: Introduce a new custom; to yield, as profits or income.
Bring out: To expose; reveal; to publish, as a book or play; to introduce officially into society.
Bring up: Educate or rear a child; to introduce or mention for attention; to vomit.

Till tomorrow,

Ciao

Freedom Struggle

Hi Folks,

I have a question this time. Do you guys know which are the words that have entered the English lexicon because of the Freedom Struggle? If you do know any, feel free to post them in the Comments section.

Ciao

Vocab: Greek Myth

Hi All,

I am totally surprised that it has taken 50 posts for me to zero in on Greek myth as a topic. [Er… that was a not so subtle way of saying Yipppeeee!!! I have touched 50 posts. ;-)] Given my interests I would have thought that this topic would have come up much earlier. Anyway a few characters from Greek myth who have turned into words in English.

Siren song
An enticing plea or appeal, especially one that is deceptively alluring.
The Myth Connection: The Sirens were one of a group of sea nymphs in Greek mythology who by their sweet singing lured mariners to destruction on the rocks surrounding their island.


Herculean
Of unusual size, power, or difficulty.
The Myth Connection: The word derives from Hercules, the son of Zeus (the Supreme God) and Alcmene. Hercules was a hero of extraordinary strength who won immortality by performing 12 labors demanded by Hera.


Promethean
Boldly creative; defiantly original.
The Myth Connection: Prometheus was a Titan who stole fire from Mt. Olympus (the abode of the Greek gods) and gave it to humankind for which Zeus chained him to a rock and sent an eagle to eat his liver, which grew back daily. Happy times. ;-)


Achilles heel 
A portion, spot, area, or the like, that is especially or solely vulnerable.
The Myth Connection: Achilles was supposed to have been dipped into the river Styx by his mother Thetis in order to make him invulnerable. However as she held him by his heel, it wasn't touched by the water and that meant that his heel was the only spot where he was vulnerable.


Satyr
A licentious man; a lecher (a man given to excessive sexual indulgence… in short All Men….. oops have I let a secret out???!!!???)
The Myth Connection: A Satyr was a woodland creature depicted as having the pointed ears, legs, and short horns of a goat and a fondness for unrestrained merrymaking.

And on that rather candid note,

Ciao

Commonly Confused Words

Hi folks,

Here are some more words that are often confused. Could be asked in question sets like “Fill in the blanks” etc.


Casual:
Occasional, irregular, careless
Causal:
Of the nature of cause and effect

Ceremonial:
Relating to ceremonies or rites
Ceremonious:
An excess of form; overdose of formality

Childish:
Silly. Often used in the negative sense.
Childlike:
Innocent, simple and frank. Often used in the positive sense.

Complement:
That which helps to complete a satisfactory whole
Compliment:
A mark of courtesy; an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration

Confidant:
A person entrusted with knowledge of one’s private affairs
Confident:
Fully assured

Ciao

Vocab: Moon

Aloha Folks,

What with the brouhaha over the presence of water on the moon yet to subside I thought it would be the right time to look at the moon from another perspective - The perspective of language.

While the moon is usually associated with the nice, soft and romantic feelings some of the words here are anything but nice and soft.

Here are a few of those words…


Moon curser
Someone who imports or exports without paying duties. A smuggler!!!

Moonblink
A temporary blindness, or impairment of sight, said to be caused by sleeping in the moonlight.

Moon⋅child
A person born under the zodiacal sign of Cancer.
So called because of the astrological pairing of the moon with Cancer

Moon⋅light
To work at an additional job after one's regular, full-time employment, at night.

Moon⋅shine
Smuggled or illicitly distilled liquor, esp. corn liquor as illicitly distilled chiefly in rural areas of the southern U.S.
Empty or foolish talk, ideas, etc.; nonsense.


And on that note it is time to stop my moonshine…

Ciao

Vocab: Phobias

Aloha Everyone,

Time for some more phobias. See if you can identify any root words in these phobias, and put them down in the Comments section. If you can come up with any more words using the roots that you have identified it would be better still.

Pogonophobia - Fear of beards.

Philemaphobia - Fear of kissing.

Ligyrophobia - Fear of loud noises.

Peladophobia - Fear of bald people.
[I hope you guys don't have this phobia. ;-)]

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - Fear of long words.
How appropriate that the fear of long words is slightly longer than usual.

Ciao

Did it rain last night?

Hey Folks,

Did it rain around your place last night? It did in Navi Mumbai after a prolonged dry spell. It did not just rain, it was rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. I don’t know about you folks but the smell of the earth after the first rains or after a long dry spell is one of the smells I just love. There is something quite earthy and romantic about it all. And as I was enjoying the thunder shower it occurred to me that there was a name for this kind of smell. That is when I decided that the theme for today should be rain.

A bit of digression, but I suspect I am getting on in years. I mean there was the rain, the thunder, the cool breeze and all I could think of was, “This is a nice theme, kal ke mail ke liye!!!” I think I should concentrate on other things too…. What say? ;-)

Anyhoo, down to brass tacks

Petrichor
The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell.
Etymology:
From the Greek petro (rock) + ichor (the fluid that is supposed to flow in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology). This is a coined term. It was coined by two Australian researchers, I.J. Bear and R.G. Thomas, in 1964 for an article in the journal ‘Nature’.

Rainmaker
An executive or lawyer with a strong ability to bring in new business or to attract clients, especially through the use of influence and political connections.
A person believed to be able to cause rain either by magic or by science

Raincheck
A ticket for future use given to spectators at an outdoor event that has been postponed or interrupted by rain.
An offered or requested postponement of an invitation until a more convenient time.

Rain dance
No it is not what you think it is. Trust me. ;-)
A ritualistic dance performed by a tribal group to bring rain.
Any ceremonial action taken to correct a hardware problem, with the expectation that nothing will be accomplished. This especially applies to reseating printed circuit boards, reconnecting cables, etc.

Reign
Hold royal office; i.e. be King or Queen.
A period during which somebody is dominant or powerful.
Rein
This is one of a pair of long leather straps used to control a horse or other animals.

On that note,

Ciao

Vocab: Animals

Aloha Friends,

Aannnd I am back… I know I know, I have been AWOL for almost five days :-( so much for my commitment of posting daily. Hopefully I can stick to posting on a daily basis from now on… ‘hopefully’ is the operative word here.

So what was happening in the world around us these five days? Plenty. But what caught my eye was the comment on Twitter by Shashi Tharoor about travelling “Cattle Class” and then his getting into all that trouble. That incident set me thinking about the other words in English that use animals/refer to animals and here is a short list of the same.

Thanks for the idea Mr. Minister of State.

Running dog
A slave-like follower; lackey.
Etymology: It originates from the Chinese zougou, zou (running) + gou (dog). This is supposedly a reference to a dog running to follow its master's commands. This term was used by the Chinese Communist to refer to someone who served counter-revolutionary interest.

Stool pigeon
A person who works as a decoy or informer, especially for the police.
Note: Decoy is a person who entices or lures another person or thing, as into danger, a trap, or the like.
Etymology: Experts are not very certain of the origin of this phrase. It could be from the former practice of tying decoy pigeons to a stool therefore from the French estale or estal which referred to a pigeon used to entice a hawk into a net.

Guinea pig
Someone or something used as a subject of experimentation.
Etymology: This phrase has originated because earlier guinea pigs were used for experimentation.
Note: A guinea pig is neither from the West African country of Guinea nor is it a pig. It is a rodent from South America!!!

Coxcomb
A proud, egotistical man who is excessively interested in his appearance and dress. Another word for it is a ‘fop’.
Etymology: A variation of a cock's comb (the fleshy part on the head of a rooster). Professional Fools (yes such a profession existed too!!!) in medieval courts wore a cap with red strips like those in a cock’s comb. From there the sense of the term extended to a dandy – a person excessively concerned about his clothes and appearance. Metrosexual is the term that is used nowadays.

Bulimia
1. Excessive or insatiable appetite.
2. An emotional disorder marked by sessions of overeating followed by purging, by means of self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives.
Etymology: From bous (ox) + limos (hunger).
Literally speaking, bulimia is ox hunger. It is also known as boulimia, bulimia nervosa, bulimarexia, binge-purge syndrome.

Aah! That reminds me, I need to have my dinner. Off I go,

Ciao

Vocab: Words of Spanish origin

Buenos días Amigos,

Spanish is the most widely spoken of the Romance languages and is also the official language of Spain and most countries of Central and South America. Most of the words in Spanish come from Latin. There are however many that come from other sources include: Greek, Basque, Arabic from the time the Moors (a Muslim of the mixed Berber and Arab people inhabiting NW Africa) occupied Spain, French, Italian and American Indian languages from colonial times.

A look at a few

Mano a mano
A direct or face-to-face confrontation. Etymology: hand to hand. It basically meant on an equal footing, without advantage to either of two contestants.

Pistolero
A gunman; hired killer. Etymology: pistol + -ero. The suffix '-ero' is equivalent to the suffix '-ary' in English which has the general sense of “pertaining to, connected with”

Vamoose
To leave hurriedly or quickly; decamp. Etymology: From vamos ‘let us go’

Peccadillo
A minor offense. Etymology: "slight sin," from pecado "a sin"

Incommunicado
Without the means or right of communicating with others. Etymology: From incomunicar, ‘to deny communication’

Adios Amigos
Btw amigo means a 'friend'

Vocab: Commonly Confused Words

Hi Folks,

Here is another round of commonly confused words:

Apposite:
Appropriate or suitable for the occasion.
Opposite:
Diametrically different, antonym.

Avocation:
A subordinate occupation, usually one pursued for pleasure. A Hobby.
Vocation:
Particular occupation, business or profession.

Barbarism:
A state of society in which men were not civilised.
Barbarity:
Cruelty

Battle:
A hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces
War:
A conflict carried on by force of arms, as between nations.

Canvas:
A closely woven, heavy cloth of cotton, hemp, or linen, used for tents, sails, etc.
Canvass:
To solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from people.

Ciao

Vocab: Commonly Confused Words

Hi Folks,


Let’s look at some commonly confused words. And down to brass tacks:

Access
The ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance
Excess
The fact of exceeding something else in amount or degree.
Going beyond what is regarded as customary or proper.
Accession
The act of coming into the possession of a right, title, office, etc.: accession to the throne.
An increase by something added: an accession of territory.


Artist
A person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
Artiste (ahr-teest)
An artist, esp. an actor, singer, dancer, or other public performer.
Artisan
A person skilled in an applied art; a craftsperson. E.g. a carpenter.


Allusion
A passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication
Illusion
Something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.



Affect
To act on; produce a change in.
Effect
Something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence
To produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen:


Altar
An elevated place like a platform, at which religious rites are performed.
Alter
To make different in some way.


Ciao

Our Mensiversary

Aloha everybody,

A first milestone; a very very mini one, but still…. One month to the day when I started out the Blog. Yipeeee…

I hope to be writing a similar mail eleven months from now and I am sure that all you students of CAT ‘09 and CET ‘10 will read the same ensconced in one of the IIMs/Top B-schools and all you CAT ‘10 and CET ‘11 students will read the same when well on your way with your preparation to get into them. ;-)

So, as we are celebrating our mensiversary…. er … mensi… what? What is that?
Well a mensiversary is:
The monthly recurring date of a past event.
A celebration commemorating such a date.
Etymology: Latin: mensis (month) + versus (turned).

Is this a word that you can check in the oxford Dictionary, I am afraid you cannot because it has not yet gained currency. But the logic is the same as that of the word anniversary. "Anniversary" comes from the Latin "annus," year + versus (turned).

Like I was saying as we are celebrating our mensiversary let’s look at a few words that denote some specific periods of time. And they are legitimate “Dictionary words”. ;-)

Here goes…

Biennial
Happening every two years.

Triennial
Occurring every three years.

Quadrennial
Occurring every four years.

Quinquennial
Lasting for five years.

Sexennial
Occurring every six years.

Septennial
Occurring every seven years.

Octennial
Occurring every eight years.

Novennial
Recurring every ninth year

Decennial
Occurring every ten years.


On that note,

Ciao