// The material is impervious [ɪmˈpɜr.vi.əs] to water.
// The mayor seems impervious [ɪmˈpɜr.vi.əs] to criticism.impervious
adj [ɪmˈpɜr.vi.əs]
Impervious describes that which does not allow something (such as water or light) to enter or pass through. It is also used formally to mean “not bothered or affected by something.” Both senses of impervious are usually used with to.
The Latin ancestor of impervious is impervius, which adds the prefix im-, meaning “not,” to pervius, meaning “passable or penetrable.” English 38 minutes ago cowpoke
According to the scuttlebutt [ˈskʌtəlˌbʌt] in the financial markets, the company will be downsizing soon.scuttlebutt [ˈskʌtəlˌbʌt]
noun
Scuttlebutt refers to rumor or gossip—in other words, talk or stories about someone or something that may not be true.
Back in the early 1800s, scuttlebutt (an alteration of scuttled butt) referred to a cask containing a ship’s daily supply of fresh water (scuttle means “to cut a hole through the bottom,” and butt means “cask”); that name was later applied to a drinking fountain on a ship or at a naval installation. English May 14, 2025, 7:10 AM cowpoke
“Scholars ... say witches were believed to be attracted to the scent of a human shoe and, having entered one, found themselves trapped. Footwear is one of a mindboggling array of items used in apotropaic [ˌæp.ə.trəˈpeɪ.ɪk] magic, designed to turn away harm or evil influence.” — Pete Pheasant, The Derby (England) Telegraph, 13 Mar. 2025apotropaic
adj [ˌæp.ə.trəˈpeɪ.ɪk]
Something described as apotropaic is designed or intended to avert evil.
this term is a literal descriptor for things believed to protect against evil. Apotropaic motifs can be found throughout history, from carvings of Greek Gorgons to charms worn to repel the evil eye. The word apotropaic comes from the Greek verb apotrépein, meaning “to turn away from, avert,” combining apo- (“away”) with trépein (“to turn”). English May 13, 2025, 6:55 AM cowpoke
