Many people disagree with the writer's personal Weltanschauung [ˌvɛlt.ənˈʃaʊ.ʊŋ], but most can appreciate the quality and thoughtfulness of her work.Weltanschauung [ˌvɛlt.ənˈʃaʊ.ʊŋ]
noun
A Weltanschauung is a worldview; in other words, a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint. The word is typically capitalized.
The German word Weltanschauung literally means "world view"; it combines Welt, meaning "world," with Anschauung, meaning "view."
Note that the word is typically capitalized in English, as all nouns are in German. English Mar 8, 2024, 8:35 AM cowpoke
In their research, the bryologists descried [dɪˈskraɪ] an association between a moss and the iron content of the rock it typically grows on.descry [dɪˈskraɪ]
verb
1) literary word that, like discover or find out, means “to come to realize or understand something.”
2) “to catch sight of.”
If you’ve ever mixed up the words descry and decry, you’re not alone; even carefully edited publications occasionally mistake the former (“to catch sight of” or “to discover”) for the latter (“to express strong disapproval of”).
Descry sounds just like the English verb describe without its closing b, and the two share a Latin root English Mar 7, 2024, 8:42 AM cowpoke
"The upcoming documentary will dive deep into the lives of the next generation of basketball luminaries [ˈluːməˌnɛri], Jonquel Jones, Nneka Ogwumike, and Breanna Stewart, as well as WNBA legend, Sheryl Swoopes." — Okla Jones, Essence, 18 Dec. 2023luminary [ˈluːməˌnɛri]
noun
A luminary is a person of prominence or brilliant achievement. The word luminary may also refer to a celestial body, such as the sun or moon.
traces back to the Latin word lumen, meaning "light." English Mar 5, 2024, 7:53 AM cowpoke
They picked up several salubrious [səˈluːbriəs] habits on their wellness retreat in Bali.salubrious
adj [səˈluːbriəs]
formal word - means “favorable to or promoting health or well-being.”
Salubrious, like healthful and wholesome, describes things that are favorable to the health of the mind or body. (A rather formal and somewhat rare word, it is related by its Latin ancestor salubris to the very common English word safe.) English Mar 4, 2024, 7:27 AM cowpoke
Roger suspected that his coworkers were conniving [kəˈnaɪv] to get him fired when in reality they were planning his surprise birthday party.connive
verb [kəˈnaɪv]
To connive is to secretly help someone do something dishonest or illegal.
the Latin ancestor of the word: connive comes from the Latin verb connivēre, which means "to close the eyes" and which is descended from -nivēre, a form akin to the Latin verb nictare, meaning "to wink." But many English speakers disagreed, and the "conspire" sense is now the word's most widely used meaning. English Mar 3, 2024, 9:00 AM cowpoke
"As Dior rises to prominence with his groundbreaking, iconic imprint of beauty and influence, Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer is put into jeopardy [ˈdʒɛpərdi]." — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Nov. 2023jeopardy [ˈdʒɛpərdi]
noun
Jeopardy is defined as "exposure to or imminence of death, loss, or injury"; it is synonymous with danger. In legal contexts, jeopardy refers specifically to the danger that an accused person is subjected to when on trial for a criminal offense.
dates back to at least the 1300s, but its Middle English form can make it hard to spot: it appears in the phrase "in jupartie" with a meaning very much akin to the word's meaning in the modern phr... English Feb 28, 2024, 8:11 AM cowpoke
They continue to caterwaul [ˈkætərˌwɔl] about having to take the blame.caterwaul [ˈkætərˌwɔl]
verb
To caterwaul is to make a very loud and unpleasant sound. Caterwaul can also mean “to protest or complain noisily.”
The word comes from the Middle English word caterwawen (also caterwrawen). English Feb 25, 2024, 9:05 AM cowpoke
After a disastrous rafting trip, Robin emerged from the woods looking haggard [ˈhæɡərd] but otherwise unscathed.haggard [ˈhæɡərd]
adj
Someone described as haggard appears tired or thin especially as if because of hunger, worry, or pain. Haggard can also describe someone who looks wild or otherwise disheveled.
traditionally, falconers trained wild birds that were either taken from the nest when quite young or trapped as adults. A bird trapped as an adult is termed a haggard, from the synonymous Middle French word hagard. English Feb 22, 2024, 9:18 AM cowpoke
The exhibit chronicles the long history of lampooning [læmˈpun] public figures in cartoons.lampoon [læmˈpun]
verb
To lampoon someone or something is to ridicule that person or thing, especially through the use of harsh satire.
from the French word lampon, which likely originated from lampons, a form of the verb lamper, meaning "to drink to the bottom." English Feb 21, 2024, 8:34 AM cowpoke
"Oppenheimer provides an opportunity to revisit this charismatic, contradictory man and reconsider how previous attempts to tell his story have succeeded—and failed—at fathoming [ˈfæðəm] one of the 20th century’s most fascinating public figures." — Andy Kifer, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 July 2023fathom [ˈfæðəm]
verb
To fathom something is to understand the reason for its existence or occurrence.
Fathom comes from the Old English word fæthm, meaning "outstretched arms." English Feb 18, 2024, 9:24 AM cowpoke
The group decided to forgo stopping at the swimming hole on their hike because of its turbid [ˈtɜr.bɪd] waters.turbid [ˈtɜr.bɪd]
adj
Turbid is a formal word that has several meanings having to do with literal or figurative muddiness or cloudiness.
It's most often used literally to describe water that is thick or opaque with stirred-up sediment, as in "the river's turbid waters"; similarly, turbid air is smoky or misty.
In figurative use, turbid describes things that lack clarity, as in "efforts to clear my turbid mind."
Turbid, from the Latin noun turba, meani... English Feb 16, 2024, 9:26 AM cowpoke
The person giving the lengthy toast seemed to be completely unaware of the degree to which he was enervating [ˈɛnərˌveɪt] his audience.enervate [ˈɛnərˌveɪt]
Enervate is a formal word used for situations in which someone or something is being sapped of physical or mental vigor, vitality, or strength.
The verb is most common in the participial forms enervated and enervating, as in "children enervated by the summer afternoon heat" and "a tedious discussion we found completely enervating."
Enervate comes from a form of the Latin verb enervare, which literally means "to remove the sinews of," English Feb 15, 2024, 9:48 AM cowpoke
The missing document is the MacGuffin [məˈɡʌfɪn] that brings the two main characters together, but the real story centers on their tumultuous relationship.MacGuffin [məˈɡʌfɪn]
noun
A MacGuffin is an object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance.
The first person to use MacGuffin as a word for a plot device was Alfred Hitchcock. English Feb 9, 2024, 8:32 AM cowpoke
As 1) The film was criticized for its gratuitous [ɡrəˈtuɪ.təs] violence.
As 2) A local veterinary technician provides gratuitous [ɡrəˈtuɪ.təs] services to the animal shelter twice a month.gratuitous [ɡrəˈtuɪ.təs]
adj
1) describes things that are not necessary, appropriate, or justified, as in "a gratuitous insult" or "a gratuitous assumption."
2) can also mean "free."
a descendant of the Latin word gratus, which means "pleasing" or "grateful." When gratuitous was first used in the 17th century, it meant "free" or "given without return benefit or compensation." The extended meaning "done without g... English Feb 5, 2024, 7:49 AM cowpoke
The ratio of daylight to darkness in the spring is an important zeitgeber [ˈzaɪtˌɡeɪbər] that affects the activity of some migrating birds.zeitgeber [ˈzaɪtˌɡeɪbər]
noun
Zeitgeber refers to an environmental agent or event (such as the occurrence of light or dark) that provides the stimulus which sets or resets an organism’s biological clock.
Zeitgebers are alarm clocks—both biologically and etymologically. The word zeitgeber comes from a combination of two German terms: Zeit, meaning “time,” and Geber, which means “giver.” English Feb 4, 2024, 8:50 AM cowpoke
"The film casts a cynical side-eye at the acquisitive [əˈkwɪz.ɪ.tɪv] ethos of the Reagan '80s, told with a hypnotic sense of style." — Mark Olsen, The Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2023acquisitive [əˈkwɪz.ɪ.tɪv]
adj
Someone or something described as acquisitive is characterized by a strong desire to own or acquire more things.
ultimate source the Latin word acquīrere, meaning "to acquire." While acquire and acquisition have both been in use since the 15th century, acquisitive is a bit younger. English Feb 3, 2024, 8:31 AM cowpoke
“What-ifs are almost always registered as negative. We prognosticate [prɑˈɡnɑstɪˌkeɪt] the worst-case scenarios probably as a means to be prepared for the worst. ‘Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst’ is a well-known adage [ˈædɪdʒ] that programs negative thinking.” — Bruce Wilson, Psychology Today, 7 May 2023prognosticate [prɑˈɡnɑstɪˌkeɪt]
verb
To prognosticate is to predict or foreshadow something.
ultimately traces back to the Greek word prognōstikos (“knowing beforehand, prescient”), first appears in English during the 15th century.
adage [ˈædɪdʒ]
noun
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth English Feb 2, 2024, 9:59 AM cowpoke
The old chair was upholstered in a blue silk damask [ˈdæm.əsk] which was now faded and threadbare.damask [ˈdæm.əsk]
noun
Refers to a usually shiny, thick fabric made with patterns. Also can be used as a synonym of Damascus steel, or for a grayish red color.
the city of Damascus - the city’s Arabic name comes from Dimašqa, a word so ancient that it suggests the origins of the city predate recorded history. The Medieval Latin name for the fabric famously associated with the “pearl of the East,” damascus, first entered Middle English as damaske in the 1300s and was later shortened English Feb 1, 2024, 8:02 AM cowpoke
The article offers suggestions on how to gamify quotidian [kwoʊˈtɪd.i.ən] tasks.quotidian [kwoʊˈtɪd.i.ən]
adj
Something described as quotidian occurs every day or occurs routinely or typically. More broadly, quotidian is used as a synonym of commonplace and ordinary.
from a Latin word, quotidie, which means "every day." English Jan 31, 2024, 8:47 AM cowpoke
Fundraising events are his bailiwick [ˈbeɪlɪwɪk].bailiwick [ˈbeɪlɪwɪk]
noun
Bailiwick refers to the domain or sphere in which someone has superior knowledge or authority.
The first half of the word bailiwick, baili... utimately from the Medieval Latin verb bajulare, meaning "to care for" or "to support."
The second half of bailiwick comes from wik, a Middle English word for "dwelling place" or "village," which ultimately hails from the Latin word vicus, meaning "village." English Jan 30, 2024, 7:43 AM cowpoke
