Word of the Day
a vuestra salud
interjection
to your health.
More about a vuestra salud
A vuestra salud is from Spanish, consisting of a, “to”; vuestra, “your”; and salud, “health.” These three words come from Latin, all unchanged in meaning; a comes from Latin ad, vuestra comes from vester, and salud comes from salūs (as in salute). A vuestra salud was first recorded in English in the early 1850s.
EXAMPLE OF A VUESTRA SALUD USED IN A SENTENCE
The dinner guests clinked their glasses together and proclaimed “A vuestra salud” as they began to drink.
sternutation
noun
the act of sneezing.
Why the Museum of Science chose sternutation
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More about sternutation
Sternutation is based on the Latin verb sternūtāre, “to sneeze repeatedly,” from sternuere, “to sneeze.” Though the ultimate origin of sternuere is uncertain, linguists have noted its resemblance to Ancient Greek ptárnysthai, “to sneeze,” as evidence of a deeper connection between the two words. Sternutation was first recorded in English around 1540.
EXAMPLE OF STERNUTATION USED IN A SENTENCE
“Gesundheit!” exclaimed the nurse as a fit of sternutation overcame his patient.
ahu
noun
a stone heap or platform used by the Polynesians as a marker or memorial.
More about ahu
Ahu comes from one of the Eastern Polynesian languages, possibly Rapa Nui, the language of Easter Island. On Easter Island specifically, ahu are the stone platforms on which the moai (carved stone figures) stand. Ahu was first recorded in English in the late 1910s.
EXAMPLE OF AHU USED IN A SENTENCE
The ahu stood at the center of the stone-lined clearing overlooking the shoreline.