Word of the Day

Word of the day

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

circumferential

[ ser-kuhm-fuh-ren-shuh l ]

adjective

surrounding; lying along the outskirts; of, at, or near the circumference.

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What is the origin of circumferential?

Circumferential nowadays means only “surrounding, on the outskirts or periphery of.” In the late 17th century circumferential had the additional meaning “indirect, roundabout.” Circumferential entered English in the early 17th century.

how is circumferential used?

Now bees, as may be clearly seen by examining the edge of a growing comb, do make a rough, circumferential wall or rim all round the comb …

Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 1859

Far away in the circumferential wall a little doorway looked like Heaven, and he set off in a wild rush for it.

H. G. Wells, "The Country of the Blind," The Strand Magazine, April 1904
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Word of the day

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

busticate

[ buhs-ti-keyt ]

verb

Northern U.S. to break into pieces.

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What is the origin of busticate?

Busticate is a facetious Northern US formation from bust “to burst” and -icate, on the model of the regularly formed rusticate “to go to the country.”

how is busticate used?

I’ll have a sipe more of coffee, but if I eat another bite, I’ll busticate.

Ivan Doig, This House of Sky, 1978

“Elephants really busticate trees,” said Brendan Washington-Jones.

Lawrence Anthony, The Last Rhinos, 2012
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Word of the day

Monday, March 12, 2018

paseo

[ pah-sey-oh; Spanish pah-se-aw ]

noun

a slow, idle, or leisurely walk or stroll.

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What is the origin of paseo?

The Spanish noun paseo “a stroll” is a derivative of the verb pasear “take a walk,” itself a derivative of pasar “to come past, go past.” Pasar comes from an assumed Vulgar Latin verb passāre “to pass, go on, extend,” which is formed from Latin passus, the past participle of pandere “to unfold, extend, spread out.” The Latin noun passus “a step, pace,” also derived from pandere, is the ultimate source of pace, i.e., “a step,” and the verb pass. Paseo entered English in the 19th century.

how is paseo used?

… the theme of every evening’s conversation at the different houses, and in our afternoon’s paseo upon the beach, was the ship …

Richard Henry Dana, Two Years Before the Mast, 1840

For the last two days in Ibarra, the foreigner has enjoyed easygoing Latina hospitality: a tour of the market where Celia’s mother has a stall; a paseo to a small village hosting a bullfight, even the funeral of a family friend.

Kelley Aitken, "Eating Cuy," Love in a Warm Climate, 1998
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