Word of the Day
lilapsophobia
noun
an irrational or disproportionate fear of tornadoes or hurricanes.
More about lilapsophobia
In lilapsophobia, lilaps- comes from Ancient Greek laîlaps, meaning “violent storm.” Though laîlaps is also often translated as “hurricane,” the Mediterranean Sea does not have true hurricanes, which form in the tropics. The -phobia element comes from Ancient Greek phóbos, “panic fear.” Lilapsophobia was first recorded in English in the late 1970s.
EXAMPLE OF LILAPSOPHOBIA USED IN A SENTENCE
Their lilapsophobia began to fade the moment they learned that the tropical wave had failed to organize into a cyclone.
More about ipse dixit
In Latin, ipse dīxit means “he himself said.” The feminine equivalent, “she herself said,” is ipsa dīxit. The plural versions, both meaning “they themselves said,” are ipsī dīxērunt for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and ipsae dīxērunt for a group of women. Ipse dixit was first recorded in English in the late 15th century.
EXAMPLE OF IPSE DIXIT USED IN A SENTENCE
The protester claimed that aliens were responsible for recent unexplained events, but these ipse dixits all lacked even a shred of evidence.
quincunx
noun
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
More about quincunx
Quincunx literally means “five-twelfths” in Latin and is formed from quīnque, “five,” and uncia, “twelfth.” Quīnque is the source of numerous modern Romance words for “five,” such as French cinq and Spanish cinco. Uncia, meanwhile, is the source of both inch and ounce. Quincunx was first recorded in English in the 1640s.
EXAMPLE OF QUINCUNX USED IN A SENTENCE
Each area of the park featured four bushes arranged in a square, with a bench in the middle to complete the quincunxes.