Word of the Day
solemnize
verb
to observe or commemorate with rites or ceremonies.
More about solemnize
Solemnize is equivalent to Latin sollemnis, meaning both “common, established” and “consecrated, holy.” Sollemnis may be connected to sollus, “whole,” the source of solicit and the Word of the Day insouciant, but not all linguists agree. Solemnize was first recorded in English in the late 14th century.
EXAMPLE OF SOLEMNIZE USED IN A SENTENCE
The newlyweds solemnized their marriage by exchanging vows they had written themselves.
deuteranopia
noun
a defect of vision in which the retina fails to respond to the color green.
More about deuteranopia
Deuteranopia is formed from Ancient Greek deúteros, meaning “second,” and English anopia, “absence of sight.” Red, green, and blue are the three primary colors of light, and deuteranopia gets its name because green is considered the second of these colors. Deuteranopia was first recorded in English at the turn of the 20th century.
EXAMPLE OF DEUTERANOPIA USED IN A SENTENCE
Because of his deuteranopia, the driver had difficulty reading the green dashboard lights.
hyson
noun
a Chinese green tea dried and prepared from twisted leaves, especially of the early crop.
More about hyson
Hyson is an adaptation of Cantonese heiceon, “bright spring.” The hei element, meaning “bright, glorious,” is a cognate of Mandarin xī, while ceon, “spring,” is related to Mandarin chūn. It’s possible that hyson’s unusual spelling is the result of the term passing through Dutch or French on its way to English, in which it first appeared in the 1730s.
EXAMPLE OF HYSON USED IN A SENTENCE
Once the small bag of hyson was placed in the mug, the leaves added a golden tinge to the water.