Word of the Day
More about strigiform
Strigiform, “of or pertaining to owls,” is based on Latin strix (stem strig-), “screech owl,” which comes from Ancient Greek stríx, “owl,” of uncertain origin. Stríx is one of several Ancient Greek words for “owl” (compare scops owl) that are likely of pre-Greek origin, coming from a long-lost language of the eastern Mediterranean. For another example of a pre-Greek word, check out the Word of the Day dithyrambic. Stríx also gives rise to Latin striga, which has a variety of macabre senses, from “evil spirit” to “vampire” to “witch.” Strigiform was first recorded in English in the late 1870s.
EXAMPLE OF STRIGIFORM USED IN A SENTENCE
In the fresco, Athena appears surrounded by wide-eyed strigiform figures, probably to underscore her association with wisdom.
cryptomnesia
noun
the phenomenon of not recognizing the return of an old memory as a product of memory, but instead regarding it as a new or original thought or idea.
More about cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia, “the phenomenon of regarding an old memory as a new idea,” is based on crypto-, “hidden, secret,” and Ancient Greek mnêsis, “memory.” Crypto-, ultimately from Ancient Greek krýptein, “to hide,” is of unclear origin. Confusing matters further is the resemblance between krýptein and kalýptein, “to cover,” which is the source of eucalyptus (literally “well covered”) and possibly Calypso, a sea nymph in the Odyssey. Mnêsis is also the source of the Word of the Day hypermnesia and is distantly related to a range of thought-related words containing m followed by n, including mantra, mental, mind, and mnemonic. Cryptomnesia was first recorded in English at the turn of the 20th century.
EXAMPLE OF CRYPTOMNESIA USED IN A SENTENCE
One member of the study group, clearly experiencing cryptomnesia, suggested an idea that he didn’t realize he had heard in a news story earlier that day.
chicanery
noun
trickery or deception by quibbling or the use of false arguments.
More about chicanery
Chicanery, “trickery by quibbling,” is an adaptation of French chicanerie, from the verb chicaner, which is typically translated as “to quibble” or “to split hairs” and once referred specifically to legal contexts. Appropriate for its meaning, the origin of French chicaner is controversial. One possible derivation is from a Germanic root meaning “to arrange” that is also the source of chic (via German Schick, “skill”). Alternatively, chicaner may be a merger of chic-, a common Romance element indicating smallness (compare chinchy and Spanish chico, “boy”), and ricaner, “to snicker.” Chicanery was first recorded in English circa 1610.
EXAMPLE OF CHICANERY USED IN A SENTENCE
Though the judge dismissed the lawsuit on a technicality, the prosecutors knew that it was the defense attorney’s chicanery that had successfully distracted from the matter at hand.