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⚛️ Today's Word was chosen in partnership with the Museum of Science as the Science Word Of The Week! ⚛️

terricolous

[ te-rik-uh-luhs ] [ tɛˈrɪk ə ləs ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

living on or in the ground.

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Why the Museum of Science chose terricolous

To find out, watch this video from science communicator Maynard Okereke, better known as the Hip Hop M.D.

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More about terricolous

Terricolous is based on the Latin word terra, meaning “earth,” and the element -colous, meaning “inhabiting.” Terra is also the source of the Words of the Day terraqueous and terrene. Terricolous was first recorded in English around 1830.

EXAMPLE OF TERRICOLOUS USED IN A SENTENCE

A large patch of terricolous moss grew in the shade of the old shed.

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Word of the day

hadal

[ heyd-l ] [ ˈheɪd l ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

adjective

of or relating to the greatest ocean depths, below approximately 20,000 feet (6,500 meters).

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More about hadal

Hadal is based on Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. The Ancient Greek name for Hades, Hā́idēs, is of unclear origin, but a longtime popular explanation is that it is related to aïdḗs, meaning “invisible, unseen.” Hadal was first recorded in English in the late 1950s.

EXAMPLE OF HADAL USED IN A SENTENCE

No sunlight can ever penetrate the hadal trenches of the Pacific Ocean.

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Word of the day

écossaise

[ ey-koh-seyz ] [ ˌeɪ koʊˈseɪz ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

a country-dance in quick duple meter.

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More about écossaise

Écossaise is a form of French écossais, meaning “Scottish.” Both French Écosse and English Scotland come from Late Latin Scotus, a name for Gaelic-speaking people in the British Isles. The origin of Scotus may be connected to Irish Gaelic scoith, “to cut off,” or Scottish Gaelic sgaothrach, “crowd.” Écossaise was first recorded in English in the early 1860s.

EXAMPLE OF ÉCOSSAISE USED IN A SENTENCE

The couples prepared to dance the écossaise by forming two parallel lines.

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