n 1: the acoustic effect produced by words so formed or combined as to please the ear 2: a harmonious succession of words having a pleasing sound
The poet chose words for the sake of euphony and rhythm as well as rhyme.
Did You Know?
"Euphony" was borrowed from French at the beginning of the 17th century; the French word (euphonie) itself derives from the Late Latin euphonia, which in turn traces back to the Greek adjective euphonos, meaning "sweet-voiced" or "musical." Euphonos was formed by combining the prefix eu- ("good") and phone ("voice"). In addition to its more commonly recognized senses, "euphony" also has a more specific meaning in the field of linguistics, where it can refer to the preference for words that are easy to pronounce; this preference may be the cause of an observed trend of people altering the pronunciation of certain words - apparently in favor of sound combinations that are simpler and faster to say out loud.
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In my world...
I'm sure that, in a past life, I was a songwriter...but I will probable never manage to write a song in this life...
Showing posts with label word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label word. Show all posts
Monday, 17 January 2011
Sunday, 16 January 2011
hare
v: to go swiftly: tear
Watching out for icy patches, Andrew hared along the country road on his motorbike.
Did You Know?
The hare in Aesop's fable may have lost the race with the tortoise due to the need for a nap, but the long-eared mammal's overall reputation for swiftness remains intact. The noun "hare" (referring to a member of the genus Lepus, whose young are usually able to hop a few minutes after birth) first appeared as hara in a Latin/Old English glossary around the year 700. The verb was in use by 1719, and people have been "haring off" and "haring about" ever since.
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In My World...
I never knew this could be a verb. I guess it's a bit like a lot of these twenty-first century websites that we have. You know, like "Google," which used to be a website and then became a verb: "I googled the company before my interview. Or "Facebook." Although, FB is more about the "fb-creeping" than "facebooking." Twitter, on the other hand, went straight to verb: I was late for work this morning because I was "tweeting" and missed my bus stop.
Watching out for icy patches, Andrew hared along the country road on his motorbike.
Did You Know?
The hare in Aesop's fable may have lost the race with the tortoise due to the need for a nap, but the long-eared mammal's overall reputation for swiftness remains intact. The noun "hare" (referring to a member of the genus Lepus, whose young are usually able to hop a few minutes after birth) first appeared as hara in a Latin/Old English glossary around the year 700. The verb was in use by 1719, and people have been "haring off" and "haring about" ever since.
Page-A-Day Calendar
http://www.pageaday.com/
Workman Publishing
In My World...
I never knew this could be a verb. I guess it's a bit like a lot of these twenty-first century websites that we have. You know, like "Google," which used to be a website and then became a verb: "I googled the company before my interview. Or "Facebook." Although, FB is more about the "fb-creeping" than "facebooking." Twitter, on the other hand, went straight to verb: I was late for work this morning because I was "tweeting" and missed my bus stop.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
pork barrel
n: government projects or appropriations yielding rich patronage benefits
As usual, the congressional candidates decried the government pork barrel while simultaneously promising to deliver all sorts of lucrative projects if elected.
Did You Know?
You probably think the original pork barrels were barrels for storing pork - and you're right. In the early 19th century, that's exactly what "pork barrel" meant. But the term was also used figuratively to mean "a supply of money" or "one's livelihood" (a farmer, after all, could readily turn pork into cash). When 20th-century legislators doled out appropriations that benefitted their home districts, someone apparently made an association between the profit a farmer got from a barrel of pork and the benefits derived from certain state and federal projects. By 1909, "prok barrel" was being used as a noun naming such government appropriations, and today the term is usually used attributively in constructions such as "pork barrel spending" or "a pork barrel project."
Page-A-Day Calendar
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Workman Publishing
In My World
What what an appropriate vegan version of this be? Bean barrel?
As usual, the congressional candidates decried the government pork barrel while simultaneously promising to deliver all sorts of lucrative projects if elected.
Did You Know?
You probably think the original pork barrels were barrels for storing pork - and you're right. In the early 19th century, that's exactly what "pork barrel" meant. But the term was also used figuratively to mean "a supply of money" or "one's livelihood" (a farmer, after all, could readily turn pork into cash). When 20th-century legislators doled out appropriations that benefitted their home districts, someone apparently made an association between the profit a farmer got from a barrel of pork and the benefits derived from certain state and federal projects. By 1909, "prok barrel" was being used as a noun naming such government appropriations, and today the term is usually used attributively in constructions such as "pork barrel spending" or "a pork barrel project."
Page-A-Day Calendar
www.PageADay.com
Workman Publishing
In My World
What what an appropriate vegan version of this be? Bean barrel?
Sunday, 19 December 2010
potentate
a ruler or sovereign; broadly: one who weild great power or sway
His work as a high-level diplomat frequently brings him into contact with foreign potentates
Did You Know?
Wielding its power in English since the 15th century, "potentate" comes from the Late Latin potent-, meaning "powerful." Other descendants of potent- in English include "potent" itself, "impotent," and omnipotent," as well as the archais "armipotent" and very rare "bellipotent" (meaning, respectively, "mighty in battle" and "mighty in war"). Even"power" and "powerful" can be traced back to potent-
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Workman Publishing
His work as a high-level diplomat frequently brings him into contact with foreign potentates
Did You Know?
Wielding its power in English since the 15th century, "potentate" comes from the Late Latin potent-, meaning "powerful." Other descendants of potent- in English include "potent" itself, "impotent," and omnipotent," as well as the archais "armipotent" and very rare "bellipotent" (meaning, respectively, "mighty in battle" and "mighty in war"). Even"power" and "powerful" can be traced back to potent-
Page-A-Day calendar
www.pageaday.com
Workman Publishing
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Croesus
adj: a very rich man
There's no doubt that Stan makes a good salary - but he is not a Croesus.
Did You Know?
The original Croesus was a sixth-century B.C. king of Lydia, an ancient realm in what is now Turkey. Croesus conquered many surrounding regions, grew very wealthy, and became the subject of legends. In one legend, he was visited by Solon, the wise Athenian lawgiver. (Historians say this isn't chronologically possible, but it makes a good story.) Solon supposedly told Croesus, who thought he had everything: "Account no man happy before his death." Besides being a generic term for someone extremely wealthy, the name shows up in the phrase, "rich as Croesus."
Page-A-Day calendar
www.pageaday.com
Workman Publishing
There's no doubt that Stan makes a good salary - but he is not a Croesus.
Did You Know?
The original Croesus was a sixth-century B.C. king of Lydia, an ancient realm in what is now Turkey. Croesus conquered many surrounding regions, grew very wealthy, and became the subject of legends. In one legend, he was visited by Solon, the wise Athenian lawgiver. (Historians say this isn't chronologically possible, but it makes a good story.) Solon supposedly told Croesus, who thought he had everything: "Account no man happy before his death." Besides being a generic term for someone extremely wealthy, the name shows up in the phrase, "rich as Croesus."
Page-A-Day calendar
www.pageaday.com
Workman Publishing
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Mendacious
\men-'da-shes\ adj.: given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth
Liza wasn't about to fall for the unrealistic claims being touted by the mendacious car salesman.
Did You Know?
"Mendacious" and "lying" have very similar meanings, but the two are not interchangeable. "Mendacious" is more formal and literary, suggesting a deception harmless enough to be considered bland. "Lying" is more blunt, accusatory, and often confrontational. You might yell, "You lying rat!" in an argument, but you would likely stick to the more diplomatic "Aren't you being somewhat mendacious?" in a business meeting. "Mendacious can also imply habitual untruthfulness, whereas "lying" is more likely to be used to identify specific instances of dishonesty.
Page-A-Day Calendar
www.pageaday.com
Workman Publishing
Liza wasn't about to fall for the unrealistic claims being touted by the mendacious car salesman.
Did You Know?
"Mendacious" and "lying" have very similar meanings, but the two are not interchangeable. "Mendacious" is more formal and literary, suggesting a deception harmless enough to be considered bland. "Lying" is more blunt, accusatory, and often confrontational. You might yell, "You lying rat!" in an argument, but you would likely stick to the more diplomatic "Aren't you being somewhat mendacious?" in a business meeting. "Mendacious can also imply habitual untruthfulness, whereas "lying" is more likely to be used to identify specific instances of dishonesty.
Page-A-Day Calendar
www.pageaday.com
Workman Publishing
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