A.W.A.D. - Words About Words

Today when we spell the word "color" instead of "colour" we can thank a crotchety, humorless man for saving wear on our fingers, not to mention savings on paper and those obscenely expensive inkjet printer cartridges. October 16 marks the 250th birth anniversary of Noah Webster (1758-1843), lexicographer extraordinaire, who compiled the American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), the first authoritative lexicon of American English.

Webster believed in establishing cultural independence from Britain and as such he emphasized a distinct American spelling and pronunciation. His dictionary listed various unusual and shortened spellings of words. He would hardly have imagined how the tide would turn one day. According to reports, more British children today spell "color" instead of "colour", for example. Webster's suggestion of using "tung" instead of "tongue" didn't stick, though.

Today Webster's name is synonymous with dictionaries and the date of his birth is observed as Dictionary Day. In his honor, this week we'll present words about words. As Webster said, "the process of a living language is like the motion of a broad river which flows with a slow, silent, irresistible current."

epeolatry
PRONUNCIATION: (ep-i-OL-uh-tree)
MEANING: noun: The worship of words.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek epos (word) + -latry (worship). The first citation of the word is from Oliver Wendell Holmes, in his 1860 book Professor at the Breakfast Table.

univocalic
PRONUNCIATION: (yoo-niv-uh-KAL-ik)
MEANING: noun: A piece of writing that uses only one of the vowels.adjective: Using only one vowel.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin uni- (one) + vocalic (relating to vowels), from vox (voice).

paragoge
PRONUNCIATION: (par-uh-GO-jee)
MEANING: noun: The addition of a letter or syllable at the end of a word, either through natural development or to add emphasis. For example, height-th for height.

ETYMOLOGY: Via Latin, from Greek paragoge, from para- (beyond) + -agogue (leader).

semasiology
PRONUNCIATION: (si-may-see-OL-uh-jee)
MEANING: noun: The study of meanings in a language, especially the study of semantic change.

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek semasia (meaning).

cacology
PRONUNCIATION: (ka-KOL-uh-jee)
MEANING: noun
1. Poor choice of words
2. Incorrect pronunciation

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek caco- (bad) + -logy (word).

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