Three Weeks of A.W.A.D.

with Anu Garg

Monday, 9 March 2009 - This week marks the quindecennial of Wordsmith.org. Fifteen years ago, on Mar 14, 1994, the first word went out to a handful of grad school friends. Since then, here's the journey in numbers: 15 years, 200 countries, 4000 words, 700,000 subscribers, who share our infinite enjoyment of words.

To mark the milestone, this week we'll feature words that are 15 letters long. And a contest for you.

Today's 15-letter word infundibuliform can be defined in exactly 15 letters as "shaped as a funnel". For the other four words this week, can you likewise provide definitions that are exactly 15 letters each? We'll select four winning definitions, one for each of the words. Winners will receive their choice of an autographed copy of a book by Anu Garg. Send your definitions to (contest at wordsmith.org) by Friday (replace at with @).

infundibuliform
PRONUNCIATION: (in-fuhn-DIB-yuh-luh-form)
MEANING: adjective: Funnel-shaped

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin infundibulum (funnel), from infundere (to pour in), from fundere (to pour). Ultimately from the Indo-European root gheu (to pour) that is also the source of funnel, font, fuse, diffuse, gust, gush, and geyser

subintelligitur
PRONUNCIATION: (sub-in-tuh-LIJ-it-uhr)
MEANING: noun: Something that is not stated but understood

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin sub- (below) + intelligere (to understand, literally, to choose between), from inter- (between) + legere (to choose, collect, read). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leg- (to collect) that is also the source of lexicon, lesson, lecture, legible, legal, and select

lepidopterology
PRONUNCIATION: (lep-i-dop-tuh-ROL-uh-jee)
MEANING: noun: The study of butterflies and moths

ETYMOLOGY: From Greek lepido- (scale) + pteron (wing, feather), ultimately from the Indo-European root pet- (to rush or fly) that also gave us feather, petition, compete, and perpetual

mathematicaster
PRONUNCIATION: (math-uh-mat-KAS-tuhr)
MEANING: noun: A minor or incompetent mathematician

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin mathematicus, from Greek mathematikos, from mathanein (to learn) + -aster (a pejorative suffix)

dermatoglyphics
PRONUNCIATION: (duhr-mat-uh-GLIF-iks, -muh-tuh-)
MEANING: noun:

1. The ridge patterns of skin on the inner surface of the hands and feet
2. The scientific study of these skin patterns

ETYMOLOGY: The term was coined in 1926 by Dr Harold Cummins (1893-1976), from Greek dermato- (skin) + glyphein (to carve). Ultimately from the Indo-European root gleubh- (to tear apart) that is also the source of cleve, glyph, clever, and clove (garlic). And that's also where we get cleavage, cleft palate, and cloven hooves

Monday, 16 March 2009

What does a Francophile have in common with a bluestocking or a profligate? Each of these words is made up of letters that are not repeated.

The longest word with no letters repeated was last Friday's word: dermatoglyphics. No two persons have the same fingerprints, and dermatoglyphics with distinct letters is an apt word to describe them. Can you think of another equally long word? Hint: You can't copyright the word. It's "uncopyrightable".

Are these the longest examples of such words? Well, it's possible to extend them with prefixes or

suffixes, but then they enter the domain of showcase words -- words formed just to serve as examples.

It's easy to find short examples ("I"), but this week we feature five longer words in which no letter is repeated. Try them in a game of Hangman!


quodlibet
PRONUNCIATION:(KWOD-li-bet)
MEANING: noun:

1. A subtle argument, especially on a theological or philosophical issue
2. A musical medley: a whimsical combination of popular tunes

ETYMOLOGY:From Latin quodlibetum, from Latin quod (what) + libet (it pleases), meaning "whatever pleases". Earlier the term referred to a mock exercise in discussion. Sense 2 arose from its use in German to refer to a gallimaufry of light-hearted musical compositions


epistolary
PRONUNCIATION: (i-PIS-tuh-ler-ee)
MEANING: adjective:

1. Of or relating to letters
2. Composed of letters (as a literary work)

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin epistola (letter), from Greek epistole (something sent), from epi- (upon, over, on) + stellein (to send). Ultimately from the Indo-European root stel- (to put or stand) that is also the source of stallion, stilt, install, gestalt, stout, and pedestal


schwerpunkt
PRONUNCIATION:(SHVEHR-pungkt)
MEANING: noun: The point of focus; an area of concentrated effort, especially in a military operation

ETYMOLOGY: From German Schwerpunkt (center of gravity, focal point), from schwer (weighty) + Punkt (point)


gramineous
PRONUNCIATION: (gruh-MIN-ee-uhs)
MEANING: adjective: Of or relating to grass

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin gramineus, from gramen (grass)


overslaugh
PRONUNCIATION: (O-vuhr-slaw)
MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To pass over someone in favor of another, as in a promotion
2. To bar or to hinder

ETYMOLOGY: From Dutch overslaan (to pass over, omit), from over + slaan (to strike)


Monday, 23 March 2009

Two for the price of one! It's a come-on commonly used by marketeers. But getting two of something isn't always desirable. Consider diplopia or duplicity (literally, doubleness).All of this week's words have some connection with doubling. And if a whole week of double-mania proves too much, keep this term handy -- it's guaranteed to purge all the doubling: hemidemisemiquaver. It manages to fit three halvings into one word.

diptych
PRONUNCIATION: (DIP-tik)
MEANING: noun: A work of art on two hinged panels, such as a painting or carving

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin diptycha, from Greek diptycha, from di- (two) + ptyche (fold)

snake eyes
PRONUNCIATION: (snayk aaiz)
MEANING: noun: A throw of two ones with a pair of dice. Since this is the lowest possible score, by extension the term is also used to refer to bad luck

ETYMOLOGY: Either from the apparent resemblance of such a throw to a snake's eyes, or from the association of snakes with treachery. The origin of the word craps, where this term is often used, is also derived from an animal: crab. A synonym of today's term is ambsace.

portmanteau
PRONUNCIATION: (port-MAN-to, -TOH, PORT-)
MEANING: noun:
1. A word coined by blending two or more words
2. A case opening in two parts, used for carrying clothes while traveling

ETYMOLOGY: From French portemanteau, from porter (to carry) + manteau (mantle)

zwieback
PRONUNCIATION: (ZWY-bak, ZWEE-, SWY- SWEE-)
MEANING: noun: A crispy, sweetened bread made by slicing a loaf and baking it a second time. Also known as a rusk

ETYMOLOGY: From German Zwieback (twice baked), from zwie (twice) + backen (to bake). The word biscuit has a similar origin. It was twice-baked (or used to be), from Latin bis (twice) + coquere (to cook). The name of the color bisque owes its origin to a biscuit.

dicephalous
PRONUNCIATION: (dai-SEF-uh-luhs)
MEANING: adjective: Having two heads

ETYMOLOGY:From Greek dikephalos (two-headed), from di- (two) + kephale head. Ultimately from the Indo-European root ghebh-el- (head) that is also the root of the word gable. A synonym of today's word, bicephalous, also has all unique letters.