A.W.A.D. - Random Words from the Dictionary

with Anu Garg

An odd lot. That's what this week's five words are. They don't fit in a theme, but they're useful anyway, as we pick one word at a time when writing or speaking. And while all words are usable, these five words may, in fact, be more usable than others we've had lately. So give them a spin. Let them take you where they will, in this random walk through the dictionary.

diaphanous
PRONUNCIATION:(dy-AF-uh-nuhs)
MEANING:adjective:
1. Transparent, light, or delicate
2. Vague or hazy

ETYMOLOGY:From Latin diaphanus (transparent), from Greek diaphanes, from diaphainein (to show through), from dia- (across) + phainein (to show). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bha- (to shine) that is also the source of beacon, banner, phantom, photo, phosphorus, phenomenon, fantasy, and epiphany.

lucubrate
PRONUNCIATION:(LOO-kyoo-brayt)
MEANING:verb intr.: To work (such as study, write, discourse) laboriously or learnedly

ETYMOLOGY:Here's a word that literally encapsulates the idiom "to burn the midnight oil". It's derived from Latin lucubrare (to work by lamplight), from lucere (to shine). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leuk- (light) that's resulted in other words such as lunar, lunatic, light, lightning, lucid, illuminate, illustrate, translucent, lux, and lynx.

acarpous
PRONUNCIATION:(ay-KAHR-puhs)
MEANING:adjective: Not producing fruit; sterile

ETYMOLOGY:From Greek akarpos, from a- (not) + karpos (fruit). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kerp- (to gather or harvest) which is also the source of harvest, excerpt, carpet, and scarce.

coetaneous
PRONUNCIATION:(ko-i-TAY-nee-uhs)
MEANING:adjective: Having the same age; contemporary

ETYMOLOGY:From Latin coaetaneus (contemporary), from co- (with) + aetas (age). Ultimately from the Indo-European root aiw-/ayu- (vital force, life, eternity) that is also the source of ever, never, aye, nay, eon, eternal, medieval, primeval, utopia, Sanskrit Ayurveda, and aught.

pellucid
PRONUNCIATION:(puh-LOO-sid)
MEANING:adjective:
1. Admitting the maximum passage of light
2. Clear; easy to understand

ETYMOLOGY:From Latin pellucidus, from perlucere (to shine through), from per- (through) + lucere (to shine). Ultimately from the Indo-European root leuk- (light) that is also the source of other words such as lunar, lunatic, light, lucubrate, lightning, lucid, illuminate, illustrate, translucent, lux, and lynx.

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