Layette

Layette (ley-ET) is an outfit of clothing, bedding, etc. for a newborn baby.

This is my first time to encounter such a word as layette although I have seen many a set of clothing for newborn babies before I just didn't know that they were called layette. Well, now I know!

Makebate

Makebate (MEYK-beyt) is a person who causes contention or discord.

"Are you a makebate? Because some people are just who they are - makebates, prone to get involved in any heated argument, in dispute, in a strife, in a quarrel. Is it because they are argumentative, egoistic or just defending their values and principles?  I can't say but I am sure that makebates can't handle discussions or criticisms really well".

Terpsichorean

Terpsichorean (turp-si-kuh-REE-uhn) pertains to dancing or a dancer

The word terpsichorean comes from the name of the Greek muse of dancing, Terpischore. The word is a combination of the Greek terpein, "to delight", and khoros, "chorus".

"The members of the Sining Kambayoka are agile, flexible, and creative. They're terpsichorean"!

Asyndeton

Asyndeton (uh-SIN-di-ton) is 

• the omission of conjunctions, as in "He has provided the poor with jobs, with opportunity, with respect."
• the omission of cross references, especially from a catalog

Asyndeton comes from the Greek roots a + syndetos literally meaning "not bound together".

Gorgonize

Gorgonize (GAWR-guh-nayhz) means to affect as a Gorgon; hypnotize; petrify

Gorgons were ancient Greek mythological figures. They were three sister monsters commonly represented as having snakes for hair, wings, and brazen claws. Their eyes turned anyone looking into them to stone. Thus, to gorgonize someone is to turn them into stone.

"If King Midas turns everything he touches into gold, Gorgons turn everyone who stares at them stone. And since to gorgonize means to hypnotize, I guess not one eye can escape from the Gorgons." 

Fen

Fen is a low land covered wholly or partially with water; boggy land; a marsh

"The word fen is a very usual word in scrabble and admittedly many players put this word on the board without even knowing what it is. Well, do you?"

Poniard

Poniard (PON-yerd) is a small, slender dagger; to stab with a poniard.

Poniard comes from the Latin word, pungus, meaning "fist". The Old French word poignal literally refers to something held by the fist.

"I could have reached for my poniard which my father had gifted me on my birthday and stabbed the assailant before he could attack me but I just couldn't grabbed it out from my boots.  I struggled only to wake up and found out I was all alone in my room."

Satrap

Satrap (SEY-trap) is

• a subordinate ruler, often a despotic one
• a governor of a province under the ancient Persian monarchy.

Satrap originated in the Old Persian from the literary prefix kshathrapavan, meaning "guardian of the realm".

"Datu Soliman governed the acres of land 500 miles from here for his brother, who had been ill for quite a long time. And since he is the satrap of that land he has to know everything about it including the neighboring lands."

Boustrophedon

Boustrophedon (boo-struh-FEED-n) 

• is an ancient method of writing in which the lines run alternately from right to left and from left to right.

Boustrophedon describes a snake-like motion in which a line of text doubles back on itself as it descends a page.

"I never heard of boustrophedon until now. I know how Chinese writes. I know how Arabs write. And of course, I know how the usual people right - from right to left and back to right to left. So I am wondering which ancient group of people used this method of writing."

Whinge

Whinge means to complain or to whine.

"Wanting to have children of your own is a choice, and for me, not a wise decision. And yet people who have children whinge about their children's behavior, demands, school performance, etc. I can't understand. They wanted children and now that they have them they complain about many things about them."

Velleity

Velleity (vuh-LEE-i-tee) is

• volition in its weakest form
• a mere wish, unaccompanied by an effort to obtain it

The word velleity stems from the Latin word "velle" meaning "to be willing".

"I've had heard people with so many wishes, things that they would like to happen and have in their lives yet I have never seen them exert an effort to have these wishes come true. Do they just pray over these wishes and hope they come true? Velleity is like a prayer to me. It doesn't do anything".

Primaveral

Primaveral (prahy-muh-VEER-uhl) pertains to the early springtime.

The word primaveral hails from the Latin word prima vera, which literally means springtime. And this word shares with an Italian noodle dish, pasta primavera, pasta served with fresh vegetables.

"Okay so, the girls have primaveral excitement to visit The Valley of Flowers in April and take note the different varieties they expect to find and see but unfortunately the road up there doesn't open until June. Too bad huh!".

Feuilleton

Feuilleton (FOI-i-tn) is 

• a part of a European newspaper devoted to light literature, fiction or criticism. 
• It also refers to an item printed in the feuilleton.

"I assume that anyone who knows what feuilleton means also knows which page of a European newspaper it is found and what items are written there."

Sward

Sward (swawrd), both noun and verb, is the grassy surface of land; turf

• the outer layer of the earth where grass grows

The front lawn of our house in Philippines is sward with carabao grass. It's easy to grow, thick yet soft to stand on or sit upon.

Ouphe

Ouphe (Auf) is an elf, a goblin or a fairy. 

The Lord of the Ring has many ouphes, huh! Legolas looks attractive in his long white hair.

Spelunk

Spelunk (spi-LUHNGK) is to explore caves, especially as a hobby.

The word spelunk comes from the Latin word spelunca meaning "cave" or "cavern".

"Do you know anyone who spelunk?"

Codger

Codger (KOJ-er) is an eccentric man, especially an old one.

Codger is likely related to the word cadge meaning "to beg".

"While waiting for the officers' wives I got the opportunity to look around their area of residence and found one codger, sitting on the porch of one of the flats, alone and sad. He must be a relative!"

Marmoreal

Marmoreal is an adjective which means of or like marble.

Marmoreal comes from the Latin word marmoreus meaning "of marble".

Trousseau

Trousseau is an outfit of clothing, household linen, etc. for a bride.

The word comes from the Old French trousse meaning "bundle", which was used to describe a bundle of keys in 1200. Only in 1800's that it became to mean the clothes and linen of a bride.

So when a woman is about to marry, her relatives and friends have to present her a varied trousseau to choose from for her wedding? Is that it?

Scherzando

Scherzando (skert-SAHN-doh) means playful or sportive.

It comes from the Italian word scherzare meaning "to joke".

Trachle

Trachle (TRAH-khuh) means

• an exhausted effort, especially walking or working
• an exhausted or bedraggled person
• to fatigue; tire; wear out
• to bedraggle

The word's origin is unknown but it could be related to the Welsh Flemish "tragelen" meaning "to walk heavily".

After a day's trachle and a 30-minute work out at the gym I feel like I am heading towards the bed right away.

Hadal

Hadal ( HEYD-l ) pertains to 

• the greatest ocean depths, below approximately 20,000 feet.
• the bio-geographic region of the ocean bottom below the abyssal zone.

The word comes from the name Hades, the Greek god of the underworld.

So in the movie, The Abyss, Sam Harris has reached the "hadal" level of the ocean. Fantastic scene, indeed! But has he met Hades down there? Nah, I don't think so but he has certainly met something "not-like-us" down there. I like that movie, one of my faves!

Baccate

Baccate (BAK-eyt) means berrylike, bearing berries.

Baccate is derived from the Latin word bacca meaning "berry".

Fabulist

Fabulist (FAB-yuh-list) is a liar, a person who invents or relates fables.

The word fabulist is derived from the Middle French word, fabuliste which referred to someone who told fables.

"Nothing is off limits to this free-range fabulist. He can fold a dusty Persian carpet into the contours of the world itself and wring delight from every lustrous thread". (Clive Barker, The Essential Clive Barker)...source dictionary.com


But a person who likes or even loves to tell fables to kids may not be a liar in real. I believe so. Do you?

Eidolon

Eidolon (ahy-DOH-luhn) is a phantom; apparition; an ideal.

The word comes from the more common word, idol, which originally referred to pagan religious idols.

"It was the ghoulish shade of decay, antiquity, and desolation; the putrid, dripping eidolon of unwholesome revelation, the awful baring of that which the merciful earth should always hide." (H.P. Lovecraft, The Outsider)

Bibelot

Bibelot (BIB-loh) is a small object of curiosity, beauty, or rarity.

It comes from the Old French word beubelet meaning "trinket or jewel".

Fracas

Fracas (FREY-kuhs) is a noisy, disorderly disturbance or fight; riotous brawl; uproar.

It comes from the Italian word fracasso meaning "to beat".

Sentence example: 

• Three men were not there during the fracas so they intend to know what has started it.
• I can never stand a fracas at home, in neighbors or anywhere with anyone. Sometimes it's best to keep quiet and just let go of things that you knew would never make a difference even with your interference.

Lodestar

Lodestar (LOHD-stahr) is....

• Something that serves as a guide or on which the attention is fixed.
• A star that shows the way.
• Polaris

The word lodestar comes from the Old English lode which meant "way, course".

Aumildar

Aumildar (aw-mil-DAHR) is a manager or an agent; a collector of revenue.

Aumildar comes from the Hindi word, amaldar, a combination of the Persian word amal meaning "work"  and the suffix -dar meaning "agent".

So from now on, I'd rather call anybody's boss Mr./Mrs. Aumildar. Sounds like a surname, indeed, aumildar?

Crasis

Crasis (KREY-sis) 

• is a a composition; constitution; make-up.
• a type of contraction in which two vowels or diphthongs merge  into one vowel or diphthong - making one word out of two.

It comes from the Greek word krasis meaning "mixture, blend".

Fob

Fob is 

• (n) a short chain, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, worn hanging from a pocket.
• (n) a small pocket just below the waistline in trousers for a watch, keys, change, etc.
• (v) to cheat someone by substituting something spurious or inferior.
• (v) to put (someone) off by deception or trickery.

I just saw a clip in a movie showing fob (3rd definition). One man was standing right outside a girl's door who is holding a camera so to get rid of him she tricked him by saying he's standing in a right position for a nice photograph so she told him to go back and back a little more then she shut and locked her door. Nice one, huh! Well, she can't keep him away forever, can she? One day she has to confront whatever this man is up to with her. The movie, by the way, is Flight (2012) starring Denzel Washington. Haven't seen it yet.

Battology

Battology refers to the wearisome repetition of words in speaking or writing.

Battlogy comes from the Greek word battologia meaning "speaking stammeringly" from battos meaning "stammerer" and logia meaning "one who speaks (in a certain manner)" which entered English in 1500s.

I believe that a great writer knows how to use words so well that any readers would not even find any word repetition in his/her articles. 

Lagan

Lagan (LAG-uhn) refers to anything sunk in the sea, but attached to a buoy or the like so that it may be recovered.

Lagan is not as well known as its contextual brethren, flotsam and jetsam. It comes from the Old Nurse which means "a net laid in the sea".

Hotchpot

Hotchpot (HOCH-pot) means the bringing of shares or properties in order to divide them equally.

So when you are in a meeting with your family lawyer after a family member has died then it could mean a hotchpot. Good luck!

Duvet

Duvet is a quilt usually with a washable cover that may be used as a bedspread.

I never used a duvet before. Back in Philippines we just use a plain blanket. Some use a thicker one, some use thin. Until I came to India and found myself liking the Himalayas. Our duvet has a zip on one side so when it is dirty it's easy to remove the cover and get it washed.

Pilikia

Pilikia (pee-lee-KEE-ah) means trouble.

Don't get into pilikia as any parent would tell to his/her son, mostly son, while leaving for school.

But don't get into trouble sounds better than don't get into pilikia, doesn't it? 

Kinchin

Kinchin is a child.

So from now on you can call or give your child or any child a nickname, kinchin. It helps you from remembering the word thereby adding one word to your vocabulary. Have fun with your kinchin.

Mucro

Mucro (MYOO-kroh) is a short point projecting abruptly, as at the end of a leaf.

Another name for a part of a leaf huh! Tip of a leaf is no longer the description of that part but mucro. Nice word!

Nuque

Nuque (nook) is the back of the neck.

The word that refers to the back of the neck, which you are much familiar with, is nape. And in fact, nuque originated from a French word nucha which means nape although its earliest origin is of Arabic nukha, meaning "spinal marrow".

Agape

Agape (ah-GAH-pey) means unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications.

I remember when I was a first year college student in MSU my brother has asked me to visit a friend of his who was an English faculty in the University and the head of the Agape Church. She was nice so one day I attended their Bible sharing session at the golf-course. I didn't like the sharing thing. I mean, the words from the Bible which they have selected were worth listening to but I was just not into the "share-what-do-you-think-about-the-message" kind of part. So that meeting was the last for me at Agape Church.

Needless to say, their sect (Agape Church) means the love of Christians for another persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind.

"Love of God for humankind"? Is that why there is so much suffering and violence in this world and he/she/they decided not to do anything about it? That's love? Nah...it's way beyond my rational thinking. 

Cruciverbalist

Cruciverbalist is a designer, constructor or aficionado (admirer/fan/follower) of or crossword puzzles.

It originated from the word crux, meaning "cross" and verbum, meaning, "word".

So if you like/love to play or even design your own crossword puzzles then you are a cruciverbalist. Good luck to that!

Daven

Daven means to pray.

It is pronounced as Dah-vuhn, NOT dey-ven!

Many religious people, especially Christians, could daven nonstop and it could really give them peace...you know, peacefulness within because by praying they just have given up their responsibility to act and not do anything.

One good example is when people send their prayers to the victims of floods or earthquakes, any calamities, by posting these prayers on their Facebook accounts. I mean, what can prayers do? Nothing but by really going out there and extending a helping hand, that can really do something!

Daven sounds like amen, huh...lol

Xeric

Xeric (ZEE-rik) means adapted to dry environment or a lack of moisture in both plants and animals.

Its original word is xerophytic but later on was coined to xeric in 1926 by ecologists W.S Cooper and A.O. Weese.

Darg

Darg, in Australia, Scotland and North England, means a day's work or a definite amount of work.

Sentence example: 
When the day's darg is over I will be there to celebrate a night out with you.

So when you're leaving your office or work place at the end of they day you just finished your darg and you can do anything you want. 

Akee

Achee or akee is also known as akee apple is a pear-shaped fruit known more for its poisonous properties rather than its edible fruit.

(These are 
photographs 
of akee fruit. 
Source: Google 
search)

Swivet

Swivet is a state of nervous excitement, haste, or anxiety; flutter

So you feel swivet when you are much surprised or when you have done something awful, a crime, for example, and you are running away/hiding from the law. That's a new word for me!

Dais

Dais is a raised platform  usually in front of a room, for a lectern, throne, seats of honor, etc.

Although I know this word long before I decided to include it here because I usually encounter this word while playing Scrabble. Most often players place ai first then when situation becomes tough, like there's nowhere to place your tiles, adding a d and an s could save you from passing or getting your tiles exchanged which is not a good idea because you'll lose turn and points.  Although it doesn't give you a winning score it certainly gives you a room for two new tiles for your next turn.

Motza

Motza means a large amount of money, especially a sum won in gambling.

• it is pronounced as MOT-ser
• it possibly derived from an Italian word mezzo meaning "half" or from Yiddish word matzo meaning "unleavened bread".
• is an Australian slang

Motza is the word of the day (May 17, 2013) from dictionary dot com. I generally look and read each word (in my e-mail) every day unless I already know the word. Then I have assigned a folder for these words under 'Vocabulary' so I can just browse through if ever I have forgotten the word. Which is why I have started this blog so, at least, I have an association for each word hoping all of them will remain as my vocabulary and not just "passing-vocab". Hope this one becomes yours too.

Ectasis

Ectasis is an expansion or the lengthening of syllable from short to long.

As I understood its meaning, I think it means that when a short word is changed to long, mostly you have to add another vowel to it.

For example:

con:  con + e = cone
hat:   hat + e = hate

The resulting word is different.

Again, I encountered this word through playing scrabble. A girl named Linda made this word. It was a bingo, meaning 50 bonus points (because she has used all her 7 lettered-tiles in one word) have been added to her initial score.

Snafu

Snafu is something that is messed up, chaotic or a confusion.

My first encounter with this word was with a scrabble opponent named Jeff, who managed to put the word, Snafu, in triple word slot. At first read I thought it's some kind of a fish then maybe a word relative to Kung Fu...haha! Now that's something messed up!