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Vocabulary

Today's Word "Talisman"

on Dec 10, 2021

talisman \TAE-liz-mehn\ (noun) - An object with magic apotropaic powers, a charm to ward off evil and attract good fortune.

"Daniel always kept a talisman of fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror of his car to attract good luck on his way to the casino."

Today's word is a world-class world traveler. It began as an Indo-European word, late Greek telesma "consecration ceremony," later, a statue that protected a temple, derived from the verb telein "to consecrate, fulfill." From Greek it went to a Semitic language, Arabic, as tilsam "talisman" and tilsimani "one dealing in talismans." From Arabic it was borrowed back into the Romance languages as French "talisman," Spanish "talisman," and Italian "talismano." It came to English from one of these.

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Today's Word "panoply"

Vocabulary / October 27, 2024

panoply \PAN-uh-plee\ (noun) - 1 : A splendid or impressive array. 2 : Ceremonial attire. 3 : A full suit of armor; a complete defense or covering.

Panoply is from Greek panoplia, "a full suit of armor," from pan, "all" ...Read More

Today's Word "sporadic"

Vocabulary / October 26, 2024

sporadic \spuh-RAD-ik\ (adjective) - Occurring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances.

"The panoply of personages gathered at the head of the hall formed an impressive sight. At the base of the Imperial dais, ...Read More

Today's Word "harridan"

Vocabulary / October 25, 2024

harridan \HAIR-uh-din\, noun) - A worn-out strumpet; a vixenish woman; a hag.

"Emily was hard-pressed not to laugh out loud several times, for if the harridan knew who Emily really was, she would no doubt be groveling and...Read More

Today's Word "implacable"

Vocabulary / October 24, 2024

implacable \im-PLAK-uh-bull\ (adjective) - Not placable; not to be appeased; incapable of being pacified; inexorable; as, an implacable foe.

'It is the truth. Truth is implacable. But the nature and meaning of this truth ...Read More

Today's Word "virtu"

Vocabulary / October 23, 2024

virtu \vuhr-TOO; vir-\ (noun) - 1 : love of or taste for fine objects of art. 2 : Productions of art (especially fine antiques). 3 : Artistic quality.

"There were gorgeous carpets and hangings, frescoed ceilings, spurious...Read More