Polyphonic

Wednesday 31^st August 2016

Polyphonic /ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk/

adjective

1. (music) composed of relatively independent melodic lines or parts;contrapuntal

2. many-voiced

3. (phonetics) of, relating to, or denoting a polyphone

Derived Forms

polyphonically, adverb

Quote

The animals were singing. The chorus was improvised but polyphonic, true music,

and in that music Amy could hear joy and longing in equal parts.

Jincy Willett, Amy Falls Down, 2013

Origin

Polyphonic can be traced to the Greek terms polýs meaning "many" and phōnḗ

meaning "voice." It entered English in the late 1700’s.

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Conciliate

Tuesday 30^th August 2016

Conciliate /kənˈsɪlɪˌeɪt/

verb (transitive)

1. to overcome the hostility of; placate; win over

2. to win or gain (favour, regard, etc), esp by making friendly overtures

3. (archaic) to make compatible; reconcile

Derived Forms

conciliable, adjective 
conciliator, noun

Quote

Hewet made it his business to conciliate the outsiders as much as possible.

Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915

Origin

Conciliate stems from the Latin conciliāre meaning "to bring together." It

entered English in the mid-1500’s.

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Galluses

Monday 29^th August 2016

Galluses /ˈɡæləsɪz/

plural noun

1. (dialect) braces for trousers

Quote

Without the galluses my pants would soon fall down anyway.

Robert Morgan, The Hinterlands: A Mountain Tale in Three Parts, 1994

Origin

Galluses is a variant of gallows meaning "suspenders; braces." It entered

English in the early 1800’s.

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com