Cryptesthesia

Word of the Day for Friday 21^st November 2014

Cryptesthesia \krip-tuhs-THEE-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh\

Noun 1. Psychology. Allegedly paranormal perception, as clairvoyance or clairaudience.

Quotes

Some experts attribute the jerking of the rod to cryptesthesia, some to divine or devilish inspiration, others to unconscious muscular activity, “sympathy,” they call it, between the diviner and the object. -- Michael Knight, Divining Rod, 2010

Origin

Coined in the 1920's, cryptesthesia is a combination of crypt(o)-, meaning "hidden," and esthesia referring to "capacity for sensation or feeling."

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Oeuvre

Word of the Day for Thursday 20^th November 2014

Oeuvre \œ-vruh\

Noun 1. French. The works of a writer, painter, or the like, taken as a whole. 2. French. Any one of the works of a writer, painter, or the like.

Quotes

I am very fond of our body of work together, our oeuvre, even though logging 24-hour days for years on end for a band is not the easiest way to lead a life that could have been very creative in its own right. -- Ian Faith, interviewed by Chick Hadrian, "Spinal Tap: The Unauthorized Sequel," Spy, July/August, 1992

Origin

Oeuvre comes to English by way of French and can ultimately be traced to the Latin word for "work," opus. It entered English in the late 1800’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Crapehanger

Word of the Day for Wednesday 19^th November 2014

Crapehanger \KREYP-hang-er\

Noun 1. A person who sees the gloomy side of things; pessimist. Also, crepehanger.

Quotes

Ordinarily Encore would have suggested, with amiable malice, that Gottlieb was a "crapehanger" who wasted time destroying the theories of other men instead of making new ones of his own. -- Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith, 1925

Origin

Crapehanger is an Americanism with roots in the custom of hanging crepe paper as a sign of mourning. It came into popular usage in the 1920’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Sinistral

Word of the Day for Tuesday 18^th November 2014

Sinistral \SIN-uh-struhl\

Adjective 1. Left-handed. 2. Of, pertaining to, or on the left side; left (opposed to dextral).

Quotes

During our years of separation (quite painless for us both), he had changed from a poor, wiry student with animated, night-dark eyes and a beautiful, strong, sinistral handwriting into a dignified, rather corpulent gentleman… -- Vladimir Nabokov, "Ultima Thule," The New Yorker, April 7, 1973

Origin

Sinistral is related to the word sinister and meant "unlucky" when it entered English in the 1400s. It was extended to mean "on the left side" in the early 1800’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Comeuppance

Word of the Day for Monday 17^th November 2014

Comeuppance \kuhm-UHP-uhns\

Noun 1. Informal. Deserved reward or just deserts, usually unpleasant: He finally got his comeuppance for his misbehaviour.

Quotes

It’s hard to conceive a bigger comeuppance than the one Faustus receives at the end of the play, when the clock ticks down on his two-dozen years. -- John J. Miller, "Sympathy for the Devil," The Wall Street Journal, October 17, 2014

Origin

Comeuppance comes from the verbal phrase come up meaning "present oneself for judgment before a tribunal." It is an Americanism that gained popularity in mid-1800’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Horology

Word of the Day for Friday 14^th November 2014

Horology \haw-ROL-uh-jee, hoh-\

Noun 1. The art or science of making timepieces or of measuring time.

Quotes

From a scientific perspective, the theory and practice of horology touches on all forms of scientific endeavour--it has always been especially important in the histories of astronomy and navigation. -- Jonathan Betts, Time Restored, 2006

Origin

Horology shares roots with the word hour in the Greek term hṓrā, which means "time, season, hour." It entered English in the early 1800’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

Kickshaw

Word of the Day for Thursday 13^th November 2014

Kickshaw \KIK-shaw\

Noun 1. A tidbit or delicacy, especially one served as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. 2. Something showy but without value; trinket; trifle.

Quotes

When a stale cold fool is well heated, and hashed by a satirical cook, he may be tossed up into a kickshaw not disagreeable. -- Alexander Pope (1688–1744), Letter to Mr. Caryll, The Works of Alexander Pope: Volume VIII, 1824

Origin

Kickshaw comes from an English pronunciation of quelque chose meaning "something" or "a little something." It entered English in the late 1500’s. Thanks to: www.dictionary.com