Category: Word Nerd

Heliotropic is the property of some plants of turning under the influence of light. Heliotropic is derived from helio- (a combining form meaning “sun”) and -tropic (a combining form with the meanings “turned toward, with an orientation toward”). Heliotropic was first used around 1870-1875. Heliotropic is a word often used in the plant world since… Continue reading Word Nerd: Heliotropic

Suffrage is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums. Suffragette is a woman who advocates suffrage for women. Suffrage and Suffragette both derive from the Latin suffrāgium (vote or support) with the additional -ette which is an English suffix that designates a feminine role or identity. Suffrage was first used between 1350–1400… Continue reading Word Nerd: Suffragette and Suffrage

Melomaniac is an individual that is inordinately and abnormally affected by musical or other tones in certain ranges of sound. Melomaniac derives from the Ancient Greek melos (song, melody, tune) and manía (madness, compulsion, mad desire). A Melomaniac is someone with an abnormal fondness for music. Melomaniac goes hand-in-hand with the word melomania, which is… Continue reading Word Nerd: Melomaniac

Pervicacious means extremely willful, obstinate, or stubborn. Pervicacious derives from the Latin pervicac- (which derives from pervicax (from per- (thoroughly) and vicax, from the stem of vincere (to prevail, win a point, conquer)) and the English -ious. Pervicacious was first used around 1625-1635. Pervicacious has the variants of pervicaciously (adverb) and pervicaciousness (noun). Someone who… Continue reading Word Nerd: Pervicacious

Tohubohu (pronounced to-hoo-bo-hoo) means chaos; disorder; confusion. Tohubohu derives from the Hebrew phrase tōhū wā-bhōhū (without form and void), which is from from tōhū (formlessness, confusion) and bōhū (emptiness). Tohubohu was first used around 1611 or so.  Tohubohu was first used in a  translation of the Bible, specifically in Genesis 1:2. Tohubohu refers to the… Continue reading Word Nerd: Tohubohu

Activism is a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue. Activism originates from the German Aktivismus, which in turn is borrowed from the Latin āctīvus which is from āctus (past participle of agere (cause to move, do)). Activism was first used… Continue reading Word Nerd: Activism