Word Nerd

Word Nerd: Heliotropic

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

Word Nerd

Word Nerd: Suffragette and Suffrage

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

Word Nerd

Word Nerd: Melomaniac

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

Word Nerd

Word Nerd: Pervicacious

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

Affirmation Mondays

Affirmation Mondays 346 ~ Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong…

"Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." ~ Leo Buscaglia Gentleness is such a powerful strength... "Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." There is so much importance in this simple statement. Yet, so many are so quick to ignore, or worse still,… Continue reading Affirmation Mondays 346 ~ Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong…

Word Nerd

Word Nerd: Tohubohu

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