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Thursday, May 28, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Tautology
How would this sign be an example of a tautology?
Sentences using tautology
1. I need a new hot water heater.
2. I went there personally.
3. In my opinion, I think he's wrong.
Craft some sentences that utilize tautology in order to convey something important or to emphasize a point.
Prolix
Prolix: early 15c., from Old French prolixe (13c.) and directly from Latin prolixus "extended," literally "poured out," from pro- "forth" + base of liquere "to flow"
If a student falls asleep during a prolix lecture, is it the fault of the student, the professor, or both? Why?
Examples of prolix
1. A filibuster
2. James Joyce's Ulysses
3. J.D Salinger's Catcher in the Rye
With a partner, find some other examples of prolix.
If a student falls asleep during a prolix lecture, is it the fault of the student, the professor, or both? Why?
Examples of prolix
1. A filibuster
2. James Joyce's Ulysses
3. J.D Salinger's Catcher in the Rye
With a partner, find some other examples of prolix.
Lagniappe
Lagniappe: "dividend, something extra," 1849, from New Orleans creole, of unknown origin though much speculated upon. Originally a bit of something given by New Orleans shopkeepers to customers. Said to be from American Spanish la ñapa "the gift." Klein says this is in turn from Quechua yapa "something added, gift."
This woman woke up to a surprise lagniappe from her wonderful, doting husband.
Write a short paragraph explaining how she came upon this surprise lagniappe.
Examples of lagniappe
1. Free gift with purchase
2. Chocolates on the pillow at a nice hotel
3. Free food
This woman woke up to a surprise lagniappe from her wonderful, doting husband.
Write a short paragraph explaining how she came upon this surprise lagniappe.
Examples of lagniappe
1. Free gift with purchase
2. Chocolates on the pillow at a nice hotel
3. Free food
Ecumenical
Ecumenical: late 16c., "representing the entire (Christian) world," formed in English as an ecclesiastical word, from Late Latin oecumenicus"general, universal," from Greek oikoumenikos "from the whole world," from he oikoumene ge "the inhabited world (as known to the ancient Greeks); the Greeks and their neighbors considered as developed human society (as opposed to barbarian lands)," in later use "the Roman world" and in the Christian sense in ecclesiastical Greek, from oikoumenos, present passive participle ofoikein "inhabit," from oikos "house, habitation”. Related: Ecumenic.
Ecumenical in its value, gold can be exchanged for goods in services all over the world!
Things that are ecumenical
1. Smiling
2. Thumbs up
3. Screaming when frightened
What are some other things that are ecumenical?
Ecumenical in its value, gold can be exchanged for goods in services all over the world!
Things that are ecumenical
1. Smiling
2. Thumbs up
3. Screaming when frightened
What are some other things that are ecumenical?
Fervid
Fervid: 1590s, "burning, glowing, hot," from Latin fervidus "glowing, burning; vehement, fervid," from fervere "to boil, glow"). Figurative sense of "impassioned" is from 1650s. Related: Fervidly; fervidness.
In their excitement, Joe and Jim fervidly jump into the air.
Which of the three is most fervid and why?
2. 
3. 
Write a brief passage about a time YOU felt fervid about something. For example, I am very fervid about succeeding in music.
In their excitement, Joe and Jim fervidly jump into the air.
Which of the three is most fervid and why?
3. 
Write a brief passage about a time YOU felt fervid about something. For example, I am very fervid about succeeding in music.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Infrastructure and Gargantuan
Infrastructure: 1887, from French infrastructure (1875); (n.). The installations that form the basis for any operation or system. Originally in a military sense.
Gargantuan: "enormous," 1590s, from Gargantua, name of the voracious giant in Rabelais' novels, supposedly from Spanish/Portuguese garganta "gullet, throat," which is from the same imitative root as gargle (v.)
How would you use the words "infrastructure" and "gargantuan" to describe the network of roads?
Examples using infrastructure
1. Many schools have art programs which lack proper infrastructure to carry on functioning.
2. The infrastructure of any well-to-do society is capitalism.
3. Hawaii has permanent infrastructure so as to avoid another Pearl Harbor.
Write some sentences using the word infrastructure
Examples of gargantuan
1. NBA players
2. Russia
3. The population of China
Name some other examples of gargantuan things
Incubus, Truckle, and Bode
Incubus:
c. 1200, from Late Latin (Augustine), from Latin incubo "nightmare, one who lies down on (the sleeper)," from incubare "to lie upon". Plural is incubi. In the Middle Ages their existence was recognized by law.
The demon is an incubus, haunting the woman in her sleep.
Examples of an incubus
1. A scary being in a recurring nightmare
2. Ghosts/demons in scary movies
3. Dementors in Harry Potter
With a partner, find some other examples of an incubus.
Truckle:
The obedient dog truckles to his owner.
Examples of truckle
1. A respectful son or daughter to his or her mom
2. The death eaters to Voldemort
3. Orcs to their master in Lord of the Rings
Bode:
Old English bodian "proclaim, announce; foretell," from boda "messenger," probably from Proto-Germanic *budon- (
A black cat and opening an umbrella indoors bodes bad luck in the future.
Examples of bode
1. When birds fly away before a natural disaster
2. Rising sea levels bode bad luck for islands
3. Witches in Macbeth
Try to find other examples of bode
c. 1200, from Late Latin (Augustine), from Latin incubo "nightmare, one who lies down on (the sleeper)," from incubare "to lie upon". Plural is incubi. In the Middle Ages their existence was recognized by law.
The demon is an incubus, haunting the woman in her sleep.
Examples of an incubus
1. A scary being in a recurring nightmare
2. Ghosts/demons in scary movies
3. Dementors in Harry Potter
With a partner, find some other examples of an incubus.
Truckle:
"Give up or submit tamely," 1610s, originally "sleep in a truckle bed"). Meaning "give precedence, assume a submissive position" (1650s, implied in truckling) is perhaps in reference to that type of bed being used by servants and inferiors or simply occupying the lower position. Related: Truckled; truckling.
The obedient dog truckles to his owner.
Examples of truckle
1. A respectful son or daughter to his or her mom
2. The death eaters to Voldemort
3. Orcs to their master in Lord of the Rings
Bode:
Old English bodian "proclaim, announce; foretell," from boda "messenger," probably from Proto-Germanic *budon- (
A black cat and opening an umbrella indoors bodes bad luck in the future.
Examples of bode
1. When birds fly away before a natural disaster
2. Rising sea levels bode bad luck for islands
3. Witches in Macbeth
Try to find other examples of bode
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Sycophant, Protege, Inveigle, and Bete Noire
Sycophant:
1530s (in Latin form sycophanta), "informer, talebearer, slanderer," from Middle French sycophante and directly from Latin sycophanta, from Greek sykophantes "false accuser, slanderer," literally "one who shows the fig," from sykon "fig" + phainein "to show". "Showing the fig" was a vulgar gesture made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, itself symbolic of a vagina (sykon also meant "vulva"). The modern accepted explanation is that prominent politicians in ancient Greece held aloof from such inflammatory gestures, but privately urged their followers to taunt their opponents. The sense of "mean, servile flatterer" is first recorded in English 1570s.
A B
Image A shows a man who truly Image B shows a man who only helps
respects and admires his boss, and his boss in order to receive personal
strives to do anything and everything gains and has no real attachment or
to become the perfect employee, so love for his work.
as to better himself and help those
around him.
When comparing the two, which explanation of the picture best fits the definition of a sycophant?
Who would be considered the brown nose and why?
Protégé:
1778, from French protégé (fem. protégée) "one who is protected," noun use of past participle of Middle French protéger "protect," from Latin protegere.
Examples of proteges and their mentors in media.
1. Splinter and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2. Harry Potter and Dumbledore
3. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
4. Po and Shi Fu in Kungfu Panda
What are some other mentor/apprentice relationships you can find in the media? (film. television, literature)
Think of some other situations where someone older/more experienced, models a youth after him/herself.
Inveigle:
Late 15c., "to blind (someone's) judgment," alteration of Middle French aveugler "delude, make blind," from Vulgar Latin*aboculus "without sight, blind," from Latin ab- "without" + oculus "eye"). Loan-translation of Greek ap ommaton "without eyes." Meaning "to win over by deceit, seduce" is 1530s.
The Devil is trying to inveigle her into eating the chocolate cake while the Angel is trying to inveigle her into eating the fruit that is healthy for her.
A Modest Proposal
http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html
Click on the link above and read the essay by Jonathan Swift. How is A Modest Proposal a paradigm of an essayist inveigling an audience?
Bete Noire:
"Insufferable person," 1844, from French bête noire "personal aversion," as an adjective, "stupid, foolish;" literally "the black beast."
1530s (in Latin form sycophanta), "informer, talebearer, slanderer," from Middle French sycophante and directly from Latin sycophanta, from Greek sykophantes "false accuser, slanderer," literally "one who shows the fig," from sykon "fig" + phainein "to show". "Showing the fig" was a vulgar gesture made by sticking the thumb between two fingers, a display which vaguely resembles a fig, itself symbolic of a vagina (sykon also meant "vulva"). The modern accepted explanation is that prominent politicians in ancient Greece held aloof from such inflammatory gestures, but privately urged their followers to taunt their opponents. The sense of "mean, servile flatterer" is first recorded in English 1570s.
A B
Image A shows a man who truly Image B shows a man who only helps
respects and admires his boss, and his boss in order to receive personal
strives to do anything and everything gains and has no real attachment or
to become the perfect employee, so love for his work.
as to better himself and help those
around him.
When comparing the two, which explanation of the picture best fits the definition of a sycophant?
Who would be considered the brown nose and why?
Protégé:
1778, from French protégé (fem. protégée) "one who is protected," noun use of past participle of Middle French protéger "protect," from Latin protegere.
Examples of proteges and their mentors in media.
1. Splinter and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2. Harry Potter and Dumbledore
3. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
4. Po and Shi Fu in Kungfu Panda
What are some other mentor/apprentice relationships you can find in the media? (film. television, literature)
Think of some other situations where someone older/more experienced, models a youth after him/herself.
Inveigle:
Late 15c., "to blind (someone's) judgment," alteration of Middle French aveugler "delude, make blind," from Vulgar Latin*aboculus "without sight, blind," from Latin ab- "without" + oculus "eye"). Loan-translation of Greek ap ommaton "without eyes." Meaning "to win over by deceit, seduce" is 1530s.
The Devil is trying to inveigle her into eating the chocolate cake while the Angel is trying to inveigle her into eating the fruit that is healthy for her.
A Modest Proposal
http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html
Click on the link above and read the essay by Jonathan Swift. How is A Modest Proposal a paradigm of an essayist inveigling an audience?
Bete Noire:
"Insufferable person," 1844, from French bête noire "personal aversion," as an adjective, "stupid, foolish;" literally "the black beast."
Traffic and waking up early to an alarm are both universally loathed, and thusly, considered to be bete noires.
Think of some other examples of bete noires with a partner.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Beatitude, Heyday, and Kudos
Beatitude:
Early 15c., "supreme happiness," from Middle French béatitude (15c.) and directly from Latin beatitudinem (nominative beatitudo) "state of blessedness," from past participle stem of beare "make happy". As "a declaration of blessedness" (usually plural, beatitudes, especially in reference to the Sermon on the Mount) it is attested from 1520s.
The person in the green who sneezed has obtained beatitude.
Heyday:
Late 16c., alteration of heyda (1520s), exclamation of playfulness or surprise, something like Modern English hurrah, apparently an extended form of Middle English interjection hey or hei. Modern sense of "stage of greatest vigor" first recorded 1751, which altered the spelling on model of day, with which this word apparently has no etymological connection.
1990s 2010s
In terms of appearance, Tom Cruise was in his heyday in the 1990s.
Kudos:
"Fame, renown," 1799, probably originally in university slang, from Greek kydos "glory, fame," especially in battle, literally "that which is heard of," from PIE root *skeue- "to pay attention, perceive". A singular noun in Greek, but the final -s often is mistaken as a plural suffix in English, leading to the barbarous back-formation kudo (attested by 1936).
The pope gives kudos to all of his followers.
Fill in the blanks with the vocab word that best fits the sentence in the passage.
During Pope Karen's 1. ______, she was known for her generous bestowment of blessings. These 2. ______ satisfied her hordes of screaming fans, and in 2027, Karen was voted All-Around Best Pope Of All Time. She received much 3. _____ for this vast achievement, much to the chagrin of her predecessor, Pope Evio.
Answers:
sopnʞ ˙3
ǝpnʇıʇɐǝq ˙2
ʎɐpʎǝɥ ˙1
Early 15c., "supreme happiness," from Middle French béatitude (15c.) and directly from Latin beatitudinem (nominative beatitudo) "state of blessedness," from past participle stem of beare "make happy". As "a declaration of blessedness" (usually plural, beatitudes, especially in reference to the Sermon on the Mount) it is attested from 1520s.
The person in the green who sneezed has obtained beatitude.
Heyday:
Late 16c., alteration of heyda (1520s), exclamation of playfulness or surprise, something like Modern English hurrah, apparently an extended form of Middle English interjection hey or hei. Modern sense of "stage of greatest vigor" first recorded 1751, which altered the spelling on model of day, with which this word apparently has no etymological connection.
1990s 2010s
In terms of appearance, Tom Cruise was in his heyday in the 1990s.
Kudos:
"Fame, renown," 1799, probably originally in university slang, from Greek kydos "glory, fame," especially in battle, literally "that which is heard of," from PIE root *skeue- "to pay attention, perceive". A singular noun in Greek, but the final -s often is mistaken as a plural suffix in English, leading to the barbarous back-formation kudo (attested by 1936).
The pope gives kudos to all of his followers.
Fill in the blanks with the vocab word that best fits the sentence in the passage.
During Pope Karen's 1. ______, she was known for her generous bestowment of blessings. These 2. ______ satisfied her hordes of screaming fans, and in 2027, Karen was voted All-Around Best Pope Of All Time. She received much 3. _____ for this vast achievement, much to the chagrin of her predecessor, Pope Evio.
Answers:
sopnʞ ˙3
ǝpnʇıʇɐǝq ˙2
ʎɐpʎǝɥ ˙1
Dank and Fetid
Dank: c. 1400, earlier as a verb (early 14c.), now obsolete, meaning "to moisten," used of mists, dews, etc. Perhaps from Scandinavian (compare Swedish dank "moist place," dänka "to moisten") or German (compare Middle High German damph, Dutch damp"vapor"). Now largely superseded by damp (adj.)
Fetid: early 15c., from Latin fetidus (commonly, but incorrectly, foetidus) "stinking," from fetere "have a bad smell, stink." This is perhaps connected with fimus "dung," or with fumus "smoke."
The photo shows a dank and probably fetid underarm area.
Other examples of dank or fetid, or dank AND fetid.
1. The sewer (dank AND fetid)
2. A wet blanket (dank)
3. A trash can (fetid)
Name some situations/examples that are dank or fetid, or dank AND fetid.
Fetid: early 15c., from Latin fetidus (commonly, but incorrectly, foetidus) "stinking," from fetere "have a bad smell, stink." This is perhaps connected with fimus "dung," or with fumus "smoke."
The photo shows a dank and probably fetid underarm area.
Other examples of dank or fetid, or dank AND fetid.
1. The sewer (dank AND fetid)
2. A wet blanket (dank)
3. A trash can (fetid)
Name some situations/examples that are dank or fetid, or dank AND fetid.
Avatar
avatar: 1784, "descent of a Hindu deity," from Sanskrit avatarana "descent" (of a deity to the earth in incarnate form), from ava- "off, down" (from PIE *au- (2) "off, away") + base of tarati "(he) crosses over," from PIE root *tere- (2) "to cross over”. In computer use, it seems to trace to the novel "Snowcrash" (1992) by Neal Stephenson.
The youtube video shows the use of the word avatar. Grab a partner, watch it together, and discuss what you think an avatar is based off of the video.
The profile pictures of the people conversing on facebook are also considered to be avatars
Other examples of avatar
1. Jake Sully in the film Avatar utilizes a human like avatar through computer manipulation. This avatar embodies him on the planet Pandora.
2. Avatar the last Airbender. Aang is the embodiment of the concept of hope in his universe.
Try to think of some examples of avatar with a partner
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