Summary: Do you know the difference between a plenum and a quorum? You will after you read this post!
To get to the story of this week's WOW Word of the Week, I have to take you back to 1990, my junior year of high school. That year, I was a word-obsessed teenager (as opposed to the word-obsessed adult I am today) who loved learning new words and figuring out how to use them in conversation or in writings. The only problem—one I admittedly still have from time to time—was that I often knew there was a more fitting word to describe what I meant, but I just couldn't get it off the tip of my tongue!
It became a joke with me; so often I was heard to say, "I wish there were a dictionary where you could look up the definition to find the word!"
Christmas of 1990, my sister (then a high school freshman) sat in front of me as I opened my gift from her. Her eyes twinkled as I laughingly caressed the wrapping paper and quite obviously deduced, "It's a book!" But after I opened it, I literally jumped out of my chair. It was my very own reverse dictionary!
"I saw it in the bookstore, and I bought it in advance," my sister told me. "They finally invented your dictionary!"
It turns out there had been such a book in existence since the mid-1970s, but it was lesser known. I still own my copy of the Oxford Reverse Dictionary, and not only use it, but treasure it.
But of course, the reverse dictionary has since gone digital.
OneLook.com has a reverse dictionary, a regular dictionary, a list of links to other dictionaries, and translations of foreign words via foreign dictionaries all conveniently located at one website. It's an excellent resource! And it's the resource I used over the weekend while working my usual Sunday crossword puzzle from the newspaper. I was head-over-heels thrilled—just like in 1990—when merely plugging in the clue for "28 Down" granted me a long list of synonyms. And one of the words fit perfectly!
Plenum (PLIH - nem) or (PLEE - nem) - (n.) a space that is completely full of matter, especially an air-filled space or structure like a ventilator; a general assembly of all members, such as that of a legislative body; the quality or state of being full. Similar to plenary, this word derives from the Latin plenus for full.
My crossword clue was along the lines of the middle definition: "a full assembly." The first use of the word plenum in this context was in 1772. So, what's the difference between a plenum and a quorum? You know my answer to that: Look it up!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Showing posts with label plenary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plenary. Show all posts
Dec 6, 2010
Nov 16, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Plenary
Summary: As usual, I've got my ears open throughout my busy work week, looking for new words to learn and to share. This week's word, plenary, is defined in context below ...
Last week, I went to a luncheon provided by the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA). And I heard the President of the Philadelphia chapter, David Newman, give some wonderful pointers to people like me—people who strive to be hired as professional speakers in a tough economy. During a break, I heard something else that perked up my ears in almost as much intrigue: I heard David use a word I didn't know!
"It isn't plenary, because ..." I overheard him explain to someone who was asking about a particular aspect of NSA. And, of course, I mentally bookmarked the word and its context (what I'd heard of it, anyway) for both me and YOU.
Plenary (PLEH - neh - REE) also (PLEE - neh - REE) - (adj.) complete in every respect; absolute; qualified; also, something that's fully attended or constituted by all who are entitled to be present. From the original Latin plenus for full, this word entered English in the early 16th century. Example of usage: "The council isn't plenary, because some chapters don't participate."
I should note that Merriam-Webster.com lists the long E pronunciation—the one I've listed secondly above—as the most common pronunciation. I chose to put it second, because I heard David pronounce it the other way. I'll forever recognize this as the word I heard and learned at NSA!
(Psst! Do you love words like I do? Well, join me next week: I have a doozy of a resource for you that I hope to post on Monday.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Last week, I went to a luncheon provided by the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA). And I heard the President of the Philadelphia chapter, David Newman, give some wonderful pointers to people like me—people who strive to be hired as professional speakers in a tough economy. During a break, I heard something else that perked up my ears in almost as much intrigue: I heard David use a word I didn't know!
"It isn't plenary, because ..." I overheard him explain to someone who was asking about a particular aspect of NSA. And, of course, I mentally bookmarked the word and its context (what I'd heard of it, anyway) for both me and YOU.
Plenary (PLEH - neh - REE) also (PLEE - neh - REE) - (adj.) complete in every respect; absolute; qualified; also, something that's fully attended or constituted by all who are entitled to be present. From the original Latin plenus for full, this word entered English in the early 16th century. Example of usage: "The council isn't plenary, because some chapters don't participate."
I should note that Merriam-Webster.com lists the long E pronunciation—the one I've listed secondly above—as the most common pronunciation. I chose to put it second, because I heard David pronounce it the other way. I'll forever recognize this as the word I heard and learned at NSA!
(Psst! Do you love words like I do? Well, join me next week: I have a doozy of a resource for you that I hope to post on Monday.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
