Summary: No more spoon-feeding! This week, I'm asking you to tell me what's at the root of our weekly vocabulary word, edentate. (Pardon all the puns ....)
Today's word can describe sloths, armadillos, aardvarks—and sometimes even people. Can you think of what all these mammals have in common that they might not share with other mammals?
Well, before you run out to your nearest natural history museum, let me give you another clue: Ants are a staple in the diet of all edentata (again, sometimes even people). ... Give up? Okay, read on for the answer.
Edentate (EE - DEN - tayt) - (n./adj.) toothless / toothlessness; belonging to a species category that's toothless (as in edentata).
Next time you're looking for an insult to mutter to yourself that's not likely to start a war (in the event that it's overheard), consider this one! While I don't recommend passive-aggressiveness as a way to resolve conflict, I do agree that sometimes you just feel like venting, but have nowhere to go. Consider your audience first, of course: If they're sesquipedalians, you might be in trouble, no matter what words you mutter. And you're also out of luck if, like you, they read this blog!
For now, I'd like to turn the tables: This time, you tell me what you think the root of this word is.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Showing posts with label sesquipedalian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sesquipedalian. Show all posts
Mar 22, 2010
Feb 22, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: A Sesquipedalian Night
Summary: Tonight's post comes late, but is worth the wait. Add sesquipedalian to your lengthy vocabulary this week!
Good evening! Or should I say good night? Yes, it is LATE. And, no, I did not forget about tonight's blog post. I've had a very busy day—much of it spent away from my computer. (How odd!) And it's so nice to sit down in my pajamas and finally plunk out to you the word and definition I've been eager to share all day long.
It's a word that describes you (if you, in fact, use these Monday posts the way they're meant: to boost your vocabulary).
Sesquipedalian (SES - kwi - pih - DAY - lee - en) - (adj.) one who uses big words, or possesses a large vocabulary; also a word or words with many syllables.
From the original Latin, this word literally means "a foot-and-a-half long." Is your vocabulary over a foot long yet? What big words do you like to show off when you communicate?
P.S. - Special thanks to Rose who recently e-mailed me to point out a glitch in my blog poll. I will be working to correct this shortly.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Good evening! Or should I say good night? Yes, it is LATE. And, no, I did not forget about tonight's blog post. I've had a very busy day—much of it spent away from my computer. (How odd!) And it's so nice to sit down in my pajamas and finally plunk out to you the word and definition I've been eager to share all day long.
It's a word that describes you (if you, in fact, use these Monday posts the way they're meant: to boost your vocabulary).
Sesquipedalian (SES - kwi - pih - DAY - lee - en) - (adj.) one who uses big words, or possesses a large vocabulary; also a word or words with many syllables.
From the original Latin, this word literally means "a foot-and-a-half long." Is your vocabulary over a foot long yet? What big words do you like to show off when you communicate?
P.S. - Special thanks to Rose who recently e-mailed me to point out a glitch in my blog poll. I will be working to correct this shortly.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
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