January 2012
7 posts
9 tags
cockatrice
cock·a·trice (kok-uh-tris | kɒkətrɪs) Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin
noun a legendary monster with a deadly glance, supposedly hatched by a serpent from the egg of a cock, and commonly represented with the head, legs, and wings of a cock and the body and tail of a serpent
He gave me a poisonous stare comparable to that of a cockatrice.
Submitted by deadstillcurious
8 tags
vigil
vig·il (vij-uhl, vij-ill | vɪdʒəl, vɪdʒɪl)
Latin
noun wakefulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping
The son kept vigil at the bedside of his dying mother.
Submitted by deadstillcurious
8 tags
propensity
pro·pen·si·ty (pruh-pen-si-tee | prəpɛnsɪti) Latin
noun a natural inclination or predisposition toward something, (obsolete) a predisposition or partiality toward something favourable
I have a propensity for using sexy words.
(see also: proclivity [link to follow])
Submitted by Elisa, via email.
8 tags
miasma
mi·as·ma (my-az-muh, mee-az-muh | maɪæzmə, miæzmə) Greek
noun 1) noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere 2) a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere
The miasma in the air was indicative of the approaching zombie hoard.
9 tags
tortuous
tor·tu·ous (tor·choo·us | tɔrtʃuəs) Middle English, from Latin
adjective
1) full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked.
2) not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous.
3) deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious.
“In cities like Athens, poor houses lined narrow and tortuous streets...
7 tags
presbyopia
pres·by·o·pi·a (prezz-bee-oh-pee-uh | prɛzbioʊpiə) Latin
noun a visual condition which becomes apparent especially in middle age and in which loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye causes defective accommodation and inability to focus sharply for near vision.
His presbyopia forces him to hold his books at arm’s length.
Submitted by sandcastleprincess
1 tag
Happy New Year, Logophiles!
