Words of the day

4/4(Fri.)

1. wobble[v.]/ `wɑb! /

Definition: to move in an unsteady way from side to side

Origin: 1650s, wabble, probably from Low German wabbeln "to wobble;" cognate with Old Norse vafla "hover about, totter."

Sentence: The pile of bricks wobbled and fell.

Part of speech: wobbly [adj.]

 

2. creep[v.]/krip /

Definition: to move in a quiet, careful way, especially to avoid attracting attention

Origin: Old English creopan "to creep" (class II strong verb; past tense creap, past participle cropen).

Sentence: She crept into the room and kissed the sleeping child.

Part of speech: creeper [n.], creeping [adj.]

 

3. molecule[n.]/ˋmɑlə͵kjul /

Definition: The smallest unit into which any substance can be divided without losing its own chemical nature

Origin: 1794, "extremely minute particle," from French molécule (1670s), from Modern Latin molecula, diminutive of Latin moles "mass, barrier".

Sentence: The haemoglobin(血紅蛋白) molecule contains only four atoms(原子) of iron.

Part of speech: moleculear [adj.]

 

4. loophole[n.]/ˋlup͵hol /

Definition: a small mistake in the law

Origin: also loop-hole, mid-15c., from Middle English loupe "opening in a wall" for shooting through or admitting light (c.1300), perhaps related to Middle Dutch lupen "to watch, peer;" + hole (n.).

Sentence: Einstein may have said nothing can go faster than the speed of light, but he also left a loophole, said Kaku, a professor at the City University of New York.

Part of speech: none

 

5. harness[n.]/ˋhɑrnɪs /

Definition: control and use the natural force or power of something

Origin: c.1300, "personal fighting equipment, body armor," also "armor or trappings of a war-horse," from Old French harnois "arms, equipment; harness; male genitalia; tackle; household equipment".

Sentence: The farmer harnessed the horse to the cart.

Part of speech: none

 

4/7(Mon.)

1. census[n.]/ˋsɛnsəs /

Definition: an official account of all the people in a country

Origin: 1610s, from Latin census "the enrollment of the names and property assessments of all Roman citizens," originally past participle of censere "to assess" (see censor (n.))

Sentence: This country has just carried out a census.

Part of speech: none

 

2. loft[n.]/lɔft /

Definition: a raised area above the main part of a room, usually used for sleeping

Origin: "an upper chamber," c.1300, from late Old English loft "the sky; the sphere of the air," from Old Norse lopt "air, sky."

Sentence: Beyond the main room is a bathroom with a shower upstairs is a tiny loft with a bed and storage for clothing.

Part of speech: none

 

3. hinge[v.]/ hɪndʒ /

Definition: a metal part used to fasten a door to its frame

Origin: c.1300, "the axis of the earth;" late 14c. as "movable joint of a gate or door," not found in Old English.

Sentence: The door has gone off the hinges.

Part of speech: hingeless [adj.]

 

4.extinction[n.]/ ɪk`stɪŋkʃən /

Definition: when a plant, animal, or language does not exist any more

Origin: early 15c., from Latin extinctionem/exstinctionem (nominative extinctio/exstinctio), noun of action from past participle stem of extinguere/exstinguere (see extinguish).

Sentence: Conservationists are trying to save the whale from extinction.

Part of speech: extinct [adj.], extinctive [adj.]

 

5. leash[n.]/ liʃ /

Definition: a piece of rope, leather, etc., attached to a dog’s collar in order to control it

Origin: "thong for holding a dog or hound," c.1300, from Old French laisse "hound's leash," from laissier "loosen," from Latin laxare, from laxus "loose" (see lax).

Sentence: If you feel you must bring a dog be sure to deep it on a leash.

Part of speech: none

 

4/8(Tue.)

1. hyena[n.]/haɪˋinə /

Definition: a wild animal like a dog that makes a loud sound like a laugh

Origin: mid-14c., from Old French hiene, from Latin hyaena, from Greek hyaina "swine" (fem.), from hys "pig" + fem. suffix -aina.

Sentence: Clearly Richard Parker had eaten his fill of hyena and drunk all the rainwater he wanted.

Part of speech: hyenoid [adj.]

 

2. tabby[n.]/ˋtæbɪ /

Definition: a cat with orange, grey, or brown marks on its fur

Origin: 1630s, "striped silk taffeta," from French tabis "a rich, watered silk" (originally striped), from Middle French atabis (14c.).

Sentence: He looked like a nice, big, gat domestic cat, a 450-pound tabby.

Part of speech: none

 

3. snort[v.]/ snɔrt /

Definition: a loud sound made by breathing through nose

Origin: late 14c., "to snore," probably related to snore (v.)

Sentence: The pigs grunted and snorted.

Part of speech: snore [v.]

 

4. anthropologist[n.]/ ͵ænθrəˋpɑlədʒɪst /

Definition: a social scientist who studies people, societies, and cultures

Origin: 1798, from anthropology + -ist.

Sentence: As anthropologist Joseph Tainter explains, “Every society that collapsed thought it couldn’t happen to them.

Part of speech: anthropology [n.], anthropologic [adj.]

 

5. hiss[v.]/hɪs /

Definition: make a noise that sounds like sssssssss

Origin: late 14c., of imitative origin. Johnson wrote, "it is remarkable, that this word cannot be pronounced without making the noise which it signifies."

Sentence: The cat hissed as the dog came near it.

Part of speech: hissing [n.], hist [inj.]噓!

 

4/9(Wed.)

1. rustle[v.]/ˋrʌs! /

Definition: when leaves, papers, clothes make a soft noise as they rub against each other

Origin: "to emit soft, rapid sounds," late 14c. (implied in rustling), of uncertain origin, perhaps imitative (compare Middle Low German ruschen, Middle Dutch ruusscen, German rauschen "to rustle").

Sentence: I ' ll buy it back just as soon as I rustle some cash.

Part of speech: rustler [n.]

 

2. purr[n.][v.]/pɝ /

Definition: a soft low sound a cat makes in its throat to show that it is pleased

Origin: 1610s, of imitative origin. Related: Purred; purring. As a noun from c.1600.

Sentence: They purr, thought not as melodiously or as frequently as small cats, and only as they breathe out.

Part of speech: purrer [n.]

 

3. melodiously[adv.]/ mɪˋlodɪəslɪ /

Definition: having a pleasant tune or a pleasant sound

Origin (melodious) late 14c., from Old French melodios "melodious; delightful" (French mélodieux), from Medieval Latin melodiosus, from Latin melodia (see melody).

Sentence: They purr, thought not as melodiously or as frequently as small cats, and only as they breathe out.

Part of speech: melody [n.], melodious [adj.], melodist [n.]

 

4. pneumonia[.]/njuˋmonjə /

Definition: a serious illness of the lungs that makes breathing difficult

Origin: c.1600, from Modern Latin, from Greek pneumonia "inflammation of the lungs," from pneumon "lung," altered (perhaps by influence of pnein "to breathe")

Sentence: He died of pneumonia.

Part of speech: none

 

5. puff[n.]/ pʌf /

Definition: the action of breathing in and out or blowing air out in short bursts

Origin: c.1200, perhaps Old English, puf, puffe "short, quick blast; act of puffing," from puff (v.).

Sentence: Prusten is the quietest of tiger calls, a puff through the nose to express friendliness and harmless intentions.

Part of speech: puffer [n.], puffery [n.] 過度的誇張

 

4/10(Thu.)

1. deforestation[n.]/͵difɔrəsˋteʃən /

Definition: the cutting or burning down of all the trees in an area

Origin: 1884, from deforest + -ation.

Sentence: In the case of the Maya, environmental destruction and deforestation led to a shortage of food, and starvation resulted.

Part of speech: deforest [v.]

 

2. barrel[n.]/ˋbærəl /

Definition: a large curved container with a flat top and bottom, usually made of wood or metal

Origin: c.1300, from Old French baril (12c.) "barrel, cask, vat," with cognates in all Romance languages (such as Italian barile, Spanish barril), but origin uncertain.

Sentence: The wine is left to mature in oak barrels.

Part of speech: barrelful [n.]

 

3. quintuple [adj.]/ˋkwɪntjʊp! /

Definition: multiply by five

Origin: 1560s, from French quintuple (15c.), from Late Latin quintuplex, from Latin quintus "fifth"

Sentence: Food costs are expected to triple or even quintuple b 2050.

Part of speech: quintuplicate [v.]

 

4. pod[n.]/pɑd /

Definition: a part of a vehicle or building that is separate from the main part

Origin: "seed of beans," 1680s, of uncertain origin; found earlier in podware "seed of legumes, seed grain" (mid-15c.).

Sentence: The third level is for” personalized rapid transport pods,” which Evenden says are a little like driverless personal taxis.

Part of speech: none

 

5. aeronautics[n.]/ ͵ɛrəˋnɔtɪks /

Definition: the science of designing and flying airplanes

Origin: 1824, from aeronautic (1784), from French aéronautique, from aéro- (see aero-) + nautique "of ships."

Sentence: I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in aeronautics and air traffic.

Part of speech: aeronautical [adj.]