Etymology List #8

affinity• (uh FIN uh tee)

• (noun)

• A natural attraction; kinship; similarity

• Link: FIN TEA

This kitten and puppy seem to have an affinity for one another, which goes against the notion that cats and dogs don’t get along well.

aftermath• (AF tur math)

• (noun)

• Events following some occurrence; a consequence of

• Link: AFTER MATH

The aftermath of devastation from Hurricane Sandy has shattered people’s homes, lives, and belongings.

ajar• (uh JARR)• (adjective)• Partially open• Link: JAR

If you’re a fan of puns, you might find the cartoon above amusing. Even if you don’t, it definitely shows the meaning of the word ajar, which means partially open. Oh, and here’s a fun joke: When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar!! Ha Ha. I crack myself up!

alleviate• (uh LEE vee ayt)

• (verb) (alleviation – noun)

• To make less severe; to relieve, to lessen

• Link: LEAVES ATE

The Red Cross seeks to alleviate people’s suffering after disasters by providing much-needed food, supplies, medical assistance, and even blood to injured people.

anterior• (an TIR ee ur)

• (adjective)

• Situated in front

• Link: ANTLERS

You probably haven’t thought of a fish in terms of its anterior and posterior, but you should if you like to fish, because it’s easier to catch a fish from the anterior position rather than its tail.

bizarre• (bih ZAR)• (adjective)• Extremely unconventional or

far-fetched• Link: BAZAAR

In the show Bizarre Foods, Andrew Zimmern tastes bizarre dishes such as brains and foie gras in Los Angeles restaurant called Animal.

bleak• (bleak)

• (adjective)

• Depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, raw

• Link: LEAK

While Seattle is an interesting city with unique sights to visit, many people wouldn’t want to live there because of its bleak weather; the city is said to have only 60 sunny days a year.

candor• (CAN dur)

• (noun) (candid – adj.)

• Truthfulness, sincere honesty

• Link: CONDOR

Barbara Walters (left) and Nancy Grace (right) are American journalists, and while both are known for their candor with their interview subjects, many find Nancy Grace’s interview style to be abrasive and at times even abusive.

catharsis• (kuh THAR sis)

• (noun) (cathartic – adj.)• An emotional or psychological

cleansing that brings relief or renewal

• Link: CATS AND HORSES

Some people say that having a good cry can be a form of catharsis just as powerful as dancing, singing, or writing, but this isn’t the case for all people, as an article in Directions in Psychological Science indicates.

circa• (SUR ka)

• (preposition)

• About; at an estimated historical time period

• Link: CIRCUS

Staurikosaurus

Herrerasaurus

The two dinosaurs shown here are said to have lived circa 230 million years ago, a time so long ago it is hard to even fathom.

demagogue• (DEM uh gawg)

• (noun) (demagoguery – noun- the practice of rule by appealing to emotion/prejudice)

• A leader who obtains power by appealing to emotions / prejudices

• Link: THEM DOGS

Hitler and Mussolini are well-known demagogues. When they were leaders, many Italians and Germans fell prey to the prejudices they perpetuated, especially those that related to purity of their own race at the expense of others. Today, some accuse Syrian presidnet Bashar al-Assad of demagoguery because he is responsible for the deaths of many Syrians who oppose him.

HitlerMussolini

Assad

demur• (dih MUR)

• (verb)

• To object, to make exception

• Link: PURE

Most young women demur when a guy they don’t know wants to kiss them. That’s just kind of gross.

domain• (DOUGH mane)

• (noun)

• A territory over which one rules, has influence or powers

• Link: PLAIN

The use of eminent domain to seize property is controversial because when people buy their homes they don’t expect to be ousted from them so roads or bridges can be built, but especially not so others can make money from them.

Euphonious• (you PHONE ee us)

• (adjective) (euphony – noun)

• pleasing to the ear

• Link: YOU PHONE US

Most music connoisseurs agree that Beethoven’s “Für Elise” is euphonious, especially in comparison to more contemporary music such as dubstep or rap.

Fawn• (fawn)

• (verb)

• exhibit affection; seek favor through flattery; to “suck up” to someone

• Link: FAWN

Dispatch sports writer Bob Hunter says that fans who fawn over OSU players share the blame for the Bucks’ problems because they idolize players and make them feel as though they deserve special treatment.

Gazebo• (guh ZEE boe)

• (noun)

• an outdoor structure with a roof and open sides

• Link: ZEBRA

This is a pretty fancy shmancy gazebo. Most aren’t nearly this elaborate, but they all serve the same purpose: to give people a little shelter as they enjoy being outside.

herbicide• (HERB uh side)

• (noun)

• A substance used to destroy plants, especially weeds

• Link: SUICIDE

Herb Tarlek

Herb Tarlek was such an obnoxious character in the 1978-82 series WKRP in Cincinnati that some might have liked to use a “herb”icide on him, but the picture on the right represents a herbicide you might use to get rid of weeds in your yard.

intervene• (in tur VEEN)

• (verb) (intervention – noun)

• To come between; to mediate, to occur between times

• Link: BETWEEN

The show Intervention chronicles the lives of drug and alcohol addicts who have hit rock bottom to the point that their families seek professional help to intervene because the families don’t know how to help them.

inveigle• (in VAY gul)• (verb)• To tempt or persuade by using

deception or flattery• Link: BAGEL

Unfortunately, too many alumni seek to inveigle college athletes in order to gain special favors for themselves.

lax• (lax)

• (adj.)

• Careless, negligence; not tense, slack

• Link: TAX

The debate about how to best raise children rages on as the era of “helicopter” parents’ constant control vs. lax parents’ seemingly negligent style continues.

melancholy• (MEL un kahl ee)

• (noun, adjective)

• Depression of spirits, gloomy, weary

• Link: MELON

This photograph, entitled “Autumn’s Melancholy,” visually depicts the melancholy feeling that some people have when weather turns cold and gray. Certain music may also evoke these feelings of gloominess.

Mores• (MAWR āyz)

• (noun)

• customary cultural standards; moral attitudes, manners, habits

• Link: MORE A’s

Societal mores have changed, extending rights those who didn’t have them, including 14th Amendment rights of equal protection, women’s right to vote, racial integration of the armed services, Civil Rights laws, and rights allowing gay people to openly serve in the military. In each instance, people thought these rights would have negative effects that have not materialized.

Orthodox• (OR thuh dahks)• (adjective) (orthodoxyj – noun)• conventional, doing it by the

book, sticking to established principles

• Link: THROW ROCKS

Many faiths have specific criteria to remain orthodox, including those related to dress, employment, food, and celebrating the Sabbath.

pied• (pyed)

• (adjective)

• multi-colored, especially of more than one color in patches

• Link: PIED PIPER

The pied colors of this puppy’s fur and Joseph’s coat in the famous musical are great examples of how the word “pied” could be used.

stupefy• (STOO puh fie)• (verb)• To make numb with

amazement; to stun into helplessness

• Link: SUPER FLY

This card in the Harry Potter game puts a spell on people that stupefies them and then renders them unconscious. Meanwhile, in its real usage, the writer of this article says that some politicians wish to stupefy kids by mixing the teaching of evolution and intelligent design.