Word of the Day
andragogy
noun
the methods or techniques used to teach adults.
More about andragogy
Andragogy is usually used in contrast to pedagogy, the art or science of teaching. Andragogy was formed by replacing the ped- element, meaning “child,” with the element andr-, meaning “man, male,” which comes from Ancient Greek anḗr, “man.” Andragogy is used to refer to the teaching of all adults—though, a more gender-neutral term could be invented using the Ancient Greek form ánthrōpos, “human, person.” Andragogy was first recorded in English in the late 1920s.
EXAMPLE OF ANDRAGOGY USED IN A SENTENCE
The professor’s background in andragogy allowed her to better anticipate the learning needs of her graduate students.
animalcule
noun
a minute or microscopic animal, nearly or quite invisible to the naked eye.
Why the Museum of Science chose animalcule
To find out, watch this video from science communicator Alex Dainis, PhD.
Learn more at the Museum of Science.
More about animalcule
Animalcule comes from New Latin animalculum, “small animal.” The animal- element comes from Latin animālis, meaning “living” or, literally, “airy, breathy.” The suffix -culum, “small,” also appears in disguise in the Words of the Day canicular and osculate. Animalcule was first recorded in English in the 1590s.
EXAMPLE OF ANIMALCULE USED IN A SENTENCE
Pressed between the two glass slides, a variety of animalcules drifted and skittered through the narrow band of water.
More about prismatic
Prismatic is based on Ancient Greek prîsma, literally meaning “something sawed.” The noun, prism, can refer to a transparent object created with cut angles that is used to disperse light into a spectrum. Prismatic was first recorded in English at the turn of the 18th century.
EXAMPLE OF PRISMATIC USED IN A SENTENCE
A prismatic array of colors reflected onto the wall as the sunlight struck the glass artwork.