Word of the Day
rasorial
adjective
given to scratching the ground for food, as is the habit of chickens and other gallinaceous birds.
More about rasorial
Rasorial is based on Late Latin rāsōr, “scratcher, scraper,” which is formed from Latin rādere, “to scratch, scrape,” and the suffix -tor. The verb rādere is also the source of erase, rascal, raze, razor, and tabula rasa, and its relative rōdere, “to gnaw,” is the source of corrode, erosion, and rodent. Rasorial was first recorded in English in the 1830s.
EXAMPLE OF RASORIAL USED IN A SENTENCE
After several weeks with no rain, the chickens’ rasorial habits produced small clouds of dust wherever they trod.
in medias res
adverb
in the middle of things.
More about in medias res
In medias res, “in the middle of things,” is a borrowing of Latin in mediās rēs, literally meaning “into middle things.” Latin in is a distant relative of English in and can mean either “into” or “in, on,” depending on context. Mediās is a form of medius, “middle,” which is also the source of medieval, medium, and the Word of the Day mezzaluna. Rēs is the same in its singular and plural forms; compare the Latin-origin words caries, rabies, series, and species. In medias res was first recorded in English in the 1780s.
EXAMPLE OF IN MEDIAS RES USED IN A SENTENCE
The action film began in medias res, with an exciting car chase.
superannuated
adjective
antiquated or obsolete.
More about superannuated
Superannuated, “antiquated or obsolete,” comes from Medieval Latin superannātus, “over a year old.” Superannātus is based on Latin super, “above, beyond, over,” and annus, “year.” Super is a distant relative of English over, German über, and Ancient Greek hypér; compare the Words of the Day hypermnesia and supercilious. Annus is the source of anniversary and annual, and its stem enn- can be found in millennium and the Word of the Day perennial. Superannuated was first recorded in English circa 1530.
EXAMPLE OF SUPERANNUATED USED IN A SENTENCE
The townspeople came together and voted to remove the superannuated and unpopular clause from the town’s charter.