Word of the Day
ecotone
noun
the transition zone between two different plant communities, as that between forest and prairie.
More about ecotone
The eco- element of ecotone is short for ecology, which is based on Ancient Greek oîkos, “house, dwelling.” The -tone part, meanwhile, comes from Ancient Greek tónos, meaning “strain” or “a stretching.” Although Ancient Greek oi usually corresponds to British English oe, the American spelling of ecology is used throughout the English-speaking world. Ecotone was first recorded in English at the turn of the 20th century.
EXAMPLE OF ECOTONE USED IN A SENTENCE
Human civilization has created a new kind of ecotone where wild plants quickly give way to crops, gardens, and parks.
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.
