Word of the Day
chryselephantine
adjective
made of or overlaid with gold and ivory, as certain objects made in ancient Greece.
More about chryselephantine
Chryselephantine is based on Ancient Greek chrȳsós, “gold,” and eléphās, “elephant.” Because of its similarity to Biblical Hebrew kharúts, “gold,” chrȳsós may have been borrowed from a Semitic language such as Phoenician. Eléphās may also be of Semitic origin. Chryselephantine was first recorded in English in the 1820s.
EXAMPLE OF CHRYSELEPHANTINE USED IN A SENTENCE
The chryselephantine statue of Athena glistened in the sunlight streaming through the temple.
pervicacious
adjective
extremely willful; obstinate; stubborn.
More about pervicacious
Pervicacious comes from Latin pervicāx, meaning “stubborn, willful” or, more literally, “tending to conquer completely.” The -vic- element derives from the verb vincere, “to conquer,” which is the source of invincible and victory. The -āx part appears as -acious in many English adjectives, such as audacious and loquacious. Pervicacious was first recorded in English circa 1630.
EXAMPLE OF PERVICACIOUS USED IN A SENTENCE
When the dog walker wanted to change direction, the pervicacious Yorkie dug her nails into the ground and glared.
lilapsophobia
noun
an irrational or disproportionate fear of tornadoes or hurricanes.
More about lilapsophobia
In lilapsophobia, lilaps- comes from Ancient Greek laîlaps, meaning “violent storm.” Though laîlaps is also often translated as “hurricane,” the Mediterranean Sea does not have true hurricanes, which form in the tropics. The -phobia element comes from Ancient Greek phóbos, “panic fear.” Lilapsophobia was first recorded in English in the late 1970s.
EXAMPLE OF LILAPSOPHOBIA USED IN A SENTENCE
Their lilapsophobia began to fade the moment they learned that the tropical wave had failed to organize into a cyclone.