Word of the Day
More about leveret
Leveret, “a young hare,” comes by way of Old French lievre, “hare,” from Latin lepus (stem lepor-), of the same meaning. Though English hare and Latin lepus are unrelated, they both exemplify rhotacism. As we learned from the Word of the Day rhotacize, s and z sounds often become r in numerous world languages, and both English and Latin are no exceptions. While Germanic hazōn evolved into Old English hara and then English hare, Latin lepus changed to lepor- in its plural and object forms. Leveret was first recorded in English in the early 15th century.
EXAMPLE OF LEVERET USED IN A SENTENCE
We found the tiny leverets waiting patiently for food in their nest.
More about ewer
If you’re wondering whether ewer, “a pitcher with a wide spout,” and the similarly watery sewer are related, you’ve guessed correctly. The ultimate origin of ewer is Latin aquārius, “vessel for water,” which evolved into Old French euwier or evier after a series of sound changes (compare modern French évier, “stone channel serving as a sewer”). Meanwhile, sewer comes from Vulgar Latin exaquāria, “drain for carrying water off.” The Latin aquāri- element is based on aqua, “water,” as are the Words of the Day gouache and terraqueous. Ewer was first recorded in English around the turn of the 14th century.
EXAMPLE OF EWER USED IN A SENTENCE
In the constellation Aquarius, a man is depicted as pouring an endless stream of water from a ewer.
paresthesia
noun
an abnormal sensation, as prickling, itching, etc.
Why the Museum of Science chose paresthesia
The pins and needles feeling of paresthesia might get worse just before it subsides. To find out more about paresthesia, watch this video from science communicator, Alex Dainis, PhD.
Learn more fun facts at the Museum of Science.
More about paresthesia
Paresthesia, “an abnormal sensation,” comes from New Latin, a revived variety of Latin used in scientific literature. In paresthesia, the -esthesia element means “capacity for sensation or feeling” and ultimately comes from Ancient Greek aísthēsis, “sensation, perception.” Ancient Greek ai becomes ae in Latin and either ae or e in English. This is why words such as esthetics and anesthesia are also spelled aesthetics and anaesthesia. Paresthesia was first recorded in English in the late 1850s.
EXAMPLE OF PARESTHESIA USED IN A SENTENCE
After sitting for so long, she winced from the paresthesia in her legs when she stood up.
