Word of the Day
miasma
noun
a poisonous cloud of vapor produced by decaying organic matter.
Why the Museum of Science chose miasma
To find out, watch this video from science communicator Alex Dainis, PhD.
Learn more at the Museum of Science.
More about miasma
Miasma derives from Ancient Greek míasma, meaning “pollution, stain.” The mías- element comes from the verb miaínein, “to pollute, stain,” while -ma is a common suffix that also appears in eczema, enigma, and stigma. Miasma was first recorded in English around 1660.
EXAMPLE OF MIASMA USED IN A SENTENCE
The impassable swamp was known for the many miasmata that drifted through the air, threatening to suffocate travelers.
derecho
noun
a widespread and severe windstorm that moves rapidly along a fairly straight path and is associated with bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms.
More about derecho
Derecho means both “right” and “straight” in Spanish and comes from Latin dīrēctus, “straightened,” the source of English direct and adroit (through French droit). The Latin word for “right,” however, is dexter, which survives in ambidextrous. Derecho was first recorded in English in the late 1880s.
EXAMPLE OF DERECHO USED IN A SENTENCE
A long series of derechos and thunderstorms wended their way across the continent from early June through late August.
More about yestreen
The yestr- part of yestreen is a shortened form of yesterday, which comes from Old English. The -een element is the same as that in Halloween; it’s short for even, an archaic word for “evening.” Yestreen was first recorded in English in the mid-14th century.
EXAMPLE OF YESTREEN USED IN A SENTENCE
They were so tired yestreen that they collapsed in their beds shortly after sunset.