Word of the Day
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.
More about ipse dixit
In Latin, ipse dīxit means “he himself said.” The feminine equivalent, “she herself said,” is ipsa dīxit. The plural versions, both meaning “they themselves said,” are ipsī dīxērunt for a group of men or a mixed-gender group and ipsae dīxērunt for a group of women. Ipse dixit was first recorded in English in the late 15th century.
EXAMPLE OF IPSE DIXIT USED IN A SENTENCE
The protester claimed that aliens were responsible for recent unexplained events, but these ipse dixits all lacked even a shred of evidence.