Socyberty » new words

Words: Part Six

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:36:59 +0000

I know the word “lubrication” but didn’t know the word “lucubration”. [It means "laborious or intensive study" as in: It was evident that my research guide was totally oblivious to my lucubration and experimental follow-up when he marked my report so poorly.]
I know the word “Diana” but didn’t know the word “liana”. [It means "woody vine" as in: The island resort was dotted with tropical lianas, all intertwined and knotted.]
I know the word “natural” but didn’t know the word “preternatural”. [It means "extraordinary or unnatural" as in: My friend has a preternatural understanding of exactly what's going through my mind that she knows what I am going to say before I even say it.]
I know the word “abdicate” but didn’t know the word “abnegate”. [It means "renounce/deny/relinquish" as in: By abnegating my responsibilities in the company, I was paving the way for the next generation to take over.]
I know the word “deductible” but didn’t know the word “ineluctable”. [It means "inevitable" as in: We ineluctably experience the subtle pressure of emotional blackmail from those closest to us.]
I know the word “weather” but didn’t know the word “bellwether”. [It means "leader" as in: The IT industry has proved to be a bellwether in employment opportunities.]
I know the word “boulder” but didn’t know the word “bowdlerize”. [It means "censor" as in: The article had to be heavily bowdlerized as it contained material unsuitable for young children.]

Words: Part Five

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:41:20 +0000

I know the word “gaga” and “lady gaga” but didn’t know the word “brouhaha”. [It means "uproar" as in: At the annual general body meeting, there was a brouhaha over who should be the next chairman.]
I know the word “bear” but didn’t know the word “bugbear”. [It means "problem" as in: Attrition is the main bugbear that most companies face today.]
I know the word “imp” but didn’t know the word “impugn”. [It means "oppose" as in: Why do you always have to impugn my suggestions?]
I know the word “Cairo” but didn’t know the word “tyro”. [It means "an amateur" as in: Some companies prefer to hire old fogies instead of tyros, even with the additional costs involved.]
I know the word “birthstone” but didn’t know the word “capstone”. [It means "high point" (a Spanish word) as in: The capstone of her career was her assignment to war-torn Iraq.]
I know the word “reality” but didn’t know the word “fealty”. [It means "loyalty" as in: His fealty to his adventurous and exuberant friend was tested time and again.]
I know the word “pyramid” but didn’t know the word “jeremiad”. [It means "prolonged lamentation" as in: The principal's speech turned out to be a jeremiad that turned half the audience to sleep.]

Did You Know? (Part 1)

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:41:42 +0000

Terminology and Word Combinations

A mobileaholic is one who is always preoccupied with his or her mobile phone.

Phonemancing means romancing with your phone (that is, you actually prefer having your phone with you all the time instead of a spouse).

Bromancing is the bonding between two guys (as brothers).

Fantabulous is a combination of fantastic and fabulous.

Diabesity is a combination of diabetes and obesity.

Others

Thought experiments. These are experiments that are carried out in the mind rather than in the laboratory, and are used by philosophers and scientists to clarify their interpretation and understanding of certain concepts and intuitions.

Red list. This is a comprehensive list of endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Tank Words

Drop tank: an auxiliary fuel tank for aeroplanes.

Drunk tank: a detention cell for arrested drunks.

Tank car: a railroad car that was used to transport gases and liquids in bulk.

Tank suit: a one-piece bathing suit with shoulder straps

Tank top: a sleeveless, collarless top with shoulder straps.

Tank town: a small town where trains would usually stop to fill up water.

Think tank: a group of experts who provide advice and expertise on economic, social, or political issues.

New Reading Tests- What are They Really Testing for?

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:59:45 +0000

For many young children struggling to cope with learning new words this surely will only confuse them. Children at that age often want to know what a new word means, how are teachers supposed to explain that part of the test contains words that are not that, words?

Literary experts have been quick to send criticism to this latest plan by the British government to change yet again the education system that is seen by many to be failing. It will only serve to confuse those young learners and send the wrong message.

The government stated that the inclusion of these so called non-words was to check the ability of each pupil by decoding words using phonetics. I would have thought there are more than enough words already in use within the English language to test six year olds abilities to use phonetics without some new ones without meaning being created.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said that the test was to check that children were not just repeating their way through memorized words, well surely reading is all about repeating those words we all hold in our memory banks and not having to decipher what is a real word and what is a made up one, that comes into being in a spelling test.

The new test is proposed to take about ten minutes to complete and would consist of 40 questions, a mixture of words and non-words.

By trying to send out the message that reading is easier at that age through the use of phonetics sends out another false message because so many words within the English language are not easily identifiable through the use of phonetics.

Within the education system in the UK today, too many children are unable to read and write properly. Too many are not grasping the chance to read a book for their leisure time. One of the problems in my opinion is the use of texting and sending messages, using abbreviated codes instead of writing the correct word, if that were to be taught and not non-words maybe the education system would improve without resorting to these strange tests.

Words: Part One

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:54:00 +0000

I know the word “opposite” but didn’t know the word “apposite”. [It means "appropriate" or "relevant" as in: Your interpretation is not necessarily the most apposite.]
I know the word “gregarious” but didn’t know the word “egregious”. [It means "offensive" or "noticeable" as in: The errors in your article are egregious.]
I know the word “illicit” but didn’t know the word “licit”. [It means "legal", "allowed", or "permissible" as in: The following is a list of licit flavouring and colouring agents that can be used.]
I know the word “soothsayer” but didn’t know the word “naysayer”. [It means "a person who denies or opposes or is pessimistic" as in: I am always accused of being a naysayer.]
I know the word “unconscious” but didn’t know the word “unconscionable”. [It means "not guided by conscience" or "unscrupulous" as in: His unconscionable behaviour gave them ample reason to worry.]
I know the word “extent” but didn’t know the word “extant”. [It means "still existing" or "not extinct" as in: This library houses some of the oldest extant literature to date.]
I know the word “trio” but didn’t know the word “triond”. [It means: a platform for your writing that (1) boosts and (2) encourages you in all ways (3) except perhaps in your earning capacity.]