teaser-question

TEASER QUESTION FOR THE AMATEUR ETYMOLOGIST

1. matronymic: name derived from one's mother's name. or metronymic: from greek root [meter, metr-]

   • greek root metra (uterus) driven from meter

     • metritis: inflammation of the uterus

     • metralgia: uterine pain

     • endometriosis: any abnormal condition of the uterine lining

2. incendiary :

   • incense (noun, verb)

   • an incendiary statement, remark, speech, etc. figuratively enflames an audience, set them afire, gets them excited, galvanizes them into action, etc.

   • incense (noun) is a substance that sends off a pleasant odor when burned - often , but not necessarily to mask unpleasant or telltale smells, as of marijuana smoke, etc.

   • to incense is to anger greatly, i.e, to "burn up".

     I'm all burned up is etymologically an accurate translation of I'm incensed.

3. ardent : burning with zeal, ambition, love , etc.

   eg: an ardent suitor, worker, etc.

   • ardor or ardency : the noun from ardent burning passion, zeal, enthusiasm, etc.

4. megaphone : great city

5. metropolis : the mother city (etymologically)

   • megalopolis : great city

6. police :

   • politics:

7. bibliokleptomaniac: one who has an obsession for stealing books.

   • gynekleptomaniac: who has an irresistable compulsion to steal women

   • pedokleptomaniac : to steal children.

   • androkleptomaniac : to steal males

   • demokleptomaniac : to steal people

8. acromaniac : one who has an obsession to search the highest places.

   • agoramaniac : to be in the market place or wide open place

   • claustromaniac : to be in confused places

9. kleptophobe : one who has a morbid dread of thieves

   • pyrophobe : of fire

   • gynephobe : of women

   • androphobe : of males

   • demophobe : of people

   triskaidekaphobia : is the morbid dread of number 13

   greek root : [triskai (13) + deka (10) + phobia]

10. gnosiology : the science or study of knowledge

11. amadeus : love god

    latin root:  amor   +   deus
                (love)      (god)

    • theophilus :

      greek root:  theos  +  philos
                   (god)     (love)

    • gottlieb :

      German root:  lieb   +  gott
                   (love)    (god)

12. cellophane : cellulose made to be transparent, i.e., to show what's wrapped in it

13. hypoglycemia : low blood sugar

    root:  hypos  +  glykys  +  haima
          (under)    (sweet)   (blood)

    • hemorrhage: excessive blood flow

    • anemia: no blood (actually a pathological reduction of red blood corpuscles)

    • hematology: science of blood (and its diseases)

    • hemophilia: "love of blood" - actually a hereditary condition, occurring in males, in which the blood clots too slowly.

    • hemoglobin: "blood globules" - actually red coloring matter of the red blood corpuscles.

    • hyperglycemia: opposite of hypoglycemia

14. pantheon : a temple built in Rome in 27 B.C for "all the gods"

    • pandemonium : earlier the dwelling place of all demons; now any wild and noisy disorder.

    • panorama: a view all around

      root: pan (all) + horama (view)

    • panoramic (adj)

15. monarchy : rule by one person.

SOME INTERESTING DERIVATIONS:

People who made our language

• Bloomers

• Boycott

• Marcel

• Silhouette

• Derrick

• Sadist

• Galvanism

• Guppies

• Nicotine

Places that made our language (words derived from places)

• bayonet

• cantaloupes

• calico

• tuxedo

• gypsies

• damask

• satin

• frankfurters or franks or hot dogs

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• Scalpel : a knife with small, sharp, sometimes detachable blade, as used by surgeon

• Ostracized: (बहिष्कृत) exclude from the society or group.