Word of the Day — Archive Page #399

September 16, 2016

70%    30%    #19 votes

What does raiment mean?

array, raiment, regalia(verb)

especially fine or decorative clothing

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September 15, 2016

96%    4%    #55 votes

What does aphotic mean?

aphotic(adj)

lacking light; especially not reached by sunlight

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September 14, 2016

79%    21%    #37 votes

What does paregmenon mean?

paregmenon(noun)

juxtaposing words having a common derivation (as in `sense and sensibility')

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September 13, 2016

59%    41%    #34 votes

What does fetial mean?

Fetial

A fetial (; Latin: fētiālis [feːt̪iˈaːlɪs], pl. fētiālēs) was a type of priest in ancient Rome. They formed a collegium devoted to Jupiter as the patron of good faith. The duties of the fetials included advising the Senate on foreign affairs and international treaties, making formal proclamations of peace and of war, and confirming treaties. They also carried out the functions of traveling heralds or ambassadors (Pater Patratus).The first mention of the fetials by Livy occurs in the context of the war between Alba Longa and Rome, during which the Roman king Tullus Hostilius appointed Marcus Valerius as a fetial and Spurius Fusius as pater patratus, for the purpose of binding Rome and Alba Longa by a treaty.According to Livy, the ritual by which the fetials were to declare war, the ritual of rerum repetitio, was introduced to Rome by Ancus Marcius, borrowing on the traditions of the Aequicolae. However, he had already described the ritual actions of the fetials when recording the wars of Tullus Hostilius. Thus some scholars think the mentions of the Aequi may be a misinterpretation due to a folk etymology connecting Aequi to aequus, the Latin adjective for fair (from which equitable in English). On the other hand ancient sources support the tradition that the priesthood was created under the influence of Aequian king Fertor Resius.

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September 12, 2016

88%    12%    #22 votes

What does solecism mean?

faux pas, gaffe, solecism, slip, gaucherie(noun)

a socially awkward or tactless act

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September 11, 2016

80%    20%    #16 votes

What does truss mean?

truss(noun)

(medicine) a bandage consisting of a pad and belt; worn to hold a hernia in place by pressure

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September 10, 2016

93%    7%    #25 votes

What does novation mean?

novation(noun)

(law) the replacement of one obligation by another by mutual agreement of both parties; usually the replacement of one of the original parties to a contract with the consent of the remaining party

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