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	<title>dibson.net &#187; wordsmith</title>
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		<title>Wordsmith Words</title>
		<link>http://www.dibson.net/2010/08/01/wordsmith-words-2/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[limen (LY-muhn) noun A threshold of response: point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to generate a response. [From Latin limen (threshold).] Pygmalionism (pig-MAY-lee-uh-niz-uhm) noun 1. The state of being in love with an object of one&#8217;s own &#8230; <a href="http://www.dibson.net/2010/08/01/wordsmith-words-2/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>limen</strong> (LY-muhn) noun</p>
<blockquote><p>A threshold of response: point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to generate a response.</p></blockquote>
<p>[From Latin limen (threshold).]</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Pygmalionism</strong> (pig-MAY-lee-uh-niz-uhm) noun</p>
<blockquote><p>1. The state of being in love with an object of one&#8217;s own making.</p>
<p>2. The condition of loving an inanimate object such as a statue or image.</p></blockquote>
<p>[In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was the king of Cyprus who carved a female<br />
figure in ivory so realistic and beautiful that he fell in love with her.<br />
The goddess Aphrodite took pity on him and responded by bringing the statue<br />
to life as Galatea. Pygmalion married her.]</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>cathect</strong> (kuh-THEKT) verb tr.</p>
<blockquote><p>To invest mental or emotional energy in an idea, object, or person.</p></blockquote>
<p>[Back-formation from Greek kathexis (the investment of emotional energy in<br />
something). Ultimately from the Indo-European root segh- (to hold) that is<br />
also the source of words such as victory (to hold in a battle), hectic,<br />
scheme, and scholar.]</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>cerebrate</strong> (SER-uh-brayt) verb tr., intr.</p>
<blockquote><p>To use the mind: to think, reason.</p></blockquote>
<p>[Back-formation from cerebration (act of thinking), from cerebrum (brain).<br />
Ultimately from the Indo-European root ker- (horn or head), which is also the<br />
source of words such as unicorn, horn, hornet, rhinoceros, reindeer, migraine,<br />
carrot, carat, and Hindi sirdar (leader, from Persian sar: head).]</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>psychopomp</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>A guide of souls, one who escorts sould of a newly-deceased to the afterlife</p></blockquote>
<p>[From Greek psychopompos (conductor of souls), from psycho-, from psyche (breath, spirit, soul) + pompos (conductor, guide).]</p>
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		<title>Wordsmith Words</title>
		<link>http://www.dibson.net/2010/03/27/wordsmith-words/</link>
		<comments>http://www.dibson.net/2010/03/27/wordsmith-words/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:27:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dibson</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[More words I like from the Wordsmith Word-a-Day Mailing List Star Chamber A court or group marked by arbitrary, oppressive, and secretive procedures. Locum A person filling in for another, especially for a doctor or clergyman. Steenth 1. Latest in &#8230; <a href="http://www.dibson.net/2010/03/27/wordsmith-words/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>More words I like from the <a href="http://wordsmith.org/awad/">Wordsmith Word-a-Day Mailing List</a></p>
<p><strong>Star Chamber</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>A court or group marked by arbitrary, oppressive, and secretive procedures.</p></blockquote>
<hr />
<p><strong>Locum</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>A person filling in for another, especially for a doctor or clergyman.</p></blockquote>
<hr />
<p><strong>Steenth</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>1. Latest in an indefinitely long sequence.<br />
2. One sixteenth.</p>
<p>[Alteration of the word sixteenth.]</p></blockquote>
<p>Also, the Wordsmith included this:</p>
<blockquote><p>Notes: The formation of the word &#8220;steenth&#8221; from &#8220;sixteenth&#8221; took place through a process called aphesis (from Greek, literally &#8220;a letting go&#8221;). Aphesis is when an unstressed sound from the beginning of a word get lost over time.</p>
<p>Some other examples are:<br />
&#8220;cute&#8221; from &#8220;acute&#8221;<br />
&#8220;&#8217;tis&#8221; from &#8220;it is&#8221;<br />
&#8220;gypsy&#8221; from &#8220;Egyptian&#8221;, from the belief that Gypsies came from Egypt (they actually came from India).</p></blockquote>
<hr />
<p><strong>Trichotillomania</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>A compulsion to pull out one&#8217;s hair.</p>
<p>[From Greek tricho- (hair) + tillein (to pluck, pull out) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze).]</p></blockquote>
<hr />
<p><strong>paper tiger</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>One who is outwardly strong and powerful but is in fact powerless and ineffectual.</p></blockquote>
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