liveonearth (liveonearth) wrote,
liveonearth
liveonearth

Vocababble

My favorite vocabulary-developing website:
http://www.freerice.com/index.php

catarrh = inflammation of the nose and throat with increased production of mucus (1398, from M.L. catarrus, from L.L. catarrhus, from Gk. katarrhous "a catarrh," lit. "a flowing down," from kata- "down" + rhein "to flow.")

chronic catarrh of the nose = sinusitis

rostrum = 1. beaklike projection of the anterior part of the head of certain insects such as e.g. weevils, 2. a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, dais (1542, from L. rostrum, name of the platform stand for public speakers in the Forum in ancient Rome. It was decorated with the beaks of ships taken in the first naval victory of the Roman republic, over Antium, in 338 B.C.E., and the word's older sense is "end of a ship's prow," lit. "beak, muzzle, snout," originally "means of gnawing," instrument noun form of rodere "to gnaw" (see rodent). Cf. claustrum "lock, bar," from claudere "to shut." Extended sense of any platform for public speaking is first recorded 1766. Plural form is rostra.)

aegis = protection, armor plate that protects the chest; the front part of a cuirass, kindly endorsement and guidance ("protection," 1793, from L. ægis, from Gk. Aigis, the shield of Zeus, said by Herodotus to be related to aix (gen. aigos) "goat," from PIE *aig- "goat" (cf. Skt. ajah, Lith. ozys "he-goat"), as the shield was of goatskin. Athene's aigis was a short goat-skin cloak, covered with scales, set with a gorgon's head, and fringed with snakes.)
Tags: sinus, vocabulary
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