Cretaceous, Crepuscule, Charientism
I missed two weeks consecutively so today you get three words! You lucky ducks! Now back to spirit-crushing research assignments and finger-numbing pencil drawings. I hope you Adelaideians are enjoying this rain and are staying inside where it's warm. And to everyone else, well, enjoy your unspecified weather conditions as well!
P.S. Thank you to those who wished me a happy birthday! I've been that busy that I forgot to reply at the time.
Cretaceous
adjective
Pronunciation:
[kri-tay-shus]
Definition:
1. Referring to something with the texture or colour of chalk (white to light grey.)
2. Pertaining to the geologic time period of the last Mesozoic Era.
Etymology:
The Latin creta meaning chalk, from Cretan meaning earth.
Notes: I have not been able to find much on how the cretaceous period was coined as such, other than it being referred to as “the chalky period.” Any dino-buffs in the house?
Crepuscule
adjective
Pronunciation:
[kri-puhs-kyul]
Definition:
1. Twilight, dusk.
2. Active during twilight.
Etymology:
From the Latin creper meaning dark, obscure.
Notes: “Crepuscular Rays” refers to rays of sunlight which stream from what seems like one point in the sky, as through clouds, giving the impression of “the presence of God.” The “crepuscular” attachment is due to the most common occurrence of this being during the “crepuscular hours” during dawn or dusk.
Photograph copyright PiccoloNamek.
Charientism
noun
Pronunciation:
[kar-i-en-tis-um]
Definition:
An insult hidden or veiled by a joke.
Etymology:
From the ancient Greek, charientismus meanings “gracefulness of style.”
Notes: Charientismus actually means an intelligent, sometimes “mocking” response to an insult, whereas our word today refers to the insult itself.
Usage:
“Holly’s history teacher looked ancient. The cretaceous texture of his skin reminded her of mummified remains. He was mean too. Even when she answered questions correctly he would rebuke her with carefully crafted charientisms like “she’s brighter than she looks, I see!”
When the English professor came to collect her at the beginning of her Friday class she could just about see the crepuscular rays radiating from behind his head and the hallelujah chorus breaking through the crepuscule ambience of the history teacher’s lair.”
(So that last one is a bit poor, I'm sorry! Just trying to fit all three into one usage.)
Love Tahlia, who just wants to stop doing still life drawings of bananas and get on with her life.
P.S. Thank you to those who wished me a happy birthday! I've been that busy that I forgot to reply at the time.
Cretaceous
adjective
Pronunciation:
[kri-tay-shus]
Definition:
1. Referring to something with the texture or colour of chalk (white to light grey.)
2. Pertaining to the geologic time period of the last Mesozoic Era.
Etymology:
The Latin creta meaning chalk, from Cretan meaning earth.
Notes: I have not been able to find much on how the cretaceous period was coined as such, other than it being referred to as “the chalky period.” Any dino-buffs in the house?
Crepuscule
adjective
Pronunciation:
[kri-puhs-kyul]
Definition:
1. Twilight, dusk.
2. Active during twilight.
Etymology:
From the Latin creper meaning dark, obscure.
Notes: “Crepuscular Rays” refers to rays of sunlight which stream from what seems like one point in the sky, as through clouds, giving the impression of “the presence of God.” The “crepuscular” attachment is due to the most common occurrence of this being during the “crepuscular hours” during dawn or dusk.
Photograph copyright PiccoloNamek.
Charientism
noun
Pronunciation:
[kar-i-en-tis-um]
Definition:
An insult hidden or veiled by a joke.
Etymology:
From the ancient Greek, charientismus meanings “gracefulness of style.”
Notes: Charientismus actually means an intelligent, sometimes “mocking” response to an insult, whereas our word today refers to the insult itself.
Usage:
“Holly’s history teacher looked ancient. The cretaceous texture of his skin reminded her of mummified remains. He was mean too. Even when she answered questions correctly he would rebuke her with carefully crafted charientisms like “she’s brighter than she looks, I see!”
When the English professor came to collect her at the beginning of her Friday class she could just about see the crepuscular rays radiating from behind his head and the hallelujah chorus breaking through the crepuscule ambience of the history teacher’s lair.”
(So that last one is a bit poor, I'm sorry! Just trying to fit all three into one usage.)
Love Tahlia, who just wants to stop doing still life drawings of bananas and get on with her life.