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propinquity |prəˈpiNGkwətē| noun1 the state of being close to someone or something; proximity: he kept his distance as though afraid propinquity might lead him into temptation.2 technical close kinship.

ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French propinquité, from Latin propinquitas, from propinquus ‘near,’ from prope ‘near to.’

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theurgy |ˈTHēərjē| nounthe operation or effect of a supernatural or divine agency in human affairs.• a system of white magic practiced by the early Neoplatonists.

DERIVATIVES
theurgic |THēˈərjik| adjective.
theurgical adjective.
theurgist noun

ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek theourgia ‘sorcery,’ from theos ‘god’ + -ergos ‘ ( Read more... )

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I was listening to Star Trap by Simon Brett when the word came up, and left me puzzled. So I stopped the audiobook, opened the dictionary app, and got a mini history lesson.


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bollix |ˈbäliks| vulgar slang verb [ with obj. ] (usu. bollix something up) bungle (a task).pl.nounvariant spelling of bollocks.bollocks |ˈbäləks| (also ballocks or bollix) vulgar slang, chiefly Brit. noun1 [ in pl. ] the testicles.2 used to express contempt, annoyance, or defiance.ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: plural of bollock, variant of earlier ( Read more... )

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