This week's theme
Toponyms and eponyms

This week's words
serendipity
mithridatism
rhadamanthine
elysian
icarian

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(i-LIZH-uhn)

MEANING:

adjective: Blissful; delightful.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin Elysium, from Greek elysion pedyon (Elysian plain/fields). In Greek mythology, Elysium (or the Elysian Fields) was the final resting place for the souls of heroes and the virtuous after their death. Earliest documented use: 1579.

USAGE:

"Our neighbour stuck his head over the fence one arvo* and regaled me with Elysian illusions involving the company he worked for."
Doug Anderson; Summer Job: Toilet Assembler; The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Jan 10, 2012
* Australian slang for 'afternoon'

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: