This week’s theme
Eponyms from Greek mythology

This week’s words
orphic
myrmidon
nemesis
amazon
muse

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(NEM-uh-suhs)

MEANING:

noun:
1. A formidable opponent or an archenemy.
2. A source of harm or ruin.
3. Retributive justice.

ETYMOLOGY:

In Greek mythology, Nemesis was the goddess of vengeance. From Greek nemesis (retribution), from nemein (to allot). Ultimately from the Indo-European root nem- (to assign or take), which also gave us number, numb, astronomy, renumerate, and anomie. Earliest documented use: 1542.

USAGE:

“With only one slot available to the nationals, it promises to be a bruising battle between the two nemeses.”
Brian Yonga; Fired-Up Upper Hill Out to Retain Titles; Daily Nation (Nairobi, Kenya); Mar 24, 2017.

See more usage examples of nemesis in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: