This week's theme
Words that were formed as a plural but are now used as singular

This week's words
truce
graffiti
insignia
viscera
paraphernalia

This week's comments
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Next week's theme
Words with hidden animals

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(par-uh-fuhr-NAYL-ya, -fuh-NAYL-ya)

MEANING:

noun:
1. Articles and equipment related to an activity.
2. Personal belongings.

ETYMOLOGY:

Plural of paraphernalis, from parapherna (a woman's property besides her dowry), from Greek para- (beyond) + pherne (dowry). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bher- (to carry, to bear children) that gave birth to basket, suffer, fertile, burden, bring, bear, offer, prefer, birth, periphery, phosphorus (literally, bringing light), adiaphorism, delate, and sufferance. Earliest documented use: 1478.

USAGE:

"Shops selling images of gods and Buddha and traditional religious paraphernalia are common."
Balinese Beat Goes On; Bangkok Post (Thailand); Feb 12, 2012.

"The museum's collection of vintage engines, cars, and all manner of railroad paraphernalia was on full display."
Mike Gangloff; Day at Transportation Museum; The Roanoke Times (Virginia); Feb 12, 2012.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: