A.Word.A.Day --poecilonym

A.Word.A.Day

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Jun 20, 2016

This week’s theme
Unusual synonyms

This week’s words
poecilonym
nephalism
tachyphylaxis
nullifidian
marrowsky

Internet Anagram Server
I, Rearrangement Servant
May I try your name?

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

In the past we have had many weeks of words with the theme: There’s a word for it (see, for example, this and this). Well, it’s nice to have a word for something, nearly everything, but have you ever wondered if there’s another word for it?

This week’s A.Word.A.Day answers that question. We’ll feature five words that make you say: There’s a synonym for it (or, a poecilonym for it).

poecilonym

PRONUNCIATION:

(PEE-sil-uh-nim)

MEANING:

noun: A synonym.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek poikilos (various) + -onym (name). Earliest documented use: 1890.

USAGE:

“Billy Dorminy was perspicuous, talking about poecilonyms on television.”
James Barron; A Contest Where the Competitors Flex Their Lexicons; The New York Times; Mar 6, 2007.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Since when do we have to agree with people to defend them from injustice? -Lillian Hellman, playwright (20 Jun 1905-1984)

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