A.Word.A.Day --predestinarianism

A.Word.A.Day

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Mar 14, 2011

This week's theme
Seventeen-letter words to mark Wordsmith.org's septendecennial

This week's words
predestinarianism
triskaidekaphobia
contradistinguish
laryngopharyngeal
perspicaciousness

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A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

March 14, 2011 marks the septendecennial of Wordsmith.org. On this day, 17 years ago, I started what turned into Wordsmith.org.

To celebrate, this week we'll feature words that are 17 letters long. Since 17 is the number of syllables in a haiku, we invite you to take part in a haiku contest.

ocean of language
seventeen years is only
dipping a toe in

CONTEST: Define or illustrate each of this week's words in a haiku using the traditional structure (three lines of 5-7-5 syllables). We'll select five haiku winners, one for each word.

PRIZES: Winners will receive one of the following word games:
One Up!
MooT
Wildwords

HOW TO ENTER: Email your haiku to contest@wordsmith.org by Friday this week. Be sure to include your location (city/state/country).

CONTEST RESULTS

predestinarianism

PRONUNCIATION:

(pri-des-tuh-NAIR-ee-uh-niz-uhm)

MEANING:

noun: Belief in the doctrine of predestination, that the divine will has predetermined the course of events, people's fate, etc.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin praedestination, from prae- (before) + destinare (to determine), from stare (to stand). Earliest documented use: 1722.

USAGE:

"I have reacquainted myself with the old taste of Scottish predestinarianism. Y'know, damned or saved; nothing to do with free will or good works."
Alexander Linklater; The Tale of the Three Alcoholics; The Guardian (London, UK); Nov 11, 2006.

See more usage examples of predestinarianism in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

A very popular error: having the courage of one's convictions; rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one's convictions. -Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)

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