A.Word.A.Day --remora

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

remora

PRONUNCIATION:

(REM-uhr-ah)

MEANING:

noun:
1. Any of several fishes of the family Echeneididae that have a dorsal fin modified in the shape of a suction disk that they use to attach to a larger fish, sea-turtles, or ships.
Also called sharksucker or suckerfish.
2. Hindrance, drag.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin, literally delay, from remorari (to linger, delay), from re- + morari (to delay), from mora (delay).

NOTES:

"Demur" and "moratorium" are other words that share the same root as remora. They all involve the idea of delay. Remora got their name from the belief that they slowed ships down by attaching themselves to the hull. Remora's suction power is so strong that, in some parts of the world, lines are attached to their tails and lowered into the water to fish for sea turtles.

Remoras eat scraps from the fish they attach to. But they don't just get a free ride and free food. It's a symbiotic relationship as they, in turn, remove parasites from their bigger buddies.

USAGE:

"Ryder has been a remora to the Heathers but boils over and, with Slater's crucial aid, kills one kind of accidentally."
Ted Mahar; High School Confidential; The Oregonian (Portland); Sep 3, 1999.

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

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

All the arguments to prove man's superiority cannot shatter this hard fact: in suffering the animals are our equals. -Peter Singer, philosopher, professor of bioethics (b. 1946)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise