Morpheme Addict

Words and their meanings, origins, and other linguistic trivia

Do You Have Remora in Your Life?

The word of the day for Saturday, January 21^st, 2012 on dictionary.com was remora. This word is pronounced [rem-er-uh]. Though related phonetically, this word has quite a different meaning than, better known word, remorse.

The first definition means that this word refers to a hindrance, obstacle or obstruction. The second definition has quite a different meaning. You have to love the English language.

The second definition refers to scientific context with regards to a type of spiny-finned fish that constitutes the family Echeneididae. They have, (believed by the ancients) on top of their head a type of vessel or sucking disk that allows them to attach to larger fish, rocks, turtles, ships, sharks or any other object of motion in their marine living environment. Read more about Do You Have Remora in Your Life?

What Does the Word Limerence Mean?

Have you ever heard of the word limerence? What could it possibly mean?

Limerence is regularly tied with the term “crushing on someone”, but this relation is wrong. Regardless of whether those feelings are returned or not, to crush on someone means that you have developed feelings of desire for a person. Limerence is where one desires someone and that desire is fueled by reciprocation from the person they desire.

What Would You Do if the Internet Failed?

A few years ago, I donated the last of my dictionaries to Goodwill. It isn’t that I don’t love words and want to know more about them, but I just never used my paper copies because it is so much faster to find what I want to know online. Recently, I have been thinking of our dependence on the Internet, and how different life has become in the past decade because of it. Read more about What Would You Do if the Internet Failed?

Word of the Week: Relief

"Are you comforted (another synonym for relief) by the end of Christmas?"

Well, the biggest holiday of the year has come and gone, leaving many of us with a feeling that can be described in a simple word: relief. Though Christmas is a very enjoyable time of year, it is also chaotic and downright exhausting for many, so this is a perfect word to sum up what is left over when the wrapping paper is cleared and the tree hauled to the curb. Read more about Word of the Week: Relief

Oil And Water: Immiscible

How long have we fallen back on the lazy old phrase, "like oil and water"?

I like to think I have a pretty big vocabulary, but I have been surprised recently to realize how many words I have just been skimming past, taking their meaning in context - and often getting it wrong. It turns out that all these decades I have been a reader, I haven't actually been looking up the words I kept telling myself I would look up.

How do I know this? Because I got a Kindle, and now when I encounter an unknown word, I can look it up with just a few clicks of the arrow button. I don't even have to sit up and fumble around for a pen!

Words That Are Fun to Say: Reconnoiter

Though it has little application in my daily life, I just love the word reconnoiter. It just sounds so silly, and is so much fun to say. Unless you’re playing Rambo with your kids, there just isn’t a way to smoothly introduce this word into a conversation. “So, I thought I would come over and reconnoiter the situation.” Read more about Words That Are Fun to Say: Reconnoiter

Word Mix Ups

There are many confusing words in the English language. We are one of the most verbose peoples in the world, and have multiple ways to say just about everything. In addition, there are many words that sound the same and have completely different meanings to really help mix things up. Here are some commonly mixed up words. Read more about Word Mix Ups

You're Not Just Tired

"These are just a few of the many synonyms for the word tired."

It’s that time of year when bears go into hibernation – and some people should too – while the rest of us find our energy slipping away with the short days. Instead of just tweeting, “I’m tired,” why don’t we opt for a little fun and spice things up a bit? The following words are synonyms for “tired” and will give you something interesting to say on a subject that’s getting…well, soporific. Read more about You're Not Just Tired

Why is it Called "Black Friday"?

"The Black Friday of today has little to do with business financial reports or traffic jams"

You have probably heard of Black Friday. Unless you do not have a TV or radio, it is awfully hard to avoid hearing about Black Friday. What you may not know, however, is how this day of spending got its name. Read more about Why is it Called "Black Friday"?

Funny Interpretations of Words

My children come up with some really wacky interpretations of words. Most kids do, I would imagine. From the "bilub-ilub" way to say banana when my son first started speaking, to the weird meanings he assigns to words now, I am learning more about what I didn't know when it comes to words than I ever did before. Read more about Funny Interpretations of Words