words words words

phenology |fɪˈnɒlədʒi| noun [ mass noun ] -  the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.

phrenology |frɪˈnɒlədʒi|  - noun [ mass noun ] chiefly historical - the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek phrēn, phren- ‘mind’ + -logy.

immanent |ˈɪmənənt|  adjective

existing or operating within; inherent: the protection of liberties is immanent in constitutional arrangements.

• (of God) permanently pervading and sustaining the universe. Often contrasted with transcendent.  ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from late Latin immanent- ‘remaining within’, from in- ‘in’ + manere ‘remain’.

imminent |ˈɪmɪnənt|  adjective

1 about to happen: they were in imminent danger of being swept away.

2 archaic overhanging.  ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin imminent- ‘overhanging, impending’, from the verb imminere, from in- ‘upon, towards’ + minere ‘to project’.

lubricious |luːˈbrɪʃəs|  adjective

1 offensively displaying or intended to arouse sexual desire. he probed the ladies for every lubricious detail of their interactions.

2 smooth and slippery with oil or a similar substance.  ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Latin lubricus ‘slippery’ + -ious.

hellebore |ˈhɛlɪbɔː|  noun

a poisonous winter-flowering Eurasian plant of the buttercup family, typically having coarse divided leaves and large white, green, or purplish flowers.

●Genus Helleborus, family Ranunculaceae: several species, including the Christmas rose.

• a false helleborine.  ORIGIN Old English (denoting various plants supposed to cure madness), from Old French ellebre, elebore or medieval Latin eleborus, via Latin from Greek helleboros .

amygdala |əˈmɪgdələ|  noun (pl.amygdalae |əˈmɪgdəliː| ) Anatomy

a roughly almond-shaped mass of grey matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experiencing of emotions. ORIGIN Late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amugdalē ‘almond’.

cloaca |kləʊˈeɪkə|

noun (pl.cloacae |-siː, -kiː| )

1 Zoology a common cavity at the end of the digestive tract for the release of both excretory and genital products in vertebrates (except most mammals) and certain invertebrates.

2 archaic a sewer.  ORIGIN late 16th cent. (in the sense ‘sewer’): from Latin, related to cluere ‘cleanse’. The first sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

This is an easy blog for both (all?) of us.  I purposely put two similar words together twice just in case there’s confusion. I also put in words that I sort of know but sort of don’t remember exactly because I haven’t used them recently. I have more bits of paper scattered around with a word or two scribbled on them, but that’s enough for now.

Anon.