Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Wednesday: Penumbra


penumbra |peˈnəmbrənoun (pl. penumbrae |-brē-brīor penumbrasthe partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.• Astronomy the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse.• Astronomy the less dark outer part of a sunspot, surrounding the dark core.DERIVATIVES penumbral |-brəladjectiveORIGIN mid 17th cent.modern Latin, from Latinpaene almost + umbra shadow.
Not all shadows are created equal.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Wednesday Word: Ruminant


ruminant |ˈro͞omənəntnounan even-toed ungulate mammal that chews the cud regurgitated from its rumen. The ruminants comprisethe cattle, sheep, antelopes, deer, giraffes, and their relatives.
a contemplative person; a person given to meditation.
adjectiveof or belonging to ruminants.
ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Latin ruminant- chewing over again, from the verb ruminari, from rumen throat (see rumen.
So if someone says "You're such a ruminant!" they're either calling you a sheep or a deep thinker. Perhaps all sheep are deep thinkers.