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Reposted from @etymologyexplorer vermicelli: Long, slender pasta. This word comes from the idea of “a little worm”! The roots are Latin ‘vermis’, where English gets ‘vermin’ and ‘varmint’, and -cello, which is a Latin diminutive suffix. ‘Vermicelli’ is actually a hard-to-pin-down word since in English-speaking regions it is usually thinner than spaghetti, but in Italy it is thicker. It also refers to a bunch of different thin, Asian noodles! #etymologyexplorerotd - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CCRImN3FKSl/?igshid=2fzb87dlzozt

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer egregious: outstandingly bad; shocking. This word comes from the idea of being “outside the herd” via Latin ‘e-’ (“out of”), + ‘grex’ (“herd; flock”). You’re already familiar with this Latin ‘grex’ since it is also the source of the words ‘congregation’ (from the literal idea of “with the herd”), ‘segregation’ (from “separate the herd”), and ‘gregarious’ (from “of the flock”). All these ideas about how to interact with groups! Surprisingly though, ‘group’ does not descend from ‘grex’. #etymologyexplorerotd - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWJ9LaFSGS/?igshid=15m52cy35zus8

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer cordial: showing or marked by warm and often hearty friendliness, favor, or approval. This word comes from the Latin root ‘cor’ meaning “heart, soul, mind”. They must have thought it was all kind of the same thing. Through that word we get ‘record’ (“recall to mind”), ‘discord’ (“having a split heart”) and Spanish’s corazòn (“heart”) #EtymologyExplorerOTD - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEHGxeFOXq/?igshid=1anzh11ei72op

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer hippopotamus: a large thick-skinned semiaquatic African mammal, with massive jaws and large tusks. The word ‘hippopotamus’ comes from the Ancient Greek idea of a “river horse”. The Proto-Indo-European *h₁éḱwos (horse) turned into ‘ἵππος’ (transliterates to “hippos”) in Ancient Greek and turning into “equus” in Latin. This is how “hippopotamus” is connected to words like equestrian and equine! #EtymologyExplorerOTD - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CAs6BNfF_b4/?igshid=yskcfeavsk8k

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer galaxy: a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction. The word ‘galaxy’ used to refer to the only galaxy people could see—our own! It comes from the Ancient Greek term ‘galaxias kyklos’, literally ‘milky circle’. I guess they had a lot less light pollution then. Maybe “dusty circle” applies better now. That root meaning of milk connects this word to ‘lactose’ and ‘lactate’! #etymologyexplorerotd - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CAdQOidlrUJ/?igshid=18kjsrgfgqvp

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer entrepreneur: a person who organizes a business and assumes the associated risk. This word is borrowed from the French, which comes from Old French ‘entreprendre’ (“to begin something, undertake”), which can trace back to Latin ‘inter’ (among, between) where English gets ‘internal’ and ‘international’, and Latin ‘prendere’ (to hold, seize, grasp, take) where English gets ‘apprehend’ and ‘comprehend’! #EtymologyExplorerOTD - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYHfEWFYHK/?igshid=rkq8hhm939jq

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer The word ‘karaoke’ is so unique because it is a double loan word. It comes from Japanese ‘kara’ (empty) and ‘oke’ (orchestra). And that Japanese ‘oke’ is actually a borrowing from English ‘orchestra’! It was handed over and then handed back in a new form! The Japanese root meaning empty also connects this word to ‘karate’ (literally: empty hand). #EtymologyExplorerOTD - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGHaFflruG/?igshid=ovkuneuztfw

Reposted from @etymologyexplorer aberration: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome. This word is often used to describe behavior that isn’t typical. This word comes from the Latin roots ‘ab’ (away), and ‘erro’ (wander, get lost). This shows the literal sense of wandering away from what is typical! These roots also connect this to common English words like ‘error’, ‘errant’, and ‘erratic’ which help to solidify the meaning. #EtymologyExplorerOTD . . . #etymologyexplorer #wordoftheday #wordfortheday #wordgram #etymologygram #word #etymology #wotd #vocabulary #learnvocabulary #learnsomethingneweveryday #becomesmartereveryday #englishvocabulary #etymologyrules #language #definition #words #dictionary #unknownwords #obscurewords #languagelovers #wordsofig #wordsmatter #wordmatters #etymologyrules - #regrann https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-b0m6Ftkc/?igshid=32fo8kymwxvm