A.Word.A.Day

A.Word.A.Day

nepotism

PRONUNCIATION:

(NEP-uh-tiz-uhm)

MEANING:

noun: Favoritism shown to relatives and friends, especially in business or political appointments.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Italian nepotismo, from Latin nepos (grandson, nephew). Ultimately from the Indo-European root nepot- (grandson, nephew) that is also the source of the words nephew and niece.

NOTES:

The word originated from the practice of popes in the Roman Catholic Church to confer important positions to their sons. Since a pope had taken the vow of chastity, his son was euphemistically called a nephew.

USAGE:

"What is not siphoned off in corruption is wasted, due to the ineptitude of those appointed on the basis of nepotism and cronyism."
Mahreen Aziz Khan; Demo-crassy Rules; The Express Tribune (Karachi, Pakistan); Sep 25, 2010.

Explore "nepotism" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece. -John Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (1819-1900)

November 4 Observances

November 4 is the 308th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 57 days remaining until the end of the year.

• Events|
  
• Births|
  
• Deaths|
  
• Holidays and observances
  

  
  

• Candy Day (Nat'l)
  
  

  
  Recipes
  

• First Wagon Train Reached California
  
• Entrance to King Tut's tomb was discovered November 4, 1922
  
  • For info see www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=5494
    
• MlSCHIEF NIGHT
  
• NATiONAL CHlCKEN LADY DAY Web: http://www.thechickenlady.com/.
• NATiONAL MEN MAKE DINNER DAY
  
• USE YOUR COMMON SENSE DAY
  
• Kids' Goal Setting Week (November 4-8) Encourage parents to foster goal-setting habits in their children's lives so that their children can make their dreams come true. For information: Gary Ryan Blair, The GoalsGuy, 36181 East Lake Road, Suite 139, Palm Harbor, FL 34685. Web: http://www.goalsguy.com/.

  
  

Jesus Calling

http://bible.cc/exodus/33-14.htm

http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/33-23.htm

http://bible.cc/hebrews/13-20.htm

http://bible.cc/psalms/29-11.htm

November 3 Observances

November 3 is the 307th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 58 days remaining until the end of the year.

• Events| Births| Deaths| Holidays and observances
  

  
  All Souls Day

  "The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November." Source: www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315b.htm
  

  Bean Day
  

  November 3, 2003 was proclaimed Bean Day in North Dakota. To see the official proclamation, go to: www.governor.state.nd.us/proc/docs/2003/11/20031103b.pdf
  

  CLICHE DAY- Use clichés as much as possible today. Hey, why not? Give it a shot! Win some, lose some. You'll never know, 'til you try it. http://www.wellcat.com/fall.htm

  DOMINICA NATIONAL DAY
  

  "Good Morning America" premiers on November 3, 1975
  

  Housewife's Day
  

  JAPAN: CULTURE DAY
  

  Sometimes referred to as Retro Housewifes Day - recognizes the importance of stay-at-home moms and wives. For article about this observance, Click Here.
  

  National Men Make Dinner Day
  

  Sandwich Day (US National)
  

  Observed on the birthday of John Montague, Fourth Earl of Sandwich, creator of the sandwich.)

  PANAMA INDEPENDEICE DAY
  

  PUBLC TELEVISION DEBUTS: ANNlvERSARY 1969

  SOS ADOPTED: Anniversary

  
  

  
  

  
  

A.Word.A.Day

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

Dutch uncle

PRONUNCIATION:

(duch UNG-kuhl)

MEANING:

noun: Someone who advises or criticizes frankly and sternly.

ETYMOLOGY:

The English and the Dutch have fought in many wars during the 17th and 18th century. Even though they are friendly with each other now, the English language still carries traces of the past animosity, demeaning the Dutch: from Dutch treat (where each must pay his or her own share), Dutch gold (imitation gold), Dutch courage (courage inspired by liquor), and so on. A Dutch uncle is the opposite of a typical uncle (kind and indulgent), he's not avuncular. You can be sure, he doesn't believe in nepotism.

USAGE:

"George Perry is the Dutch uncle some parents wished they could send their son to -- if the boy needed some straight talk."
Rayne Wolfe; Lessons & Lambs; Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California); Jul 29, 2008.

Explore "Dutch uncle" in the Visual Thesaurus.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Nothing contributes more to peace of soul than having no opinion at all. -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, scientist and philosopher (1742-1799)

November a Month for Reflection

 
 

 
 

 
 

Contrite

The Word of the Day for November 1 is:

contrite \kun-TRYTE\ adjective
: feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming

Examples:
Mom finally let Jamie off the hook for the prank when she believed he
understood why
she was angry and was truly contrite.

"A contrite, clean-shaven Joaquin Phoenix returned to David Letterman
and his 'Late
Show' last night to confirm that his February 2009 dead man walking
appearance was in
fact a stunt. He apologized, and Letterman -- who seemed to suggest
that he was not in
on the ruse -- happily accepted the apology." -- From an article by
Verne Gay in Newsday
(New York), September 23, 2010

Did you know?
A person who is contrite may have rubbed someone the wrong way and
caused bruised
feelings -- and there is a hint about the origins of the word in that
thought. "Contrite"
came to English by way of Anglo-French from the Latin verb "conterere,"
meaning "to grind" or "to bruise." "Conterere," in turn, was formed by
combining the
prefix "com-" and "terere," meaning "to rub." If you've guessed that
"trite" is a cousin
of "contrite" (through "terere"), you are correct. Other "terere"
descendants in English
include "detriment" and "tribulation,"

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