My Science School

(Pronounced suhb.vuht)

Meaning: A verb, subvert refers to trying to destroy or ruin something such as an established government or political system in a sneaky way or overturning something from the foundation or base. In other words, "to subvert something" means "to destroy its power or influence."

Origin: The term originates from the Latin root subvertere, meaning "to turn upside down or overthrow"; a combination of sub-"from below or under” and vertere "to turn". It's been in use in English since the late 14th Century.

Usage: Extradition acts as a deterrent against potential offenders who consider escape an easy way to subvert justice.

The rebel army is trying to subvert the government.

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(pronounced as ri,vai,tal,aiz)

Meaning: The word revitalize corresponds to imbuing something with new life and vitality.

Origin: The word, which has been around since the 1840s, is arrived at by combining re with vitalize. While the re denotes "back, again", the vitalize is used to imply "giving life to". The word vitalize has been around since the 1670s and is arrived at by giving vital the suffix ize.

The word grew steadily in popularity in the second half of the 20th Century and reached a peak around the turn of the century. While its usage has come down since then, it still enjoys considerable popularity.

Usage: Her introduction as a substitute revitalised the entire team to perform better.

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(pronounced aw-day-shuhs)

 Meaning: As an adjective it refers to someone who is very bold or daring.

Origin: It first appeared in English language in the mid-1500s. It was borrowed from the French adjective audacieux, which was derived from the noun audace (boldness). Audace can be traced to the Latin verb audere ("to dare")

Usage: Audacious adventurers risked everything they had for a shot at glory.

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(pronounced jih-JOON)

Meaning: This adjective is a formal word often used as a synonym of juvenile to describe things (such as behaviours, attitudes, etc.) that are immature, childish, or simplistic. It can also mean uninteresting or boring.

Origin: This term comes to us from the word ‘jejunus’ which is Latin for hungry or meagre. When English speakers first used jejune back in the 1600s, they applied it in ways that mirrored the meaning of its Latin root. However, it is speculated that this word got its current meaning when people confused it with the look-alike French word jeune 'which means young.

Usage: Monica made jejune remarks about life and art at the party.

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(pronounced as kri.tuhk)

Meaning: The word critic refers to a person who expresses an unfavourable opinion of something. It is also used to refer to a person who judges the merits of literary or artistic works, especially those who do it professionally.

Origin: The word, which was formerly spelt critick, has been around since the 1580s. It is derived from French critique, from Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos. The meaning of "one who judges merits of books, plays, etc." is from around 1600. While the root words often have a meaning of "a judge," the English word has always had the overtones of a "fault-finder."

Usage:  She is the book critic for the school's in-house magazine.

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(pronounced as le-o-nine)

Meaning: An adjective, leonine means relating to or resembling a lion.

Origin: The first-known use of the word was in the 14th Century. The word has its origin from the Latin word leoninus which means "pertaining to a lion."

Usage: Running his fingers through his leonine head of curls, the musician said that the new single is a take on the glorious period of Woodstock.

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(Pronounced rah.bid)

Meaning:  Used as an adjective, rabid means extremely violent, furious, going to extreme lengths in expressing one's opinion, or having a fanatical belief in something. It also means an animal affected with rabies, a viral disease.

Origin: The term rabid originates from Latin rabidus meaning “furious, frenzied", from rabere meaning "to rave or be mad". The word has been in use in English since the early 17th century in the sense "madly violent or furious."

Usage: My friend was bitten by a rabid dog. The office building was attacked by hundreds of rabid supporters of the leader who lost the elections.

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Meaning: This noun refers to one who loves rain, or finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

Origin: The word pluviophile comes from the Latin word for rain 'pluvial' and phile, which denotes a person who has a fondness for a thing.

Usage: My mother is a pluviophile.

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Meaning: It refers to a gravy-based dish made with meat and/or vegetables and strong spices.

Origin: Its origin can be traced back to the late 16th Century from the Tamil word kari. Believed to be simply an anglicisation of that Tamil word, both words mean the same - a gravy-based dish.

Example: Rice makes an excellent complement to veg curry.

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Meaning: This adjective means completely harmless

Origin:  In use since the late 16th Century, it originates from the Latin word innocuous-meaning harmless, innocent, or inoffensive- and derived from in (not)+ nocuus (hurtful), in turn from nocere (to injure or harm).

 Example: She made an innocuous little joke about herself.

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Meaning: Solastalgia is a noun which refers to the pain experienced as a result of environmental destruction; a sort of homesickness felt when one's still at home but one's environment has changed. It is a new coinage developed to refer to environmentally induced distress.

Origin: The word "Solastalgia" is a neologism which combines the Latin solacium ("comfort, solace") with the Greek algos "pain." It was coined by Australian environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht in 2005.

Usage: Climate change is one of the factors responsible for the solastalgia experienced by many.

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Meaning: The word reprieve corresponds to the cancellation or postponement of a punishment or an undesirable event.

Origin: The word has been around since the 1570s and is an alteration of Middle English repryen "take back to prison", probably from French repris. The meaning "to suspend an impending execution" is from the 1590s, and the meaning probably evolved as being sent to prison was the alternative to execution. The spelling with –e- is from 1640s and is maybe an analogy of achieve.

After falling out of favour during the 20th Century, the word has regained momentum and popularity in this century.

Usage: The medicines provided the patient a temporary reprieve from pain.

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Meaning: An adjective, eclectic means comprising things from a variety of sources

Origin: Eclectic derives its origin from the Greek word eklektikos (meaning selective). The first usage of the word was applied to ancient philosophers who didn't stick to one school of philosophy, rather, choosing doctrines from different schools of thought. Later, the word started to be used broadly.

 Usage: The new fashion line launched by the designer offers an eclectic range of couture.

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