Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 ESCULENT: Your word of the day from www.yourDictionary.com Today's Word: Esculent (Adjective) Pronunciation: ['es-kyê-lênt] Listen to the word at: <http://register.yourdictionary.com/wotd_sounds/esculent.wav> Definition: Edible, eatable, able to be eaten, as the yam is a large esculent tuber. Usage: Today's word has exactly the same meaning and distribution as " edible, " so why do we even need it? It even derives from the same root as " edible " (see Etymology). The reason is simple: it is a more beautiful word than either " eatable " or " edible. " The noun is esculence " edibility or degree of edibility, " though most dictionaries keep this fact to themselves: " Fran's sauces raise the esculence of any vegetable. " Suggested Usage: This word may be used mundanely, " The root is the esculent part of turnip while that of the pea is the seed. " However, it may be used in such a way that it sounds positively delicious, " Jacques makes a most esculent pâté de foie gras for all those who do his bidding at work. " Oh, yes, one other thing—today's word itself may be used freely as a noun, " I have never seen such luscious esculents on a buffet before! " Etymology: Today's is yet another word that comes to us from Latin via French. The Latin source is " esculentus " from esca " food, " the noun from edere (es-) " to eat. " The root of this verb is our old friend, *ed- " eat, " which pops up in many words, including " eat, " German " essen, " Russian " est " —all meaning " eat. " Did you know that " etch " sprang from the same seed? It came to us either through Old Dutch etsen or Old High Germanic ezzan " eat, " both of which descended from *ed-. Finally, " obese " comes from Latin " obesus, " the past participle of obedere " to eat away " from ob " away " + edere " eat. " -Dr. Language, yourDictionary Anger is ego rebounding. --Bu Xan Da, Tenshin Monastery, Sh'an Dojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 What a great word! --- The Stewarts <stews9 wrote: > ESCULENT: Your word of the day from > www.yourDictionary.com > > > Today's Word: Esculent (Adjective) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 An excellent word - manages to sound delicious and naughty at the same time ;=) But wot about Jacques? > " Jacques makes a >most esculent pâté de foie gras for all those who do his bidding at work. " Pas 'esculent' ou comestible - je suis vegetarienne . .. . Pat - and the canada geese ===== ----------- " The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. " - Gandhi http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/ / townhounds/ vegetarianslimming/ Mail is new and improved - Check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 What a lovely word! Veddy veggie. ~ pt ~ The cheek cannot conceal the trouble of the heart. ~ Llywarch Hen, " Gorwynion " ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~> , The Stewarts <stews9@c...> wrote: > ESCULENT: Your word of the day from www.yourDictionary.com > > > Today's Word: Esculent (Adjective) > > Pronunciation: ['es-kyê-lênt] > > Definition: Edible, eatable, able to be eaten, as the yam is a large > esculent tuber. > > Usage: Today's word has exactly the same meaning and distribution as > " edible, " so why do we even need it? It even derives from the same root as > " edible " (see Etymology). The reason is simple: it is a more beautiful > word than either " eatable " or " edible. " The noun is esculence " edibility or > degree of edibility, " though most dictionaries keep this fact to > themselves: " Fran's sauces raise the esculence of any vegetable. " > > Suggested Usage: This word may be used mundanely, " The root is the esculent > part of turnip while that of the pea is the seed. " However, it may be > used in such a way that it sounds positively delicious, " Jacques makes a > most esculent pâté de foie gras for all those who do his bidding at work. " > Oh, yes, one other thing—today's word itself may be used freely as a noun, > " I have never seen such luscious esculents on a buffet before! " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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