Our Word for Wednesday theme for December is Christmas decorations. A decoration is something that is used to beautify a space. The word comes from the Latin ‘decorare’. Last week we looked at the word nutcracker and this week's Christmas decoration is bauble. A bauble is brightly coloured glass or plastic orb that is hung on a Christmas tree and catches and reflects the lights in a room. Today, it is common for people to buy or make baubles that are personalised with names, special dates, or photos. The word also means trinket or toy. Bauble dates to the early-fourteenth century and comes from the...
It’s not long until Valentine’s Day and this month we’ve got a 10 Words blog post with a twist for you. How many of these pet names for loved ones do you know? babe/baby – a pet name for a loved one, implies intimacy ‘I love you, babe,’ he said. I love you, baby,’ he said. love – an affectionate way of addressing someone, from the verb ‘to love’ ‘Are you okay, love?’ she asked. beautiful – a pet name for a loved one, from the adjective ‘beautiful’ ‘Good morning, beautiful,’ she whispered to me. cutie – a pet na...
What does the word genuine have in common with your knee? More than you might think! The Spellzone dictionary defines genuine as ‘sincerely felt or expressed’ or ‘not fake or counterfeit’. Here is the word used in some example sentences: It is vital to check that your news sources are genuine. She felt genuine affection towards her new puppy. He wanted to know if the belt was made of genuine leather. The word has been used in English since the 1590s and comes from the Latin ‘genuinus’ meaning ‘native, natural, innate’. Those who know the word ‘genuflect’ may be able to guess at...
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