WordList: By Macrobius

Blog entry posted by Macrobius, Apr 7, 2012.

First up: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=gewgaw

gewgaw [IMG]
early 13c., giuegaue, contemptuous reduplication, possibly connected with O.Fr. gogue "rejoicing, jubilation; joke, prank, mockery, game;" or jou-jou "toy," baby-talk word, from jouer "to play," from L. jocare (see joke).
See also: Gew-Gogue and Gew-Magogue
Macrobius, Apr 7, 2012
 
Macrobius

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Putting the Banns back into the Bannaleuca.
  1. Apocales
    yahoogle - today's thread by mac can be found here - http://www.thebeerbarrel.net/threads/mayer-gives-yahoos-bread-circus-next.14831/
    Apocales, Jul 29, 2012
  2. Macrobius
    Via SI: http://stumbleinn.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5964

    I'm not going to do this every day -- someone else can take a turn -- but here is tomorrow's word:

    Sprachbund. No, it's not a talking wiener dog.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprachbund


    A Sprachbund (pronounced [ˈʃpraːxbʊnt] in German, plural Sprachbünde [ˈʃpraːxˌbʏndə]), from the German word for “language union” (lit. “language-bunch/truss”), also known as a linguistic area, convergence area, or diffusion area, is a group of languages that have become similar in some way because of geographical proximity and language contact. They may be genetically unrelated, or only distantly related. Where genetic affiliations are unclear, the sprachbund characteristics might give a false appearance of relatedness.


    Rest at the link.

    In other words, some people are culturally members of the Western European sprachbund, whereas others are members of the Balkan sprachbund. Niccolo's donkey is not a member of any sprachbund.
    Macrobius, Apr 7, 2012
  3. Macrobius
    definition, Clancy?
    Macrobius, Apr 7, 2012
  4. Clancy
    fudge
    Clancy, Apr 7, 2012