51吃瓜 of the Day
chuffle
verb (used without object)
(of the larger species of cats) to make a low snuffling sound analogous to the purring of smaller cat species, often as a greeting.
More about chuffle
Chuffle, “to make a low snuffling sound analogous to the purring of smaller cat species,” is likely of imitative origin, rendering in letters a close approximation of the sound in question. A comparable sound that steam engines emit is the source of the similar verbs chuff, chug, and even choo-choo. The ending, –le, is likely the frequentative suffix also found in verbs such as sparkle and twinkle, indicating repetitive action or motion.
how is chuffle used?
Tigers make a sound called a chuffle. These guys can’t purr like house cats. They’re roaring cats, they roar. So they chuffle; it’s like blowing air through their nose. That means they’re happy. It’s an affectionate sound.
“Indira’s our most playful and friendly animal at the retreat,” Ms. Wilson, Zambi’s operations manager, said. “She’s everybody’s favourite; she’s the first one to run up and chuffle at you 鈥� that’s her friendly sound.”
chuffle
ruminate
verb (used without object)
to meditate or muse; ponder.
More about ruminate
Ruminate, 鈥渢o meditate, muse, or ponder,鈥� comes from Latin 谤奴尘颈苍腻迟耻蝉, the past participle of 谤奴尘颈苍腻谤别, 谤奴尘颈苍腻谤墨 鈥�(of cattle) to chew the cud; (of humans) to turn over in the mind, ponder鈥� (Roman cattle were famous throughout the ancient Mediterranean for their contemplativeness). 搁奴尘颈苍腻谤别 is a derivative of the noun 谤奴尘别苍 (inflectional stem 谤奴尘颈苍) 鈥渢hroat, gullet.鈥� 搁奴尘别苍 is possibly related to Sanskrit romantha– 鈥渃ud-chewing鈥� and Welsh rhumen 鈥渂elly, paunch, udder.鈥� Ruminate entered English in the first half of the 16th century.
how is ruminate used?
“Good night, little ones!” said the Professor. “You may leave me now鈥攖o ruminate. I’m as jolly as the day is long, except when it’s necessary to ruminate on some very difficult subject. All of me,” he murmured sleepily as we left the room, “all of me, that isn’t Bonhommie, is Rumination!”
One of the hardest parts of napping on a schedule is quieting a too-loud brain. It鈥檚 easy to ruminate and stress, and to spend half an hour digging through your mind鈥檚 detritus rather than unplugging.
ruminate
apopemptic
adjective
pertaining to leave-taking or departing; valedictory.
More about apopemptic
The English apopemptic is a straightforward borrowing of the Greek adjective 补辫辞辫别尘辫迟颈办贸蝉, 鈥減ertaining to dismissal, valedictory,鈥� a derivative of the adverb and preposition 补辫峤�- 鈥渙ff, away鈥� and the verb 辫茅尘辫别颈苍 鈥渢o send,鈥� a verb with no clear etymology. The Greek noun 辫辞尘辫岣�, a derivative of 辫茅尘辫别颈苍, means 鈥渆scort, procession, parade, magnificence,鈥� adopted into Latin as pompa (with the same meanings), used in Christian Latin to refer to the ostentations of the devil, especially in baptismal formulas, e.g., 鈥淒o you reject the devil and all his pomps?鈥� Apopemptic entered English in the mid-18th century.
how is apopemptic used?
As Opal Codd said sweetly my last day, her apopemptic word for me was “agathism.” Once again, I could do no more but ask her to translate. “My dear,” she said, “apopemptic! Pertaining to farewell, of course.” “Of course. But ‘agathism’? A belief in Agatha Christie?”
For you the gods of song forgo their quarrel; / Panther and Wolf forget their former anger; / For you this ancient ceremony of greeting / Becomes a solemn apopemptic hymn.
apopemptic