51吃瓜 of the Day
avocation
noun
something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby: Our doctor's avocation is painting.
More about avocation
Avocation derives from Latin 腻惫辞肠腻迟颈艒, which literally means 鈥渁 calling away鈥� but has the sense of 鈥渄istraction.鈥� 膧惫辞肠腻迟颈艒 is formed on the verb 腻惫辞肠腻谤别 鈥渢o call away; divert; distract; amuse,鈥� composed of the prefix 腻– 鈥渁way from鈥� and voc腻re 鈥渢o call,鈥� source of English vocation. A person鈥檚 hobby or leisure pursuit is called an avocation, etymologically speaking, because it 鈥渃alls away鈥� that person from their main work鈥攖heir vocation, or 鈥渃alling.鈥� Starting in the 1600s, however, avocation was used as a synonym for vocation, apparently on the thinking that a person鈥檚 side work can be or become as important as their regular occupation. Avocation entered English in the early 1500s.
how is avocation used?
So they signed up for a second shift, an avocation that earns them psychic income in the currencies of artistry, adventure and passion.
Her three avocations鈥攇ardening, current events, and photography鈥攚ere, like her writing, deeply informed by a desire to secure fragile moments as objects of art.
controvert
verb (used with object)
to argue about; debate; discuss.
More about controvert
A controvert is not some kind of hybrid of an introvert and extrovert. It is actually a verb that means 鈥渢o argue about; debate; discuss” and “argue against; deny; oppose.” Controvert does share a root, however, with introvert and extrovert: Latin vertere 鈥渢o turn.鈥� Controvert is based on Latin 肠辞苍迟谤艒惫别谤蝉耻蝉 鈥渄ebatable, disputed鈥濃�攖hat is, controversial, another derivative of 肠辞苍迟谤艒惫别谤蝉耻蝉. 颁辞苍迟谤艒惫别谤蝉耻蝉 is composed of a variant of contr腻 鈥渁gainst鈥� and versus, past participle of vertere 鈥渢o turn, turn around, spin.鈥� (An introvert is literally someone 鈥渢urned within鈥� and an extrovert, someone 鈥渢urned outside.鈥�) Controvert entered English by the early 1600s.
how is controvert used?
It seemed as if his first instinct on hearing a proposition was to controvert it, so impatient was he of the limitations of our daily thought.
It seems natural to suppose鈥攖hough many scholars controvert it鈥攖hat Book I of the Republic was originally written as a separate book …
rhapsodic
adjective
extravagantly enthusiastic; ecstatic.
More about rhapsodic
Not everyone may get 鈥渆xtravagantly enthusiastic or ecstatic鈥� about word origins, but they are key to understanding the development of the word rhapsodic. Rhapsodic is an adjective form of rhapsody, which historically refers to an epic poem, or part of such a poem, such as a book of Homer鈥檚 Iliad, that can be recited at one time. Rhapsody ultimately derives from Greek 谤丑补辫蝉艒颈诲铆补 鈥渞ecital of epic poetry.鈥� Such recitals tended to be done with intense expression and feeling, leading to the English sense of rhapsodic. In music, a rhapsody is 鈥渁n instrumental composition irregular in form and suggestive of improvisation,鈥� such as George Gershwin鈥檚 truly rhapsodic 1924 opus, Rhapsody in Blue. Rhapsodic entered English in the mid-1700s.
how is rhapsodic used?
When I mentioned the Betty Crocker book to David Kamp … it didn鈥檛 seem to inspire the rhapsodic response I was hoping for.
… he can now tell you about the rhapsodic joy of a perfect day out at his home break with his boys as well as the spiritual fulfillment he felt from chasing waves around the planet as a surf bohemian inspired by Jack Kerouac.