51吃瓜 of the Day
mycorrhiza
noun
a symbiotic association of the mycelium of a fungus with the roots of certain plants.
More about mycorrhiza
Myco- in mycorrhiza comes from Ancient Greek 尘媒办脓蝉, 鈥渕ushroom, fungus,鈥� which may be a distant relative of Latin 尘奴肠耻蝉. The form -rrhiza comes from Ancient Greek 谤丑铆锄补, 鈥渞oot,鈥� which is also the source of licorice. Mycorrhiza was first recorded in English in the early 1890s.
EXAMPLE OF MYCORRHIZA USED IN A SENTENCE
The mushrooms developed mycorrhizae with the roots of a nearby tree, allowing the tiny fungi and the tall plant to exchange nutrients with one another.
radiant
noun
the point in the heavens from which a shower of meteors appears to radiate.
Why the Museum of Science chose radiant
To find out, watch this video from science communicator Alex Dainis, PhD.
Learn more at .
More about radiant
Radiant is based on Latin 谤补诲颈腻苍蝉, 鈥渟hining,鈥� from the verb 谤补诲颈腻谤别, 鈥渢o shine.鈥� While English uses -ing for present participles (as in seeing, going), Latin uses -ns, often changing to -nt-. This is why Latin 辫耻苍驳脓苍蝉, 鈥減iercing,鈥� becomes pungent and 肠辞苍惫别苍颈脓苍蝉, 鈥渃oming together,鈥� becomes convenient. Radiant was first recorded in English in the late 15th century.
EXAMPLE OF RADIANT USED IN A SENTENCE
The meteors emerged from a radiant somewhere in the constellation Lyra and streaked across the night sky.
More about rort
The noun rort is an example of a back formation. It was formed from the adjective rorty, 鈥渂oisterous, rowdy鈥� or earlier 鈥渇ine, splendid.” Rorty itself may be connected to the verb roar. Rort was first recorded in English in the mid-1920s. Learn more about common back formations in English.
EXAMPLE OF RORT USED IN A SENTENCE
The Friday night gathering turned into a wild rort, with wine and revelry lasting until dawn.