51吃瓜 of the Day
opprobrious
adjective
outrageously disgraceful or shameful.
More about opprobrious
Opprobrious 鈥渙utrageously disgraceful or shameful鈥� is an adaptation of Late Latin 辞辫辫谤辞产谤颈艒蝉耻蝉, literally meaning 鈥渇ull of reproach,鈥� based on opprobrium 鈥渞eproach鈥� and the adjectival suffix -艒蝉耻蝉 鈥渇ull of.鈥� Opprobrium itself is a compound of the preposition ob 鈥渢oward, against鈥� and the noun probrum 鈥渋nfamy, disgrace,鈥� with the b in ob assimilated to match the p in probrum. Confusion frequently arises about the similarity between probrum and the Latin adjective probus 鈥済ood鈥� (the source of approbation and approval), but the two are not quite related; probrum may literally mean 鈥�(thing) brought forward,鈥� such as a complaint, while probus may have originally meant 鈥渂eing in front,鈥� as in better than everything that follows. Opprobrious was first recorded in English in the late 14th century.
how is opprobrious used?
Perhaps he was taunting [Ida] Craddock, shaming her by scandalous association鈥攋ust as he did later in taking her to jail aboard the elevated train, loudly calling attention to her with “opprobrious epithets” about the filth and blasphemy of her writings.
In fact, he also insulted me and used opprobrious language…, and I am here to demand a personal apology from him in public. If that is not forthcoming at this meeting tonight, I am prepared to sue the city.
prerogative
noun
a right, privilege, etc., limited to a specific person or to persons of a particular category.
More about prerogative
Prerogative 鈥渁 right limited to a specific person鈥� derives via Middle English from Latin 辫谤补别谤辞驳腻迟墨惫耻蝉 鈥渧oting first,鈥� a compound of the preposition prae 鈥渂efore鈥� and the verb 谤辞驳腻谤别 鈥渢o ask, propose.鈥� Prae is the source of the prefix pre-, which appears in three other words in this paragraph, while 谤辞驳腻谤别 gives rise to several question- and claim-related words, such as arrogant (originally meaning 鈥減resuming鈥�), interrogate, and surrogate (originally meaning 鈥渢o nominate as a substitute鈥�). Prerogative was first recorded in English in the late 1300s.
how is prerogative used?
鈥淭he law of Treasure Trove, as we call it in this country, is in a most chaotic state …. The law, such as it is, seems to rest on Royal Prerogative; but what the base of that prerogative is, no one seems exactly to know.鈥�
It’s a president’s prerogative to replace the chair of the Federal Reserve Board, if desired, when that person’s four-year term runs out. But most presidents reappoint if the chair wants to stay on the job.
prerogative
fortuitous
adjective
happening or produced by chance; accidental.
More about fortuitous
Fortuitous 鈥渉appening or produced by chance鈥� ultimately comes from the Latin noun fors (stem fort-) 鈥渃hance, luck.鈥� Though chance and luck are not quite one and the same, the overlap between the two is why fortuitous evolved a second, more common sense of 鈥渓ucky, fortunate.鈥� Also derived from fors is the noun 蹿辞谤迟奴苍补, which is the source of English fortune. The Roman goddess 贵辞谤迟奴苍补 was the goddess of luck as well as fate, and the Romans celebrated a festival in her honor, Fors 贵辞谤迟奴苍补, annually on June 24. Note that Latin fors is not related to the English words forte 鈥渁 person鈥檚 strength鈥� and fortify 鈥渢o strengthen against attack,鈥� which come instead from Latin fortis 鈥渟trong, brave鈥� (compare Spanish fuerte). Fortuitous was first recorded in English circa 1650.
how is fortuitous used?
鈥淢y meeting you was merely a fortuitous accident …. Well, you will find this difficult to believe, but we collided. We came around a corner in one of the clinic corridors, you going full speed in one direction and me in the other, and you ran into me. Actually, into my shins,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou were much shorter in those days.鈥�
My unhappiness did leave me in a vulnerable emotional condition and laid the groundwork for my fortuitous meeting with Janet Opal Jeppson. The first meeting took place in 1956, and I didn’t even know it. Janet has a younger brother, John, who had gone to Boston University Medical School and who had been in the last biochemistry class I had helped teach. He was a science fiction fan and he had converted his sister, Janet, to the true faith. He also told her about me and what a terrific lecturer and eccentric fellow I was. It roused her curiosity.