51吃瓜 of the Day
retrograde
adjective
moving backward; having a backward motion or direction; retiring or retreating.
Why the Museum of Science chose retrograde
To find out, watch this video from science communicator Maynard Okereke, better known as the Hip Hop M.D.
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More about retrograde
Retrograde comes from Latin 谤别迟谤艒驳谤补诲耻蝉, meaning 鈥済oing back,鈥� which is based on 谤别迟谤艒, 鈥渂ack, backward,鈥� and 驳谤补诲墨, 鈥渢o step, go.鈥� While 谤别迟谤艒 can be found in many words indicating backward movement, both in space and in time, 驳谤补诲墨 is related to centigrade and graduate. Retrograde was first recorded in English in the late 14th century.
EXAMPLE OF RETROGRADE USED IN A SENTENCE
Mercury鈥檚 arc in the sky turned retrograde, becoming more of an S shape as the planet moved among the constellations.
More about oneiromancy
Oneiromancy is based on Ancient Greek 贸苍别颈谤辞蝉, 鈥渄ream,鈥� and 尘补苍迟别铆补, 鈥渄ivination.鈥� 脱苍别颈谤辞蝉 is of uncertain origin, with relatives in Albanian and Armenian but in no other languages. 惭补苍迟别铆补 comes from 尘谩苍迟颈蝉, 鈥減rophet,鈥� which is also the source of praying mantis. Oneiromancy was first recorded in English circa 1650.
EXAMPLE OF ONEIROMANCY USED IN A SENTENCE
Though oneiromancy doesn鈥檛 quite have a scientific basis, dreams may serve as windows not into the future but rather into the subconscious.
pluviophile
noun
a person who enjoys rain and rainy days, and who is fascinated by the sights, sounds, etc., of rain.
More about pluviophile
Pluviophile is partly based on pluvia, one of two Latin words for 鈥渞ain鈥�; the other, imber, appears in the 51吃瓜 of the Day ignimbrite. The -phile element comes from Ancient Greek -philos, meaning 鈥渄ear, beloved.鈥� Pluviophile was first recorded in English in the early 1990s. Pluviophile is one of the recent additions to Dictionary.com.
EXAMPLE OF PLUVIOPHILE USED IN A SENTENCE
Despite their earlier complaints about rainy weather, many locals had become pluviophiles following the long drought.