Posted in Lexicon on 8 May 2008 | No Comments »
A last lexeme from Dracula.
voi·vode /ˈvɔɪvoʊd/
-noun
(in Eastern European history) a local ruler or governor, esp. the semi-independent rulers of Transylvania, Wallachia, or Moldavia before c1700.
Also, vaivode.
[Origin: 1550-60; ≪ Slavic; cf. Pol wojewoda, Russ voevóda, Serbo-Croatian vȍj(e)voda, OCS vojevoda commander, governor (translating Gk hégemn and stratégós), equiv. to voj- base of voinŭ warrior + -e- var. [...]
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Posted in Lexicon on 8 May 2008 | No Comments »
Another word from Dracula.
qua /kweɪ, kwɑ/
-adverb as; as being; in the character or capacity of: The work of art qua art can be judged by aesthetic criteria only.
[Origin: 1640-50; < L quā fem. abl. sing. of quī who]
Source: Dictionary.com.
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Posted in Lexicon on 8 May 2008 | No Comments »
More vampiric verbiage.
pto·maine /ˈtoʊmeɪn, toʊˈmeɪn/
-noun any of a class of foul-smelling nitrogenous substances produced by bacteria during putrefaction of animal or plant protein: formerly thought to be toxic.
[Origin: 1875-80; < It ptomaina < Gk ptôma corpse + It -ina -ine]
-Related forms
pto·main·ic, adjective
Source: Dictionary.com.
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Posted in Lexicon on 8 May 2008 | No Comments »
If I remember rightly, this word is used in Dracula in the context of wax dripping down a candle.
Sper`ma*ce”ti\, n. [L. sperma sperm + cetus,gen. ceti, any large sea animal, a whale, Gr. ???. See Sperm, Cetaceous.] A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, [...]
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Posted in Lexicon on 1 May 2008 | No Comments »
To understand ‘cicatrise’ it would help to know what a ‘cicatrix’ is.
cic·a·trix /ˈsɪkətrɪks, sɪˈkeɪtrɪks/
-noun, plural cic·a·tri·ces /ˌsɪkəˈtraɪsiz/
1. Physiology. new tissue that forms over a wound and later contracts into a scar.
2. Botany. a scar left by a fallen leaf, seed, etc.
Also, cic·a·trice /ˈsɪkətrɪs/
[Origin: 1350-1400; ME < L: scar]
-Related forms
cic·a·tri·cial /ˌsɪkəˈtrɪʃəl/, adjective
ci·cat·ri·cose /sɪˈkætrɪˌkoʊs, ˈsɪkə-/, adjective
Source: Dictionary.com.
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Posted in Lexicon on 1 May 2008 | No Comments »
Another word from Dracula. Well, near enough - the actual word was ‘cicatrised’.
cic·a·trize /ˈsɪkəˌtraɪz/ verb, -trized, -triz·ing.
-verb (used with object)
1. Physiology. to heal by inducing the formation of a cicatrix.
-verb (used without object)
2. to become healed by the formation of a cicatrix.
Also, especially British, cic·a·trise.
[Origin: 1350-1400; ME < ML cicātrizāre. See cicatrix, -ize]
-Related forms
cic·a·tri·zant, adjective
cic·a·tri·za·tion, noun
cic·a·triz·er, noun [...]
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Posted in Lexicon on 1 May 2008 | No Comments »
I could find no official definition of this word from Dracula. It appears in the expression ‘bloofer lady’, referring to Lucy Westenra. It’s pretty obvious from the text that it’s a childish rendition of ‘beautiful’ (the vampire Lucy abducts and feeds on Hampstead children, and this is how they describe her). Stoker’s use of it [...]
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Posted in Lexicon on 1 May 2008 | No Comments »
Here to make sense of the previous entry.
trit·u·rate /v. ˈtrɪtʃəˌreɪt; n. ˈtrɪtʃərɪt/ verb, -rat·ed, -rat·ing, noun
-verb (used with object)
1. to reduce to fine particles or powder by rubbing, grinding, bruising, or the like; pulverize.
-noun
2. a triturated substance.
3. Pharmacology. trituration (def. 3).
[Origin: 1615-25; < LL trītūrātus (ptp. of trītūrāre to thresh), equiv. to L trītūr(a) a threshing (trīt(us) rubbed, [...]
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Posted in Lexicon on 1 May 2008 | No Comments »
Another word from Dracula.
trit·u·ra·tion /ˌtrɪtʃəˈreɪʃən/
-noun
1. the act of triturating.
2. the state of being triturated.
3. Pharmacology.
a. a mixture of a medicinal substance with sugar of milk, triturated to an impalpable powder.
b. any triturated substance.
[Origin: 1640-50; < LL trītūrātiōn- (s. of trītūrātiō), equiv. to trītūrāt(us) threshed (see triturate) + -ion -ion]
Source: Dictionary.com.
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Posted in Lexicon on 1 May 2008 | No Comments »
Suggested by the previous entry.
col·u·brine /ˈkɒləˌbraɪn, -brɪn, -yə-/
-adjective
1. of or resembling a snake; snakelike.
2. belonging or pertaining to the subfamily Colubrinae, comprising the typical colubrid snakes.
[Origin: 1520-30; < L colubrīnus, equiv. to colubr- (s. of coluber) snake + -īnus -ine]
Source: Dictionary.com.
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