#66 antihero

#66 antihero- a central character in a novel, play...who lacks the traditional heroic virtues

- the Greek prefix anti- against, opposing applies

Dexter is an antihero. He's a forensic blood splatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, but by night he's a serial killer who murders criminals or other immoral people.

Victor as antihero is the scientist who creates the Frankenstein creature out of human corpse bits. As a young man, he loved reading about science and creating life. After playing God and creating his monster, however, he is unable to deal with his arrogant endeavors.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#65 anti (prefix) anticlimax

#65 anti (prefix)

- from Greek anti- opposing, against

This prefix needs to be recognized for the myriad words it begins: antifreeze, antihistamine, antisocial, ....

-anticlimax- a disappointing or ineffective conclusion to a series of events; a sudden change from a serious subject to one that is disappointing or ludicrous

In the anticlimax pirates finally found the treasure chest... only to find it empty.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#64 anthology

#64 anthology- a collection of literary passages or works by various authors

-C17 from medieval Latin, from Greek anthologia- a flower gathering from anthos- flower

Most good libraries have an anthology of Shakespeare's works including his sonnets. They are, indeed, a collection which can be likened to a floral bouquet of literary delights.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#63 antecede

#63 antecede- to go before, precede

- ante- prefix Latin

- antedate, antechamber, antecedent, antediluvian,

- Security will antecede the arrival of the chief of state.

-Everyone wanted to go to the concert to see his, her favourite performer. One uses his, her here because everyone, the antecedent, is singular. (My English teaching is coming out here.) To avoid his,her use people for everyone and then you may use their.

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#62 annular

#62 annualer (adjective)- ring shaped, of or forming a ring

-C16 from Latin annularis- ring

- also annulate (adj), C19 from Latin anulatus

The mollusks were annular - donut - shaped areas around the vessel.

The tree stump revealed an intricate annualer design.

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#61 ankh

#61 ankh- a tall cross with a loop on the top, symbolizing eternal life: often appearing in Egyptian personal names, such as Tutankhamen

- from Egyptian nh- life, soul

In his right hand he held the war-bow and in his left the ankh, for life and death were his to dispense.

My trained eye immediately fell on an ankh sign shaped from lapis and a tiny turquoise chick.

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes

#60 animism

#60 animism- the belief that natural objects phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls; in the philosophies of Plato and Pythagoras, the hypothesis that there is an immaterial force that animates the universe

- C19 from Latin anima- vital breath, spirit, animist, animistic

The religion had retained traces of animism, belief in reincarnation, and ancestor worship.

Tags: word of the day, best words, etymology, spelling, vital, useful, expressive, emotional, strategic, onomatopoeic, connotation, how to, English usage, language, learning, mnemonic devices, vocabulary, quoteflections, quotation, quotes