#243 chrysalis

chrysalis- the pupa of a moth or butterfly;anything in the process of developing

- C17 from Latin chrysallis, from Greek khrusallis, from khrusos gold, of Semitic origin, Hebrew haruz gold

If we could believe that a chrysalis is always a chrysalis, and a butterfly always a butterfly, we could easily leave each to its appropriate sphere; but when we see the chrysalis open, and the butterfly come half out of it, we know that sooner or later it must spread wings, and fly.

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#242 chrematistic

chrematistic- of, denoting, or relating to money-making

C18 from Greek, from khrematizein to make money, from khrema money

Aristotle condemns usury because it is the most extreme and dangerous form of chrematistic acquisition, or the art of making money for its own sake.

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#241 chortle

chortle- to chuckle gleefully; a gleeful chuckle

-C19 coined 1871 by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass; probably a blend of chuckle and snort

It's usually poor form to laugh at another's misfortunes, but in this case I feel a slight chortle is more than justified.

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#240 chocolate

chocolate- food made from roasted ground cacao seeds, usually sweetened and flavoured

-from Spanish, from Aztec - xocalatl, from xococ sour, bitter +atl water

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#239 chivalry

chivalry- the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honour, justice, and readiness to help the weak; courteous behaviour especially towards women

C13 from Old French chevalerie, cheval- horse

The Age of Chivalry was also the age of the horse. Bedecked in elaborate armor and other trappings, horses were certainly well dressed, although they might have wished for lighter loads. That the horse should be featured so prominently during the Age of Chivalry is etymologically appropriate, because chivalry goes back to the Latin word caballus, "horse, especially a riding horse or packhorse.”

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#238 chintz

chintz- a printed, patterned cotton fabric, with glazed finish; a painted or stained Indian calico

- C17 from Hindi chint, from Sanskrit citra gaily coloured

And he followed her through the dark hall, into a small double, drawing-room, where the furniture was covered in chintz, and the little maid placed him in a chair.

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#237 chimera/chimaera

chimera/chimaera- Greek myth- a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent; a grotesque product of the imagination

- from Greek khimaira- she goat

As a common name 'chimera' is used by Milton to denote a terrible monster, and is now current (in an age which rejects such fabulous creatures) in the sense of a wild fancy.

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#236 chilli con carne

chilli con carne- a highly seasoned Mexican dish of meat, onions, beans, and chilli powder

Spanish chile con carne- chilli with meat

Note the spelling.

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#235 chicanery

chicanery- verbal deception or trickery, especially in legal quibbling; dishonest or sharp practice

- French chicaner- to quibble

The obvious result of all this chicanery is the creation of a superior ruling class and the destruction of a free and independent middle class.

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#234 chiaroscuro

chiaroscuro- the artistic distribution of light and dark masses in a picture; monochrome painting using light and dark only

- C17 from Italian, from chiaro clear + oscuro obscure

This chiaroscuro is also propitious to great illusions.

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#233 chauvinism

chauvinism- aggressive or fanatical patriotism; jingoism; enthusiastic devotion to a cause; smug irrational belief in the superiority of one's own race, party, sex- male chauvinism

C19 from French chauvinisme- after Nicolas Chauvin- legendary French soldier under Napoleon, noted for his vociferous and unthinking patriotism

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#232 chatelaine

chatelaine- the mistress of a castle or fashionable household; a chain or clasp worn at the waist by women; a decorative pendant worn on the lapel

-French

Chatelaine is a women's magazine in Canada.

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#231 chasm

chasm- a deep cleft in the ground; abyss; a break in continuity, gap; a wide difference in interests, feelings

- C17 from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma

This chasm in our difference of opinion is the main reason why we are getting nowhere on the issue.

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#230 chartreuse

chartreuse- either of two liqueurs, green or yellow, made from herbs and flowers; a colour varying from a clear yellowish-green to a strong greenish-yellow

C19 from French , after La Grande Chartreuse, monastery near Grenoble, where the liqueur is produced

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#229 charlatan

charlatan- someone who professes knowledge or expertise, especially in medicine, that he does not have; quack

C17 from French, from Italian ciarlare- to chatter

The word charlatan is defined as a person who practices quackery or confidence tricks in order to gain fame or money.

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#228 charisma

charisma- a special personal quality or power of an individual making him capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people; a quality inherent in a thing which inspires great enthusiasm and devotion

C17 from Latin, Greek kharisma, from kharis- grace, favour

In Christianity charisma is an extraordinary power, such as the ability to perform miracles, granted by the Holy Spirit.

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#227 chandelier

chandelier- an ornamental hanging light with branches and holders for several candles or bulbs

C17 (before the age of electricity!) from French candle holder, from Latin candelabrum

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#226 chameleon

chameleon- a lizard with long slender legs,...and the ability to change colour; a changeable or fickle person

- C14 from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek khamaileon, from khamai on the ground + leon- lion

The ordinary color of the chameleon is a pale olive-green.

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#225 chagrin

chagrin- a feeling of annoyance or mortification

- from French chagrin

The ultimate etymology of the word chagrin, which comes directly to us from French, is considered uncertain by many etymologists. At one time chagrin was thought to be the same word as shagreen, "a leather or skin with a rough surface..."

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#224 cenotaph

cenotaph- a momunment honouring a dead person or persons buried elsewhere

C17 from Latin cenotaphium, from Greek kenotaphion, from kenos empty + taphos tomb

Over the cenotaph is his bust, and a representation of his first telescope.

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#223 caveat emptor

caveat emptor- let the buyer beware

Latin

Hmmm. I'll still recommend the iPhone over the Blackberry to all my friends who ask, but caveat emptor when it comes to Apple's high-glossy, slick advertisement.

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#222 cavalcade

cavalcade- a procession of people on horseback, in cars, etc.; any procession: a cavalcade of guests

- C16 from French, Italian cavalcata, cavalcare to ride on horseback

Motorways were closed across Los Angeles to allow the Jackson family to travel in cavalcade from the private service to the star-studded memorial service.

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#221 catharsis

catharsis- the purging or purification of the emotions through the evocation of pity and fear, as in tragedy; the bringing of repressed ideas or experiences into consciousness, thus relieving tensions

-from Greek katharsis- to purge, purify

Sometimes when we weep in the movies we weep for ourselves or for a life unlived. Or we even go to the movies because we want to resist the emotion that's there in front of us. I think there is always a catharsis that I look for and that makes the movie experience worthwhile. ~ Edward Zwick

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#220 caterwaul

caterwaul- to make a yowling noise, as a cat in heat

C14 of imitative origin

I was not going to indict, complain or caterwaul, which is why I didn't even consider writing a year-in-review piece.

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#219 catch-22

catch-22- a situation in which a person is frustrated by a parasoxical rule or set of circumstances that preclude any attempt to escape from them; a situation in which an move that a person can make will lead to trouble

- from the title of the J. Heller novel, 1961

Unfortunately the catch -22 of Western democracy attached to civil liberty and decency is a reluctance to face up to unpalatable confrontation which would lead to the temporary chaos and inhumanity of war.

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#218 casus belli

casus belli- an event or act used to justify a war; the immediate cause of a quarrel

Latin

They threw in troops held nearby, against creation of a casus belli with which to justify a major invasion.

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#217 carte blanche

carte blanche- complete discretion or authority

C18 from French- blank paper

The government gave their negotiator carte blanche.

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#216 carpe diem

carpe diem- seize the day

-Latin from Horace

'Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.' is from the movie Dead Poets' Society, 1989

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#215 carousel

carousel- a circular magazine for slides; rotating conveyor belt; merry-go-round

C17 French carrousel, Italian carosello

History: a tournament in which horsemen took part in races and various manoeuvres in formation

Is the carousel in danger of going the way of the band: becoming history?

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#214 carnage

carnage- extensive slaughter, especially of human beings in battle

C16 from French, Italian carnaggio, from Medieval Latin carnaticum, from Latin caro- flesh

Modern American media has presented unprecedented levels of fictional and actual violence to the public, leading to a large set of studies that conclude that media carnage is a significant contributor to high levels of actual violence.

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#213 carcinogen

carcinogen- any substance that produces cancer

C20 from Greek karkinos- cancer+gen

carcinogenic- adjective

Radium, a potent carcinogen, is among the most dangerous of these metals because it gives off radon gas, accumulates in plants and vegetables and takes 1,600 years to decay.

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