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wordlover-2009-08-20
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Transcript:
The Word of the Day for August 20th is “contemn”, spelled “C-O-N-T-E-M-N.”
“Contemn” is a verb that means “to view or treat with contempt, to scorn.” Here’s the word used in a sentence.
“Jacob believes that any rational scientist must contemn theories of magic and the supernatural.”
“Contemn” is derived from the Latin verb “contemnere,” a word formed by combining “con-” and “temnere,” meaning “to despise.” Surprisingly, our verb may have come within a hair’s breadth of being spelled “contempn.” The Middle French word “contempner” arrived in Middle English as “contempnen,” but that extra “p” disappeared, leaving us with “contemn.” You may be wondering about the connection between “contemn” and “contempt,” and not surprisingly, they are related. “Contempt” comes from the Latin word “contemptus,” which comes from “contemnere.” “Contemn” first turned up in print in the 15th century in English; “contempt” dates from the 14th century.
With your Word of the Day for Thursday, August 20th, I’m Peter Sokolowski.
Words:
within a hair’s breadth of: very close to 极短的距离;千钧一发
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