Sunday, December 10, 2017

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day - Cachinnate


 
Merriam-Webster  
 
WORD OF THE DAY
December 10, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
cachinnate Audio pronunciation
 
verb | KAK-uh-nayt  
 
Definition
 
:
to laugh loudly or immoderately
 
Scroll down for more about cachinnate
 
 
 
WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE
 
 
 
Intact Latin Quiz
 
What did each of these words mean to ancient Romans?
 
  PLAY NOW  
 
Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try!  TAKE ME THERE  >
 
Plus:   SEE WHAT LOOKUPS ARE TRENDING NOW!  >
 
 
 
Did You Know?
 
Cachinnate has been whooping it up in English since the 19th century. The word derives from the Latin verb cachinnare, meaning "to laugh loudly," and cachinnare was probably coined in imitation of a loud laugh. As such, cachinnare is much like the Old English ceahhetan, the Old High German kachazzen, and the Greek kachazein—all words of imitative origin that essentially meant "to laugh loudly." Our words giggle and guffaw are unrelated to those (and to each other) but they too are believed to have been modeled after the sound of laughter.
 
 
Examples of CACHINNATE
 
As the author read from her newest book, we tried to tune out the spectator cachinnating at the back of the auditorium.
 
"And all the way the Fates walking with him, whispering and cachinnating, ordering him to tread there, breathe here, spit there, unless he wanted to be eviscerated by destiny."
Will Self, Tough, Tough Toys for Tough, Tough Boys, 1998
 
Test Your Vocabulary
 
Unscramble the letters to create a verb with the meaning "to laugh when amused or pleased": RHTLCOE.
 
VIEW THE ANSWER  >
 
 
 
 
WORDS AT PLAY
 
 
8 Nicer Ways to Say 'Stupid'
 
As illustrated by some very smart, very good pups
 
 
 
 
 
  MORE WORD FUN:
 
      TRENDING NOW >
 
      WORDS AT PLAY >
 
 
FOLLOW US:
 
Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Authors of comments and posts are solely responsible for their statements. Please email MiddletownInsider@gmail.com for questions or concerns. This blog, (and any site using the blogger platform), does not and cannot track the source of comments. While opinions and criticism are fine, they are subject to moderator discretion; slander and vile attacks of individuals will not to be tolerated. Middletown Insider retains the right to deny any post or comment without explanation.

Popular Posts