Category word meaning

(pronounced as faw.sl)

Meaning: The word fossil corresponds to the remains or impression of a prehistoric animal or plant that is embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form. In a humorous, and sometimes derogatory sense it can also be used to refer to a person or thing that is outdated or resistant to change

Origin: The word has been around since 1610s meaning "anything dug up”. It is derived from French fossile from Latin fossilis “dug up". The restricted noun sense of "geological remains of a plant or animal” that is most popular now has been around from 1736 Despite having some ups and downs, the word has been fairly popular over the last two centuries or so.

Usage: When she grows up, she wants to become a palaeontologist and study fossils.

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(Pronounced: im pla ca·ble)

Meaning: An adjective, implacable means not placable, that is not capable of being appeased, easily calmed or pacified.

Origin: The word is derived from the Latin word implacabilis which means unappeasable or irreconcilable. The word was first used in the 15th century.

Usage: For King Edward, the new friendship between the reigning powers of the neighbouring kingdoms loomed as an implacable threat to his crown.

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(pronounced as nig.ael)

Meaning:  The word niggle is used to denote things that cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety. It is also used to refer to criticising or annoying someone in a petty way.

Origin: The word, which is of uncertain origin, has been around since the 1590s. It is possibly from a Scandinavian source and compared with Norwegian nigla. The current sense of the word dates back to the late 18th Century.

Even though the word has been around for hundreds of years, it has grown hugely popular in terms of usage in the last few decades. This can perhaps be attributed to its usage in sports, as it is often employed to convey minor injuries of sportspersons.

Usage: Some players were rested for the tour as the selectors did not want to risk aggravating their niggles.

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(Pronounced teh-nyoo-uhs)

Meaning:  This adjective refers to what is weak and possibly does not exist.

Origin: In use since the 16th Century, it formed irregularly from the Latin word tenuis, meaning "thin, drawn out, meager, slim, slender' and figuratively referred to "trifling, insignificant, poor, low in rank". The correct form with respect to the Latin is tenuious. The figurative sense of "having slight importance, not substantial" is found from 1817 in English.

Example: They had a tenuous grip on reality.

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(Pronounced kan.uhn)

Meaning: A noun, canon refers to a generally accepted rule or principle by which something is judged. This 'canon' is spelt with one 'n' in the middle, whereas 'cannon' refers to a large artillery gun.

Origin: The term canon was derived from the Hebrew-Greek word kanon meaning "cane or measuring rod." It entered Old English from Old French or Late Latin canon meaning "church rule." The use of the word "canon" is said to have originated in reference to a set of Biblical texts regarded as scripture. The sense of the term as "a rule or principle" has been in use since the late 14th Century, and as a "standard of judging" since the 17th Century.

Usage: The recent actions by Russia violate all canons of international law, experts say.

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(Pronounced ret-ro-spect)

Meaning: Looking back on or thinking about past events

Origin: The first known use of this word was in 1601. It comes from a combination of the Latin roots 'retro'(which stands for back or backwards) and 'specere' (which means looking).

Example: We all learn things in retrospect.

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