HEBDOMAD

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 13 June 2011

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HEBDOMAD  (n. pl. - S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a group of seven
2. (n.) a period of seven days; a week

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: -AL, -ALLY
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:
A good one to start the week on, this word derives from the Greek hepta-, “seven."  (For the etymologically curious, it was specifically formed from the ordinal form hebdomos, meaning “seventh,” which is why it is spelled hebd-, while almost all other words from this root are spelled hept-.)  Seven other words utilizing this root are:

• HEPTAD (a group of seven) 
• HEPTAGON (a seven-sided polygon)
• HEPTARCH (a group of seven rulers)
• HEPTAMETER (verse of seven feet or measures) 
• And three organic compounds: HEPTANE, HEPTACHLOR, and CYPROHEPTADINE

This week’s theme: Words starting with the letter H

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