Monday, June 13, 2011

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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