NATANT

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 3 August 2011

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NATANT  (adj.)

Definition(s):

1. (adj.) swimming or floating in water

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: (none)
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: SUPER-, -LY
• Wraparounds: SUPERnatantS
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: NATANTLY (adv.), SUPERNATANT (n.)

Epilogue:
This word derives from the Latin natare, “to swim or float,” the same root behind words such as NATATION (“the act of swimming”), NATATORY or NATATORIAL (“pertaining to swimming”), and NATATORIUM (“an indoor swimming pool”).  These are all super words, but the scientific term SUPERNATANT refers to a liquid that forms above a solid sediment or a settled precipitate (such as after a mixture has been centrifuged) or to anything that floats on the surface of a liquid.

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

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