NEOTERIC

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 1 August 2011

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

NEOTERIC  (n. pl. - S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a person having a modern outlook; one accepting new ideas and practices
2. (n.) a modern author or thinker
3. (adj.) of recent origin; modern

Useful information for game players:

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

Epilogue:
We’ll begin this new week, and new month, of words with a focus on the combining form neo- — from the Greek neos, “new, young” — which is a part of NEOTERIC and many other English words.  A NEOPHYTE wearing NEOPRENE could be a NEOCON or a NEOLIBERAL, as well as a NEOREALIST, NEOCLASSICIST, NEOPLASTICIST, or NEOCOLONIALIST.  Biology has given us NEONATE, NEOTENY, NEOTYPE, NEOMORPH, NEOCORTEX, and many others.  And when scientists discover a new substance, they get to NEOLOGIZE (“to coin new words“); the discovers of NEON went for a little word that simply means “new.”  If you enjoyed all of this, you may have NEOPHILIA (“a love of novelty or newness”).

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

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =