VATIC

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 6 January 2012

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VATIC  (adj.)

Definition(s):

1. (adj.) pertaining to a prophet; oracular; prophetical

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: (none)
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: SYLvatic, vaticIDE/S, vaticINAL, vaticINATE (v.), vaticINATOR/S, vaticINATION/S
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: VATICAL, VATICINAL

Epilogue:
This time of the year is filled with VATICINATORS, who VATICINATE on matters of all kinds.  It’s a veritable VATIC or VATICINAL frenzy, and you might be forgiven for contemplating VATICIDE now and then.

All these words derive from the Latin vates, a word that originally meant “poet” but eventually came to mean “seer” or “prophet.”  The connection stems from the belief that ancient poets composed their poems through a divine force or guidance, and prophecies were often issued in verse form.


Recapping this week’s words: HOGMANAY, HANDSEL, JANIFORM, and VATIC

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