Posted on 11/04/2010 4:59:29 AM PDT by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
psephology \see-FAH-luh-jee\ noun
the scientific study of elections
Example sentence:
"To help voters make up their minds, this issue contains a 20-page briefing on personality, policy and psephology."
--- The Economist, April 10, 2010
Etymology:
"Psephology" is from the Greek word "psēphos," meaning "pebble." (One relative of "psephology" is "psephomancy," meaning "divination by pebbles.") "Psephology" merited election as the name for the work of analysts of elections, or psephologists, because pebbles were used by the ancient Greeks in voting. Similarly, the word "ballot" was an excellent choice for a means of voting since it is derived from "balla," the Italian word for "ball," and Italians placed balls in a container to cast votes.
Word Trivia: What word meaning "to banish" or "to exclude from a group" comes from an ancient Greek method of voting by writing a name down on a pottery fragment?
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Guys love Stooges.
several of us are the product of catholic schools, so we will be wise to your ways!
unlike my rep, Gerry Connolly who is declaring victory when he is up by 400 votes over Keith Fimian, who is bound to contest and ask for a recount.
Please sit in zee chair... don't mind zee straps, they are merely for - - - 'amusement' purposes. Lean back and open wide..... LA da de da-da de-de da-da do-do dummmm (theme from the Godfather)... You need to floss more..... OK, up newbie.
Looks good. Not infectious. Brushes often... he's no health threat like someone we all know once was.
Please pay theNurse as you leave, Mr Roccus... cash is preferable....
I will read them all shortly. A+++ for you, for all the links!
A+ for you. Why do men do that? They are not fooling anyone. I had a friend in grad school who used to say ‘God made a few perfect heads, and the rest He covered with hair’.
Maybe her wigs are too tight. A for you, sorry she is your rep, yet again.
Since very few democrats ran on his platform and their votes for the past 2 years, they think we are just too stupid to vote properly. A+ for you, F- for the lot of them.
Well done. I will distract myself with reading these articles since watching hockey lately is depressing. A+ for you.
Welcome to class........and watch out for the kids who ride the short bus. Recess comes as soon as you turn in your homework.
The dem pollsters push their psephology
But it’s not science, it’s just mass psychology
“We’re ahead, you’re behind
No sense voting!” I find
They’d have better results with *phrenology
*The study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the now discredited belief that they reveal character and mental capacity.
I wouldn't even do that for Ronald Reagan.
Actually, someone posted them within minutes of each other, and it was still so early for the rest of you that they stayed together on my “latest posts” page.
OK, the comments had me spitting tea through my nose.
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