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!
Great word! I’m always impressed when someone posts a word my husband has never seen! He’s a pretty intelligent guy and I rarely stump him on word for the day!
Someone seems pretty orally fixated today. (sounds like xshubby can look forward to a happy weekend?)
He’s better than a Cuban Obama, he actually has a paper trail and a level of competence, unlike the big zero. A+ for you!
We aim to please! :-)
one of Rush’s callers said that Rubio could have run in any state and won because of the campaign he ran. interesting theory.
xshub’s weekend better not be too happy since he will be in dallas!
good likeness......empty suit full of hot air.
LMAO!
Too funny.
Oh no, now I have Bryan Adams earworms running through my head!
that is so gross, it’s funny. scary funny.
i think the term of endearment “boo” is just hilarious and don’t see how anyone could use it with a straight face, so that was part of the hilarity for me, let alone applied to babs mikulski
the photo is hilarious in itself.....scary hilarious though. just trying to portray her as a sex goddess one night stand boggles the mind, cause that there is a three bagger for sure. I can picture her pulling the bags off and yelling BOO herself. I am laughing while I ((shudder))
OMG, LMAO i am drinking water and it nearly went down the wrong pipe!
I went by a neighbor’s mechanic shop on my way home from an estimate (the temp gauge on my car is fried, so I’ve got to get a new one), and I was LMAO at his comments about people who should not vote because they were too stupid-
After a devastating trouncing
Has shown his agenda is trash
Obama will run off to India
To pout and spend more cash
Paying no heed to the psephology
And editorials from everywhere
He commandeers a fleet of jets
Like he doesn’t have a care
As tone deaf as he’s ever been
He’s set up for an epic fail-
More like Nixon than Jimmy Carter
He’ll be lucky to avoid jail
Love, love, love the gov!
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